Chapter 8 - The Rehearsed Monster
Harper showed Claire the plan by reciting it. Wyatt had made her practice insults on drives, correcting words to echo Claire’s mother: lazy, filthy, ungrateful. He chose laundry because Claire had told him about growing up beneath her mother’s hoarding. The coffee ring was another test. If Claire wiped it, she was controlling; if she left it, she was indifferent. Even his instant obedience to “Sit” had been rehearsed. He expected yelling and wanted Harper to see him frightened. Instead, Claire had put her hands on the girl and supplied a stronger story than he planned. Harper cried when she admitted Wyatt had described Claire as dangerous for months. Renee, too, believed him. Their cousins believed him. Harper had arrived prepared to provoke an abuser, not betray an aunt she trusted. He made her history into bait. Claire saw the opening anew: Wyatt was not defending Harper badly. He was directing her. Yet Harper had still thrown the first weapon, and Claire had answered with her hands.
