Sunshine came through the bay window bathing Erikka’s baby sister in light. At twenty, Jaci had the velvety skin of a girl with no worries. She wore her black wavy hair pulled back in a thick braid. Large sterling silver hoop earrings brushed her cafe au lait cheeks. She eyed the box of sticky donut holes but did not touch them. Erikka smiled at her discipline and licked icing from a finger. “What’s going on, Erikka?” Jaci leaned forward with both elbows on Roz’s breakfast table. She spoke in a whisper. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got a job. Well, it’s part- time contract work. My car is fixed. The best thing that came out of all this is that they didn’t suspend my driver’s license.” Erikka took a breath to go on. “I’m talking about Mama and Daddy,” Jaci said, with a trace of irritation. “Oh. There’s a bit of tension. I think they’re going through a phase.” Erikka looked over her shoulder. Roz had gone to her master bedroom. “No, this marriage is in serious trouble.”
