Page 56 of Finding Us

Garret helps his dad with the luggage and we all file into the house.

Grace goes up to Lilly. “I made some cookies. Would you like one?”

Lilly looks at her dad. “I’m not allowed to have sugar.”

Since when? So now Katherine won’t let Lilly have cookies? Or anything with sugar? That’s crazy. Eating sugar’s part of being a kid. I’mstilla sugar addict although Garret’s working hard to change that.

Pearce smiles at her. “You can have a cookie, but wait until after lunch.”

Lilly looks back at Grace. “Are we having lunch soon?”

Grace laughs. “Yes, right now in fact. I just need to set everything up. Actually, I should show you around first.”

We do the tour again, ending in the garden.

“Well, I suppose I should get lunch ready,” Grace says.

“I’ll help you.” I follow her into the kitchen.

“Are you all set for the wedding?” Grace asks as we pull sandwich ingredients from the fridge.

“Yeah. Actually, my friend, Harper’s been doing most of the planning.” I grab a stack of plates from the cabinet. “You’ll meet her at the wedding.”

“I’ve met Harper before,” Grace says as she takes some cloth napkins over to the long dining table that’s just off the kitchen.

“You have? You never told me that.”

She stops to think. “I thought I did. Well, anyway, her father has hosted several large charity events at his house, so I’ve met her and her sisters, although I’m sure she doesn’t remember me.”

“Do you know her parents very well?”

“Yes, I suppose.” Grace seems uneasy, like she doesn’t want to talk about this. “Arlin did some business with her father.”

“What kind of business?”

She takes the plates I’m holding and brings them to the table. “Would you mind getting the glasses?”

That was weird. Grace almost always answers me and she just totally blew me off. There’s definitely something going on with Harper’s dad.

Before I can ask her any more about it, Garret walks in. “You two need any help in here?” He comes over and kisses me on the cheek.

Grace smiles at us. “We’re just having sandwiches so I think we’re set. Could you go get your father and Lilly?”

“Sure. I’ll be right back.” Garret leaves.

Grace comes over and gives me an unexpected hug. “You look so happy, Jade. And it’s not even your wedding day yet. I’m sure you’ll be glowing when you finally marry that handsome young man.”

“I can’t wait to marry him. I love him so much.”

“I can tell. I felt the same way when I married Arlin.” She looks away. “I still felt that way until—well, anyway, I should get the rolls.”

I follow her over to the pantry. “Grace, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, honey.” She hands me a bag of big, round sandwich rolls that look like they came from a bakery. “It just takes time to get used to living alone.”

“Could you go stay with your son? Just for a little while?”

She shakes her head as she goes to the fridge to get the iced tea. “No. He doesn’t need me getting in the way.”

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