Page 49 of Lilly

"She called Lilly to say she'd be in town this week. She told Lilly to meet her in L.A. on Wednesday. When Lilly told her she already had plans with Rachel, Katherine wouldn't accept it. She was furious. She demanded Lilly be there on Wednesday, but Lilly still refused. Then she hung up on her."

"Good for her. At least she's not letting Katherine manipulate her anymore."

"No, but I'm concerned by the fact that Katherine is showing interest in her again. I assume she's coming to L.A. for some other reason and not to see Lilly, but still. She knows Lilly doesn't want to see her so I don't know why she even bothered to call and ask."

"You just said why. Because Lilly doesn't want to see her. Katherine always does the opposite of what Lilly wants. It's just the way her sick, twisted mind works."

"I suppose that could be it, but with Katherine you never know. It could be something else."

"Have you heard anything more about Phillip and what he's up to?"

When my dad got back from Connecticut a few weeks ago, he told me about the meeting he went to and that Phillip was there. Normally, my dad wouldn't tell me anything about the meeting. He wants to keep me out of that part of his life, so the fact that he told me means he's really concerned. He doesn't know what's going on there but since it involves Phillip, and maybe Katherine, he wants to be extra cautious. He told me to keep a close watch on Jade and the kids but I think his main concern is for my mom. He knows how much Katherine hates her and he doesn't want Katherine trying to do something to harm her.

"I haven't heard anything," he says. "Neither has William. I doubt we'll know anything until I go to that meeting at the end of the month."

"I bet you're right about Katherine trying to get her son to be considered. It makes perfect sense. He'd be her way back in."

"Yes, but I still can't imagine the committee taking the time to consider someone that young. He still has years before he'd even be allowed to find out they exist." He rises up from his chair. "Let's not talk about this anymore. It's Fourth of July. We should be outside with the rest of the family, not in here discussing Katherine."

"True. Let's get out of here."

But before I get up, Ethan runs in, his brother trailing behind. My dad smiles as he passes them on his way back outside. He always says they remind him of how I used to be, a constant bundle of energy.

"What are you guys up to?" I ask.

Instead of answering, Ethan climbs on my lap and hugs me. Then Miles does the same. They do this sometimes, just climb on my lap and hug me for no reason. I put an arm around each of them and kiss their heads. They're still wet from the pool, but they aren't soaked like Hannah was earlier. Jade must've toweled them off before they came in here.

Ethan turns and slides down until his head is on my chest. Miles does the same. I lean back a little and they yawn, their eyes heavy.

"You guys tired?"

"Not tired," Ethan mumbles, but his eyes are closing. So are Miles'.

They're funny. They refuse to admit when they're tired because they don't want to go to sleep. But the day has worn them out and it's past their nap time so I'm not surprised they fell asleep the second their heads hit my chest.

I take a moment to look at them. My little trouble makers. They look just like me. Same dark hair, cut the same way as mine. Same nose, same mouth, but their eyes are a greenish-blue, a mix of Jade's and mine.

"Nap time?" Jade whispers as she walks in.

"Yeah. We should put them in bed but I might need some help getting up."

My parents have a couple spare bedrooms set up for the kids for when they stay here or come visit. There's one for the boys and one for the girls. And Jade and I stay in the guest room.

She quietly pulls up a chair and sits beside me. "It's so cute when they lay on you like that," she whispers. "My two little Garrets."

I lean over and kiss her forehead. "Where are my two little Jades?"

"Hannah's in the pool with your mom and Abi's with Grace."

I sit up just enough to see out the window. Hannah and my mom are tossing a ball around in the pool and Abi's sitting on the grass in front of Grace, who's reading her a story. Abi loves books, and loves it when people read to her. She could sit there for hours and listen to Grace read stories to her. Hannah can't sit still that long. After one story, she has to get up and run around.

Jade's head falls down on my shoulder. "Love you," she whispers, her eyes closing. She's tired. We all are. We got up early this morning and we've been going all day.

"Love you too." I kiss her head and decide to join her in a quick nap. It's not the most comfortable spot but it'll do.

Earlier, my mom asked if this Fourth of July was as good as last year's, but the truth is they're all great as long as I'm with my family. It's not about the food or the weather or the fireworks. It's about this right here. Being with my family.

Chapter Eleven

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