Sadi thought that was every strange. Luke really hadn’t had a problem with public affection since they had been married. She supposed he was just upset. His whole world had been turned upside down again and he was having a hard time dealing with it.
Luke had been right all along. Connor had been alive. He had trusted his instincts and he had been correct, yet somehow he didn’t look as though he was happy to have Connor back. Sadi just chalked everything up to stress. She supposed that everyone was dealing with the situation as best as they could.
Though Connor couldn’t remember her from before, he was happy to keep Sadi company during the day. He was a nice man who was kind and funny. In that aspect he was the same as he had always been. Sadi was shocked at how much Connor still looked like his brother.
She sometimes had trouble telling them apart still, though it had been years since they were last together. Oddly enough, they still wore similar style clothing, though Luke’s was much more expensive, and had their hair cut pretty much the same. It was uncanny the things that twins did, even when they were separated.
Connor loved the children. Connor Jr.. and Katelyn took to their uncle as though he had always been a part of their lives. He spent hours playing with Connor Jr., building block with him, reading stories, singing silly songs, and watching children’s shows on TV. Connor would change Katelyn when she was dirty. He would feed her her bottles. Sadi was actually shocked at the bond that had formed between her brother in law and her children.
Sadi found herself warming up to Connor as well. She truly liked him, although she worried about him. He was a good person, had always been, and that hadn’t changed. It was just Luke who remained distant, wary, almost haunted by his brother’s presence.
Sadi noticed immediately when Connor was unhappy. He had so many similar traits and mannerisms to Luke that it almost scared Sadi. The way his shoulders slumped slightly when something was bothering him. The way he couldn’t sit still, how he tried to take a couple deep breaths.
“What’s wrong?” Sadi looked up from the tower of blocks she was building with Connor Jr.. Katelyn slept in her bouncy chair only a couple feet away.
Connor glanced at his phone then at Sadi. “Nothing,” he protested, but Sadi could tell by the shadows in his eyes that he wasn’t telling her the truth.
“You can tell me Connor. I promise I’m a good listener.”
That made him smile. “It’s just… I was dating this woman before the car accident. But since then, since everything that’s happened, she won’t return any of my calls. I’ve let a couple messages and sent her an email trying to explain what’s going on, but I think she’s freaked out. We’ve only been dating for a couple months, but I was really into it…”
“Oh. Well…. maybe she’s just overwhelmed. It’s pretty crazy, everything that happened. I think Luke’s having a hard time as well,” Sadi admitted. “Hey! Why don’t I drive you over to her house? Do you know when she’s off work? Maybe if she’s sees you and talks to you in person you can work things out.”
Connor seemed to brighten. “Maybe. We could try. She gets off work around four usually.”
“We would have to take the kids, but I could drop you off and wait… or come back for you when you’re ready.”
Connor nodded. He looked nervous and Sadi felt for him. She couldn’t imagine how difficult and confusing this must be. Connor had never let on how frustrated he was by his inability to remember anything about Luke or his past life, but Sadi could tell, deep down, Connor was just as affected as Luke.
Chapter 7
Sadi pulled up in front of a quaint white and blue house in an older part of the city. There was a yard full of green grass with flowers planted in neat little beds in front of the porch.
The house was small but it was homey. Sadi found that she liked it. She was going to get out of the SUV when a woman opened the porch door and stood on the front step. She had long dark hair, was petite and thin, and very pretty, though she wore little to no makeup and her clothes weren’t expensive.
She had her arms crossed over her chest as if she were going to ask what Sadi was doing parked in her driveway but then the woman saw Connor get out of the SUV and she allowed a small smile. Sadi thought that was a good sign.
“Do you want me to wait?” Sadi asked Connor.
“Sure.” He walked up the front steps and Sadi couldn’t hear what he said to the woman, but she uncrossed her arms and motioned him into the house.
Sadi sat back and waited. She got her phone out and played a couple games. Both kids were sleeping in the backseat.
After twenty minutes Connor and the woman appeared. He walked down the driveway and got back into the SUV. The woman followed, approaching Sadi’s window. She unrolled it and smiled.
“Hi,’ she said, somewhat awkwardly.
The woman smiled back and extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Christine. Thanks for bringing Connor by. Everything makes so much more sense now.”
“What do you mean?” Sadi asked as she shook the woman’s hand.
“Well, right before Connor got in that car accident, we had a huge fight. I found a picture of you in his wallet. I thought he was cheating on me and I was really angry and confronted him.
I couldn’t believe how lame his excuse was when he said that he didn’t know who you even were or why your picture was in his wallet. It was just always there so he had left it. I guess he was pretty upset when he drove away, because the next thing I knew he was calling me from the hospital days later. I still didn’t want to talk to him or have anything to do with him. He sent me an email trying to explain everything but it sounds pretty farfetched.” Christine laughed nervously. “I guess I feel really bad about not believing him now that I’ve met you.”
Sadi nodded slowly. Why the hell did Connor have a picture of her in his wallet? “Yes, it sounds pretty crazy. Believe me, it wasn’t any easier for us to believe that he was alive after all this time.”
