Orchid noticed how Phoenix’s lips compressed.
“This family doesn’t let you live anything down,” he said. “No, I’m not going to the parade.” He turned to Orchid. “But I bet Stew here would accompany you, if you’d like.”
“Why not you?” she asked, almost as a tease, and then regretted having asked.
Stew answered for him. “Baby Phoenix went the first time hoping to see animals.”
Harry and Caleb guffawed in anticipation of the punchline.
“Cause he thought vets were doctors for pets.”
Orchid tried to hide her giggle behind her hand.
Phoenix feigned hurt. “I did eventually figure it out, but—”
Stew cut him off, as if on a roll. “Then he comes back and is like,where were the vets? All I saw were gwandpas in wheelie chairs.”
Caleb slapped the countertop. Harry doubled over, holding his side.
Phoenix opened his mouth to playfully respond, as if trying to be a good sport while his family embarrassed him.
Her phone vibrated. She pulled it from her bag and glanced at it. “Sorry, it’s my boss,” she explained, then returned the phone to her bag. She looked up at the cousins, who seemed to be vying for her attention.
“What did Joan say?” Phoenix asked.
“She said to call her next week.”
“Could be good news,” Phoenix said encouragingly.
Harry pointed at their starfish wall clock. “It’s after five on the Fourth—bosses can wait.”
Orchid glanced at the kitschy timepiece and grinned. “I love the beach theme here. It suits this house.”
“We have starfish everything,” Stew chimed in.
“It’s half past the third leg,” she read the time.
“Third leg?” Caleb grunted.
Phoenix redirected the tone of the conversation, as if Caleb might devolve into something inappropriate. “I always thought it was cool that starfish can regenerate limbs. Only a handful of animals can do that.”
“Scientists found the genes for regeneration in us, too,” said Caleb. “They were able to regrow a frog’s leg.”
Orchid felt the bridge of her nose wrinkle. “Not something I want to picture,” she said.
“Come for that tour,” Stew insisted. He hooked one arm in Orchid’s and turned her toward the staircase.
Caleb slunk towards the family room with his beer. “I’m going to see if there’s a game on.”
She saw Phoenix follow his brother, and then sink into the other end of the sofa.
Upstairs, her feet sank into thick carpeting. The bedrooms were outfitted in soothing lavender. She listened to Stew prattle and thought of Phoenix.
Last time they’d been at this shore house, he’d cared for her. The lavishness of the place, its sumptuous status, wasn’t a barrier between them. Gratitude swelled inside her chest. “Thanks for the tour,” she said to Stew and headed downstairs.
From outside of the family room, she overheard Phoenix’s voice.
“I’m tired of holding onto secrets,” he said. “I know how it looks—our relationship—but it’s more complicated than I can explain. Believe it or not,” he said, “Dad had a hand in this.”
