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“Yeah, but we’ve never had a chance to meet,” I said. “Do you think she’ll ever come to visit?”
Grams shook her head, helping herself to more spaghetti. “Honestly? No, I don’t. She’s agoraphobic, dear. As I said, I took her in when Elisa died. It was a nasty accident, her death was.”
“How did she die? If it doesn’t hurt too much to talk about it.”
“Oh, I loved Elisa—she was a good daughter-in-law. But my son’s actions broke her. She did her best to work through the pain, but she never could forgive him for what he did to, not only their family, but the victim’s family. She was so conflicted. She went out for a walk and slipped off a cliff, falling to her death on the rocks below.”
I wasn’t sure how to ask it but Grams finished my thought for me.
“We were never sure if it was an accident, or deliberate. Diedre was fifteen when Elisa died. I took her in and she’s lived with me since then. Peter died the year before—he was 121, and he ended up with MWD.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Magical wasting disease. It happens when the magical energy becomes so thin that the body begins to draw on the life force. It’s a rare disease, and seems to be random. There’s a genetic component, but it’s a mutation, not hereditary.” Grams shrugged. “It was hard, losing him. Peter and I didn’t have a great romance, but we had a solid marriage and we loved each other. So, the year after he died, Diedre moved in.”
“Do you get along with her?”
“As best as I can. I love her and she’s no real trouble. But she’s always felt like an outsider. I did my best to make her feel part of the family, but she’s never expressed interest in meeting anybody else. The only person she ever loved—truly loved—was your father. She idolized her brother and when he died, she shut down. Oh, she eats and takes care of the house, and putters in the garden, but she never rebounded. She’s content to watch over the garden and take care of the house, and I decided that it’s best to just let her live in what comfort she finds.”
“That’s a lot,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll need some time to process it.” My mother had told me none of this.
“Take all the time you need,” Grams said.
Nodding, I glanced over at Fancypants. His plate was empty and I needed something concrete to focus on. “You need more to eat?”
He lit up, licking his lips. Well, what passed for lips on a dragonette. He’d finished everything I’d served him.
“You want some more?”
“Thank you. Yes, please, if you would. More spaghetti.”
Grams chuckled. “You are the cutest little thing. You are so polite?—”
“Well, there really isn’t a better way to be, is there?” Fancypants puffed up, looking proud as a peacock.
“True. Manners are vital to holding society together.” Grams turned to Bran as I loaded up the dragonette’s plate again.
“So, tell me, young man. Do you have a girlfriend?”
I froze. This was awkward. But then, Gran had that imperiousness that age often brought to the strong. She wasn’t used to being contradicted or questioned, and she had a natural leadership that made people jump.
Bran cleared his throat. “Not exactly,” he said.
I let out my breath. While I liked him, I also liked Faron and I had no intention of taking on the label of “girlfriend” for either one at this point.
Grams glanced at me. “My granddaughter needs to step into life again.” She paused, and I could feel her gaze boring a hole in my skull. “You two have dated, correct?”
“Grams,stop—” I said, a warning tone in my voice.
But Bran wasn’t used to fending her off. “Yes, ma’am.”
May laughed. “You aren’t going to pull anything over on her, so you’d both better get used to it. Yes, Bran and Elphyra have been on a few dates, but they aren’t exclusive. And there’s nothing wrong with that. While I’d love to see them together, I realize it takes time and it’s not my place to rush things.”
And just like that, May managed to make my great-grandmother back off.
Grams paused, glancing at Bran and then at me. “Then, I’ll keep my silence, but I’m happy to hear you’ve noticed each other.”
I decided to change the subject. Even though I’d talked to May and Bran about it already, Bree’s problem seemed to be a good topic. “I was wondering. I promised Bree I’d go look at the graveyard next to her house. Some odd things have been happening over there. I thought I’d go tomorrow night—anybody want to go with me?”
