Page 99 of Always Us

I let go of Jade and storm over to Sadie. I take her arm and walk her into the hall and down a little so Jade won’t hear me. “You will NOT threaten her and you will not even THINK about harming her. Do you understand?”

Sadie laughs. “I see you got a little rougher since we dated. I like it.”

“Just shut the fuck up and listen to me. Jade is your sister and she has done nothing wrong. She found out about Royce last year and she told no one. She could’ve gone to the press, destroyed his campaign, but she kept silent. You should be thanking her. She saved your father’s reputation.” I grip her arm a little tighter. “I’m not that nice. I’d be more than happy to destroy his reputation. And I’m pretty sure nobody wants the daughter of a rapist to be first lady. You mess with Jade? I’ll make it my own personal mission to make sure you never step foot in the White House.” I let go of her arm. “Did I make myself clear? Or do we need to go over this again?”

She hesitates, then says, “Fine. But tell her to stay away from me. I don’t want to see either of you ever again.” She scurries away, her heels clicking on the tile.

Victoria appears at the end of the hall. “Sadie, where are on Earth have you been? I’ve looked everywhere for you.”

“I’m coming, Mother.”

I go back in the room.

Jade’s sitting on the piano bench, staring at the keys. “I didn’t think she’d react that way. I didn’t think she’d hate me that much.”

“Forget about her.” I sit next to Jade, my arm around her middle, sliding her closer to me on the bench.

“She’s my sister. I thought we could be friends or at least talk once in a while.”

“You don’t have to be friends with the people you’re related to. You don’t even have to like them. And sometimes a relative turns out to be your worst enemy. Like my grandfather.”

Jade runs her hand over the piano keys, but doesn’t press down on them.

I pick up her other hand and hold it in mine. “I always wanted a grandfather like you see on TV. The kind that brings you candy and takes you fishing or to baseball games. But I never had that. I kept waiting for my grandfather to become that person, but he never was and I knew he never would be. But it took me years to accept that. I kept hoping he’d stop over some day with a couple fishing poles and a tackle box and take me to the lake.” I laugh just picturing that. “It’s funny how you get these crazy ideas in your head as a kid. My family doesn’t fish. My grandfather didn’t even like being outside. And yet I kept thinking he’d take me fishing. My point is that you can’t change people into what you want them to be. And hoping and waiting for that to happen just leads to disappointment.”

Jade leans her head on my shoulder. “So you’re saying Sadie will always hate me?”

“She’s not going to change. If anything, she’ll only get worse the more involved she gets with Evan and the plan they have for him.” I turn Jade toward me and cup her cheek, looking into her eyes. “It’s Sadie’s loss. She’s passing up the chance to get to know the most amazing person I’ve ever met. And the most beautiful, both inside and out.”

Jade smiles. “I wish you’d had a grandpa to take you fishing.”

“It’s okay. I’d rather go to a baseball game than fishing. And at least my dad took me to those.”

“I guess we should go back out there. I’m sure Sadie’s gone by now.”

We leave and go back to the living room. Only a few people are left and they’re all people I don’t recognize. My grandmother is talking to them so they must be friends of hers. I still don’t see my dad anywhere.

Katherine walks by and I stop her. “Have you seen my dad?”

“I already told you I didn’t know where he was, so stop asking me. I’m not his babysitter.” She continues on to wherever she was going.

Grace and William come up to us and Grace gives Jade a hug. “I’m so sorry about Sadie.”

“It’s okay,” Jade says. “I kind of thought she might react that way.”

William hugs Jade and says quietly, “For the record, you’re my favorite niece.”

She laughs and whispers back, “And you’re my favorite uncle.”

“William and I need to get going,” Grace says. “It’s a bit of a drive back to New York.”

We walk them to the foyer. “Have a safe trip,” I tell them as they leave.

I check my dad’s office again but he’s not in there. Where did he go?

“Is something wrong?” Jade asks.

“I need to talk to my dad but I can’t find him anywhere.”

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