For the moment, I had to forget about meeting the mom. I had to face my sister instead. From the second text she sent, she told me to come to our favorite restaurant right about now. I knew which restaurant she was talking about since we both had considered it our favorite since we were little.
I grabbed a cab from Scotland Yard and headed towards what was probably going to be a very interesting lunch.
She was already sitting at a booth by the time I got there. Lizzy, a nickname that only I was allowed to use looked the same as ever. She was about nine years younger than me, had just turned forty. She use to have dark brown hair but, like me, her hair had turned silver at a young age. It was cut in a buzz cut style that slightly mirrored my own. She had the same shade of brown eyes as me and was nearly my height. Her build was slimmer, like our fathers, however.
Also, like me, she was pretty smart and was very good in a crisis. Lizzy was a bit of a loner too like me in the force. However, instead of putting her skills for police work she had chosen a different path: the army. She was a Brigadier General to be exact. Despite the differences in our age, and profession, we were extremely similar in things like personality, and looks.
She wasn't in uniform so I was pretty sure she was on leave from Iraq which was surprising. She had actually called everyone in the family to tell them she probably wouldn't be home this year.
"Greg," she said upon seeing me. She smiled and gave a pat on the back before we both sat back down.
"It's nice to see you to Lizzy," I said as I mentally prepared myself.
"I told you to stop calling me that," she muttered as she glared at me playfully. "You never do listen to anyone."
"Hey! I resent that. It's only you I don't listen to," I said with a laugh. Lizzy kicked me under the table a little more forcefully than she had meant to. "Owe," I muttered as I rubbed my leg.
"So how are you? How's everyone else? What about your wife how's she?" Lizzy asked as she glanced at the menu.
"Everyone's great," I said as I try to avoid any talk of my ex-wife. Instead I asked her, "So what have you been up to? I thought you weren't going to be home this year."
"Ah, that," she said with a small sigh. "Well, you see, I didn't want to tell anyone yet but, well . . . I've quite the Army."
My mind reeled with the very idea of this. Why would Lizzy of all people do this? "But you love the army and besides, what will mum think? She didn't want you to go into the army and now that you back out of it, well, she'll go mental."
"That's why I haven't told her. I haven't told anyone in fact even dad. You're the first person that's found out."
"And why me?" I asked. Yeah I'm her brother but why would she want to come to me of all people. She knows that I'll just tell her that she should go back into it or start telling others immediately. Suddenly a waiter appears to take our orders. After he leaves we continue with our argument.
"Because I need a place to stay. Just for awhile, don't worry but before I tell mum I want to get settled down and start looking for a job. I don't want our parents to have to worry," Lizzy explained.
"Well that's fine with me. Probably won't be using it anymore for awhile anyway."
"What do you mean a while? You going on a trip with your wife or something?" she asked as I mentally cursed myself.
"Not exactly Lizzy," I began. "You see, we divorced several months ago. I'm seeing someone else know too."
"You mean you cheated on her? Greg how-"
"No nothing like that!" I cried out as I waived away her accusations. "No, I told you I was divorced months ago. I've only started, seeing someone, recently."
"Well as long as it was after. Anyway enough about me, what's she like. Sweet and down to earth, am I right? You always liked the simple minded ones which is probably why they never stayed to long since you're not exactly down to earth."
"I am completely down to earth."
"Okay, but the moment that phone starts ringing you're off to a crime scene before someone can say bang-"
"That's not very funny."
"-and you can't seem to help it. No matter how down to earth your mind is, it still is all about the job."
"Maybe you are right but I still think it will work out this time," I mutter as our food comes. I've nearly forgotten we're at a restaurant. "Besides, it's different this time."
"So she's not the usual girl."
"Lizzy I never said-"
"Huh, maybe she is short too. You normally go for taller girls," she rambled on as I tried to get a one in.
"Listen I-"
"Or maybe it's something else. Maybe she's not religious. Or she could be from a different country. Or does she-"
"Elizabeth I never said it was a woman!" I regret saying the words the moment I see her face. She is obviously in shock at this revelation.
"Oh, yeah I guess that would be a bit different," she mumbled.
"Does it surprise you?" I ask.
"Um, strangely no. Believe it or not, I kind of thought you were gay."
Okay I was defiantly not expecting that. "You thought I was gay."
"Well du. You always stared at the guys whenever I made you watch some stupid chick flick. Also no matter how many girlfriends you ever had, you were never really happy and they hardly ever ended well. I'm personally surprised that you didn't discover it sooner."
"But you still think it's a bit strange don't you," I said at the look on her face.
"Well no matter how much you think about something it's still surprising when it actually happens. So what's his name," she then asked.
