Page 183 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

She shakes her head as she looks out the passenger window. “No, he was long gone by the time Curt and I got together.”

Her tone is nonchalant, and I try not to be bothered by it. If my father doesn’t care about his own son, why should she?

I inhale a breath, determined to keep my cool.

“Did my dad ever mention him?”

“Nope.”

“I suppose that’s not surprising,” I say, “seeing how he never mentioned to you that he had a daughter either.”

She turns, and I feel her gaze on me as I watch the road through the windshield.

“You know, you look kind of like him. Like Curt.”

“Actually I look a lot more like my mom.”

“She must be a pretty thing. You sure are.”

I stop my eyebrows from flying off my head. Did my father’s girlfriend just give me a compliment?

“Thank you.”

She sighs. “I wish I were young and pretty again. Those days are long gone. Enjoy your youth, honey. It’s gone before you know it.”

“How old are you, Rainey?”

“Not a day over thirty-five.” She cackles out a laugh. “I’m actually forty-three. Just had a birthday two weeks ago.”

“Happy belated birthday. This can be your birthday lunch, then.”

“Sadie, honey, I’ve got your number. You don’t have any interest in having lunch with me. You’re here to get information about your father.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” I tell her. “I’m here to get information about my brother.”

She laughs. “I don’t know anything about him.”

“I didn’t say I was here to get information from you, Rainey. That’s an interesting name, by the way.”

“It’s short for Lorraine. Lorraine Lucille Thompson. I’m not even kidding. Did you ever hear such an awful name?”

I chuckle. “I think it’s kind of pretty. It’s better than Sadie.”

“You don’t like your name, either?”

I slow for a stop sign and put my blinker on to turn right. “I’ve never liked it. I always wanted one of those pretty names like Ashley or Brittany or Jordan.”

“Isn’t your dad’s mother named Sadie?”

It’s surprising my father shared that piece of info with her.

“Yeah. The original Sadie Hopkins. But I hate the name, because people used to make fun of me in school. They called me Sadie Hawkins. Said no guys would ever ask me out. You know, because the Sadie Hawkins dance is when the girls ask the boys out?”

“Stupid kids.” Rainey fiddles with her purse.

“Yeah, stupid kids. But I got through it.” A couple of restaurants come into view on the left side. “Are these the places you were talking about?”

“Yeah, pull onto the side road there, and you can take a look. I think there’s a Mexican place, a Japanese bowl place, and a sandwich shop. What do you feel like?”