Frankie colors, and I shoot my sister a warning look.
“We know what we’ve read about him, but we don’t know about him,” Mom says with a gentle firmness that I hope will activate Cassidy’s almost non-existent filter.
“What you’ve read is what you need to know,” Frankie answers, looking intently at her hands as she brushes them on her pants. “There’s not much else to tell.”
“No family is perfect. We have to love our people where they are, as much for our own good as for theirs. But you’ve got more family than just your father, don’t you?” Mom presses.
Frankie stares at Mom like she’s either talking gibberish or she’s said something profound.
“She’s got a twin brother, Archie,” Hayes offers.
“Oh,” Mom says, eyebrows up. “A twin brother? Are you close? Do you have those twin superpowers like some identical twins do?”
Frankie blinks and relaxes slightly. “Yeah, nah. No superpowers, unfortunately. But we’re tight. We’ve had to depend on each other since coming to America.”
“And what brought you here?” Mom asks.
Cassidy rolls her eyes. “Are you serious, Mom? You know the answer isSurf City High?”
“I know Frankie was an actress,” Mom says to Cassidy, then turns back to Frankie. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything. I don’t get to the movies much, and I hardly ever watch TV.”
“She was a pro surfer too,” I pipe in for the first time.
I’ve watched as much footage as I could find of her competing. I’ve even watched theSurf City Highpilot, but Iprefer the surfing videos. That’s where Frankie is the most beautiful.
Dad perks up. “Pro, huh? Win any titles?”
He loves sports at the pro level. He’ll watch any game or sport any time, but the ESPN documentaries about athletes are his go-to.
“Archie and I were moving up the ranks with our friends, Rhys and Dex,” Frankie says. “Then Malcolm put together the deal for us to be onSurf City High. He figured we could make more money doing that than surfing.”
“Probably safer, too.” Mom’s eyes dart to Hayes.
“Physically, for sure. Emotionally…” Frankie shrugs.
“Rhys James? You two had a thing, didn’t you?” Cassidy asks.
She’s a huge fan of Rhys James’s music, even if she won’t admit it.
Frankie shakes her head. “Only on the show.”
“What movies have you been in? Any I might have seen?” Mom leans in closer to Frankie, as if to block her from any more uncomfortable questions from Cassidy.
“You’d have to watch movies to see them, Ma,” Bennett says, and she shoots him a friendly glare.
“I’ve mostly had small bits,” Frankie says. “But I had a couple bigger roles that got me some good reviews. I played Paula inMidnight in Decemberand Isabelle inOver the Moon.”
“Well, I have heard of those,” Mom says.
“You and everyone else,” Hayes teases, and Mom reaches behind Frankie to give him a gentle smack on his arm.
“Where can I watch them?” Mom asks Frankie.
“We can stream them,” Dad says. “We’ll watch them tomorrow night. Right now, this little one needs to go to bed.”He nods toward Junie, who’s rested her head on Frankie’s shoulder and is blinking hard to keep her eyes open.
“Frankie looks like she could use a rest too. We’ve grilled her enough tonight.” Dad stands and reaches to help Mom to her feet. They pack up the basket while the rest of us gather garbage and fold up the blankets.
I take Junie from Frankie. “Let me put her to bed, and I can drive you into town.”
