Page 46 of Finding Us

“I made you a picture of all of us in the pool with fireworks in the sky.”

“That’s great, Lilly. Make sure you bring it with you when you come out here.”

“I will. Dad says I have to go. Bye!”

Pearce gets back on the phone. “She’s excited about the wedding. She’s been practicing throwing flowers. I got her some fake petals.”

“Pink ones,” she yells in the background.

“I need to be going, Jade. I’m taking Lilly to her ballet lesson today because Katherine is out of town. We’ll talk soon. Tell Garret I said hello.”

“Okay, bye.”

I hang up, still not believing how much Pearce has changed. I wonder if it will last or if he’ll eventually go back to being his old self.

A few minutes later, Garret comes down the stairs. “What did my dad say?”

“That he’s coming out here this Saturday.”

“A whole week before the wedding?”

“Yeah, he’s going to Santa Barbara to stay with Grace for a few days.”

He looks surprised. “Really?”

“I know. It’s weird, isn’t it?”

He walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge. “I guess not. He’s known her family for years and he got to be good friends with Arlin last spring.”

“He said he’s bringing Grace to the wedding but that they’re coming here next Tuesday. Grace is babysitting Lilly while your dad works. But I don’t think he meant work for Kensington Chemical. I think he meant work related to the organization.”

“Whatever. I don’t want to know.” Garret starts rummaging through the fridge, moving stuff around on the shelves. “That’s his thing to deal with, not ours, and I don’t want you even thinking about it. He shouldn’t have even mentioned it to you.”

“He didn’t. I’m just guessing that’s what he meant.”

My cell phone rings and I see that it’s Harper. “Hey, Harper. Are you in San Francisco yet?”

“Not yet. We stopped to eat. Hey, can you make sure I locked the door to our place? I thought Sean locked it and he thought I did so now I don’t know if it’s locked.”

“Sure, I’ll go check.”

“Thanks. Oh, and my dad just called. He and my mom are driving up next Tuesday. He said they’re staying at the same hotel that Garret’s dad is staying at. My dad has to do something for work, so Mom and I are going shopping Wednesday.” I hear dishes clanging in the background. “Our food’s here, so I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, bye.” We hang up and I go stand next to Garret in the kitchen. “Harper just said her parents are driving up here next Tuesday and that her dad has to work while he’s here.”

Garret grabs his keys from the counter. “Yeah. So why are you giving me that look?”

“Don’t you think that’s strange? Both her dad and your dad have to work? And they’re staying at the same hotel?”

“No. They both work a lot and there aren’t many hotels in this town.”

“I guess.”

“Jade. What did I say about worrying about shit? Whatever my dad’s doing is not your concern.” Garret threads his hand with mine and pulls me toward the door.

“Where are we going?”

“To the store. We’re out of milk. Actually we’re out of a lot of stuff.”

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