The Unknown Sister

by Rebecca Winters

  They looked at each other, and Shannon nodded wordlessly.

  “Your sister sounds like a nice person. She didn’t want to meet you at first but still took the risk. He sounds nice, too, Shannon. In the end, he told you the truth at the cost of having to give up the woman he loves.”

  Shannon stared at her friend. “I thought you were on my side.”

  “I am, but after reading this book I can see how skewed some of my ideas about love have been. Analyze what really happened to you—what you’ll see is that there is no enemy.

  “You should read chapter ten. It talks about the difference between hurt pride and a broken heart. Pride screams for revenge. Remember how I never gave Stewart those phone messages from his girlfriend in order to get back at him for not being interested in me?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s revenge.”

  “I’m not planning to do anything like that.”

  “Maybe not consciously. But if you stay mad at your sister, you’ll keep apart two people who love each other. That’s pretty sad, considering you’ve been looking for your twin for a whole year.”

  “How am I supposed to be close to her when she’s going to marry David?”

  “Read chapter five. It’s called Moving On.”

  “That’s a lot easier said than done.”

  “I know. I’m living proof. But it would be sad if it took you as long as it took me to get over a man who was never in love with me. Let me read what the last paragraph of the book says.

  “There is only one prince per pond. Fortunately, there are millions of ponds each with its own prince. Out of those millions, there are at least twenty princes who were meant for you. Continue your search till you find the one who reciprocates your feelings. Don’t settle for anything less.”

  Amy put the book down. “I’ve done a lot of settling since my twenties.”

  “Tell me about it,” Shannon murmured grudgingly.

  She heard the doorbell. “Don’t let anyone in, Amy.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

  While she waited, Shannon poured herself another cup of coffee.

  “Shannon? David and Catherine are at the front door. They’ve been looking all over for you and they’re very relieved to find out you’re spending the night with me. If you don’t want to talk to them, they understand and they’ll go. But they had to make sure you were all right. What do you want me to tell them?”

  Shannon stared blindly out the kitchen window. “I can’t see them right now. I’m too upset.”

  “Okay. Is there any other message?”

  “No.”

  Amy wasn’t gone long. When she rejoined Shannon, she said, “They left. But before I shut the door, Catherine told me to tell you she loves you.”

  As Amy’s arm went around her, Shannon broke down sobbing.

  WHILE CATHERINE STOOD beneath the porch light of Army’s apartment, face buried in her hands, David gathered her in his arms. He kissed her hair. “We have to give her time,” he whispered. “She’s probably been crying her eyes out and doesn’t feel up to seeing anyone right now. Come on, Catherine. Let’s go home.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the car, which he’d parked outside the duplex. When they’d driven beyond the outskirts of Tacoma, he felt her stir.

  “I’m sorry, David.”

  “For what?”

  “I should never have asked you to come here in the first place. It was a fool’s errand.”

  “Not at all. No matter how hurt Shannon may feel, she now has proof that we weren’t off somewhere else enjoying ourselves at her expense. She’ll realize this isn’t a happy time for any of us.

  “Before we arrived, she probably envisioned all kinds of things. But I’m sure our presence here has dispelled the negative ones.

  “What’s important is that we know she’s spending the night with a good friend. You were worried about her being alone. As you can see, she does have a support system. That’s what you wanted to find out, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you’d been in her shoes, I doubt you would have come to the door, either. But maybe there’s something else you can do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Would you like to use my cell phone and call Amy’s? She probably won’t answer, but you could leave a message. Tell her all the things you wanted to say to her face.”

  “I—I don’t dare phone her this late.” But she didn’t seem averse to the idea.

  “It’s only been ten minutes. Even if she’s in bed, I’m sure she’s not asleep. Here.” He put the phone in her hand. “I’ll turn on the map light so you can see.”

  She only hesitated for a moment, then punched in the digits. At first it was obvious that no one picked up, because Catherine started talking to him. Suddenly it was as if the floodgates had opened. David had a hard time concentrating on his driving because she was pouring her heart out to Shannon.

  For a woman who hadn’t wanted to know anything about her biological family, she’d done a three-hundred-sixty-degree turn. The more he listened, the more he hoped the love conveyed by her words would work themselves straight into Shannon’s heart.

  Of the two, Catherine was definitely the more fragile, although she believed it was the other way around. As Jack had said earlier, Shannon was the tough one. Looking after herself for the past year had made her more resilient.

  When all the words were said, he watched her stare absently out the window, unwilling or unable to make conversation with him.

  David decided not to push it. In fact, he didn’t speak to her again until he discovered he was hungry and had pulled off at an exit to find a restaurant.

  “What would you like to eat?”

  “Nothing for me.”

  He ordered two cheeseburgers with colas anyway. It didn’t take him long to devour his before he headed for Portland once more. Not until they got to the city limits did he see her reach for the sack and start eating.

  “Why did you take this exit?”

  Pleased that she’d noticed, he said, “There’s something I want to show you before we go home.”

