"Have you no shame, Dorothy? My brother finally does something nice for our mom, and you park your bargain-bin dead mother's memorial right next door just to spite us?"
"My mom cares about good fortune more than anything, and you pull this? Bringing death to her doorstep? You just want to make sure the Farley family never has a moment's peace!"
The guests had gathered around by now, pointing at me and the memorial, their whispers sharp enough to cut.
"So that's Dr. Farley's mother-in-law? Can't even rest in peace without stirring up trouble."
"Exactly. Wasn't it enough to leech off the Farleys while she was alive? Now she's dead and still bringing bad luck to their party. No class whatsoever."
"Dr. Farley really drew the short straw, marrying into that family. Nothing but trashy, spiteful people."
"Miss Fox is so much better. Sweet, considerate. A hundred times the woman Dorothy is. Dr. Farley should be with her."
Evangeline nestled into Clay's chest, her eyes glistening with carefully manufactured tears, her voice a fragile whisper. "Don't be upset, Dr. Farley. Dorothy's just heartbroken over losing her mom. She's not thinking straight. I don't blame her."