Page 98 of Fourteen of a Kind

“You heard her.” Shaun chuckled. “She thinks it’s cool.”

“What are we going to do?” Stefan asked.

“We’re going to get our hands on that letter, photos, and non-disclosure agreement,” Sam said.

“When Darlene worked for Dad, she knew he and Celeste were engaged,” Stefan said. “She even raved about Celeste and what a nice person she was.”

“That just goes to show you what kind of woman Darlene was.” Simon shook his head. “Unbelievable. I’m telling you all right now. That man will be my death. Nothing else in this world will put me six feet under but him.”

Standing up from my chair, I grabbed Graham’s hand. “We’re going home so you all can talk. He’s a Kind whether you want to believe it or not, and it sounds like he doesn’t have anyone else. No Kind ever gets left behind.” I pointed at each of them before Graham and I headed back to the house.

“Do we really need this right before the wedding?” Graham asked.

“I agree the timing sucks, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. Henry’s old dirty laundry has been aired.”

The front door opened, and Nora and Grady walked in.

“Can Grady hang out here for a while? I don’t think my brothers are ready yet. I have to go to Claire’s house. I want to be the one to tell her before they do.”

“Sure.” I smiled. “So, Grady, can I get you something to drink?”

“Water would be great.”

Graham reached into the refrigerator and handed Grady a bottle of water.

“Do you have any plans to stay in Los Angeles?” I asked him to sit down on the couch.

“Yeah. I’m attending UCLA. I’m studying biochemical engineering.”

“Wow. Impressive.” A smile crossed my lips. “Did you attend college in San Diego?”

“No. I was already enrolled at UCLA. I just took online courses while backpacking through Europe. I always planned to move to Los Angeles and start in-person classes when I returned from Europe. I didn’t plan on my mother dying in the process. I take it my brothers hate me.”

“No. Oh, God, no, Grady. That is not true. They’re just in shock.”

“Nora told me she’s going to UCLA too, which is kind of cool. I grew up an only child.”

“And now look,” Graham said. “You have seven siblings.” He grinned.

“Yeah. It’s so weird. I didn’t come here to cause any problems or family drama.”

“Oh, please.” I waved my hand in front of my face. “Family drama is our specialty.”

“I was just curious about them. Anyway, I’m going to head back to my hotel.” He stood up from the couch.

The sliding door opened. “Sit down, Grady,” Simon said.

“Yeah. You’re not going anywhere yet,” Sam said. “We need to see these photos, the letter, and the non-disclosure papers.”

“I can bring them by tomorrow morning.”

“Or better yet. How about we go with you to your hotel now,” Sebastian said.

“Yeah. Sure. Listen, I have nothing to hide,” Grady said.

“Then let’s go,” Simon said. “Shaun, you can drive with Grady, and we’ll follow you there.”

After they left, my dad walked in.

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