Wyatt's death was still fresh in my mind. I couldn't take that gamble.
I rushed forward and pushed the golden egg back at her.
"Ma, you should keep this egg yourself."
"Yvonne's just a child. How could she take something so precious from you?"
The mother-in-law's face darkened at once.
Against the pitch-black night, it looked all the more grim and terrifying.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, is it that you look down on me? Is that why you're deliberately keeping Yvonne from getting close to me?"
"Or do you think I favor the second household, and you're sulking to spite me?"
"If you won't let Yvonne take this egg, then don't expect a single golden egg ever again!"
My daughter looked a little confused too.
"Mom, what's wrong with you?"
"Dad's wages haven't come on time in ages. Grandma's only doing this because she feels sorry for us."
"Why are you being so harsh with her?"
I didn't know how to explain any of this to Yvonne.
I could only force a smile.
"Ma, don't be angry. I meant no harm."
"With one thing after another going wrong at home, I've been sick at heart, so my words came out too sharp."
"I just think the egg is too precious. It'd be better to save it for something truly important."
The mother-in-law ignored me and turned to stroke Yvonne's head.
But in that doting gaze there seemed to lurk a bloodthirsty greed.
"Yvonne's schooling — that's what's truly important."
"Take it, good girl. Don't let your grandma's love for you go to waste."
Yvonne nodded obediently.
Just as she reached out to take it, Daisy's voice came from behind us.
"Ma, what are you all doing out here in the middle of the night?"
The moment she saw the golden egg in Yvonne's hand, her eyes lit up.
She shoved her way between me and the mother-in-law without a second thought.
"Did our hen lay another egg?"
"Ma, how could you do this? Wyatt's funeral isn't even settled yet, and here you are slipping a golden egg to the eldest household on the sly."
"They're all your grandchildren. You can't play favorites like this."
The mother-in-law's gaze slid back and forth between Yvonne and Daisy.
As if she were picking out a prey that pleased her.
It was only one golden egg. Not worth gambling my daughter's life on.
I hardened my heart.
I beat her to it and pressed the egg into Daisy's hands.
"You've got it wrong, Daisy."
"Ma knows you're hurting. She didn't want to disturb your rest, so she had me pass this egg on to you."
"Wyatt was so young to meet such a terrible end. His funeral mustn't be done shabbily."
"Take this money and give Wyatt a proper send-off."
Daisy examined the golden egg carefully.
Only once she was sure I hadn't tampered with it did she turn and leave, thoroughly satisfied.
After she was gone, my heart stayed uneasy.
For one, I fretted over Yvonne's tuition next month.
For another, I worried the egg really did carry some curse, and that I'd indirectly gotten Daisy killed.
But day after day passed, and nothing happened at all.
Daisy's whole family was alive and thriving — they'd even bought a new car.
Instead, while I was keeping the wake, I happened to overhear the second household talking.
Daisy cradled Wyatt's memorial photo, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
"Honey, thank goodness you're so clever, coming up with the idea of having Wyatt play dead."
"That fool Agatha actually handed the golden egg right over to me."
"Now the hen, and every golden egg the hen lays, all of it's ours."
"A sum this big — no way we let the eldest household make off with it for free!"
