It’s good to finallythinkit, too. With our recent plans to live together, I feel even more secure in my relationship with Garret. And it certainly didn’t hurt to hear him tell Sadie that he planned to marry me someday.
Katherine can try to break Garret and me apart all she wants, but it won’t work. So let her try. I’m not afraid of her anymore.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
As we driveto Garret’s house, I mentally prepare myself to see Katherine. I’ve come up with all kinds of good comebacks if she tries to insult me or tell me I can’t see Lilly.
When we get there we walk up to the front door, and just as Garret’s about to open it, Katherine does. She’s wearing a long black coat, her purse hung over her shoulder and a set of keys in her hand.
“Oh, goody, Pearce,” she says, keeping her eyes on me. “Look who’s back. Your little charity case.” She darts past me, purposely bumping my shoulder as she goes by.
Wow. She’s not even trying to hide how much she hates me. At least before she tried to fake being nice.
“What the hell, Katherine?” Garret reaches for her arm but she’s too quick. She’s already in the circular driveway headed to her silver Mercedes. The rain has stopped but the wind has picked up, blowing her long blond hair around.
“Katherine, get back here!” Mr. Kensington steps between Garret and me to the driveway. “You need to take Lilly. You know she can’t be here.”
“She’s your daughter, too,” Katherine says as she gets in the car. “You really should spend more time with her. I’m sure she’d love to attend your little meeting.”
Mr. Kensington’s face is red with anger. “When are you coming back?”
She doesn’t answer. Instead, she slams the car door in his face, starts the engine, and speeds off down the long driveway.
He storms past us into the house. “Garret, I need you to watch Lilly. Keep her quiet and up in her room.”
We follow him into the house.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“Your stepmother’s out of control. That’s what’s going on.” He goes in his office and shuffles through a stack of papers. Garret goes in there, too. I wait outside the office door, not sure if I should be listening in on this.
“What are you two fighting about?” Garret asks him.
Mr. Kensington lets out an angry laugh. “What are we NOT fighting about?” He sits down at this desk and types something into his computer.
Garret glances back at me, then back at his dad. “Why do you need us to watch Lilly? Are you going somewhere?”
“No, but some very important people are coming over any minute now and I can’t have a 6-year-old girl running around while I’m trying to do business.”
“Who’s coming over? Clients from work?”
Mr. Kensington looks up at Garret and notices me standing just outside his office door. “It’s not work. It’s some other business I need to take care of. Now please just deal with Lilly, will you?”
“Yeah. Sure. How long do you need us to stay?”
“It shouldn’t take longer than a couple hours. I’ll come up and get you after they leave.” He checks his watch, then gets up and stands in front of Garret. “They’ll be here soon. You need to go upstairs.”
“Um, yeah. Okay.” Garret walks out and we both head to the staircase.
“Oh, and welcome back you two,” Mr. Kensington says from his office doorway. “It’s good you stopped by.” He shuts the door.
“That was weird,” I whisper to Garret as we’re walking up the stairs.
“Welcome to my family. There’s always plenty of drama to keep you entertained.”
When we get to Lilly’s room, I go in first. As soon as she sees me she bursts up from her little chair and runs over to me.
“Jade!” She holds her arms up like I’m supposed to pick her up. Why not? She can’t weigh that much. I pick her up and her little legs and arms wrap around me. “You came to play with me! I knew you would. I missed you.”