  “I’m too tired, David. Morning’s going to be here before we know it. I have to be at the office early.”

  “It’s not that far out of our way. Have you been to this area before?”

  “No. But everyone in the office has been talking about it since it was developed for residential use.”

  The destination he had in mind was a ridge overlooking the city, a heavily wooded spot. He eventually drew to a stop so they could look out.

  The July night was balmy. With the windows down, he could hear the crickets and smell the fresh, piney scent of the trees.

  “What do you think?”

  She gazed in rapt attention. “It’s a magnificent view.”

  “I think so, too. Twelve acres have been designated for every lot.”

  “Whoever owns this piece of property is a very lucky person.”

  He took a deep breath. “It’s yours.”

  Her head jerked around. “What did you say?”

  At last he’d pulled her out of the semitrance she’d been in. “I bought it for you as a wedding present. I had my attorney put it in your name. The first time I came up here, I could envision us living here. I could imagine our children—”

  “No!”

  She quickly averted her eyes. “You shouldn’t have told me that. We shouldn’t have come up here. I can’t marry you, David. It’s my fault that we’re together at all tonight.

  “Shannon didn’t want to be found. I made a grave error in judgment. Please take me back to your place so I can get my car and go home.”

  With her request spoken in that tremulous voice, he had no choice but to do her bidding. At least he had the satisfaction of knowing he’d been able to show her something she wouldn’t be able to put out of her mind. That was the whole idea.

  When they reached her car, he insisted that he
’d follow her home.

  “Don’t tell me not to see you to your door,” he said. “I don’t care how much security your building has, this late at night it’s dangerous. Any place is.”

  Once they arrived at her building, he walked her to the door. Before she could unlock it and enter, he caught her by the shoulders and gave her a long, hard kiss on the mouth.

  “I’ll phone you tomorrow,” he said as he walked away.

  She was on the verge of calling him back—simply because of the desire he’d aroused with that one kiss. Instead, she hurried to her bedroom and got ready for bed. But she might as well not have bothered, because she couldn’t sleep. Too much had happened.

  She replayed every moment until her mind was spinning. At her wit’s end, she got up and worked at her drafting table until dawn crept into the room. Then she took a shower and went to work.

  It was seven-thirty when she let herself into the office—late enough that she felt she could call Jack without waking him.

  “CC? Long time, no see. What’s got you up with the birds this morning?”

  “Something awful happened yesterday.” Without preamble, she described the sequence of events that had brought her world crashing down around her. By the time she’d finished, she was in tears. “If Shannon comes back to the condo today, she probably won’t stay any longer than it takes to pack her clothes. I can’t go over to talk to her. I’m in the middle of a huge project—I’m due out at a new site and I’ll be spending the whole day there.

  “Do you think you could drive to my place and wait for her? I’d hate for her to come home to an empty house. I know it’s a lot to ask, Jack. Maybe Melanie could get the day off so she could be with you?”

  Jack hadn’t answered yet; Catherine took a deep breath and forged on. “If you can’t, then I’ll ask Mom. I’m sure she would go if I tell her why. It’s just that Shannon feels comfortable with you and might confide in you more readily than she would in—”

  “Hey, I’ll do it,” he broke in.

  “Thank you. There’s one more thing—”

  “I know what you’re going to say. I’ll tell her she has a home with Mom and Dad anytime she wants.”

  She sniffed. “Thank you, Jack.”

  “What about David?”

  “What about him?”

  There was a harsh intake of breath. “Forget I asked.”

  JACK MADE HIMSELF at home in front of Catherine’s TV. Melanie would be over at noon with some lunch. In the meantime, he’d brought a stack of racing videos he needed to review.

  He didn’t have an answering machine in his apartment. CC’s drove him crazy. Every time the phone rang, he ignored it, then had to pay the price of listening to the messages. He was ready to throw something at it—until he heard Phil’s voice. Then he grinned.

  “Shannon? This is Phil. I know you couldn’t have forgotten me already. I’m giving notice that this is the third time I’ve called you. Three strikes and you’re out. You have my number. This is your last opportunity.”

  Still chuckling, Jack slid in the first tape and sat cross-legged on the floor, his nose practically to the screen. He’d barely started to watch when he heard the static noise that meant there was another call and the machine was going on again.

  “Catherine? I’m calling to let you know that I have to go out of town. My mother’s brother-in-law died last night. I didn’t hear about it until this morning when she phoned me. The family is flying to Detroit this afternoon. There won’t be a funeral. Just graveside services. I expect we’ll be gone three days. I’ll call you this evening to find out if there’s been any news about Shannon. I love you. Never forget that.”

  When he heard David’s voice shake, Jack swallowed hard.

  Good grief, CC. How long are you going to keep this up?

  He settled down once more and managed to watch a half hour’s worth of tape before another voice carried into the room.

  “Hello, Shannon. You know who this is. Just in case it makes a difference, I’m calling to tell you that I turn twenty-five tomorrow. How about celebrating with me?”

