Almost A Bride. Rula Sinara

of animal and children’s charities she had bequeathed money to. “For you, John, your mother left you the sum of ten thousand dollars.”

      “Ten?”

      Mandi and Gray exchanged looks. Her father wasn’t shocked in a positive way. Nope. His face turned a purply shade of red. The sum total Nana had given to charity was more than twice what she’d give to her own son.

      “That’s what it says, John. As for you, Mandi, you now own half of her house and all of its contents, including—your grandmother has specified—the antique pottery bowl handed down from her side of the family and all of her jewelry.”

      The color rose in her father’s neck and his expression tightened. Direct mention of that bowl was a definite dig on Nana’s part. She knew her son well and he’d nagged her one too many times about getting it appraised and possibly selling it. After all, a chunk of pottery didn’t really serve a purpose in his eyes. He didn’t value history. He only worried about the future.

      “I assume, then, the other half of the house is mine,” John said. He seemed mollified enough. Half a house softened the blow the measly ten grand had given him.

      Mandi didn’t understand him. She never would. Ten thousand would make a huge dent in her graduate school debt, not to mention credit card. Not that she’d take it even if he offered. Money gave him control. She did learn from history and she wasn’t letting him ever have a say in her future.

      “Actually,” Joel said, nudging his glasses higher on his nose, studying the document for confirmation, then looking up at Gray. “It says here that the other half of the house belongs to you, Dr. Zale. And that the property cannot be sold or leased without both parties agreeing to the arrangement.”

      “What?” The question shot out of her father and Gray simultaneously. Mandi had no words. She couldn’t wrap her head around what had just been said. Gray owned half of the house? They shared Nana’s house?

      “This isn’t happening,” she muttered, sinking in her chair. She clutched her purse and closed her eyes. Why, Nana? Why? Her father stood up and braced his hands on the edge of the desk.

      “Are you sure? She was old. Were you there when she wrote this up? Was she coherent? Was she of sound mind?”

      “Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Mandi said.

      “Sit down, John. And yes, I’m sure. And for the record, I’ve never known your mother to be anything but sharp and sound minded.”

      John sat, shifting his weight to one side and grinding his jaw. Gray pinched the bridge of his nose and hung his head for a moment, the way he did whenever he needed to gather his thoughts. Mandi would bet her life he wasn’t comfortable with the situation. She knew him well enough to know he didn’t want or expect anything from her grandmother. He took a deep breath and let it out, then leaned forward in his chair.

      “Does she explain why? Like, what I’m supposed to do with it or what she wants done with it?” Gray asked.

      “There is a little more. A note. It says, To Dr. Grayson Zale, I leave you half of my property, to be shared with my granddaughter, Mandi Rivers. I hope you can carry on our work protecting the beach and saving the turtles. You were like a grandson to me and we were more alike than you’ll ever know. We cared about the same things in life, you and I. Keep it all close to your heart.”

      There was a moment of silence as Joel linked his fingers.

      “That’s all she has, apart from stating that anything not mentioned specifically should be assumed to belong to Mandi.”

      “I share a house with Gray.” It was all she could say. It was surreal. Cruel. Nana wouldn’t do that to her.

      “If you’re done, then I’m leaving,” John said. He scowled as he stormed out of the room, but Mandi saw his eyes beginning to water and his chin quiver when he thought they could see only his back. Her heart went out to him. The man had his faults, but he was human. No doubt he was upset about the money, but his pride and feelings had been hurt, too. They had to have been. Was this Nana’s way of trying to teach him what mattered in life? That it wasn’t about money and possessions?

      “These are for the two of you.” Burkitt held out two copies of Nana’s house keys.

      Gray had a key to the house.

      She really needed to go back to bed.