Page 259 of Finding Us

“It’s your birthday. Ihadto be here.”

“You flew all the way out here for my birthday? Grace, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to. I missed my—”

“Ryan and Frank are here, too.” I had to interrupt her before she called me her granddaughter. Ryan doesn’t know she’s my grandmother. He just thinks she’s a close friend of Garret’s family. Last summer we told Ryan that Grace was like a grandmother to Garret growing up and that’s why she attended the wedding.

Frank stands up. “Nice to see you again, Grace.”

“And you as well.” She walks over and says hello to him and sits next to Ryan on the couch.

I stand there, still shocked that the three of them came all this way for my birthday.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Garret asks.

Grace and Frank both ask for water.

I follow Garret into the kitchen as the three of them talk. “When did Grace tell you she was coming?”

“Last week.” He smiles. “Actually, I’m the one who invited her.”

“Thank you.” I hug him. “I’ve really missed her.”

“I know you have. She’ll be here all weekend.”

I hug him again as he’s trying to pour the water.

“You seem even happier than when I left this morning. Are you on a sugar high from the donuts?”

“I’m just relieved because I told Frank and Ryan I’m not going to med school and they didn’t get mad.”

“I told you they wouldn’t.”

“I know, but I didn’t believe you.”

He shakes his head, then gives me a quick kiss. “Where’s your tiara?”

“I’m not wearing that. Are you kidding me?”

“Why won’t you wear it? I thought it was just a hair accessory.” He smiles, then walks off with the glasses of water.

The five of us sit and talk for a few minutes, then go to lunch at a restaurant Garret picked. He said one of his professors goes there all the time. It has a big outdoor patio with a wood-fired grill where they make pizzas, but the menu has other items as well.

After lunch, everyone goes back to our place and we talk some more out on the deck. Frank doesn’t mention his new girlfriend. I’m dying to know more about her but I guess he’s not ready to talk about her.

Around 5, Frank and Ryan take Grace back to the hotel where they’re all staying. Apparently everyone knows where we’re going for dinner except me. And Garret still won’t tell me.

I put on a sleeveless red dress. It’s short and fitted and a little sexy but still classy. Garret puts on black dress pants and a grayish-blue, button-up shirt. I told him not to wear a suit because it seemed too formal and I want tonight to be casual and fun.

“You look good, Garret.” I reach up and kiss him. “Really good. And you smell really good, too. What time do we need to be there?”

He laughs. “We don’t have time for sex, Jade. We’ll do that later.”

I stand back a little. “Do I look okay?”

“You look hot. I love red on you. Actually I love every color on you, but the red is—” He steps back, his eyes sweeping over me, looking like he wants to rip the dress off. “Damn, we need to go.”

I slip my black heels on and walk to the dresser. Garret grabs me from behind. “And now you add high heels? We’ll never leave.”

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