Page 42 of Finding Kyler
She rests back in her chair, taking a sip of her drink.
“How long have you lived here?” I ask as I lift the glass to my lips. The sweet liquid fizzes in my mouth. “Gosh, this is sooo good. Did your mum make it?”
She bobs her head. “We have pink lemonade on tap.” She grins. “And I’ve lived here my whole life.”
Now that’s an interesting nugget of information. “So you must know the Kennedys well?”
She looks off into space. “I suppose so, though I don’t hang around with them anymore.”
I take a big slurp of my drink. “How come?”
“It wouldn’t be appropriate for them to be seen associating with the help.”
I detect no bitterness; she’s merely stating the facts. “Is that coming from the boys or their parents?”
“Their mom, mainly. I don’t think James is too hung up on social norms, but appearance is the only thing that matters to Alexandra. Especially with their links to the infamous Kennedy dynasty. One mustn’t do anything to disgrace the Kennedy name.”
I lean forward in my chair, my hair hanging loosely around my shoulders. “What the what?”
She pins me with a disbelieving look. “No one has said anything to you? You don’t know about your own heritage?”
Of course, I knew Mum’s maiden name was Kennedy, but Kennedy is a popular surname in Ireland, so I would never have assumed any links tothoseKennedys. And she never mentioned any connection. I shake my head in frustration. “Are you saying they—I—am related to JFK?”
Her brow puckers. “I don’t think you’re directly related tothatside of the family. The connection is further back, and more distant. You should ask your uncle. He’ll fill you in.”
“Don’t worry, I intend to. Hhmph.” If what Lana is saying is true, it’s further evidence of my mum’s dishonesty. I don’t understand why she didn’t want me to know this stuff. I’m left feeling confused and hurt all over again.
We sit in comfortable silence for a bit.
“Keaton says you attend the public school. What’s it like?”
“It’s okay, I guess.” She pushes her bangs back off her forehead. “The teachers are decent.”
“What year are you in?”
“I’m a junior, same as Kal.”
“Kal? Huh? Someone sounds on friendly terms.” She stiffens in her chair, and her cheeks turn strawberry red. I think I may have offended her. “I’m only messing, don’t mind me.”
A nostalgic look spreads across her face. “He used to be my best friend. When we were kids, I hung out with them most summers. I even went to Nantucket a few times. Kal and I used to build sandcastles together.” Her look is wistful.
“What’s Nantucket?”
Her eyes ping with curiosity. “They haven’t told you about Nantucket either?”
“Nope.” I try not to feel insulted.
“Nantucket is an island off The Cape, and it’s where a lot of the wealthy Bostonians and New Yorkers have vacation homes. Alex and James purchased their house about ten years ago, and they spend a lot of weekends there. I think Alexandra would prefer a vacation estate in the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, but properties rarely come on the market. Taylor Swift outbid her a few years ago, and I thought Alex was going to blow a gasket.”
She snickers, and her face lights up again. As she turns her head, sunlight glints off her hair, highlighting all the fiery red undertones. My smile falters as another reminder of Mum threatens to floor me. Blinking away the memory, I take another glug of my lemonade, hoping the almost sickly sweet liquid will overpower the sour taste in my mouth.
“I’m surprised they haven’t mentioned it. I’m sure they’ll take you there. It’s an awesome place. You’ll love it.”
“Lana? Where are you?” a man’s voice rings out from somewhere in the bungalow.
“It’s my dad.”
“Will he mind that I’m here?”
