“Hi, Grandma,” I faked happy.
Grandma tilted her head. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I had. A big, scary one, plus several ghosts from the past who had started to haunt me once again.
“Just tired after the trip.” We’d gotten home late last night. Brock had insisted we do a river cruise with his parents before we left DC. He’d thought it would be a good idea if we started dating each other. He was going above and beyond, proving to his dad that what we had was real. I’m sure in hopes John would pass it along to Edward. Brock was ever the valiant hero. Of course, I played my part, too, never leaving Brock’s side during the cruise and being enamored by everything he had said as he orated beautifully on DC’s history. It wasn’t hard. I was every bit taken by him. The exhausting part was guarding my heart. Reminding myself it was a game and I a pawn.
“Yes.” Ariana set down her masterpiece and wiped her brow. “Tell us how the engagement party was. We saw the pictures online. Pretty swanky and shiny.”
I giggled. “You have no idea how shiny. I felt like I was at a fancy disco.”
Grandma took the stool next to me. “What a waste of resources. I thought the Washington crowd was all a bunch of environmentalists. They should come here. I could teach them a thing or two about recycling and not wasting a thing.”
It was true. Grandpa and Grandma were amazing at taking care of their land and never letting anything go to waste. She was the queen of compost piles.
“I hope none of my tax dollars went toward that party,” Grandma grumbled.
That, I wouldn’t know. At this point I would believe anything. I had no doubt Edward Copeland was into some shady things, the least of which was blackmail.
“I know one thing.” Ariana wagged her brows. “You looked like a million bucks in that dress.”
I waved off her compliment. “That was all my mother-in-law’s doing.”
“Um, I don’t think it was her curves filling out that dress.”
Grandma grabbed my hand. “Just don’t let fame and fortune change you.”
“Grandma, I’m not famous, nor do I want to be. And the money makes me uncomfortable. All I see in it is how much I wish I could use it to help the kids I see day in and day out who lack daily essentials. It makes me feel guilty.”
“Guilt never did anyone an ounce of good. You deserve all good that has come your way.”
My stomach clenched where the guilt brewed constantly and bubbled up, suffocating me. Like it was doing now. If she only knew.
Ariana leaned toward me. “Tell us about Brant and Jill before Kinsley gets here. Was it just me, or did the pictures I saw of them look awkward? I mean, what was her dress?”
I looked around before I said anything to make sure Kinsley hadn’t arrived yet. “It wasn’t only you. Let’s just say, Jill isn’t the mousy, sweet thing we thought she was. She and her family are everything we have come to believe about stereotypical politicians. Calculating and out for themselves. Poor Brant.” I thought back to the dinner and how they all talked like Brant had already won. Jill and her mom had already picked out the house Jill and Brant would live in once they got to DC. I wondered if maybe Brant truly had already won—if Edward had enough power to rig an election. I knew Brant would only be satisfied winning fair and square; even so, I didn’t think he had a choice.
Yet the most awkward part of the evening was the way John had beamed at me all night like a proud father after I’d taken on Edward. That had disturbed me more than anything. I didn’t want John’s admiration. He may not be the puppet master, but he held some of my strings. And whatever it was that he’d done in the past to put him under Edward’s power, I was paying for it now and in the future.
Grandma growled next to me. “Brant is a fool. It was plain as day he had a thing for Kinsley. And he gave it up for what?”
I let out a long sigh. “Don’t be too hard on him. Politics is an ugly game, and I wouldn’t wish that life on Kinsley. If anything, I’m grateful he didn’t choose her.” I could only imagine what Edward would have done to my sister had Brant jilted Jill.
“I only hope Kinsley will see it that way one day,” Ariana responded.
“Me too,” I whispered.
Grandma thought for a moment. “I don’t think you girls give Kinsley enough credit. She’s tougher than she puts on. I think she should fight for what she wants. Besides, the world needs women like all of you in high places. She would make an excellent senator’s wife.”