Page 241 of Finding Us

“That’s too bad.” Walt pulls his phone out of his shirt pocket. “I just got a new picture of Adam.” He gives her his phone.

“Aww, he’s so cute.” She brings the phone over to me. “Jade, look. Isn’t he cute? That’s Walt’s grandson, Adam.”

The photo shows a baby around Caleb’s age, wearing jeans and a blue hooded sweatshirt with baby sneakers.

“Yeah, he’s cute,” I say.

“His father is the basketball coach at a small college in Minnesota,” Walt says. “He likes to dress Adam the same way he does. Jeans and a sweatshirt. That’s what my son wears to work every day. It’s his dream job. He doesn’t have to dress up and he gets to watch basketball all day.”

Sara gives him his phone back. “I have some other customers to help. Enjoy your muffin, Walt.” She races off to another table to take an order.

Walt sips his coffee. “Adam is my only grandson. My son and his wife don’t plan on having any more children. People don’t have large families these days. I came from a family of 10 kids. I grew up on a farm in North Dakota and all us kids had to help out. We never had money. I left home when I was 16 to get a job so I could finally have some money. It was stupid of me to drop out of school, but when you want money you’ll do just about anything to get it. You know what I mean?”

The way he asked the question and the way he’s staring at me right now, I feel like he’s accusing me of something.

“I should probably be going.” I fish through my purse for my wallet.

“I didn’t mean to bother you. Don’t feel you need to leave on my account.” He picks up his newspaper and starts reading again.

I don’t have anything smaller than a $20 bill. Sara will insist on giving me change back but she’s with a customer right now and I don’t want to wait for her. I just want to leave. I drop the $20 bill on the table.

As I’m putting my wallet away, I feel a hand wrap around my shoulder.

“I got your text.” I turn to see Garret behind me. “What are you doing here? You should be home resting.” He leans down and kisses my cheek.

Walt’s eyes leave his paper and a smug grin appears on his face as he sees me with Garret. He recognizes Garret. He knows I’m one ofthoseKensingtons. I’ve been caught.

CHAPTERFIFTY-SIX

GARRET

“I was just leaving,” Jade says. She holds on to my arm as she gets down off the high stool.

“Are you okay to drive? You said you felt dizzy this morning.”

“That was before I ate breakfast. I just needed to eat. I feel fine now. I drove here without any problems.”

“Excuse me, but are you Garret Kensington?” An older man asks it. He’s sitting a few seats down from where Jade was sitting. I’ve seen him in here before.

“Yeah, why?”

Jade squeezes my arm. I look over at her but her eyes are on the old man.

“I’m Walt Payson,” he says when I look back at him. “I’m a business consultant and I’ve been following your father for years. The way he’s grown Kensington Chemical since he took it over is truly impressive.” Walt glances at Jade, then back at me. “You two know each other?”

“This is my wife, Jade.”

Jade squeezes my arm again. That time it hurt.

“We need to go,” she says, taking my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Jade,” Walt says.

Jade ignores him. She grabs her purse and pulls me toward the door, not stopping until we’re outside and a few feet down the sidewalk.

“What are you doing? Why’d you yank me out of there like that?”

She points to the coffee shop. “That guy in there—Walt whatever—was trying to get all this information out of me. I didn’t like him.”

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