Chapter 72

Thomas stood silently in the threshold of the living room, his lips pressed into a thin line as he shook his head so subtly no one but himself would ever notice. I should really choose my words more carefully, he thought, reminding himself that Cyrus was still family—his brother-in-law, no less. He forced a small sigh and turned to regard Cyrus, who hovered near the corner of the room, gripping the vacuum cleaner with trembling hands. Cyrus’s eyes glistened as though about to spill tears onto the polished floor. The sight reminded Thomas of an over-eager maid on her very first day—so desperate to do well, yet so terribly afraid of making a mistake.

“Do you really want to bond with your sister?” Thomas asked gently, folding his arms across his chest. He kept his voice light, almost playful, as though inviting Cyrus into a harmless game. Inside, though, Thomas braced himself: remember, he told himself, be kind. He didn’t exactly radiate warmth at every turn, but for Cyrus’s sake