The three chatted for a couple minutes longer before a cry from Connor Jr. in the backseat had Sadi excusing herself and driving back to the house. They managed to make it before both kids woke up, the gentle lull of the car putting Connor Jr.. back to sleep.
Sadi wanted to ask Connor about that picture but she just couldn’t get the words out. She wanted to ask him why her image was in his wallet, but she knew he likely wasn’t going to be able to answer her anyway. Maybe it was actually a picture of her and Luke and Christine had obviously assumed the man was her and Connor. That would be more believable.
Sadi made a note to try and snoop through the wallet one day to find it. She felt badly as soon as she thought about that. She shouldn’t be going through Connor’s personal items. That would destroy any trust they had built up between each other. Still she wondered. The feeling of unease never quite left her after that.
Chapter 8
Luke was less than thrilled to hear about Christine. Sadi couldn’t understand why he couldn’t just be happy for his brother. She had forced Luke into agreeing to go to dinner with Connor and Christine so that everyone could meet. Sadi thought that would maybe meeting Connor’s girlfriend would change Luke’s mind and get him out of the glum mood he had been in since Connor arrived.
Sadi had arranged for a sitter days before their dinner date. She found that she was excited to get out of the house and socialize with adults for one night.
Though she had been excited for it, when they were all seated around the table in what used to be Connor’s favorite restaurant, Sadi found that she worried about her children. She had left them with a sitter only twice before, and each time had been driven to distraction wondering if they were being looked after properly.
“Stop worrying,” Luke whispered after Sadi checked her phone for the hundredth time. “They’re just fine or Mary Ann would have called.”
Sadi nodded. “I know… it’s just hard.”
Luke squeezed Sadi’s hand under the table. She caught the look he sent to
wards Connor and Christine, who were affectionately holding hands on the other side of the table. Sadi squeezed Luke’s hand back, a warning against him saying anything that had anything to do with that less than pleasant look he was giving.
Connor and Christine told Sadi and Luke all about how they had met. Connor had found a job working as a janitor at the same school where Christine was a substitute teacher. It had taken Connor weeks to work up the nerve to talk to Christine, and even longer to finally ask her out.
Sadi thought that their story was cute. She glanced over at Luke and was surprised to see that same brooding look still on his face. What was wrong with him?
“Luke,” Sadi hissed. She poked him under the table with her foot. “I think that’s really cute,” Sadi said, encouraging Christine to keep talking. It was interesting to hear about the life Connor had lived. She was about to continue when Luke stood up abruptly. Sadi glanced up in shock.
“What are you doing?”
“I can’t sit here and pretend like this is real. It’s not.” He looked pointedly at Connor and Christine. “You can’t be in love with each other when you don’t even know who Connor really is. You didn’t even know his real name until a couple weeks ago. You don’t know anything about him or his life.”
Sadi felt her mouth drop open. “Luke!” She was completely appalled at her husband’s outburst.
Luke reached for Sadi’s arm but she pulled away. “Come on Sadi, we should go home.”
“What? No!” Sadi flat out refused. She was mortified over the shocked and hurt looks Christine and Connor were sending Luke’s way.
Connor finally stood up as well and faced his brother. Sadi stared at the two of them, mirror images, even in the way they expressed their anger. She had never seen them angry with each other before.
“I think we should save conversations like this for at home,” Connor told Luke in a flat tone. It betrayed little of his hurt or anger but Sadi could tell it was there all the same.
“And what purpose would that serve? I think we should just get everything out in the open. Right here, right now.”
Connor shook his head. “Are you insane? You don’t have to insult someone just because you don’t even know them. Maybe I lived a different life before that bombing but I don’t remember it. Christine is my life now and she has been for months and months. We were happy together before that car accident. Before you found me and changed everything.”
Sadi could see the rage on Luke’s face. “What? Before I changed everything? You think you would be grateful to have some of your old life back. You think you would be grateful not to have to go to some poor school and work as a janitor.”
Connor shook his head. He took Christine’s hand in his. “I was happy working there and I love Christine, no matter what you have to say. I don’t think your opinion counts for much anyway at the moment.”
Connor excused himself, nodding an apology to Sadi. Christine got up and followed him out of the restaurant.
Sadi glanced around. People were staring at them. She looked over at Luke, who was standing, half angry and half stunned.
“Don’t even say anything Sadi,” Luke said as he made to leave. Sadi grabbed her purse.
“Don’t worry Luke, I think you said enough,” Sadi hissed.
She walked out of the restaurant as well, back to their SUV in the parking lot. She let Luke drive since she was so angry she doubted she would be able to concentrate on the road.
The sitter was surprised to see them back so early. Sadi paid Mary Ann the full amount for her trouble. While Luke went to his study and locked himself in, Sadi checked in on her kids to make sure they were both sleeping soundly, which they were.
Sadi was filled with love for both of them. God, what had come over Luke? He had been a totally different man since Connor had been found and come to live with them. It was like he wasn’t even the same person anymore. He was stressed out, unaffectionate, moody… that outburst in the restaurant… Sadi didn’t even know where that had come from.
