Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Fourteen

SOUNDTRACK: "Seven Nation Army" - White Stripes

MONDAY

"Kate, get up," Jared said, knocking on his bedroom door. "We've got to get going!"

After the disastrous introductions yesterday, Jared was not looking forward to spending most of the day with her. Part of him wanted to scream at her for the way she spoke to his mother, but part of him understood why she did it. From her perspective, Connie really had been the catalyst to everything. If Connie had just stayed quiet during the initial hearing, he probably would have said he was fine just paying child support and leaving Ryan to have full custody of Kate. But knowing how that probably would have ended for her, he was conflicted.

Kate opened the door and stepped out wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Vedder followed loyally by her side. He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"So I called a staff meeting to introduce you to everyone. After that, we're leaving. Vedder is gonna have to stay here," he told her.

"But he doesn't know anyone here," she protested.

"Emma will be here all day. So will Shayla. He'll be fine for a day. Besides," he said, leading her toward the downstairs living room. "When you're in school, he'll be on his own all day. I'm sure he'll be fine then, too." He made her stop on the stairs. "Stay here for a minute, okay?"

Jared walked around the corner and looked at the room full of employees in front of him.

"Alright, so I know you guys are all busy; I'll keep this short and sweet," he said. "Recently I found out I have a fifteen year old daughter," he started. "Kate, come here." Kate obeyed and walked over to him awkwardly. "This is Kate. She's staying with me from now on. If you stay out of her way, she'll stay out of yours. I don't think I need to remind you all of your confidentiality agreements in your contracts. No images or videos of her on social media without my say-so."

Kate shifted on her feet and stared at the floor, feeling a lot like an animal on display at the zoo. Emma and Shayla gave her a smile.

"And that horse-sized lump on the patio is Vedder," Jared continued, pointing to the dog snoring just outside of the living room. "He's all bark and no bite. And he drools, so don't let him near anything electric." Several chuckles went through the room. "Lastly, I need the small office cleared out; Emma, Shayla, and Reni are sharing the bigger office. Everyone else is working down here until the sale on the Compound goes through. Move everything labeled 'Kate' into the small office." He tossed the key to the storage POD to Shayla. "Shayla knows what else needs to be moved in there. I'm going to be out of the office all day. Text me if you need me."

He led Kate back upstairs and out to his car in the driveway. Vedder was standing at the gate when they got outside and she shot him a sad look.

"He'll be fine. Get in," Jared said, pulling a pair of sunglasses over his eyes.

Kate got in and pulled her headphones out of her bag, plugging them into her cell phone before putting them into her ears. The air between them was heavy with unsaid words. He wanted to talk to her about how she had acted the day beforehand, but he didn't know how. Her words didn't really bother him; it was more than she said them to his mother that bothered him. He definitely wouldn't have given two shits if she'd gone off on Shannon.

Two hours later, they pulled into the parking lot at Kate's school. Students were crossing the campus, books in hand. The buildings were newer and Jared could spot several teachers monitoring the kids as they changed classes. A minute or so passed before the kids all went inside and Jared got out of the car.