Page 41 of Writing On The Wall

“Mymusic box?” I frown, turning to Gran.

She nods, a touch of sadness and nostalgia making her eyes shine. “Pop, bless his grumpy ass, had a good heart, but he had his head in the clouds sometimes.”

“Ivy, love, we didn’t know it was to be yours.” Gail’s eyebrows draw together. “Goodness, we didn’t even knowyou, then. Anyway, we bought it, and a month later, we came home to find one of the back windows had been jimmied open, and the music box was gone.” She turns to Gran with a small lift of her shoulders. “We would’ve given it back to you eventually, Agnes. We were just yanking your chain, hanging on to it.”

“Well, it’s hard to take the word of a couple saboteurs,” Gran fires back, giving Gail the stink eye.

“That was purely accidental,” Gail adds before turning to me. “I poured a failed homemade rum recipe out near the community garden one night, after a bit too much of the real stuff. You know how it goes.” I don’t, but I nod anyway. This is like an episode of Desperate Geriatrics, with all the drama of a housewives reality show, except with muumuus. “It’s possible I got a bit lost,” Gail continues. “And the Best Buds trophy went to someone else that year.”

I bring my hand up to massage my forehead, my eyes pinching shut. “Hang on.” I hold up a palm. “This competition was calledBest Buds?”

“Told you it was a dumb name,” Gail whispers to Opal, and they exchange elbow nudges before Opal looks over to me. “Can we get back to the fact that your grandmother keeps stealing our flowers?” She fists her hands on her hips as she glares at Gran. “Grow your own flowers, Agnes!”

“If you’ll apologize for sabotaging my flowers,” Gran adds, straightening her shoulders. “I’ll refrain from decorating my home with your mediocre flora.”

I let my head fall back and groan. Ember steps forward to herdOpal and Gail together, as if they’ll be easier to influence once they’re contained.

“I’m sure Opal and Gail are only too happy to oblige and put this all behind us, right?” She spears them with crazy eyes.

“If it untwists Miss Hoity Toity’s panties, then, fine. We’re sorry for something we can’t even remember doing.”

Gran grunts in response, folding her arms and apparently accepting the apology.

“Great, okay.” Ember smiles, ushering everyone with her hands. “Gail, I can smell cake, so I’m guessing you have something to take out of the oven? Mrs. Marsh, lovely to see you.”

I wave Carl over to retrieve my mischief-making grandmother, my shoulders finally relaxing when he heads our way, throwing me a thumbs up.

“Love you, Gran! I’ll visit soon.”

“You’d better. And bring that boyfriend over. I need his measurements,” she replies.

My jaw slackens as I turn to ask why, but Ember catches me and pulls me inside.

“You can find out what that’s about later. We need tea.”

Opal and Gail have shuffled into their apartment, unhappy with Ember for postponing their questions about my heritage.

“Maybe we should go over there. I feel bad about ditching them.”

Ember snorts while she unlocks her door. “They have each other, and you’re not ditching them. We planned to hang out just the two of us, so they’re none the wiser.”

“But Gail looked so sad.”

“It’s not sadness, it’s cake anxiety. She’ll be fine.”

“Where’s Nicolas?” I scan the room, looking for Ember’s weirdo cat.

“I think he has a girlfriend.” She wiggles her brows while fillingthe kettle.

“Aw! He’s out canoodling with a lady cat?”

“That’s my suspicion. Anyway, how’s the house coming along? I’m sorry I’ve been too busy with all this wedding stuff to stop by. My mom is driving me crazy.Ugh! See? There I go again. Enough about me. Tell me how it’s been working with Ethan.”

“Oh, it’s been fine.” I’m trying my hardest to maintain a neutral tone, but I can already feel my cheeks heating as I recall my last conversation with a shirtless Ethan.

“Fine?You haven’t tried to murder one other?”

“Is the tea ready?” I gesture to the stove as I walk to the kitchen. I don’t quite know how to explain that I’ve been wanting to behead the butthead a lot less in the past few days. “He’s been away, so I haven’t gotten close enough to attempt homicide lately. Lucky him.” I force a laugh and pour water into the two mugs Ember set out.

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