Chapter 7

Andrew looked at me, his tone like he was doing me a favor. "Nora, stop this nonsense. I can pretend last night never happened. As for Charlotte, I'll talk to her and make sure she lets it go."

I let out a small laugh. "What has she got to hold against me? That she cannot even say where she supposedly fixed the tapestry panel?"

Andrew's face darkened. "Are you really going to keep picking on her?"

"You're the one who showed up at my place to rehash all this," I shot back.

He couldn't win the argument, so he switched gears. "You're coming back to the Fernandez home with me tonight. Grandpa says the wedding's coming up, and it's not right for you to keep living out here."

Grandma Grace dumped the chili peppers into the bamboo sieve. "She's not going."

Andrew turned to Grandma Grace. "This is between me and Nora."

Grandma Grace looked up. "I raised her, so it's my business."

Andrew set the supplements down at the door. "Grandma Grace, don't forget, the Fernandez Family covered your hospital bills back then."

The courtyard fell silent.

I stared at him. "What did you just say?"

Andrew looked like he'd finally found something to hold over me. "I'm not trying to be harsh. Just reminding you, the Fernandez Family has helped you out before. Nora, this marriage isn't some game. Don't let a little thing mess things up between our families."

Grandma Grace's face went pale.

I stepped forward. "I already reimbursed Grandpa Fernandez for Grandma Grace's hospital bills."

Andrew frowned. "How did you pay him back?"

I didn't answer.

Andrew eyed me, convinced I was hiding something. "Nora, you weren't like this before. You're getting sharper with your words, and you're not acting like yourself anymore."

Grandma Grace suddenly spoke up. "Andrew, you used to come over for dinner when you were a kid, right?"

Andrew looked confused. "Yeah, I did."

Grandma Grace said, "You couldn't hold that bowl of hot soup and spilled it on yourself. Nora stepped in and got burned instead. She ended up with a nasty scar on the back of her hand. Do you remember that?"

Andrew froze.

Grandma Grace went on, "Your mom didn't want her wearing any jewelry that showed her hand because of that scar. Nora never complained. And now you're standing at my door, trying to use those hospital bills to hold that over her?"

Andrew glanced at the back of my hand.

The scar had faded, leaving a rough patch.

Charlotte's voice came from the alley. "Andy, why are you still here? Mrs. Fernandez is looking for you."

She walked over, saw the supplements at the door, and noticed Grandma Grace's pale face. She immediately looked flustered.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Charlotte asked.

Grandma Grace replied, "You always show up at the worst possible time."

Charlotte's eyes got watery again. "Grandma Grace, I know you don't like me, but I really didn't mean any harm."

I asked, "If Mrs. Fernandez is looking for him, how did you know he'd be here?"

Charlotte paused for a second. "I just guessed."

Andrew stepped in. "That's enough."

I nodded. "You two can go now."

Charlotte suddenly grabbed Andrew's sleeve. "Andy, Mrs. Fernandez said we need to go over the engagement party invitations again. Nora hasn't answered any of her messages, and she's getting really anxious."

Andrew looked at me. "Come back home tomorrow. Don't make me come drag you back again."

I said, "I'll go."

His expression softened a bit.

I added, "I'm going to talk about breaking off the engagement."

Charlotte couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes.

Andrew's face darkened completely. "Say that again."

I said, "Calling it off."