Are you sure I can’t kill him? Not just for what he did to you, but also for what he did to Nicole. There are foxgloves over there in that pretty border. I could grind them down and drop them into his wine. How much would you need, I wonder?” Nanna Peg clutched her handbag as they stood together and watched as Richard walked toward them along the path. Avery was next to him, wearing a floor-length summer dress in a pale shade of blue. “She looks very plain and washed-out next to you, Milly. You look gorgeous.”

Milly decided that inviting the whole family might have been a mistake. Much as she adored Nanna Peg and appreciated her steadfast support, she was already seeing the potential for many embarrassing moments. And on top of that stress, she felt sick with nerves for Zoe. She’d worked so hard on the part, and Milly knew how disappointed she’d be if it didn’t go well.

Still, it was a comfort to know that Nicole was with her backstage, and Nicole would be far more use in this situation than Milly would have been.

She knew nothing about first-night nerves.

“The dress was a gift from Nicole.” Milly glanced down at herself, wondering if she was slightly overdressed. “I wasn’t sure.”

“It’s stunning. Fuchsia pink is perfect with your coloring.” Nanna Peg narrowed her eyes. “You look a little like a foxglove yourself. Maybe it’s a metaphor. You could be the death of—”

“It’s not a metaphor,” Milly said quickly. “It’s just a dress.”

“I don’t know about foxgloves, but I hope Avery doesn’t drop the strawberries on that blue dress. Wearing something so pale to an outdoor performance in a garden might be a mistake,” Connie muttered, but Milly noticed something other than the dress.

She saw that Avery was gripping Richard’s hand and casting wary glances around her.

“She’s nervous. It must have taken a lot of courage to come,” Milly said, “and I’d like you both to be friendly. This is how our family looks now. Different. Maybe a little messy. But it’s still our family.”

Nanna Peg stuck her jaw out. “I’m not sure that—”

“You’re going to do it for my sake, Nanna Peg.” Milly leaned in and kissed her grandmother on the cheek. “And for the sake of your great-granddaughter. We are going to move on. We are all evolved people here.”

“Are we?” Nanna Peg blinked. “I suppose I can pretend to be evolved. As long as she doesn’t try and turn me into a vegetarian. I have limits.” She sniffed. “It will be easier to stomach now that you’re seeing that extremely hot young guy yourself.”

“Nanna Peg!” Milly felt her face turn pink. Why had she thought a family gathering would be a good idea? She must have been crazy.