Page 103 of Anyone But the Superstar

Mary, still engrossed in her Lego, rolls her eyes. ‘Duh.’

Alice, beside Bell on the sofa, rolls her lips in as she pets King Dick Moore on her lap.

I bend over, wrapping my arms around my genius niece and pulling her in for a long, tight hug.

‘So—’ Chase, still trying to console Mike after having cut down on his food due to his recent weight gain, points at Thomas ‘—what exactly is it that you don’t like about Lizzie’s plan?’

The look Thomas gives Chase is withering.

Which, in Thomas’ normal suit and tie, would be intimidating. But now that I’ve seen him in a sequined cat t-shirt, khaki shorts and a split lip looking more like a rowdy fraternity brother at a pride rally than the CEO of a luxury retail conglomerate, the look has lost some of its power.

‘From my research, it is always the man who makes the effort. Thegrand gesture.’ Thomas turns to me, his softened eyes threatening the stranglehold I have on my emotions. ‘After what I heard that di—’ his eyes drop to Mary ‘—decidedly rude man say,heshould be groveling toyou.’

King Dick Moore lifts his head from Alice’s lap, as if to second his master’s opinion.

Chase and I share a look at our proper brother almost resorting to vulgarity in front of his daughter. It’s a side of Thomas neither one of us are used to.

And while I know that he’s right, and that 99 per cent of what Felix accused me of is wrong, just remembering Felix’s expression when he mentioned his mother serves to dissolve most of my righteous indignation. ‘Yes, but I did lie to him.’

Thomas shrugs as if that’s a moot point.

‘And as he’s being blackmailed, then I can understand why he doesn’t believe me.’ Unfortunately, giving reason to Felix’s lack of trust in me doesn’t help ease the pain.

‘I can’t believe we were going to work with someone like Camilla Branson,’ Bell mutters, leaning over Chase’s arm to nuzzle Mike’s round belly.

Chase turns to Thomas. ‘I want to know more about this research you did, T-money.’ He fights Mike’s attempt to escape his hold.

Alice, cat in hand, stands and walks over to Thomas, placing King Dick Moore in his arms.

Instantly, my brother’s rigid posture softens.

Encircling her arms around Thomas’ waist, Alice leans her cheek on his shoulder. ‘He’s been reading my romance novels.’

Chase’s mouth and arms drop, freeing Mike to stalk into the kitchen looking for scraps.

Thomas sniffs in the resulting silence, his fingers combing through King Dick Moore’s long fur.

I have a fleeting thought that maybe it wasn’t my father that Thomas learned his expressions and quirks from, but rather Captain Peacock fromAre You Being Served?

Testing the waters, I don a posh, exaggerated British accent, a la Mrs Slocombe. ‘Mr Humphries, are you free?’

Not missing a beat, Chase raises his hand and overturns his palm in a campy, flamboyant gesture. ‘I’m free.’ His voice melodious and playful.

My battered heart warming, I peek at Thomas, whose expression remains aloof even after my reference to the show the three of us used to watch after school while eating snacks our chef Curtis prepared for us. ‘And you, Captain Peacock?’ I lean into the sweetly condescending tone from our childhood. ‘Areyoufree?’

There’s a pause, and I swear Chase holds his breath right along with me, until our older brother once more raises his left eyebrow, looks left then right just as Captain Peacock did on theshow, before answering with an imperious English accent. ‘I’m free.’

Chase and I lose it, cackling until tears stream down our faces. Until Mother, finished with her phone call, comes out of my room to check on us. Until I know Thomas has given his blessing to my plan and Bell, Alice and Mary look at us like we’re crazy.

And we are. A crazy awesome family.

26

LIZ

‘I really appreciate everything you’ve done.’

Em, standing next to me in the glassed-in viewing platform, turns away from our birds-eye view of my family walking through the International Space Station mock-up in building nine. A mock-up clearly set behind the red tape still marking the off-limit areas.