“Jade, don’t be silly. You’re my granddaughter and the land was a gift.” She pats my leg. “Now let’s go before people start looking for us.”
“Too late,” a voice says from behind us.
The couch is facing the piano, and with our backs to the door, Grace and I didn’t see anyone come in. We both stand up and turn around to see someone standing in the doorway. Someone my age. With long brown hair. Who looks a lot like me.
“Sadie, honey, what are you doing here?” Grace walks over to her but I stay where I am.
“What did you just call her?” Sadie’s eyes are on me.
“That’s Jade,” Grace says. “You’ve met her before. She’s married to Garret.”
“I know who she is. But I heard you call her something.” Sadie looks at Grace. Actually, it’s more like a glare. “What did you call her?”
“Sadie, calm down. There’s no need to get upset. Jade and I were just talking.”
“You called her your granddaughter. Why would you call her that?”
Grace looks back at me, like she wants me to answer instead of her. My heart is pumping so hard I feel breathless. How did this happen? Where did Sadie come from? She lives in DC. She doesn’t transfer to Yale until the spring. What is she doing in Connecticut?
“Why, Grandmother?” Sadie yells it. “Why would you call her that? Tell me!”
I can’t stand watching Sadie yell at Grace that way.
But Grace remains perfectly calm and says, “Jade. It’s up to you.”
She’s asking if I want to tell Sadie the truth. Do I? I don’t know. She kind of already knows the truth. She heard Grace say it. But Sadie doesn’t know the whole truth and I don’t know if I want her to. No daughter wants to hear that her father is a rapist and a murderer.
I walk over and stand next to Grace. “I’m her granddaughter.”
“No, you’re not.” Sadie’s eyes move over my dress, inspect my shoes, then go back up to my hair and finally my face. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s true. I’m not lying.”
“William never had a child.” She stands up straighter, crossing her arms over her chest.
“William isn’t my father.” I pause and let her figure it out.
She stares at me, and the only sound in the room is the sound of her breathing, which keeps getting faster. Finally, she looks at Grace. “Grandmother, don’t let her say these things about our family. Say something!”
“Royce was Jade’s father,” Grace says. “Jade is your half sister.”
Sadie huffs. “If she told you that, she’s lying.”
“Honey.” Grace tries to hold Sadie’s hand but she pulls it away. “She’s not lying. Your father had proof that he was Jade’s father. He had a file in the safe in his office. That’s how we learned about Jade. We found out shortly after your father passed away.”
“He didn’t pass away! Would you stop saying that? He killed himself!” Sadie takes a deep breath to regain her composure. She narrows her eyes at me. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Is it to get money? The Kensington fortune isn’t enough for you? Now you have to come after the Sinclairs?”
“Sadie, that’s enough!” Now Grace is yelling. I’ve never heard her yell. “Jade is not after anyone’s money. She is a Sinclair, just like you and me. Your father had no contact with her when she was growing up. She was raised by her mother.”
“And who’s your mother?” Sadie gets right up in my face. “Some whore who forced herself on my father? Some stripper who got my father drunk, then used him to get pregnant so she could get his money? I’d love to meet this whore! Tell her what I think of her.”
“Sadie! Stop it right now!” Grace says from beside me.
I haven’t backed away. Sadie and I remain face-to-face, my eyes locked on hers. “My mother is dead. And she wasn’t a whore. She wasn’t any of those things you said. Your father—” I stop because I don’t know if I should tell her.
“My father what?”
Sadie would never believe the truth, so I say, “He met my mom when he was in Iowa for the caucus. He was working on a political campaign and he was there for a speech. My mom didn’t know he was married. He asked her out for dinner. And that’s it. It was one night. She never heard from him again.”
Sadie takes a step back. “How old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“So you’re saying he did this while my mother was pregnant? He wouldn’t do that. He’d never do that.”
“Sadie, your father wasn’t perfect,” Grace says. “Nobody is. He had his faults like everyone else does.”
