On that comment, Asher turned and walked away. The front door opened again and in came August’s new wife, Imogen, and a huge scary-looking man that looked like he could break me into small pieces. August turned to me with a warm hug, then went to help Imogen with the Easter baskets she was carrying.
“Imogen, you look as beautiful as the last time I saw you,” I said, embracing her. “Come on in the library and relax for a bit. I turned to her guest. My name is Trey, and you are…?” I put my hand out to the giant.
“Oh, sorry. I forgot you hadn’t met my bodyguard.” Imogen went to stand next to the man. “This is Bond.Don’t let him scare you, he’s actually a teddy bear.”
“Aw, come on, Solitaire, you can’t keep telling people that.” Bond frowned and put his hand out to me. “The name is G…”
“Bond. Yes, I already told him.” Imogen hooked her arm through his and pulled him with her to the library. “Come with me.”
I took that moment to slip into my mother’s office to put the bunny suit on, then I returned to the library, bunny head in hand. I posed at the door, but no one noticed.
“Really? No one is going to say how I look in this?” I threw my hands in the air.
August was setting up the Easter baskets they’d brought. I sat the head on the coffee table and went over to help him.
“So, Bond?” was all I said.
“Yeah, it’s a long story, but he’s a great guy.” August grinned at my outfit. “Why don’t you have a Bond, by the way?”
“Why would I need one?” I frowned. “Why do you need one?”
“Well, you’re in the public eye all the time, and when they catch wind of this get-up the stories will go crazy.”
“I kinda like the outfit. It’s very soft.” I rubbed my fur arms. “Plus, I could sleep inside and no one will know.”
“Now that idea I like.” August motioned to follow him to the bar.
“Is he really a bodyguard?” We walked over to get a drink. “Where can I get one, if I wanted one, that is?”
“Are you asking everyone now, Three?” Murphy stomped in from the hall with
her long raven hair tied up in a knot and a frown across her whole face.
“No, Brat. We’re talking about something else.” I tried my best to quiet her. “What’s your problem anyways?”
“Nothing. I need a drink.” And she was gone.
I scanned the room, taking in the family. The twins were busy going through the wine choices set out on the side table as if the argument had never happened. Diana, the housekeeper, was passing out homemade chocolate bunnies and Mom had returned to take her spot on the sofa with the photo albums out, as usual. She caught me scanning the room and waved we over.
“Parker just messaged that they’ll be here soon, so sit here and join me looking at the photo albums.” She handed me a photo album and another to Imogen on the other side of her. “Thank you, by the way, for wearing the costume.”
I hugged her, then sat peacefully in my costume, flipping through old photo albums with her and Imogen until the silence was broken.
Murphy slammed her cell phone on the table with a thud. We all looked up in surprise.
“Do you always have to be so dramatic, Brat?” I asked. “It is, after all, Easter weekend. Can you not tell by my furry outfit?”
“Murphy, what’s wrong?” Mom asked, noticing her moist eyes. “Come over here and look at these pictures with us.”
“It’s nothing important right now, Mom, sorry,” Murphy said, not even fazed by the bunny suit.
I watched her take a deep breath, then she headed over and plopped down next to me.
“Try to smile, Brat. You can tell me who I need to beat up for you later.” I shouldered her.
“Three, you can’t always fix my problems.” She snatched the photo album from me. “Thanks though.”
“I’m here if you change your mind.” I picked up another album. “Or we could get the big guy over there.”
“Aw, look how cute Parker is in that costume. I remember he threw a tantrum because he hated it. Do you remember how…? Oh my…” Murphy burst out laughing. “What did you do wrong to get stuck in that thing?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, still looking at the photo album. “I’m just an incredibly nice person, that’s all.”
“Yeah, yeah, tell that make-believe story to the tabloids.” Murphy jumped up from the couch, cell phone in hand. “Don’t move. I need a picture of this.”
“Hold on, let me put my head on first.” I reached for the bunny head.
“No way, I want a picture of this without the head for proof.” Murphy snapped a few pictures with her cell then sat back down, laughing. “Thanks, Three, I needed that laugh.”
“What are you calling him?” Imogen asked.
“She called him Three. When she was little, she couldn’t say Trey.” Mom spoke up. “I haven’t heard you call him Three in a while.”
“He’s always going to be Three to me.” Murphy slid across the couch, shoulder-to- shoulder with me. “Take a look at that picture of Parker in his little doctor costume. What was he like as a six-year-old?”
“Younger,” I said, then everyone burst out laughing.
“Did I hear my name in here?” Parker asked from the doorway. “I literally just walked in the door, and the first thing I hear is my name and laughing. Something is wrong with all of you.”
I looked over at the doorway and smiled. “Ah, perfect timing. We were indeed just talking about you.”
“That could be a good thing, but I think it’s going to be a bad thing,” Parker said, stepping farther into the room and kissing our mother on the cheek. “I’m a bit concerned about Trey right now. Does he know he’s dressed in a bunny suit, or do we need an intervention today?”
“What bunny suit?” I asked.
“That’s funny,” Parker replied.
“You know you’re supposed to actually laugh if something is funny.” I stood from the couch to get my bunny head.
“That was me laughing. Besides, it wasn’t that funny.” Parker picked up the bunny head first.
“Where is our Mia?” I asked, looking toward the hallway. “We love you, little brother, but we like her better.”
“Love you, too, big brother.” Parker placed the bunny head on me. “It’s a good look for you.”
“Where is everyone?” Mia called out.
“Ah, that has to be Mia in the foyer talking.” I pushed Parker out of the way.
As if on cue, Mia rounded the corner and walked through the door with her guests in tow.
“Hey guys, I’d like you to meet my wonderful baby sister, Chloe, and my very special and favorite niece, Sophie. They’re visiting us from Down Under for a few weeks. I hope you don’t mind.”
Wow! was all I could think when Chloe stepped into the room next to Mia.
They were almost twins. Her hair was different than Mia’s. It was still a warm blonde, but instead of the long, lush hair Mia had, Chloe’s was a thick, full, blonde bob just above her shoulders. Otherwise, she was Mia but not Mia. They were almost twins. She stood there, shy and smiling.