"Um, Mycroft. Mycroft Holmes."
"And let me guess he is related to Sherlock Holmes," Lizzy replied.
"Yes, but he's not like him," I quickly said, I had told her about Sherlock. "He's just as smart, maybe smarter, but he works for the government instead." Really, he was the government. "He has a lot more charm too."
"Think I could meet him?"
"Probably . . ."
"Tonight then."
"Um, I'd have to see if he was available-"
"Great. Six o'clock should be good. Oh, by the way can I drop my stuff at your flat now?"
"I suppose. I'll help you get your stuff I guess. I still have a bit longer until I have to return to work," and with that we were off.
Lizzy had been staying at a hotel so that's where all her stuff was. There were only three boxes of her stuff, she didn't have much. Since it was a light load we got a cab again and went to my flat, which I hadn't been in for quite some time. It was extremely messy as usual. I asked if she wanted help unpacking but she said no. I decided that I'd better get back to work then when she said something else.
"Hey, Greg?"
"Yeah Lizzy," I said as I turned back to her.
"We got something else in common now to," she said with a small smile.
"Which is what exactly?"
"We both like guys," she replied with a laugh.
"Oh good God."
In the end I was able to get a hold of Mycroft and we decided that six o'clock would be fine and we would eat at his flat. I arrived early to help him prepare the meal, he decided to cook again. Then, right before it was time; I got a cab and went back down to my flat to pick up my sister. Lizzy was ready immediately.
When we arrived she said something about Mycroft being loaded. I told her to shut up, even though it was pretty true. I didn't even bother knocking now as I opened the front door and walked in with Lizzy right behind me.
"Loaded," she muttered. I told her to shut up again.
"Be polite. I'd like him to think I have a normal sister."
"And what part about me is normal?"
"Besides, normal gets boring after a while," said a sudden voice from the doorway to the kitchen. It was Mycroft, of course, and I was surprised to see him looking slightly normal. He was wearing a simple, dark gray button down shirt along with black slacks and black shoes. It was surprising but he looked just as good as ever.
"Ah, Mycroft," I said with a smile. "Mycroft this is my sister Lizzy. Lizzy this is Mycroft."
"I am very pleased to finally meet his sister. He has told me much about you," he said politely. Really I hadn't told him anything about her, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had already looked up everything possible on her.
"Nice to meet you to. What exactly has Greg told you about me?" she asked.
"Oh the simple stuff. That you're intelligent and a quick thinker, you look a lot alike your brother, have similar likes and dislikes. You went into the army after you got out of high school but quit just a little while back at the rank of Brigadier General."
"How do you now I just left? I've only just told Greg today," she said bewildered at how knowledgeable he was of her.
"He mentioned it over the phone when he told me about the plans for dinner," he said smoothly without missing a beat. After that, he led both of us into the dining room were everything was already set and waiting.
We sat down and chatted slightly but mostly we ate. Thankfully, however, it wasn't uncomfortable just quite. Finally we went back to the fact that Lizzy had quite the army.
"So did you like the army?" asked Mycroft.
"Yeah but I didn't want to do that all my life. I went to college while in the army so I could get a job but I want to make sure I choose the right one."
"What kind of job are you looking for?" I asked, speculating about what my sister would want to be now.
"I was thinking lawyer." Huh, I wasn't really expecting that but it did sort of make since. She was a good thinker and was good when it came to winning arguments.
"Do you think you could do that?" asked Mycroft suddenly. "Sitting behind a desk I mean since you're so use to action by now I suspect."
"Yeah, that's why I've been thinking of joining Scotland Yard."
I had to lurch for my napkin as I chocked on my food. "Why would you want to go from one hair raising job to another?"
"Well this one would be closer to home and even though there is a chance of dying it is smaller than the rate in Iran," Lizzy replied smugly. It was obvious that even though she was considering a occupation as a lawyer, she would more than likely join the force.
"Either way, I'm not going to be the one to tell mom," I muttered as I finish eating.
We all chatted a little more after that until Lizzy finally decided to go home, technically it was my flat but oh well. I walked her to the door and we said our goodbyes. She whispered in my ear something about not having too much fun after she was gone. I hit her on the shoulder which made her laugh as she walked out.
Two soft hands then wrapped around me as lips gently pressed against the back of my neck. "That wasn't so bad," said Mycroft as he kissed me down my spine.
"No, it wasn't. I'm happy she seems fine with it. I hope my parents feel the same way."
"Well enough about your parents, you're meeting my mom in two days remember."
"Don't remind me," I mutter as he kisses me few more times. Shivers go up and down my spine as I sigh in content.
