“That’s it. No. Now, eat.”

Her lips thinned, her eyes flashing. “No,” she said, the word heavy with mockery. She flung her fork down. It clattered on the china plate.

I fixed her with my sternest stare. “I’m going to give you three seconds to pick up that fork and eat, little girl.”

“Little girl?” she repeated, her voice high and thin. Her cheeks flushed with something other than anger.

I tipped my head in confirmation. “That’s right. Now, be a good girl and eat the meal I made for you.”

Her lips parted on a disbelieving huff. I was certain no one had ever talked to her like this....