“All right, point taken. Well, I guess we’ll just all have to work together at being a family.”
“Yes, we will. And now I should get back to Grant and Sierra. They’re having a tough time still and–”
“Yeah, I get it,” Kyle said. “I’m just going to go hang out in my room.”
Julia winced as she wondered if she should invite him, but a knock at the door interrupted her. Grant flicked his gaze between them.
“I was just heading back,” Julia said as she rose.
“Yeah, we’re all finished,” Kyle agreed, standing next to her.
Grant shifted his gaze between them, upset still obvious on his features. “Look, Kyle, uh–”
His voice cut off as his eyes lowered to the worktable between them. His eyebrows pinched, and he cocked his head. “What is that?”
Julia flicked her gaze to the key and note on the table with a grimace. “Uh–”
“Julia, I told Worthington to throw that away. What is it doing back here?”
“I just–”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head, cutting off her words. “I want that gone. Do you understand? Gone.”
Julia swallowed hard at his sharp words. He was already in a vulnerable place. How could she explain that she thought keeping the key was important?
CHAPTER 21
GRANT
Grant’s emotions over the latest blow Lydia dealt them still twisted his insides and made his hands shake. Julia had left them behind to check on Kyle, and he felt the loss, even though it had only been a few minutes, in the depths of his soul.
He needed her there to steady him. With her, he was certain they could get through this, but without her, he wasn’t certain he’d manage even the next few minutes.
Behind him, Sierra emerged from the bathroom with a sniffle. “Julia’s not back yet?”
“Not yet. But that’s okay. That’ll give us some time together, okay?” He patted her bed as he eased onto the edge of it.
“No, it’s not okay,” Sierra said with a frown.
He raised his eyebrows at the words. He’d hoped things were not going to fall apart this quickly. He knew Sierra was still reeling, but he’d hoped they could have gotten through the few moments they’d have before she returned. “I’m sure she’ll beback, soon. And we can spend a little time together. I…want to make sure you’re okay.”
Sierra sucked in a breath. “I’m not.”
He winced, wondering if he should give her a hug or space. “I know you’re probably reeling, but I just want to reiterate–”
“Where is Julia?”
“Oh, uh…is that what you’re upset about?”
Sierra collapsed onto the bed next to him and took his hand. “Yes and no.”
“Okay, well, whatever you’re upset about, we can talk about it.”
“I’m…still upset about not being your daughter. I just…don’t want it to change anything.”
“I don’t either. I want to forget that we ever found this out. I just want to go back to the way things were before your–Lydia took her last cheap shot at us.” His jaw tightened as he thought of his selfish ex-wife dumping the information she’d held onto for years onto his wife.
“I guess at least she told Julia who made sure she broke it to us gently. I’m surprised Lydia didn’t announce it on the news just to make our lives miserable.”