“Does Mother know?”
“Not that I’m aware of. If she does know, she hasn’t told anyone. Jade just found out about this last year, but she hasn’t told your mother.”
“Who else knows?”
“Your Uncle William knows. And your grandfather knew. He’s the one who found the file.”
“Don’t tell Mother this,” Sadie orders. “Or my sisters.”
“We don’t have to tell them,” I say.
“Maybe we should sit down,” Grace says.
“No.” Sadie scowls at me. An actual angry scowl, as if what her father did to my mom is somehow my fault. “We’re done here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
23
GARRET
After I talk to Lilly I go downstairs to my dad’s office but he isn’t there. Roth isn’t either. I ask Katherine where my dad went and she says she doesn’t know.
The house is still full of people, including Victoria, who waves at me when she sees me, like she wants me to come over and talk to her. She’s standing next to William, who gives me an eye roll as Victoria latches onto his arm. It’s clear William doesn’t like her. I’m guessing he’s on Victoria-watch while Grace talks to Jade. I smile at William and give him a head nod, letting him know I feel his pain.
I need to find Jade. She and Grace have been gone too long and people will start to notice, mainly Victoria who’s scanning the room like she’s searching for Grace. The woman just can’t mind her own business. She’s always watching people, gossiping, making up stories that aren’t true.
Jade said she was going to find a place to talk to Grace. I saw her go down a hallway filled with rooms we never use. We even have a piano room down there, which I’ve only been in one time. Nobody in my family plays the piano, but since rich people tend to have grand pianos, Katherine thought we needed one, so it sits there collecting dust in an empty room.
I go down the hall, checking each room. I hear talking and notice light coming out of the piano room. I walk down there and see Jade standing just inside the door.
“There you are.” I walk in and stand in front of her. “You should get back down there before—”
“Does Garret know?” A voice behind me cuts me off. I know that voice. I turn and see Sadie there, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Grace is next to her.
“Yes,” Jade says to Sadie.
“Know what? What is she talking about?” I look at Jade to answer.
“I told Sadie I’m her half-sister.”
I’m not sure what to do with that information, so I turn to Sadie and say, “Sadie, what are you doing here?”
“I’m picking my mother up to take her to the hotel. I was visiting Evan at Yale and since Mother is also here in Connecticut, we decided to meet up and go shopping in the city tomorrow.”
“But your mother came here with William and me,” Grace says.
“Yes, but she called and asked me to come get her. She was bored.”
Who the hell admits to being bored at a memorial service? Only people like Victoria.
Grace sighs. “Your mother should show some respect. If she’s that bored, then go get her and leave.”
Grace is pissed. I’ve never seen her angry before. Something must’ve happened before I got here. Was Sadie being a bitch to Jade? Or was she just being a bitc
h in general? Having dated Sadie, I know either is a possibility, but she better not have been a bitch to Jade.
“I’ve decided I’d like to speak with Jade some more,” Sadie says. “You can go, Grandmother.”
I give Grace a look, letting her know I’ll handle this.
“Watch what you say to her, Sadie,” Grace says. “My will can easily be changed.”
Sadie’s mouth drops open as Grace exits the room. So Sadie was a bitch to Jade. Yeah, I’m not putting up with that.
I step in front of Sadie. “What did you say to her?”
Sadie’s about two feet in front of me and all I smell is her perfume. It’s way too strong and the same perfume Victoria wears. I always hated that perfume.
“I didn’t say anything. She’s the one who accused my father of cheating.”
“Your father had sex with another woman while he was married to your mom. That’s the definition of cheating, Sadie. Doesn’t get any clearer than that.”
“Whatever.” She twists her hair around her finger. “I know her slut mom tricked my dad into it. Jade can deny it all she wants, but she doesn’t know the truth. She wasn’t around when it happened. She’s relying on what her whore of a mother said.”
“Stop saying that about her!” Jade moves to my side. “She wasn’t a whore!”
