Chapter 3

The next morning, the Fernandez family's driver showed up with three gift boxes.

Grandma Grace was out in the yard drying chili peppers. When she spotted the gold-embossed letters on the boxes, she held up her bamboo sieve to block the entrance.

"We don't accept gifts here," she said firmly.

The driver looked at me, clearly in a tough spot. "Miss Nolan, Mr. Fernandez said these are to make up for your clothes and jewelry. If you don't take them, I'll be in trouble."

Before I could say anything, a sweet, soft voice drifted in from the alley.

"Nora, just take them. Andy spent ages picking them out," Charlotte called out.

Charlotte was wearing a light-colored dress, her wrist wrapped in gauze, with two young girls trailing behind her, phones in hand.

She totally ignored Grandma Grace's mood, walked straight into the yard, and tried to grab my hand.

I pulled away.

She missed, but just flashed another smile. "Are you still mad at me? I really didn't mean it yesterday. If you don't forgive me, I'll feel terrible."

One of the girls raised her phone, aiming the camera straight at me.

"Nora, Charlotte came all the way here herself. Don't make it so hard," one of them said.

The other girl chimed in, "Come on, it's just a dress. Charlotte's hand is all wrapped up, and she was really freaked out too."

Grandma Grace grabbed her broom. "Who said you could film? Get out of here."

Charlotte quickly stepped in. "Don't be mad, Grandma Grace. They're my friends. They're just here to film me apologizing."

I glanced at the gauze on her hand. "What happened to your hand?"

Charlotte looked down. "I accidentally nicked myself on the rim of a cup yesterday."

One of the girls behind her immediately chimed in, "Charlotte was in so much pain last night she couldn't sleep at all. She kept saying she was worried about you. Nora, if you have any decency left, stop giving her such a hard time."

Grandma Grace was so furious she looked like she was about to storm over.

I held Grandma Grace back and turned to the driver. "Take them back."

The driver looked stunned. "Miss Nolan, but..."

"Tell Andrew I don't want the clothes or the jewelry. I got Miss Wright's apology. There's not enough room in the yard for all this filming," I said.

Charlotte's smile faded a little.

"Are you saying I'm pressuring you?" she asked.

I replied, "Aren't you here to apologize?"

She paused.

I continued, "Since when do people bring their friends along to film someone else's grandma when they're here to apologize?"

The girl holding the phone's face fell. "What are you getting at? We weren't filming Grandma Grace, okay?"

I walked over, reaching out my hand.

"Give me the phone," I said.

She quickly hid the phone behind her back. "Why should I?"

Wendy, Grandma Grace's neighbor, poked her head out from the doorway. "I saw it just now. The camera was right up in Grandma Grace's face."

Another neighbor chimed in, "Young lady, if you're here to apologize, just do it. Why are you filming someone else's yard? It might look a little shabby, but it's not for you to laugh at."

Charlotte's smile slipped.

"Nora, that's not what I meant. They're just concerned about me," she said.

"Then let them show their concern outside," I said.

The Fernandez family's driver cleared his throat. "Miss Wright, maybe you should head out for now."

Charlotte bit her lip, looking at me, her voice soft and a little hurt. "Nora, Andy was right. You really do have me all wrong."

I looked at her calmly. "Yeah."

She waited for me to explain, but I didn't say a word.

After a few awkward seconds, she turned and walked out.

When she reached the door, she suddenly looked back. "Nora, you'll come to the Fernandez family dinner tomorrow night, right? Grandpa Fernandez is really fond of me, and I don't want things to get tense between you all because of me."

I said, "I'll be there."

There was a flash of smug satisfaction in her eyes.

"I'll be waiting for you," she said.

After they left, Wendy was still standing at the door, grumbling, "What nerve, coming here to push us around in our own house."

Grandma Grace patted her chest. "One of these days, that girl's going to give me a heart attack."

I helped her inside. "Don't talk like that."

Grandma Grace snorted. "Then don't go tomorrow."

I picked up the red-stained dress. "I have to go."

"Why? So they can keep pushing you around?" Grandma Grace asked.

I ran my fingers over the neat seams inside the dress.

"I'm going to get Grandma Grace's things back," I said.

Grandma Grace looked confused. "What things?"

I didn't say anything.