Chapter 15
Kate
“Grant!Grant!” Kate tried to jump out of the car after him, but Walter grabbed her and pulled her back.
“A car will hit you,” he told her. “We’ll drive around and look for him. He can’t have gotten far.”
“We should call the police,” she told him frantically.
“Can we not involve the police in our family business anymore, please?”
Walter had the car turn off the main road. They cruised around several upscale neighborhoods but saw no sign of Grant.
Walter swore. “What am I doing, Kate?” he asked his assistant.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s too much like his mother. This was a mistake.”
“Don’t write him off!” she pleaded. “He recently came back from the Middle East; not even a week has gone by. He needs to do calming things. We tried to push him to do too much. He’s overwhelmed, and I don’t think he’s been sleeping.”
“You’re right, you’re right. It’s just…” Walter sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I just thought he would be the answer to all my problems.”
“That’s a lot to put on one person’s shoulders,” Kate said.
“I know, but he couldn’t even put Jack in his place. I wanted to show off Grant. The way Jack goes on and on about his sons… well, the oldest, anyways… I wanted to be able to proudly parade my kid in front of him. But Jack was the same as he usually is.”
“He’s still grieving,” Kate reminded him. “He lost two nieces and a nephew.”
“I know, it’s just, for all Danielle’s faults, she could cut Jack down to size.” Walter smiled bitterly.
“He’s not like his mother at all,” Kate said. “He’s very sweet to his dog. Danielle hates animals, remember?”
“Yes, I know. I’ll be easier on him. I promise, Kate.”
“I’ll cancel the other appearances I had for him. We’ll only keep the low-key ones. My grandmother wanted to spend time with him, too. Maybe we can play cards or something.”
Walter gave her a soft smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Kate. You always know how to handle things. We’ll give him until tonight to show up. He’s not stupid. He can probably find his way back.”
When they arrived back at the estate, there was no sign of Grant. Gus ran to greet them at the door, and he barked sharply at Kate.
“You wonder where Grant went, don’t you?” she said to the puppy, picking him up. He wiggled in her arms, and she set him back down, and he immediately ran to sit in front of the door expectantly.
“Maybe we should call the police,” Walter fretted. “I don’t—”
The doorbell rang.
“Maybe that’s him?” Kate said hopefully. Stefan opened the door.
“Where is my granddaughter, Walter Holbrook?” said a sharp voice as an elderly woman barged into the foyer, waving around an umbrella.
Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Gram, what are you doing here?”
“It’s late,” Margaret said. “I’m very concerned about you,especiallysince what happened yesterday.” She gave Walter the evil eye. “Where is that hellion marine, anyway? Don’t worry!” She waved away Kate’s protestations. “I’m not going to yell at him. I’ve never met a sane marine, and I didn’t expect him to be any different. I tell you, those boys who used to come off the ships after Vietnam, Lord have mercy, they could take you for a wild ride!”
“Grandma, hush,” Kate said.
“Don’t you shush me, young lady! I’ll have you know—”
