Anna's POV
The evening sky had already darkened by the time my car pulled up to Shaw Estate.
Yet as I pushed open the front door, I found my mother and grandmother both seated in the living room, their postures rigid with tension.
Mother sat with her back perfectly straight, a tea cup balanced delicately in her hands, though judging by the full cup, she hadn't actually been drinking it. Beside her, Grandmother maintained her customary elegance, but the worried crease between her brows betrayed her concern. They both looked up as I entered, relief washing over their faces.
"I'm sorry. The meeting ran longer than expected." I leaned down to kiss her cheek, then did the same for Grandmother. "Have you both been sitting here waiting all this time?"
Mother's hand caught mine, her grip surprisingly firm as she pulled me down to sit beside her.
"Annie," she began, her voice soft but determined, "we've been talking, your grandmother and I..."
