Page 16 of Finding Us

Her house is a mansion, almost as big as Garret’s house in Connecticut. It’s surrounded by a really tall privacy wall made of concrete with security cameras placed all around the top of it. It feels even more secure than Garret’s house and I’m wondering why they need such a fortress. Harper never acts like her family has psycho stalkers after them. Maybe her parents are just extra cautious.

“Can you guys get the bags?” Harper asks Sean and Garret as we get out of the car.

“Yeah, we got ’em,” Sean says.

“Come on, Jade.” She takes my arm and leads me down the long hedge-lined entrance to her house.

The front door opens and a tall, thin woman who looks just like Harper appears. She has straight blond hair that hangs a few inches past her shoulders and a tan that’s so even in color that it looks like it might be a spray tan. She’s wearing a fitted black t-shirt and white shorts, and sandals that show off her manicured toes which are painted in a bright pink shade.

She gives Harper a hug. “Honey, what took you so long?”

“We hit traffic. Sorry, I should’ve called.”

Harper’s mom smiles at me. “And you must be Jade.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

I reach out to shake her hand but she gives me a hug instead.

My face must show my surprise because Harper laughs. “We’re huggers, Jade. The whole family, so get prepared for more.”

“Come inside.” Her mom leads us into the foyer. “Where are the guys?”

“They’re getting the luggage,” Harper says.

“Hi, Mrs. Douglas.” Sean walks in with two suitcases. Harper packs way too much for an overnight stay.

Harper’s mom gives him a hug. “Sean, I told you to call me Kelly. Mrs. Douglas makes me sound way too old.”

Itdoesmake her sound old and she definitely doesn’t look old. She’s in her mid-forties but she looks more like she’s in her late twenties or early thirties. She doesn’t even have any wrinkles. I wonder if she gets those injections in her face that are supposed to get rid of wrinkles. Harper said people in LA are obsessed with looking younger.

Garret walks in with our one small suitcase. “Hi, Mrs. Doug—I mean, Kelly.”

“Much better,” she says, giving him a hug. “So, Garret, when’s the last time I saw you? Two years ago? In New York?”

“That sounds right. I think it was the fundraiser for the children’s hospital.”

“Yes, that’s right, it was. How’s your family doing?”

“Good. Jade and I are going back to visit them next weekend.”

She smiles. “For the Kensington Fourth of July celebration?”

He smiles back. “Yes, but it’s just the family this year. We’re not doing the big party.”

“Well, tell your parents I said hello. Oh, and I have some things for Lilly. I was cleaning out our storage room last week and found some princess costumes the girls used to play with and I thought Lilly might like them. Unless you think Katherine wouldn’t want her having them.”

“I’m sure she’d be happy to get them.”

Garret’s just being polite. Katherine would never allow Lilly to wear used clothes, even used play clothes.

Kelly continues to talk to Garret. As I stand there watching their exchange, I find it odd that Garret’s family knows Harper’s family. It makes sense that they see each other at charity events, but sometimes I think they’re more than just casual acquaintances.

Last spring, when Pearce was trying to make Garret look bad in the media, he said he’d have Harper’s dad make some fake videos. Pearce acted like he’d worked with her dad before and said that Harper’s dad owed him a favor.

It makes me wonder if maybe Harper’s dad is somehow involved in the secret organization Garret’s dad belongs to. I try not to think about it because Garret’s no longer involved in any of that and thinking about it just stresses me out.

“I need to say congratulations to you two,” Kelly says, smiling at Garret and me.

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