Just as I was about to present my gift, Samantha snatched the box from my hands. She opened it, and with a shrill laugh, she jeered, "Mountain ginseng? We have warehouses full of them. Did you bring this to poison the old lady?"
"What nonsense!"
Grandma frowned and gently reclaimed the gift box, patting my hand with her thin fingers.
Everything Meredith picks comes from the heart. She's just being thoughtful."
Her eyes softened with love and guilt.
"Tristan has been confused lately and wronged you. Grandma will make him answer for it."
I wanted to protest, but her happiness made me hold my tongue. I whispered instead, "Thank you, Grandma."
She seemed ready to say more, but Hillary suddenly cut in. She pushed my hand away and pressed Grandma's palm onto her own lower belly, her smile radiant.
"Grandma, guess what surprise Tristan and I prepared for you?"
eyes widened, then lit up with joy. "Hillary, are you... pregnant?"
Hillary blushed and nodded. "Almost three months now. We checked and it's a boy."