Page 166 of Finding Us

“We’d love to come to your house for Christmas,” Jade says to my dad. “I mean, if you want us to. We’d love to be there.”

There she goes again. Jade just made me love her even more. This is not at all what she wants to do but she’ll do it for my dad. And for me. And for Lilly, who Jade knows will be crushed if we don’t show up for Christmas.

“Are you sure?” My dad is just as surprised as I am.

“Absolutely.” Jade takes another donut. “Could we stay there a week or is that too long?”

My dad smiles. “A week would be perfect.”

Jade’s phone rings. “It’s Harper. I’ll be right back.” She goes in the bedroom and shuts the door.

“So I guess you’re coming home for Christmas.” My dad’s still smiling.

“I guess we are.”

“You two haven’t discussed this?”

I laugh. “No. She just decided for us.”

“Well, I’m very happy you’ll be coming. And I know Lilly will be as well.” He reaches in his suit pocket and pulls out an envelope. “While Jade’s in the other room, I want to talk to you about something.”

“Okay, what?” I’m concerned that he doesn’t want Jade to hear this.

He hands me the envelope. “Open it.”

I rip it open and inside is a check for $2 million. “What the hell is this?” I lower my voice. “You can’t give me your money. Are you insane? You know what they’d do to you if—”

“It’s not mine. I guess technically it is, but it doesn’t have any connection to the company or the organization. That’s the insurance money from when your mother died. I kept it in a separate account all these years. I’m not sure why but now I’m glad I did. I wasn’t sure if I could give it to you, but I checked the rules and found a loophole. Since this money didn’t come from the company or my parents or the financial rewards of membership, I’m allowed to give it to you. I want you to have it, Garret. It’s not anywhere near the amount you would’ve received in your inheritance but at least it’s something.”

“Dad, I don’t need it. Jade has money, now.”

I haven’t told my dad how much money is in Jade’s trust fund, but he knows she has one.

“I know Jade has money, but I think it’s important for you to have your own. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to be living off my wife’s money. I don’t want this to become an issue in your marriage.”

“It’s not an issue. We don’t talk about it.”

“Does it bother you that she’s paying for the house and not you?”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

“I don’t believe you. You’ve always had money, Garret. And I know you don’t like relying on other people. I also know you want to take care of Jade and you don’t feel like you’re doing that when she’s paying for everything.”

I didn’t think my dad knew me that well, but he’s exactly right. I don’t like not being able to support Jade the way I feel I should.

“How are you paying for your other expenses?”

“Grace gave Jade a credit card to use. It’s the same deal she made with Sadie and her sisters. Grace pays for all expenses for her grandkids until they graduate college.”

“I see. So you’re using the credit card as well?”

“I usually take money out of the ATM. Jade put some of the trust money into a bank account so it’s easier to access whenever she needs cash. And if we don’t pay cash, then Jade uses her credit card.”

“Garret, I know you’re not okay with that.”

I sigh. “I’m not, but what am I supposed to do? I tried to get a job last summer but Jade wouldn’t let me. I didn’t want to fight about it before the wedding so I just let it go. I’ve been looking for something around here but there’s nothing. This town’s too small. And it’s not like we need the money so it seems stupid to get a job.”

“Take this.” He picks the check off the table and hands it to me. “Put it away and talk to Jade about it later.”

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