Sadi heard the front door open. She left the nursery and was surprised when she saw Connor come back into the house. She had wondered if he was ever going to come back after what had happened at the restaurant.
Sadi left the nursery and met Connor in the entrance. “Connor,” Sadi said. “I’m so sorry for what happened…”
Connor held up a hand. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.” He sat down heavily on the hallway bench. “I just feel like… if I could just remember everything… somehow this would be alright.”
Sadi nodded. “I know it’s frustrating. Luke is having a hard time dealing with everything but I can’t believe he acted like he did.”
Connor remained silent. Sadi looked at his defeated posture. She felt his genuine distress and sorrow. Suddenly she had an idea. “Connor! Luke has all the photo albums from when you were growing up and there’s pictures on his computer from when you were older. Maybe you should look through them. Maybe it would help you remember something.”
“That’s a great idea!”
Connor followed Sadi into the family room. She got out the photo albums and brought them, spreading them across the coffee table.
“Look at these tonight if you want. It may be best that you don’t try and talk to Luke until the morning. I’ll let him know you’re here and I’ll make sure he goes right to bed.”
“Thanks again Sadi… for everything.”
Sadi excused herself. She collected Luke from his study and forced him to follow her back to the bedroom. She could tell he was torn between having it out with Connor and apologizing, but she insisted he wait until morning when he could think rationally, which of course she meant to formulate a rational apology.
Sadi laid beside Luke, long after he had fallen asleep. They had made love for the first time since Connor had come to stay at their house. Luke was wild, possessive, and dominant in a way he had never been before. It had scared Sadi slightly, the way he touched her as if he were going to lose her. She thought about Connor looking at those photo albums. That picture he had of her in his wallet. That same feeling of unease crept up. God, she needed everything to go back to normal. She needed her husband back as much as he needed to get the brother back he had lost.
Chapter 9
Sadi was awakened by the sound of the bedroom door creaking open. She sat bolt upright in bed, alarmed that there was someone in their room. The shadowy form turned on the light and Sadi was surprised to see Connor standing in the doorway. She was about to say something when Connor came forward, lunging at Luke who was fast asleep beside Sadi.
He started yelling and screaming, dragging Luke awake, raining down blows on his brother.
Sadi screamed at Connor to stop, but he seemed like a man possessed. He was yelling something unintelligible the entire time.
Luke came fully awake and managed to fend off some of Connor’s blows and even land a few of his own. The two brothers wrestled at the side of the bed, finally collapsing on the floor, rolling around, punching each other anywhere they could land blows.
From down the hallway Sadi heard Katelyn’s cries. “Stop it!” Sadi screamed. She was frozen in bed, wondering what on earth was going on. It seemed like the entire world had gone completely crazy.
Sadi finally was able to force herself to throw back the bed covers. She stared at the two men in shock. They had seemed to finally come to an impasse. Connor had Luke pinned to the floor.
“You bastard! You stole my life, you stole my home! You stole Sadi! I remember everything!”
“You’re the crazy bastard!” Luke yelled. “I didn’t steal anything from you. You didn’t want it in the first place!”
“Luke! Connor!” Sadi yelled, approaching the brothers cautiously. She could hear the baby screaming and her nerves were almost shot. “What the fuck is going on here?”
Connor looked at her with such a depth of longing, of sadness, it stopped Sadi’s heart.
“You tell her Con
nor!” Connor said.
Sadi shook her head. “Someone tell me NOW!”
“This is Connor,” Connor said, pointing at Luke. “He stole my life. He pretended to be me. He married you, took my house. He took everything while I was gone.”
Sadi felt shock wash over her. It couldn’t be true. She looked at Luke, saw the shadow in his eyes, the guilt that lay there plain as day. Suddenly it all made sense. How Luke was seemed so different after the bombing.
How he seemed so wary and guilty and on edge after Connor had been found. The picture in Connor’s wallet. God, how could he have done it? He had pretended to be his brother and married Sadi. He had lied to her this entire time!
Sadi shook her head. She felt hot tears starting to well up and choke her so she ran out of the room. She grabbed the baby out of her crib, bundled her up and placed her in her car seat. Sadi carried a sleeping Connor Jr., who had somehow managed to block out all the commotion, in one arm, the baby in her bucket seat in the other.
She rushed out of the house, not even bothering to get dressed. She grabbed her purse and her car keys. She ran out to the garage, locking the door from the inside behind her. Luke would never find the keys. She had them placed in the key box but she doubted he even knew where that was. They had never locked the garage in their lives.
Sadi placed Connor Jr. in his car seat and attached the baby’s bucket seat to its base. She got in the SUV, ignoring the furious pounding on the garage door. She locked the car doors then opened the overhead door opener.
As she was backing out both brothers tried to stop her, but she refused to slow down. She really didn’t honestly care if she ran one of them over. She knew they would get out of the way if they were smart, but judging from what they had just done, she very much doubted either of them had any intelligence.
Sadi backed down the driveway, ignoring Luke and Connor, who stood off to the side to let her pass then ran after her. She floored the gas pedal and took off down the street. She refused to look behind her.
The Billionaire's Mistaken Match ( A BWWM Romance) Page 15
