Page 147 of Always Us

Lilly holds her arms out to me. I pick her up. “Where’s Dad?”

“Over there.” She points to him as he walks toward us.

“She ran ahead of me.” He goes up and hugs Jade. “Welcome back.”

She laughs. “I know. We were just here. You’re going to be sick of us by the end of the week.”

“Not at all. I wish you two lived closer so I could see you every day.” He smiles at me. “Garret.”

“Hey, Dad.” I half hug him since Lilly’s attached to me.

I set Lilly down and she grabs my hand as we walk to the baggage area. “Daddy said we can watch a movie tonight.”

I can’t imagine Katherine going along with that. She’ll be doing everything she can to keep Lilly busy so Jade and I can’t spend time with her.

“Is your mom going to watch the movie with us?”

“Mom isn’t home.” She swings our arms back and forth as we walk.

“Where is she?”

Lilly shrugs. “I don’t know. Dad said she had to go somewhere. She won’t be back till after Christmas.”

Katherine’s gone? For the entire week? That can’t be right. Lilly must be confused.

I look back and see Jade and my dad talking.

“Dad.” I wait until I have his attention. “Did Katherine go somewhere?”

“Yes. I was just telling Jade that Katherine and her parents went to see Katherine’s sister in Paris. They’ll be having Christmas there this year.”

Jade smiles at me.

My dad nods toward Lilly. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Yeah. Okay.” I look down at Lilly.

She’s still holding my hand and skipping a little as she walks. “We’re gonna swim in the pool and watch movies and make cookies and play the race car game.”

I smile at her. “Sounds like a busy week.”

Now I’m glad we came. Lilly needs us here. Her mom left her on Christmas, and even though she doesn’t act upset, I know it hurts her. Lilly’s good at hiding her feelings, but what kid her age wouldn’t feel sad when her mom just takes off like that at the holidays?

“Don’t forget sledding,” I say as we arrive at the baggage claim area.

“Sledding!” She jumps around. “Daddy, can we go to the big hill again?”

“Yes, honey.” He takes her hand. He has to keep a close watch on her, especially in a crowded airport. Even if he wasn’t part of the organization, he’d still have to watch her. That’s just what you have to do when you have his kind of money and people know who you are. You always have to be extra cautious.

As we’re driving to the house, I hear Jade talking to Lilly in the back seat.

“So how are your swim lessons going?” Jade asks her.

“Good.” She pauses, then says, “Mom and Dad are getting divorced.”

The car goes silent. My dad glances back at Lilly, who’s sitting behind me. I don’t think he told her about the divorce yet. I think she just knew.

Jade breaks the silence. “I’m sorry, Lilly.”

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