He pulled her back to his chest.

“I think this is one of those times when being an only child has limited your perspective. No matter what Michelle has done in the past, or what else she’ll try in the future, she’s still my sister. I won’t let her get close enough to do any harm, but I at least have to hear her out.”

“I might not know anything about siblings, but I know greed when I see it, and your sister has ‘what’s in it for me’ written all over her face.”

“She can’t touch my money or property. The lawyers have made sure of that.”

“It’s not your things I’m worried about. It’s you,” she said, and poked her finger into his chest.

He leaned his face down and kissed her gently on her mouth.

“If it makes you feel any better, I told her to meet me at Jorge’s place,” he said referring to Tico’s Tacos, a Mexican restaurant run by Jorge Perez. Jorge was the father of Aiden’s best friend Julio, and he had stepped in to fill the role when Aiden’s own father passed away while the boys were still in grade school. “That way, she can’t even start the discussion about what’s in the house and how Mom meant for her to have it.”

“She’s done that in the past, I take it?”

Aiden sighed. “Once or twice.”

“Did you give her stuff?” Harriet asked, her voice louder than she’d intended.

His pained silence answered her question.

“What did you give her?” she pressed.

“Not much. A necklace. A couple of teacups. Nothing I couldn’t spare. My mom had a lot of stuff, you know.”

“That’s not the point.”

“I know-you’re not the only one I’ve had this discussion with. Jorge told me the same thing. He says she’s toxic. And he said she’s probably selling whatever I give her online as soon as she gets home.”