Jenna knew she was supposed to love her cousin and stuff, but Amelia was so old and boring. All she cared about were clothes and makeup and boys. She never wanted to play or anything.
And she was kind of mean. She liked to pull Jenna’s hair—hard.
That’s why Jenna had put a frog in her handbag. How was she to know Amelia would get so upset that she’d throw her purse, which still had her cell phone in it, into the swimming pool? The poor little frog had been so scared. Jenna winced as she remembered Amelia’s screams.
Probably a good thing she hadn’t used a snake like she’d been planning.
She took a step back. Probably time she returned to her bedroom. Nancy’s program would be over soon. A stick snapped under her foot, and Curt stilled then looked around. The lights Momma had had the gardener put in weren’t very bright, but she could still his face.
He looked scary.
She whimpered.
“Jenna?” Curt called out.
Amelia let out a loud sigh. “Great. Jenna, stop playing games and get out here before I call for Aunt Lorraine and Uncle David.”
She stuck out her tongue at her cousin, knowing she couldn’t see her.
Then she heard a snort. As she’d been making at face at Amelia, Curt had moved closer, spotting her in her hiding place. He smiled.
“Hey, little bit. What you doin’ out here on your own?”
Amelia stepped up next to Curt and frowned at her.
“She’s obviously supposed to be in bed and has snuck away from that slack nanny of hers. Honestly, I don’t know why Uncle David keeps that woman on. Aunty Lorraine wanted to get rid of her ages ago.”
Get rid of Nancy? She felt a jolt of alarm. They couldn’t get rid of Nancy. She loved Nancy. She’d looked after her since Jenna was a baby.
“Go back to bed, Jenna.”
“Amelia,” Curt said quietly. Amelia sighed and looked away. Then he crouched and held his arms open. “Come here, little bit.”
With a final glare at Amelia, she rushed forward and let Curt pick her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed.
“Hey, you okay?” he asked, rubbing his hand up and down her back. “No one scared you, didn’t they?”
“No, I’m okay.”
“I like your pajamas,” he told her.
“Momma said they’re boy’s pajamas, but Daddy said they’re warrior princess pajamas.” The short pants were camouflage, the top a dark green.
He walked with her over to a bench and sat with her on his lap. “Where are your shoes?” He grabbed one foot and brushed off the dirt and leaves.
“You’re such a tomboy, Jenna,” Amelia told her, sitting next to Curt. “And a nuisance. What are you even doing out here?”
“I didn’t see Curt come in. I wanted to see you.” She looked up at him and smiled.
Amelia laughed. It wasn’t a pretty sound. “I think someone has a crush on you, Curt.”
Jenna glared at Amelia, but Curt gently grabbed her chin, tipping her face up. He lightly touched the bruise on the side of her face.
“Who did this?” There was something cold about his voice, and she shivered.
“Hey, don’t be scared of me,” he said more gently. “Did someone hit you?”
“Curt, we need to get back to the party; it’s nearly time for the announcement.”