Samantha sank into an upholstered armchair next to the mahogany vanity in her grandmother's room.

" The man is impossible."

"What do you think?" Helena turned in her vanity chair, facing Samantha. "Do I need a little more rouge?"

"More rouge? Samantha stared at her grandmother. Have you heard anything I've been saying?"

"Of course." Helena turned back to the mirror. She stared at her reflection, smoothing her fingertips over the

crests of her cheeks as she continued. "Dave is a beast. He swaggers about your room, half naked, as though he

owned the place."

Samantha crossed her arms under her breasts. "You're certainly sanguine about all of this."

Helena...