Page 27 of Finding Us

Pearce ordered three large pizzas because he wanted to make sure we had enough. Obviously it’s way too much and I’m sure he knows that. I think he ordered extra so Katherine would come home and find the leftovers in the fridge and freak out. But maybe it’ll be gone by then. Pearce said Katherine is having a spa weekend out of town and won’t be home until Sunday afternoon.

Lilly eats two big slices of pizza which is a lot for someone her size but she probably thinks she’ll never get it again.

For dessert we make ice cream sundaes. Garret pulls out a bunch of different toppings and lets Lilly make her own sundae, something Katherine would never allow. She’d say it’s too messy and that Lilly shouldn’t be making her own food because that’s Charles’ job.

As we’re eating our sundaes, Pearce asks, “Is everything set for the—” He stops before he mentions the wedding because we haven’t told Lilly about it. Garret wanted to tell her in person.

Pearce clears his throat and looks at Garret. “Do you want to tell her now?”

“Yeah, I think now’s a good time.” He looks at me to agree.

“Go ahead.”

Lilly’s ignoring us, bobbing up and down in her chair, eating the last of her ice cream.

“Lilly, I have something to tell you,” Garret says.

She looks up, the last spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. “What?”

“It’s big news. Are you ready?”

She nods as she sets her spoon down. She wipes her napkin over her face and waits patiently in her seat.

“Jade and I are getting married. She’s going to be your big sister.”

“Really?” Lilly jumps off her chair and runs over to him. “Jade will be my sister?”

“Yes.” He laughs at her enthusiasm. “You’ll finally have a sister.”

“I always wanted a sister!” She turns to me and I pick her up and set her on my lap.

“And that’s not all,” he says. “We’re getting married in two weeks and you’re going all the way to California for the wedding.”

“Do you get to wear a pretty dress?” she asks me.

“Yep. A really pretty dress.”

“Jade, you tell her the other part,” Garret says.

“Garret and I would like you to be our flower girl. Do you know what that is?”

She nods. “I get to wear a pretty dress, too, and throw flowers everywhere.”

Pearce smiles. “Well, not everywhere, Lilly, but they’ll show you where to put them.”

“And Mom said it’s okay?” Lilly asks Pearce. It pisses me off that she even has to ask.

“Your mother and I both say it’s okay.”

It’s a lie. I know Katherine doesn’t want Lilly in the wedding, but Garret says that since we moved, Pearce has been standing up more to Katherine and this is something he wouldn’t back down on.

Lilly hops off my lap and runs over and climbs on her dad’s. “I’m gonna be a flower girl! And I have a sister!”

“Yes, honey, that’s exciting.” He hugs her. He’s definitely acting differently than before. He seems more relaxed. “Go up and get your pajamas on and we’ll watch a movie before you go to bed.”

She seems confused. “You’re gonna watch with me?”

“Yes. And maybe Jade and Garret would like to join us.” He looks at us. “Unless you have other plans.”

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