I inch closer to Sadie, my temper rising. “Is that what you call a woman who’s been raped? A whore? That’s a pretty fucking sexist comment there, Sadie. Are you seriously one of those people who think women asked to be raped? Because of what they wear or how they act?”
“Garret, no.” Jade grabs my arm and pulls me back a little. “She doesn’t know that part.”
Shit. I didn’t know that. Whatever. She needs to be told.
Sadie huffs. “Now you’re saying he raped her?” She narrows her eyes at Jade. “I thought you were nice when I first met you. But you’re a bitch. And probably a whore just like your mom.”
“Don’t you dare speak to her that way.” I walk forward, forcing Sadie against the wall. “I swear to God, Sadie.”
“What? You’ll hit me?” She rolls her eyes. “Please, Garret. You’d never hurt a girl.” She glances behind me at Jade, then looks back at me. “Why would you marry someone like her? She’s lying, Garret. To all of us. She’s—”
“Your father raped Jade’s mother.” I lock my eyes on Sadie. “I don’t give a shit if you don’t believe me. Just keep thinking Royce was a saint if that’s what you need to do. But the facts don’t change. He did that to her mother. There’s a police report and hospital records to prove it.”
“You’re disgusting. Both of you.” She shoves on my chest but I don’t move. “Just get away from me.”
“Apologize to Jade.” I say it loud, right in her face.
“She makes up lies about my father and you expect me to apologize?” She moves her head so she can see around me to Jade. “Never.”
I remain in front of her. “Apologize. Now.”
“If you don’t back away, I’ll scream. I’ll cause a scene.”
“What are you, six? You’re going to throw a tantrum? We’re not leaving here until you apologize to Jade.”
“Then I guess we’ll be here all night.”
I hear Jade behind me. “Garret, she doesn’t have to apologize. Just forget it.”
“She called you a whore. She called your mother a whore. She needs to apologize.”
“She’s just upset.” Jade stands beside me and speaks to Sadie. “I’m sorry, Sadie. I didn’t want you to ever know the truth about your dad. I know it’s hard to hear. And I know you don’t want anything to do with me, and it’s fine. I understand.”
Jade just keeps amazing me. Just when I think she can’t do it again, she does. Sadie attacked her, said horrible things to her, acted like a spoiled child. And Jade just let it go, acted like an adult, kept control of herself.
Sadie has spent years in etiquette classes, being coached on how to act and what to say, and yet Jade, who had none of that, is the only one with class.
I’m still in front of Sadie. “Jade may not need you to apologize, but I do.”
I wait for Sadie to say something. She doesn’t.
I take a step back. “Sadie, what the hell happened to you? You didn’t used to be like this. Back when we were friends, you didn’t used to be like this. What changed?”
A smirk crosses her face. “Nothing changed. I’ve always been ambitious. I’ve always been driven to succeed. You just didn’t acknowledge those traits in me because you like your women weak. Submissive. You like to control them.”
“That’s a fucking lie and you know it. If anyone’s that way, it’s Evan. He has zero respect for you and he treats you like shit.”
“Evan’s going to be president someday. And you? What will you be doing, Garret? Hanging out on the beach every day? Living off your father’s money? Doing nothing with your life?”
I put my arm around Jade, my eyes still on Sadie. “Just go. I’ve wasted enough of my time on you. I wish you and Evan the best. Have a great life.”
She turns to leave, then whips back around and sets her eyes on Jade. “If you EVER tell anyone those lies you just told me about my father, you will pay.”
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 a
lways 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.”
“Is this about Carson?”
“Yeah. But I’ll just talk to him tomorrow.”
I don’t want to tell Jade about Roth. Not yet. Not until I find out why he was here and what he wanted.
I need to know where he went, and if he left alone or with my dad. I hope their argument didn’t escalate beyond where it was when I left to go upstairs with Lilly. Because if it did, there’s a good chance one of them is dead, or will be soon.
Always Us (The Jade Series #8) Page 22