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“What did Grandma Moretti ask you to do?”
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“It depends.”
“On whether I demand that he return the loan?”
Clary rested back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “Are you going to make me a deal?”
“No.”
“Because you’re going to do whatever Grandma Moretti wants?”
“Because I’ve done that with all my children and grandchildren. Look how that turned out.”
Clary laughed softly.
“Do you really like Seth?”
“Why is Grandma Moretti so against him?” After all, she had been nagging Clary about her lack of a love life. “She tried to set me up with so many people. Now that I’m actually seeing someone, she’s gone insane.”
“The type of things those boys went through leads to baggage, Clary. People who grew up in abusive homes have a higher tendency to repeat the cycle. You should know that.”
“The Andersons are not like that.”
“I heard one of the brothers drove their car into Hugh’s.”
“Seth didn’t want to lead Hugh to where I was.” She stretched her arm out by her side.
“There may be baggage that you don’t see. She doesn’t want you to get serious, and then feel stuck with him.”
“What if I’ve already seen the baggage and I don’t care?” She blew out a breath. “Ugh. Whatever. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Because as annoyed as I am with Grandma Moretti, I might’ve just realized one horrible thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“That I’m spoiled and selfish.”
“How so?”
“I want someone to give up the world for me.” It wasn’t as if she wanted Seth to turn on his brothers, and she’d hate for Oliver to lose his research … “Even if it’s just in words.”
Mr. E laughed. “So you’d prefer to be strung along? Your Grandma Moretti has no clue how blessed she’s been that you don’t have time to date.” He grew quiet for a moment. “Or should I blame May for putting all those romantic ideas in your head?”
Mrs. E was a great fan of Jane Austen’s books, and she’d always read Austen’s books to her. Mrs E’s favorite: Sense and Sensibility.
“Contrary to what you and Grandma Moretti think, Mrs. E’s favorite book has nothing to do with throwing caution to the winds and risking it all for love. In reality, those books taught me that I should be myself and I can find happiness just being myself. They taught me that I should never judge a person based on first impressions, that people may have reasons for doing what they do.” And Clary understood all the reasons Seth couldn’t choose her.
He could never betray his brothers, not when they’d gone through hell together.
“Why did you choose to work in Safe Homes?” Mr. E asked, cutting into her thoughts.
“Because I could’ve been just like those kids who have no place to go, so I want to do my part in finding a safe home for children who otherwise have nowhere to go.”
“Why are you always so tolerant of the Eolenfelds? I’ve seen how cruel some of my grandchildren are to you.”
