Someone's Daughter

3. you didn't see me here

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading my fic, I never expected even one person to comment but y'all have been super nice!!!

March 1st, 2020.

Fingers tapped against paisley upholstery. Dark lacquered shelves stacked books old and new to the rounded ceiling. Musk permeated the room, broken only by the scent of candles burning on the glass coffee table. The library was calm and cold. Save for Kitty's periodic intrusions, it was quiet, too. A good place to hide away.

On every third page, like a child kicking the back of her chair, guilt flashed through Kennedy for being at home on a Sunday. This never happened at Dad's house. He was adamant about Mass attendance. There was too much nuance to make it work in Nashville.

She couldn't go with Andrea, as a daughter or anything else, without risking identity leaks. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing to go as a cousin of another family or Jamie's daughter. Half of the fun of church was the people, the friends, and being there with her family. She hated being a plus one. It was isolating. She'd had enough of that in 13 years.

But guilt crept out of her stomach every Sunday. Even flipping pages of 1st Corinthians, it would reach out and hold her breath still, breaking apart the verses. She hoped Dad didn't know. God could know; he'd forgive her. Dad would give her a look more sad than disappointed, and he wouldn't even have to speak. His eyes alone would make her feel sick.

The door rustled as Kitty's paws slid down the handle and opened it. She huffed at Kennedy as she passed the girl. She pushed the curtain of the window with her nose, growling low.

"Kitty?" Kennedy murmured, glancing at the dog.

She looked at her human for a moment, then back out the window.

"Who is it?" Kennedy set down the Bible and watched her.

She barked, her tail still.

Not mom, then.

It wasn't a good idea to look out the window if someone was there, but she stood up anyways.

"Stranger?" She asked, taking hold of Kitty's collar as she met her side.
A large black car rounded in front of the house, the Toyota model favored by Scott and Taylor.

"It's family. Let's go say hi." Kennedy scratched behind Kitty's ears. Kitty growled again, ignoring Kennedy while the car stopped.

"No stranger, Kitty. It's probably Teff. Let's go say hi." Kitty broke from the window and ran out the library door.

Kennedy followed her to the top of the stairs in the front room, out of sight of the door, in case there were cameras at the gate.

Metal scraped as the door opened. Wooden soles hit the checkered marble floor between the scratches of Kitty's paws, and Taylor struggled to handle the Great Dane.

"Hi, Kitty! No, down. Down. Oh, God. Joe, help." Taylor fumbled. A man's low bounding laugh echoed up the stairs, Joe or maybe a bodyguard.

Kennedy sat on the top step and whistled, calling the dog back up. She lumbered the steps, nearly toppling Kennedy.

"Kennel." She ordered, and Kitty ran off to Andrea's room.

Wood hit marble until Taylor stood in front of the stairs, hands on her hips as she looked up at her sister.

"Hey, troublemaker." Taylor glared at her, mom jeans and brown sweater casually maturing her. She nearly looked her actual age.

"What did I do?" Kennedy tilted her head, arms around her knees.