Page 94 of Always Us

“What?”

“Is Daddy going to die?”

“What? No. He’s not going to die.”

Actually, he might if Roth kills him, which could happen if I don’t get them away from each other, or at least get my dad to calm down.

“Grandma said everyone dies.” Lilly pets her panda bear as she says it.

“Usually just when they’re old. Dad’s not old.”

“Grandma’s old. Is she going to die?”

Seriously? She has to ask these questions now? I don’t have time to explain death to her. And I shouldn’t be doing it at all. Her parents need to do that, not me.

“Lilly, you need to talk to Dad about this. Let’s just watch the movie.”

“I can’t talk to Dad. I can only talk to you.” She looks up at me with her teary blue eyes. “Why do people have to die?”

Shit. I can’t explain this to her. I don’t even have the answers. What do I know about death?

I don’t have time for this. I need to get downstairs.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

22

JADE

Grace and I are sitting in a room I’ve never been in before. The only things in the room are a grand piano and a long white sofa. Nobody in Garret’s family plays the piano so I don’t know why they have a room with a piano.

Grace and I came in here to talk. If we didn’t, Victoria would be watching us and wondering why I’m talking to Grace. We left William out there to keep an eye on her. Victoria seems to like William, as in more than just a brother-in-law way. All night I’ve noticed her hanging on him and talking really close. William’s wife didn’t come with him tonight and Victoria seems to want to take her place.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be asking this, but does Victoria have a thing for William?” I ask Grace.

“Yes,” she says, matter-of-factly. “She always has, but then again her eyes wander to a lot of men. She was never faithful to Royce. But as you know, he wasn’t faithful to her either. William, on the other hand, has no interest in other women. His heart belongs to Meredith. Always will.” She smiles and smooths her skirt. “Pearce did a lovely job tonight. Don’t you think?”

“You mean when he talked about his father?”

“Yes. I thought his words were very heartfelt. I know the two of them didn’t always get along, but it’s nice to hear Pearce speak of his father that way.”

If Grace knew the truth about Holton and what he did to Arlin, she would’ve hated Pearce’s speech. She wouldn’t have even shown up here tonight to hear it. But Garret said I can’t tell her the truth. He said it’s best if she doesn’t know, and he’s probably right.

I couldn’t stand listening to Pearce’s speech, hearing him go on and on about how Holton was a great man and did all these great things. Pearce was doing what he was expected to do, but it was hard to listen to. And then when Katherine tried to get Garret to speak, I almost went up and strangled her.

“Jade, honey, are you okay?” Grace rubs my arm.

“Yes. Sorry. I’m just tired from getting up so early.”

“So how is your friend, Harper, doing? Will you be seeing her while you’re in town?”

“Yeah. I’ll see her tomorrow. She’s going through a rough time. She just had shoulder surgery and she broke up with her boyfriend.”

“Sean. The chef.”

“That’s right. I forgot that you met him at the wedding.”

“It’s too bad they couldn’t have ended things sooner. Waiting makes it so much more difficult.”

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