Page 32 of Finding Us
I glance back to make sure nobody’s around. “Intense doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“Just ignore them and have fun.”
“Yeah, I’ll try.”
“If you see Lilly, tell her I’ll be bringing the cookies out in a few minutes.” He laughs. “She keeps coming in here asking when they’ll be ready.”
“I will. See you out there.”
I feel more relaxed after talking to Charles. He’s so laid back. He doesn’t let stuff bother him, which is the only way he could survive working for Katherine. That woman treats him like crap. I’ve never seen her have a conversation with him or even say hello to him. She just orders him around. At least Pearce is nice to Charles. That’s probably why he keeps working there.
As I’m going down the hall, I hear Holton talking in the dining room. He sounds angry. I peek inside and see him standing in the back of the room with his phone to his ear. I wait outside and listen. I know I shouldn’t eavesdrop but if he wanted privacy, he should’ve shut the door.
“Eleanor forced me to come. She wanted to see Lilly. But if I’d known he was bringing that trashy girl to the house, I wouldn’t have agreed to it. Now I understand why they didn’t have the big party this year. Can you imagine what an embarrassment it would’ve been having her show up at such a gathering? It makes me sick seeing her with Garret. It was bad enough at Christmas but now she thinks she owns him, the little tramp. And Pearce just stands by and allows this to happen. I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into him.” Holton stops talking as he listens to whoever’s on the other end of the phone. Then I hear his voice again. “He’s always lacked good judgment when it comes to things like this. That’s clear now more than ever.” He listens again. “Yes, we’ll talk about it on Monday. Let’s plan on having drinks after the meeting.” He pauses. “Yes. You as well.”
“Did you find it?” Pearce startles me as he approaches me in the hall.
“Yes.” I hold up the bottles of bug spray. “Did you need some?”
“No, the bugs never bother me. They never have.”
“All right. Well, I’m going outside to find Garret.”
Pearce walks toward the kitchen while I head back to the patio. Garret appears behind me just as I’m opening the sliding glass door.
“Where did you come from?”
He laughs. “Nice to see you, too.” He holds up a sleeping bag and a blanket. “I found us a spot to watch the fireworks but I needed to get something to put on the ground.” He takes my hand. “Come on. The show will be starting soon.”
It’s dark now and Pearce lit the tall metal torches sticking out of the grass. There are also white lights strung around the cone-shaped shrubs that are in giant pots around the edge of the patio. It’s really pretty.
As Garret and I make our way around the pool, I spot Holton sitting at the table having some kind of liquor in a short, fat glass. He’s seated next to his wife, who’s holding Lilly on her lap. Lilly’s telling her something, her arms flailing around as she talks.
I feel Holton’s eyes on Garret and me and I start to get nervous again. Then I remember what Charles said and I force myself to relax. I’m not letting Holton get to me. And I’m definitely not letting him ruin this evening that Garret is trying so hard to make special for me.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Garret takesme to a secluded spot he found out back by the woods. He spreads the sleeping bag over the ground. “Lie down and test it out.”
“Test what out?” I lie down as instructed.
“The spot. Make sure it’s good.”
“I’m not sure how I would know that until the fireworks start.”
He lies down next to me and stares up at the sky. “It’s good. It’s the perfect spot.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” He sits up and grabs the blanket.
“Then why did you ask me?”
“Here. You might need this.” He hands me the blanket.
I toss it aside and pull him closer. “I’d rather haveyoukeep me warm.”
He leans down and puts his lips on mine.
