Page 127 of Lilly

"I won't tell her. So what kind of sports?"

"Basketball."

"My son played basketball in high school."

"He did?" His face lights up.

"Yes. He was also on the swim team, which I'm sure Lilly told you."

"What other sports did he play?"

"Soccer, baseball, football."

"I like football." He smiles and his stiff demeanor loosens up a little. "Sometimes I watch it at my friend's house, but Mother would kill me if she knew. She said football's stupid."

I feel like I'm talking to my younger self. My father used to say football was stupid, so just like Conner, I went to my friend's house to watch it.

"It's not stupid," I say. "Just because your mother doesn't like it doesn't make it stupid. What about your father? Does he ever take you to sporting events?"

"He doesn't like sports."

"He could still take you to a game."

"He doesn't have time. He works a lot."

"I see." I thought his father was more involved in his life but I guess not. "So in the fall, you'll be returning to boarding school?"

"Yes. In England."

Katherine ships him off to the same boarding school we sent Garret to. Garret only lasted a few weeks. Conner has been going there for years.

"Do you like it there?" I ask.

He shrugs. "It's okay." And then he mutters, "It's not here."

So he's unhappy here. He'd rather be at boarding school than stuck here with his controlling mother and a father who ignores him. I feel sorry for the boy. He shouldn't be living this way. He doesn't seem even the tiniest bit happy.

"Would you like to come out and visit Lilly some time?"

His eyes widen. "In California?"

"Yes. We could fly you out there. You could go to the beach. Go to the movies. Spend time with Lilly. Would you like that?"

He nods repeatedly. "Yes." His shoulders sag. "But Mother won't allow it."

"I'll talk to her." I smile. "Maybe I could convince her."

He smiles back. "Thank you, Mr. Kensington. I would like that very much."

"You don't need to call me Mr. Kensington. You can call me Pearce."

"It's bad manners to call your elders by their first name."

"Not if I say it's okay. Please. Call me Pearce."

Katherine storms in the room. "These people in charge of the committee I'm on are complete idiots!" She picks up a leather covered notepad from the side table and disappears down the hall.

"I should go back to my room," Conner says.

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