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She wished she’d created a cover, a purpose Because the role of uninvited girlfriend absolutely didn’t suit her

"Well, you look…nervous"

"No, I’ for soirl studied her even more closely She cocked her hip and eyed Kat from head to toe, and in her presence, Kat had never felt more like an outsider, a party crasher, the proverbial thief in the night

She was just beginning to plan her escape, when the girl said, "You’re cute Who are you?"

"Kat"

"Cool" The girl wrapped her arether I’ll give you the tour"

Walking ar room, Kat expected to hear about the history of the house,vase by theShe was surprised to see the girl gesture to a wo near the fireplace, then say, "On our left we have the West Coast Hales"

Kat glanced at the foursoht Kat was about to ask rong with her when the girl shrugged and said, "Hazel’s baby girl thought she’d be aproducer who did nothing but try to get his wife to bankroll hed "She hadn’t seen her mother in six years, but she’s here now"

They walked through the foyer, and Kat’s guide jerked her head in the direction of a shorton the bottoirl whispered "He’s part of the European branch; tells everyone he races Forambler A bad one"

There was a distant cousin who had bought (and lost) a sheep ranch in Australia, a son-in-laho had served ti), and a son who had shae over Oxford

By Kat’s count, there were five branches, six divorces, and nine pending lawsuits

Uncle Joseph didn’t speak to Cousin Isabel Great-great-uncle George’s descendants adamantly refused to be in the saht Alfonzo Hale (a cousin whose et a new toupee

"And I thought my family was crazy," Kat whispered

"What?"

"Oh, nothing" Kat squeezed against the wall to let a woe) "How do you know all this?"

"Maybe I’irl shrugged "Let’s just say, if you’re young enough and feh, you wouldn’t believe what people will say around you"

"Yeah I think I would," Kat said just as they returned to the rooun

The people still ate and drank and clas like dividends and capital reinvest about the day felt off--alery in the room

"Nobody seems…sad," Kat finally realized

"Oh, they aren’t sad They’re freaked"

"Why?"

"Hazel was a nice old lady, don’t get , but word at the dessert tray is that the co so hot"

"It’s not?" Kat asked

"We’ll find Scooter; he’ll know all the gossip"

"Who’s Scooter?" Kat said just as the girl stopped And pointed

"He is"

Kat followed her stare

And whispered, "Hale"

Chapter 5

Hale stood alone in the crowded roo above the fireplace Kat remembered the look in his eyes when she’d told him it was a fake, the way he had come alive She tried to co ht they’d htful owners had somehow tracked him down and stolen hiirl stepped toward him

"Nat!"

Hale smiled and threw his arms around her, and it was like he didn’t notice Kat at all And irl, "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?" she challenged "Dad told ht you were in Switzerland"

Kat watched the girl tilt her head and choose her words "Switzerland didn’t exactly work out Neither did France Or Norway"

"Three schools?" Hale asked

"Well, technically, five schools--three countries"

"Iht he hten Hale’s tie "It’s good to see you, Scoot"

"You too," Hale told her, and Kat didn’t knohat tohis tie and irl said "I have to introduce you to my new friend, Kat Kat is--"

"Oh, I knoho Kat is," he said

Kat just whispered, "Scooter?"

"So you two do know each other" Natalie crossed her arms and eyed Kat with new interest