Book excerpt: Carla finds herself stuck at the other end of the country when she loses her job and her apartment on the same day, and the world goes into lockdown due to Covid-19. Her family tell her not to risk travelling home, and arrange for her to stay with an older male family friend named William.Carla has always been attracted to William, but she is transgender and he doesn't know. In fact, he knows her only as Carl. Her family know her true self, but make her promise not to dress as Carla in front of William as he has much more old-fashioned, traditional values. She worries how she'll cope with not being able to live as Carla while in his company.To cover the cost of her staying, Carla's parents order her to take on as many chores as she can. Her mother says "You're going to have to be the woman of the house. Pay your rent that way. Take on as many chores as you can. Cook for him. Hell, wait on him hand and foot. Make him want for nothing. And do not let him find out who you really are. I'm sorry for asking you, honey."Can Carla keep her promise?