Page 30 of Finding Us

Holton’s tall, like Garret and Pearce, but thinner than them because he’s old and doesn’t have the muscle tone anymore. But he stands very straight and commands attention when he walks in a room. I’m guessing he’s in his mid-seventies but he doesn’t have a ton of wrinkles. He has a full head of gray hair and has the same strong jawline as Pearce and Garret and the same piercing blue eyes. He looks good for his age. The Kensington men definitely age well. They all look handsome.

Eleanor’s a few inches taller than me and very thin. She wears her hair really short but it’s layered and styled like one of those pixie cuts and she colors it a shade of light blond that’s almost white. It’s a very sophisticated look and she has a pretty face so the short hair works on her. I would never look good with hair that short.

“Glad you could make it,” Pearce says, extending his hand to Holton.

How weird is that? He’s shaking hands with his own father?

Holton gives him a quick handshake. “Yes, well, your mother enjoys the fireworks show.”

Pearce gives Eleanor a distant hug and kisses her cheek. “Hello, Mother.”

She smiles. “Hello, Pearce. I hope you’re doing well. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you.”

Been a while? They live like 20 minutes from here. How long has it been? I wonder if Pearce and his parents are fighting about something. From the vibe I’m getting, I’m guessing Pearce is only fighting with his dad. Eleanor seems okay but Holton is shooting angry looks at Pearce.

“We’ll have you and Katherine over for dinner next week.” Holton says it like it’s an order, not a choice. “Next Friday night.”

Pearce straightens up, his jaw clenched. “Yes, fine. Just let us know what time.”

“It’s too bad Katherine couldn’t be here tonight.” Holton smirks, as if he purposely said it to annoy Pearce.

For some reason, Holton likes Katherine. I noticed this last Christmas when Eleanor and Holton came over. Holton was super nice to Katherine. I didn’t understand it then, but now I’m thinking maybe Holton was the one who picked Katherine to marry his son. It was an arranged marriage and I’m sure Holton had a say in who Pearce’s wife would be.

“Grandma!” Lilly runs out of the house and up to Eleanor, holding her arms up.

Eleanor picks her up. “There’s my little sweetie. Where were you?”

“In the kitchen helping Charles frost the cookies. We made fireworks cookies!”

“I’ll have to try one.” Eleanor sets her down. ”I brought you something.”

“You did?” Lilly jumps up and down.

Eleanor reaches in her purse and pulls out a small, sparkly wand that lights up. “It’s a princess wand. Just like you told me you wanted.”

Lilly’s eyes get big and she hugs Eleanor. “Thank you, Grandma!” She looks at her dad. “Can I play with it right now?”

“Yes, honey. Go ahead.”

She takes the wand and runs off, twirling it in the air.

Holton huffs. “Pearce, what is wrong with you? Your daughter shouldn’t be working alongside the hired help.”

“She was just frosting cookies. She wasn’t—”

“That cook of yours knows a Kensington shouldn’t be doing his work. It’s complete insubordination. Katherine would never allow such behavior and neither should you. You should fire that man. He disobeys orders and his cooking is atrocious.”

Pearce tightens his hand into a fist, then releases it. He’s so tense I’m worried he’s going to explode at any moment. But instead he smiles and turns to Garret and me. Holton has completely ignored us since he arrived. Eleanor smiled at us, but she didn’t say hello.

“I have a surprise for you both,” Pearce says. “As you can see, Garret and Jade have joined us for the holiday.”

They didn’t know we were coming? Why didn’t Pearce tell them? Did he think they wouldn’t show up if they knew we’d be here? Or if they knewI’dbe here? Are Pearce and his father fighting because ofme? I’m guessing that’s the reason.

Garret’s grandparents don’t know me, but they don’t like me and they don’t want me marrying Garret. In fact they’re refusing to go to the wedding. It’s fine with me because like Pearce said, the people at our wedding should be people who support us and want us to be happy, so Garret’s grandparents shouldn’t be there. But I know Garret wants them there, even if he won’t admit it.

“Hello, Grandfather.” Garret puts his arm out for the formal handshake.

Holton glares at him for what seems like forever because the man doesn’t say anything. There’s just awkward silence. But as I watch Holton’s steely gaze, it’s almost like the awkwardness is intentional. Like Holton’s trying to say something with his silence. Make sure we know that he’s the one in power. And that’s exactly how it feels. Like we’re letting him run the show while we all stand here afraid to speak or do anything.

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