Page 53 of Promising You
“I think we can stay.” Garret looks at me for confirmation.
“Wehaveto. We can’t leave in the middle of the movie.”
“You’re welcome to stay for dinner as well.” Mr. Kensington notices our hesitation. “Katherine won’t be joining us.”
“I do miss Charles’ cooking,” I say to Garret.
“Then I guess we’re staying for dinner.”
“Yay!” Lilly gets up and jumps on the bed, nearly knocking Garret and me off.
Mr. Kensington seems pleased as well. “I’ll tell Charles. And Garret, I need to speak with you downstairs.”
Garret gets up and follows him out. Lilly scoots up next to me and holds my hand. The poor girl is in serious need of some friends and a normal mother. It’s odd how much that sounds like me at her age and yet my environment was so much different than hers. Rich or poor, I guess you can have the same problems.
* * *
When Garretand I leave later that night, Katherine still hasn’t returned. The second we’re in the car, I start quizzing him.
“What’s the deal with Katherine? Did your dad tell you anything?”
“Yeah. They’re separating.” He almost seems sad about it.
“So she’s moving out?”
“They haven’t decided the living arrangements yet. She might still live in the house for Lilly’s sake. It’s a big enough house. They could live there together and not even see each other.”
“Why aren’t you happy about this? You hate Katherine.”
“Because I feel bad for Lilly. I told her they weren’t divorcing.”
“Separating isn’t divorcing.”
“Yeah, but it’s the first step.”
“How’s your dad handling this? Or did he ask for the separation?”
“I don’t know who asked for it. The way the two of them fight all the time they probably should divorce, but it’s going to be hard on Lilly.”
“So is that all your dad said?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Well, when I was on my way to the bathroom, I overheard your dad talking to Kent Gleason.”
“The guy trying to win the nomination?”
“Yeah. We just saw him on TV. He was in Des Moines last week while we were there. Is your dad friends with him?”
“Not that I know of. But my dad latches onto politicians all the time. He throws money at them, hoping they’ll do stuff that benefits our company if they ever get into office.”
“Your dad acted like the guy was actually going to win. He told him it was a done deal. That Gleason would be president.”
Garret shrugs. “He’s just boosting the guy’s ego. That’s all.”
“So you don’t think it’s odd that he was involved with Sinclair and now Gleason?”
“No. He does this every four years with presidential candidates. Now that Sinclair’s gone, he had to find someone else to throw money at. He must think Gleason has the best chance of winning.”
