Page 97 of Always Us

“We don’t have to tell them,” I say.

“Maybe we should sit down,” Grace says.

“No.” Sadie scowls at me. An actual angry scowl, as if what her father did to my mom is somehow my fault. “We’re done here.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

23

GARRET

After I talk to Lilly I go downstairs to my dad’s office but he isn’t there. Roth isn’t either. I ask Katherine where my dad went and she says she doesn’t know.

The house is still full of people, including Victoria, who waves at me when she sees me, like she wants me to come over and talk to her. She’s standing next to William, who gives me an eye roll as Victoria latches onto his arm. It’s clear William doesn’t like her. I’m guessing he’s on Victoria-watch while Grace talks to Jade. I smile at William and give him a head nod, letting him know I feel his pain.

I need to find Jade. She and Grace have been gone too long and people will start to notice, mainly Victoria who’s scanning the room like she’s searching for Grace. The woman just can’t mind her own business. She’s always watching people, gossiping, making up stories that aren’t true.

Jade said she was going to find a place to talk to Grace. I saw her go down a hallway filled with rooms we never use. We even have a piano room down there, which I’ve only been in one time. Nobody in my family plays the piano, but since rich people tend to have grand pianos, Katherine thought we needed one, so it sits there collecting dust in an empty room.

I go down the hall, checking each room. I hear talking and notice light coming out of the piano room. I walk down there and see Jade standing just inside the door.

“There you are.” I walk in and stand in front of her. “You should get back down there before—”

“Does Garret know?” A voice behind me cuts me off. I know that voice. I turn and see Sadie there, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Grace is next to her.

“Yes,” Jade says to Sadie.

“Know what? What is she talking about?” I look at Jade to answer.

“I told Sadie I’m her half-sister.”

I’m not sure what to do with that information, so I turn to Sadie and say, “Sadie, what are you doing here?”

“I’m picking my mother up to take her to the hotel. I was visiting Evan at Yale and since Mother is also here in Connecticut, we decided to meet up and go shopping in the city tomorrow.”

“But your mother came here with William and me,” Grace says.

“Yes, but she called and asked me to come get her. She was bored.”

Who the hell admits to being bored at a memorial service? Only people like Victoria.

Grace sighs. “Your mother should show some respect. If she’s that bored, then go get her and leave.”

Grace is pissed. I’ve never seen her angry before. Something must’ve happened before I got here. Was Sadie being a bitch to Jade? Or was she just being a bitch in general? Having dated Sadie, I know either is a possibility, but she better not have been a bitch to Jade.

“I’ve decided I’d like to speak with Jade some more,” Sadie says. “You can go, Grandmother.”

I give Grace a look, letting her know I’ll handle this.

“Watch what you say to her, Sadie,” Grace says. “My will can easily be changed.”

Sadie’s mouth drops open as Grace exits the room. So Sadie was a bitch to Jade. Yeah, I’m not putting up with that.

I step in front of Sadie. “What did you say to her?”

Sadie’s about two feet in front of me and all I smell is her perfume. It’s way too strong and the same perfume Victoria wears. I always hated that perfume.

“I didn’t say anything. She’s the one who accused my father of cheating.”

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