Page 240 of Finding Us

“No, I’m not one ofthoseKensingtons.” I’m not sure why I lied. The man seems normal but his insistence on knowing my last name raises a red flag. And I’m kind of getting a weird vibe from him.

Sara comes back with a dark blue drink. “Here’s your smoothie.”

I taste it. “Blueberry and banana?”

“And orange juice. Do you like it?”

“I love it. This might be my new favorite.”

Sara walks over to Walt. “Hey, Walt. You want the usual?”

He smiles. “Yes, but give me the blueberry muffin today. Thank you, Sara.”

She goes back to the kitchen.

I follow her in there. “Do you know anything about that guy?”

She whips around, startled. “What are you doing here? You can’t be back here. I’ll get in trouble.”

“Sorry. I’ll wait out there.”

When she comes out of the kitchen, I ask her again. “What do you know about that guy?”

“Walt? He’s one of my favorite customers.” She takes some milk from the mini fridge under the counter. “He always orders a muffin and coffee. He’s really nice to me. He asks about Caleb all the time. He has a grandson the same age.”

“Does he work at the college?”

“Yeah, he’s some kind of consultant. He’s only here for a few more weeks.”

So his story checks out. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. Sara makes him sound like a normal guy. I go back to the table to drink my smoothie.

The guy notices me there but keeps his eyes on his newspaper. “You ever wish you WERE that Kensington?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you ever wish you were part of that family? You know, theotherKensingtons.”

That’s a strange question but I answer it anyway. “No. I don’t.”

“They’re one of the richest families in America. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? You’d have an endless supply of money.”

“I don’t need all that money. I don’t think anyone does. If I had that much money, I’d give most of it away.”

He peers out the side of his newspaper. “I find that hard to believe.”

I’m insulted by his comment. I see him eyeing my large diamond ring and I quickly hide my hand under the table.

“Why do you say that? Do I look like someone who’s materialist? Because I’m not. I grew up without—”

His eyebrows rise. “Grew up without what?”

“Never mind.” I’m not telling this guy about my past or anything else about me. I don’t know why he’s so interested anyway. I don’t even know him.

Sara brings him his coffee and muffin. “I warmed the muffin for you.”

“Thank you.” He folds his newspaper up. “How’s Caleb doing?”

Sara smiles whenever someone even mentions Caleb. “He’s doing okay. He had the flu, which is why I wasn’t here the past couple days.”

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