Page 55 of Finding Us

“Because your dad’s staying there with Lilly. He’s flying in tomorrow.”

“That’s right. I totally forgot about that.”

“Let’s go talk to him. I have to know what that meeting is about. I can’t wait until Tuesday.” I lie back down on his chest.

“I know.” He kisses the top of my head. “We’ll leave in the morning.”

We end up falling asleep and don’t wake up until 7 on Saturday. I shower and dress while Garret makes breakfast. He packed some stuff in a duffle bag in case we end up spending the night at Grace’s house. I add my clothes and makeup to the bag and zip it up.

During breakfast, I call Grace and tell her we’re coming. She’s thrilled, which I knew she would be. She arrived there a couple days ago. As we’re talking I realize I should’ve gone to see her when she got there. I know she’s lonely without Arlin around and it’s probably hard for her to be at that house without him. I remember her saying how much Arlin liked that house.

We get to Santa Barbara around 10. Grace’s house is hidden behind a large iron gate and walls of manicured hedges and flowers. When we get past the gate I see the house, and as Grace described, it looks like a cottage. Like an English cottage, with a stone exterior, a slanted roof, and a chimney jutting out the top. It’s much smaller than her house in the Hamptons but twice the size of Frank’s house.

Grace is outside cutting flowers as we drive up. She greets us at the car, wearing white pants and a light green, button-up shirt, a broad-rimmed hat on her head.

“Welcome!” She takes off her gardening gloves and gives me a hug. She lets me go and opens her arms to Garret. “I haven’t seen you, young man, since you were 15? 16?”

Garret gives her a hug. “I think I was 16. I went to your house in Florida for a fundraiser you were having for—I don’t really remember.”

She lets him go. “It’s okay, honey. You can mention him.”

I look at them both, confused.

Grace explains. “Garret attended a fundraiser we had for Royce. It was very early on in his campaign. That’s when you first met Sadie, isn’t it, Garret?” Grace sees my face and quickly corrects herself. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot all about that. They were friends before they ever dated. And they dated for such a short time. I wasn’t even thinking.”

“It’s fine,” I tell her. “So have you been out here gardening?”

“Yes. Come inside and let me get you two something to drink. Then we’ll go out back and I’ll show you my flowers.” As we’re walking in the house, Grace links her arm in mine and leans over to whisper. “I didn’t remember Garret being so handsome. He was always a nice-looking boy but,” she winks, “he’s grown into an even better looking man.”

I laugh. “Yes. He’s very good looking.” I glance back at Garret, who’s oblivious to the fact that us girls are talking about him.

She gives us a tour of the house. There are five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The decor is kind of old-lady like, but it feels warm and inviting. The living room has a big fireplace and across from it is a yellow couch flanked by two floral-patterned chairs. Crocheted blankets sit in a large basket on the floor.

In the bedrooms she has quilts on all the beds and lots of photos of the family, some hung on the wall and some scattered on top of the dressers. Two of the bedrooms have twin beds and stuffed animals. That’s probably where Sadie and her sisters used to stay when they were younger.

After the tour, Grace serves us iced tea and cookies, then shows us her garden. It’s beautiful; full of flowers of every size and color. She says she has a whole team of people who care for the flowers when she’s away.

Around 1, Pearce and Lilly arrive in the rental car. Grace goes out to meet them in the driveway. We let her say hello and then Garret and I come out.

Lilly runs up to us. “Garret!”

He picks her up. “Hey, Lilly.”

“This is a surprise,” Pearce says to Garret.

“Yeah, we drove up this morning.” He sets Lilly down.

“Jade!” She wraps her arms around me and I kneel down to hug her.

“Hi, Lilly.”

Pearce reaches over and hugs Garret. “I know you were just at the house, but it’s good to see you again.”

I’m still not used to Garret’s dad giving hugs. I stand there awkwardly watching it.

“Jade, good to see you as well.” He hugs me and I tense up at first but then relax and hug him back.

“Should we go inside?” Grace asks.

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