Page 63 of Finding Us

“I’m good.”

Although I’d be better if I knew what her husband was up to. I can’t think about that. I told Garret I wouldn’t, but now that Kiefer’s here, I’m thinking about it again.

“And how’s the groom?” Kelly asks Garret.

“I’m doing great.” Garret puts his arm around me.

“Are you getting nervous, Jade?” Kelly asks.

“No, not at all.”

She smiles. “Good. You have no reason to be. I know you two will be very happy.”

“You made an excellent choice with Garret,” Kiefer tells me.

“I think I got the better end of the deal,” Garret says.

Kiefer smiles at him. “That’s true of most men, isn’t it?”

“Do you want something to drink?” I ask them.

“No, we’ll be leaving soon.” Kiefer takes a seat on the couch. “Then again, if Harper just started getting ready, it could be an hour before we leave.”

Kelly sits next to him. “That’s what you get for having girls.”

Kiefer laughs. “Keep that in mind, Garret. If you end up having a house full of girls, get prepared to be waiting around a lot.”

Garret just nods. Once again, the kid topic comes up. People just assume if you get married, you’re having kids. It’s like it’s not even an option.

“So, Jade,” Kelly says. “Were you planning on going shopping with Harper and me tomorrow?”

“No, I’m staying here because Lilly’s coming over. My gran—” I stop, realizing I almost spilled a huge secret.

“Grace Sinclair is bringing her over,” Garret says, saving me. “Grace is coming to the wedding. My dad and Lilly went to visit her at her home in Santa Barbara last weekend. Then they all drove up here today. Grace is helping my dad take care of Lilly. My family’s been friends with the Sinclair family forever.”

“And your father was a big supporter of Royce Sinclair’s political campaign,” Kiefer says. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, he was.” Garret’s playing it cool. He’s so good at that. I’m terrible at it. My palms are sweaty just being on this topic. “Grace has been really lonely since she lost Royce and then her husband, so my dad has been checking in on her the past couple months. Making sure she’s okay.”

“That’s so thoughtful of Pearce,” Kelly says. “Well, it’ll be nice seeing Grace again. We haven’t seen her for years.”

“It was at the Hamilton’s Christmas party,” Kiefer says. “Three years ago.”

Kelly looks at him. “No, it was the Pearson’s Christmas party.Twoyears ago.”

“Yes, you’re right. I don’t know why I thought it was the Hamilton’s party.”

Hamilton as in Ava Hamilton? So Harper’s family knows them, too? What the hell? Do all of these rich people know each other? Harper never mentioned that her parents were friends with Ava’s parents. Maybe she doesn’t know. Or maybe it’s a different Hamilton. It’s a common name. Still, I have to know.

“You don’t mean Ava’s parents, do you?” I ask.

“Yes. Ava’s parents.” Kiefer’s eyes dart to Garret and he lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned her given all the trouble she’s caused you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Garret says.

Kiefer knows all about the reality show and Garret’s fake bad-boy behavior. Pearce had Kiefer make the videos we used to convince people Garret wasn’t presidential material. But Kiefer doesn’t know that. At least I don’t think he does. I assumed Pearce gave Kiefer the same story we gave Harper, saying that the photographers were getting out of control and the fake videos were just to make Garret less popular with his fans. But maybe Kiefer knows the real story. If he’s involved with the organization, he probably does.

“I didn’t know you were friends with them,” I say to Kiefer.

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