Page 28 of Always Us

I squeeze my hand into a fist, clutching my phone with the other. “I don’t know. We just need to get home.”

He steps on the gas and five minutes later we’re back at the house. Nothing looks out of place, at least not on the outside. I jump out of the car while it’s still running and we’re still in the driveway. The front door is locked so I bang on it and ring the bell a few times.

Jade opens the door and pulls me into the living room and points to the TV. “It’s your grandfather.”

An image of my grandfather is at the top right corner of the screen.

I walk closer to the TV and hear the newswoman talking, “…suffered a severe stroke that has left him in a coma. Kensington was found earlier this morning in his Manhattan apartment and immediately rushed to the emergency room. He’s currently in critical condition. In a statement just released, Holton’s son, Pearce Kensington, said his father appeared to be in good health just last night when the two of them met for dinner. Pearce has asked the press to give his family privacy during this difficult time. In other news…”

My gaze remains on the TV as Jade hugs me. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. But I thought for sure your dad would’ve called and told you.” I feel her pull away. “Garret?”

I glance down at her. “No, he didn’t call.”

“You should call your father,” Frank says.

I look over and see Ryan standing next to Frank. Everyone’s staring at me, waiting for me to say something.

“Could you change the channel?” I ask Frank. “Find another news channel.”

He comes over and hands me the remote. “It’s all yours.”

I flip through the channels until I see my grandfather’s photo again. I turn up the volume. It’s a financial news show with two older men talking to each other at a round table.

One of the men says, “If Holton doesn’t recover, how will that impact the future of Kensington Chemical?”

The other man answers, “I doubt that it will. Holton is chairman of the board but his son, Pearce, is the one driving the success of the company. Kensington Chemical has seen tremendous growth since Pearce took over as CEO. With him at the helm, I foresee many profitable years ahead.” He smiles. “Now if the company is ever turned over to Pearce’s son, Garret, I would predict it would go out of business.”

Both men laugh. Then one of them says, “Yes, he certainly made a spectacle of himself last year, didn’t he? He’s not the type of person you’d want running a company.”

I change the channel again and see my dad walking fast toward the entrance of Kensington Chemical.

“I’m not answering any questions,” he says to the reporters gathered around him. “I ask that you give my family privacy during this difficult time.” He goes inside the building and security guards block the door so the reporters can’t get in.

I hand Frank the remote. “I need to call my dad.” I walk down the hall with Jade following behind me.

“Garret, wait. What should I do? Should I get the next flight to Connecticut?”

“We’re not going to Connecticut. We’re going home.”

“Oh. Okay. So when are we leaving for Connecticut?”

“We’re not.” I walk into the bedroom and over to my phone charger on the dresser. I plug in my phone and turn it on.

“Don’t you want to see your grandfather?”

“He’s in a coma. He wouldn’t even know I’m there.”

I’m really pissed right now. Why didn’t my dad call me? Or my grandmother? Or Katherine? My grandfather’s in a coma and nobody tells me?

“You’re not going to see him?”

“No.” I stand there, my mind racing, my muscles tight. I’m still on edge from thinking Jade was here with a gun to her head.

“But he’s your grandfather. You need to go.”

“The news said he’s in critical condition. He’s probably not going to make it. He’ll probably be gone before I even got there.”

“Then we should be there for your dad.” She says it softly. “And the funeral.”

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