Page 201 of Promising You
Garret starts laughing.
Arlin nods. “Yes, it’s in the back. You were there. That’s where I took you that day you passed out on campus.”
“That’s what I thought. But Garret and I went there later and the pharmacist acted like we were crazy.”
“The employees don’t know it’s there. They think it’s a maintenance closet. Royce made that room into an office last summer. I never understood why he wanted an office in some small town in Connecticut, but now I think he used it when he was here spying on you.”
As he talks about Royce, I realize how strange it is that I’m sitting here with his father, right across the hall from where Royce tried to kill me. Arlin’s son was shot dead in this very house just feet from where we’re all sitting. And now Arlin is going to help Pearce, the man who killed his son, save Garret. It’s all too weird.
“I’ll be right back.” Garret gets up from his chair. “I want to see Charles’ reaction when my dad asks him to make burgers.”
It’s just Arlin and me left in the office which is awkward because I still don’t know how I feel about him.
“So, Jade, I talked with my wife and told her you’re willing to meet with her. She was very happy to hear that.” Arlin looks down and smooths his tie. “She’s, uh, well, she’s cried nearly every day since she learned the truth about Royce. I haven’t been able to console her. Grace is usually a very energetic, optimistic person, but after Royce passed, she just hasn’t been herself. Then today, when I called and told her you were willing to meet her, she sounded like my wife again.” He looks up. “Anyway, I appreciate you doing this. I know it might make you uncomfortable and I told her she may only get one meeting with you but—”
I put my hand on his. “Let’s just see how it goes, okay? I was thinking we could meet for lunch. We could schedule it for next week sometime. Do you live around here?”
“Not here in Connecticut, but we have an apartment in Manhattan which is where I’ve been staying all week while I take care of some business. Grace and I actually have several homes but currently we’re living at our home in Florida.”
“Oh. Then we can just have lunch the next time you’re both in town.”
“We have a private plane. We just need to pick a time and Grace and I will fly up for the day.”
Garret pops his head in the room. “Charles has the burgers started. He put some appetizers out if you want to come to the kitchen.”
A half hour later, the four of us are eating burgers on fancy china plates in the formal dining room. If only Katherine could see this. I’d love to take a photo right now and send it to her.
Pearce has two cheeseburgers because he says it might be the last time he gets to eat a burger in his house. It’s hard to believe how much control Katherine has over him. He doesn’t like her but he’s stuck married to her and for some reason he does what she says, at least when it comes to what they eat.
After dinner, Arlin and I make plans for lunch on Thursday and then he heads back to the city.
It’s only 9, but I haven’t slept for two days and Garret hasn’t slept much either, so we decide to go to bed early. Besides, we both know I’ll be sneaking in his room in a few hours and we could use a nap before then.
When we get upstairs, his dad is coming down the hall. I head to the guest room I’ve stayed in before and Garret goes to his room, which is at the very end of the hall.
Pearce stops me at the door to my room. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to bed. I know it’s early, but I’m really tired.”
“You’re not staying with Garret?”
I stare at Pearce like I heard him wrong. I glance down the hall and see Garret standing outside his door looking back at his dad.
“What?” Pearce smiles. “You think I don’t know what goes on in the middle of the night?” I blush what I’m sure is a shade of bright red. “Just go down there, Jade.”
“But I wasn’t going to—”
“You haven’t seen each other in a week and the next few months you’ll have to spend apart.” He motions to the end of the hall. “Go stay with Garret. I’m sure you two will just watch some TV and go to bed, right?” He’s trying not to laugh.
“Come on, Jade,” Garret calls out. “Let’s watch TV.”
My face is now burning hot. It’s not like Pearce doesn’t know his son and I are having sex, but the fact that he acknowledged it right in front of us is so embarrassing.
“Goodnight, you two.” Pearce turns and goes downstairs. I hurry to Garret’s room, shut the door, and collapse on the bed.
“I can’t believe your dad just said that!”
“You’re bright red.” Garret’s laughing at me. “It’s not a big deal, Jade. We’re adults.”