  Jack turned down the volume and sat up. Who the hell was this guy? His voice sounded familiar, but Jack couldn’t place him.

  “All you have to do is call the steakhouse and leave a message. I’ll get it.”

  The steakhouse. It was Steve, the waiter! Well, what do you know? Jack smiled and turned up the volume. Another hour went by before he heard a different sound.

  Someone was trying to get in. He got to his feet as Shannon opened the door. Catherine’s instincts had been right.

  “Jack!” Shannon cried as she walked in. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  She shut the door. “Where’s Catherine?”

  “CC had to go out to a new site today. She’s been worried sick about you and asked me to house-sit until you got home.”

  Shannon had the grace to look sheepish. “I was so upset I went back to Tacoma.”

  “That’s what I figured.” He moved closer to her.

  “Do you hate me, too, for not being up-front with you from the very beginning?”

  “I did,” she murmured.

  “Whew… I’m glad you put that in the past tense because I want to make you a proposition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You and CC need some space. Come out to the house and stay with us for a while.”

  She shook her head. “I couldn’t do that to your family.”

  “Shannon, Mom and Dad told me to ask you.” He paused. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  Her head was still bowed. “What?”

  “They’re really upset that you and CC were separated at birth. They meant what they said—they would have adopted both of you girls had they known the situation.

  “Right now, they’re ready to love you as their own daughter. They know you had a wonderful family, but they’d like to be your second family if you’d let them.

  “I’d like you to live at the house, but my reasons are a lot more selfish. When CC moved out, she left a big void. Having you around would fill it again.

  “The crew thinks you’re cool. They want you to hang out with them, too, especially Phil. He told me he asked you to dinner, but you haven’t even called him back to say no. This morning he left another message for you.”

  “He did?”

  “Yeah. You can listen to it yourself. He puts on a tough front, but I think he’s pretty crushed.

  “You know, he was never interested in CC romantically. He liked teasing her, but he’s not laughing about this. So, if you don’t have any feelings for him, at least be gentle. He’s my buddy.”

  Without waiting for an invitation, Jack closed the distance and threw an arm around her shoulder. She was crying. “Please come home with us. Please?”

  She made a choking sound, then gave a short laugh. “You’re impossible to stay mad at, Jack.”

  “That’s what Melanie tells me.”

  After a pause, she asked, “Your parents really want me there?” The tremor in her voice shot straight to his heart. She sounded just like CC at her most vulnerable.

  “Everyone wants you there. CC most of all. She loves you, Shannon—you’re her sister. She’d do anything for you.”

  He felt her ease out of his arms. “I—I don’t want her to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean she doesn’t have to give up David for me.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  JACK STARTED TO GET that tingly feeling. It was the same feeling he always got at the track when he was on his last lap and knew he was going to win.

  “She already has said goodbye. It’s over for them.”

  He heard her sigh. “Not if I can help it. Jack? Do you know which site she’s gone to?”

  His adrenaline started to kick in. “No, but you can call her secretary. Janine will give you the address.”

  “Depending
on the outcome of my conversation with her, I’ll either move back to Tacoma or accept your invitation for a temporary stay until I can find a permanent place to live here in Portland.” Tears trickled down her cheeks as she spoke.

  Jack had been prepared to accept Shannon into their lives. He’d liked her from the outset. But it was pure love he was feeling as he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug.

  “You and CC are identical in more ways than the physical. At heart, you’re both good, unselfish people who put others first. Welcome to the family.”

  She started sobbing in earnest.

  Jack had a remedy for those tears. He played back the two messages, and she listened avidly. It didn’t take long for her to regain her composure.

  “So, Steve’s pretty interested in you. I thought as much when you told me he drove all the way to Tacoma to help you out.”

  To his surprise, she looked embarrassed. “He’s too young.”

  “Doesn’t sound like it to me. Some guys are old at twenty. Some men are kids at ninety.”

  She ran a hand through her hair. The gesture was so reminiscent of Catherine, he was stunned. “If I were to go out with him for his birthday, would you and Melanie come along? I’d like your opinion.”

  “We’d love it. But there’s a condition,” he added.

  “What?”

  “You give Phil equal time. One date. If it doesn’t work out, there’s no harm done.”

  “All right.” She finally agreed after a long hesitation.

  “Call him now. He’s at the garage. It’ll make his day.”

  “You mean right this minute?”

  “Yeah. Before you get cold feet.”

  When she came out of her bedroom fifteen minutes later, he saw a faint pink tinge on her cheeks.

  “Did you spend all that time talking to Phil, or did you phone Steve, too?”

  “I’ll call him tonight when he’s at work.”

  “I have a feeling life around the Casey house is going to get complicated. Tell you what. I’m going to leave so you can do whatever you need to do.”

  He gathered up his tapes. “Tomorrow I’ll get some of the guys to help move your stuff. You can come out to the house anytime. Today if you want. We’re ready for you.”