Annabelle had told herself she wouldn't rise to the bait regardless of the provocation, but between Mouse, Heath Champion, the mention of Rob, and a fear that her mother was right, she broke. "Applying myself in the Granger family only means two things, right? Medicine or finance?"

"Don't start. You know exactly what I mean. That awful matchmaking business hasn't turned a profit in years. Mother only opened it so she could nib into other people's lives. You're not getting any younger, Annabelle, and I won't stand by and watch you waste more of your life when you could be going back to school and preparing for the future."

"I don't want-"

"You've always been good with numbers. You'd make a wonderful accountant. And I've told you we'll pay your tuition."

"I don't want to be an accountant! And I don't need my parents supporting me."

"Living in Nana's house doesn't count, then?"

It was a knockout punch. Annabelle's cheeks burned. Her mother had inherited Nana's Wicker Park house. Annabelle was living in it, ostensibly to keep it from being vandalized, but really because Kate didn't want Annabelle staying in some "dangerous urban neighborhood." Annabelle lashed back. "Fine! Do you want me to move out? Is that what you want?"

Oh, God, she sounded like she was fifteen again. Why did she always let Kate do this to her? Before she could retrench, her mother went on, speaking in the same overly patient maternal voice she'd used when Annabelle was eight and had announced that she'd run away from home if her brothers didn't stop calling her Spud.

"What I want you to do is go back to school and get your accounting degree. You know Doug will help you get a job."