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Grandma Moretti walked back toward the dining table with a why-are-you-shouting look. “Edward’s been paying the property taxes. You’d probably have to keep your CEO job to afford it.”
“Nonna!” She threw her hands in the air. “No.”
“What? If you have a problem, you’ll need to wait until you get to heaven to have it out with May.”
“Nonna.”
“Yes, dear?”
“No.”
Her grandmother frowned at her. “What do you mean, ‘no’? It was in May’s will. It’s done.” She shrugged a shoulder. “I mean, if you can raise her from the dead …” She gave a nonchalant wave of her hand. “Then go ahead.”
“You know what the Eolenfelds will say.”
“They can say whatever they want. I don’t care.”
“They already think I’m yours and Mr. E’s illegitimate daughter.”
“You’re not. Our conscience is clear.”
Clary dropped back into her seat. “How could Mr. E let Mrs. E do that?”
Grandma Moretti laughed. “You mean you don’t know how much Edward loved May? She could’ve left you a star in her will, and Edward would’ve spent his life acquiring it to fulfill her wish. Oh.”
“Another ‘oh’?”
“If you have a problem, take it up with May. She left you a first edition of one of Austen’s books. I can’t remember the title. Edward has that stored in a safe deposit box somewhere. You’ll have to check with him.”
Clary sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
“On the bright side,” Grandma Moretti gave her cheek a pinch, just as she always did when she was a little girl, “you have temporary approval for your relationship.” She stacked several plates together. “Now run along. I need to put these in the dishwasher so I can watch TV.”
“Did you set up that whole ultimatum so you could spring this on me?”
“Don’t be silly. I’m too old to plan such tedious matters.” Grandma Moretti disappeared back into the kitchen, then returned a few moments later. “Just felt like it was the right time to let you know. Why are you still here? You’d better get back to work if you want to afford the property taxes.”
Clary rolled her eyes. “How much are we talking about?”
“I can’t remember. But I seriously recommend you keep your current job, and maybe marry a billionaire or something.”
Clary pressed her hands to her face.
“Go. Let me watch TV in peace.”
“Isn’t this my house?” Clary got up and strode toward the couch. “You’re chasing me out of my own house.”
Grandma Moretti arched a brow.
“I’m going.” She grabbed her bag, then went back to give Grandma Moretti a peck on her cheek. “I love you.” She straightened. “And I now fully comprehend what it means to choose to love.”
Grandma Moretti reached for her shoe, and Clary made a run for it.
* * *
One-thirty-two.
Which was two minutes past the last time Seth had checked the time. The email he was replying to should have taken him less than five minutes. But it had been nearly fifteen minutes, and he couldn’t bring himself to focus long enough to reply.
