Page 53 of Breadwinner

“Sorry that took a little longer than expected. Lily called to say happy Thanksgiving, and we got caught up talking about their plans for the rest of the week. Beth and Jamie took the girls to Palm Springs, and apparently, the house they are staying in isseriously cool—Lily’s words, not mine.” Sarah looked at the last of the food on the counter before looking back at her. “How can I help?”

Nell smiled at her across the counter. “You can help by having a seat and keeping me company while I finish up. I’m almost done. No sense in getting those hands dirty.”

“Fine, but remember I offered.”

“Duly noted,” Nell said, as she added the last of the seasoning to the turkey in the roasting pan in front of her. “How are things going for Wren? If she’s with Beth and Jamie for the weekend, Iassume her parents aren’t putting up too much of a fight against the emancipation proceedings?”

Sarah hesitated, quickly glancing away. That was odd. Sarah, like herself, wasn’t one for hesitation. She looked up from the turkey, keeping silent as she waited.

Sarah flashed a small apologetic smile, tactfully changing the topic.Okay, mental note made.She would circle back to Sarah’s avoidance at a later time. But for now, she’d let Sarah steer the conversation.

“So, upstairs, I couldn’t help but notice there’s only one room with a closed door. What’s behind it?”

Nell arched a brow, knowing exactly which door she meant.

“That’s the game room,” she said, leaving it at that.

“Game room?”

“Yes. Game room.”

“And why is the door closed?”

Nell smirked, pausing her movements. “Because I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”

The blush that rose on Sarah’s cheeks was slow and satisfying, like a prize only for her. She had always been one to enjoy her prizes.

“Now, are you done avoiding my first question?” Nell replied, returning to her prep like she hadn’t a second ago short-circuited them both.

“I wasn’t avoiding the question. There isn’t anything to mention, besides that a court date has been set and Wren’s parents have agreed to proceed.”

“Didn’t you tell me last week how resistant they were? What changed?”

Sarah’s fingers tapped nervously against the counter. “I paid them.”

Nell blinked. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn’t that. “You what?”

“I paid them,” she said again.

“I understood what you said,” Nell stated sharply. “I don’t understand why.”

“Because Wren’s parents only cared about the money she was providing to the family. They don’t care about her, and Wren deserves better than that. So I talked to them in a language they understood,” Sarah said flatly, not meeting her eyes. “Two years’ worth of Wren’s projected earnings. And in exchange, they agreed to make the emancipation process as smooth as possible for her.”

Sarah glanced out the window before looking back at her. “And I hate that. I hate that it worked. I hate that it was effective. And I especially hate that two people cared more about money than their child.”

Nell moved to reach out to Sarah, but before she could, she realized that her hands were still covered in turkey bits and seasoning, resulting in a disjointed flap of her elbow.

“You did what you had to do to protect Wren. You’re the only person in that girl’s life to think of her first.”

“I know,” Sarah said, her voice catching slightly. “But it still feels gross. I’m not the type of person who pays people off to get her way. So, what does that say about me?”

“It says that you know how to move through a broken system.”

“Yeah, maybe. But I kind of hate that, too.”

A clattering cut the tension as Nate entered through the back door off the kitchen, flushed from his run, hoodie damp with sweat, earbuds tangled in one hand.

“Well, look at this domestic bliss,” he said, raising his hand in a slight wave. “Sarah, it’s good to see you again. Did Nell warn you yet about our little tradition?”