Clay's arm was wrapped around her waist. His expression darkened the instant his gaze swept over the memorial hall, disgust plain on his face. "Dorothy, you did this on purpose, didn't you? Setting up your mother's memorial right here just to ruin my mom's birthday? What the hell is wrong with you?"
I looked at him standing there, so self-righteous, so sure of himself, and almost laughed. I raised my hand and pointed toward the birthday arch across the way.
"Clay, are you blind, or just heartless? This is your own mother's memorial."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Clay's voice cracked like a whip, fury blazing behind his eyes. "My mom is fine. There's no way she's gone. You just can't stand to see me happy, so you're using your dead mother to curse mine. You're sick, Dorothy. You're truly sick."
That was when Audrey Farley came charging over in a glittering party dress, jabbing her finger in my face.
"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."
That little performance only made Clay more protective. He whipped around to glare at me, his tone cold as ice. "Dorothy, out of respect for Evangeline's kind heart, I won't hold this against you. But you need to move this memorial. Now. Get it out of here before it ruins my mother's birthday."