Two Much Alike

by Pamela Bauer

  Where was he? she asked herself when it became evident that the house was empty. On her way back outside she caught a glimpse of something in the water. It was a man.

  “I’ve got you now and you’re not going to get away with it,” she warned, as she headed toward the beach.

  CHAPTER NINE

  WHEN WEATHER PERMITTED, Joe liked to begin each day with a swim. Before the sun had even risen this morning he’d taken his father to the hospital where the Admiral would undergo a series of neurological tests for the next few days. After spending the morning with his dad, Joe had come home feeling tense and in need of exercise. A look at the cool, sparkling water had him grabbing a towel and heading straight for the lake. One by one he shed his clothing, dropping each piece in a pile on the shore.

  When he’d first moved to Minnesota, he’d been reluctant to swim in the nude, even though the real estate agent had assured him that Nature’s Hideaway was truly what the name implied. Joe’s retreat provided the ultimate in privacy on a lake with no public access. Still, Joe had needed to experience the isolation for himself before he’d trusted the agent’s word.

  Except for a farmhouse belonging to an elderly woman on the opposite side of the lake, there was nothing but trees along the shoreline. No people, no boats—just ducks, loons and an occasional beaver disturbing the water. Nature was Joe’s only company when he swam.

  But today nature seemed to take on the shape of a woman. He glanced toward the shore and squinted, convinced he must be seeing things. Then a woman with blond hair stepped onto the dock, and he knew he wasn’t.

  It wasn’t just any woman. It was Frannie. Joe swam closer to the dock, stopping in water chestdeep so as to keep most of his body hidden.

  “Frannie, what are you doing here?”

  “Get out of the water.” There was no warmth in her voice, no smile on her face.

  “Frannie, I can’t get out with you standing there.”

  “I spoiled your getaway, did I?” she drawled sarcastically.

  Getaway? Did she realize that he wasn’t wearing any swim trunks? “All right you caught me,” he said giving her a big grin. “Now, if you’ll just go wait for me in the house, I’ll be with you shortly.”

  “You think I’m leaving you alone for five minutes? I saw the suitcases.”

  He wondered what she was talking about. “You think I’m going somewhere?”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it. Now get out of the water.” She barked at him as if he were a child who’d disobeyed her instructions.

  “I can’t get out.”

  “Why not?” she asked impatiently.

  “Because the only thing keeping you from seeing all of me is the water,” he told her.

  “You’re naked?”

  He expected she might be shocked, but he didn’t think she’d be disgusted. Could this be the same woman who had trembled with desire when he’d held her in his arms?

  “There’s no point in wearing swim trunks when you have an entire lake to yourself,” he justified, not that it made a difference in her demeanor.

  “Get out of the water,” she ordered again.

  “Frannie, didn’t you hear me? I said I’m not wearing swim trunks.”

  She put her hand on her waist. “So what? I’ve already seen what you have, and believe me it’s of little consequence.”

  She’d seen what he had? “You’re not making any sense.”

  “And what kind of sense would you like me to make, Dennis?”

  Dennis? She thought he was her ex-husband? “We already settled that I’m not Dennis.”

  “No, you lied and told me you weren’t. And I was stupid enough to believe you—again.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe what a fool I’ve been! You’re despicable! How could you be so low as to lie not only to me, but to your children? Especially to Alex. Don’t you know what this is doing to him?” Her voice rose to the edge of hysteria. “Now get out of that damn water, and for once in your life tell the truth!”

  He waded toward her, keeping a cautious distance as he approached the dock. He suspected that given the chance, she might just kick him. Eyes that only a few days ago had been full of affection, now were filled with loathing.

  “Frannie, I’m not your ex-husband,” he stated in no uncertain terms.

  She reached into a straw purse that was big enough to hold a litter of puppies and pulled out a manila envelope. “Then, why does this say you are?” she asked, waving the envelope in the air.

  “What is that?”

  “The lab report. It says you’re Alex’s father.”

  “Then, it’s wrong.”

  “DNA doesn’t lie. You saw the statistical information. They can determine a probability of paternity ninety-nine percent—or greater,” she reminded him.

  “Then, an error was made. We fell in the one percent,” he told her. “You can’t possibly believe I’m Dennis—not after everything that’s happened between us.”

  “Oh, yes I can, because it’s just the kind of cruel, sick joke you’d pull. Well, it’s the last one you’re ever going to play on me or my kids. Stay in the damn water. I’m sure the authorities will love to see this.” She spun around and headed for the shore.

  Joe quickly climbed out of the water and onto the dock. “For God’s sake, Frannie. How many times do I have to tell you I’m not him!” he said in frustration as he went after her. When he caught up with her he reached for the manila envelope in her hand. “Give me that paper.”

  She snatched it back, saying, “You’re all wet. And…” She paused, her eyes slowly roving over his naked body. Her face, which had been red with anger, lost its color.

  Without saying a word, he bent to retrieve the beach towel he’d left lying on the shore next to his clothes. He wrapped it around his waist, knotting it on the side.

  He extended his hand. “Can I see the report?”

  She gave it to him, and he pulled out the document inside. “This can’t be right. Tell me you don’t think this is accurate.” He stared into her eyes, imploring her to have faith in him, but all he saw there was confusion.

  “Frannie, you’ve got to believe me. I’m not Dennis,” he repeated.

  “You…” she began, but stopped. “You…you don’t have a scar down there.”

  “A scar down where?” he asked.

  Slowly, a finger unfurled from her fist to point at his groin. “The scar where you had your appendix removed.”

  “I haven’t had my appendix removed,” he said quietly.

  “Then…” Her eyes widened.

  “I told you. I’m not Dennis Harper.”

  “But the lab…”

  “Is wrong. If you want a closer look at my abdomen, feel free, but I can tell you right now, there’s no scar. I haven’t had my appendix out. You want me to produce medical records to prove it?”

  She shook her head, rubbing two fingers across her forehead. “I don’t understand how your DNA could match Alex’s…”

  “They made a mistake,” he finished for her. “Frannie, you see I have no scar.”

  Her eyes flew to his groin, then back to his face. Meeting his gaze, she blushed and looked away. He placed a finger on her chin, lifting it so that she was forced to look at him.

  “Mistakes happen—even in the best labs.”

  She nodded, then took a step back.

  “Let’s go up to the house. I’ll call the lab to find out what went wrong,” he said, stooping to pick up his clothes. Neither one spoke, as they made their way up the hill.

  When they reached the house, she said, “I’ll wait here,” motioning to the island counter in the kitchen. He nodded and was about to go change, when she asked, “Why are there suitcases next to the back door?”

  He realized now what she’d meant by his getaway. She’d thought he was doing a vanishing act. “My father went into the hospital this morning for some tests. I told him he didn’t need to bring much, but he packed nearly all his clothes. I ha
ven’t unpacked them and put them away.”

  She nodded in understanding.

  “Did you think I was running out on you, Frannie?”

  She pushed her hair back from her forehead and said, “It wouldn’t be the first time a man’s done that to me.”

  He moved closer to her, wishing he could erase the vulnerability exposed on her face. “That ex-husband of yours had a way of running out on you, did he.”

  “His own mother doesn’t even know where he is,” she said bitterly.

  Again anger for the unknown man surged in Joe. He’d known Dennis Harper could still affect Frannie emotionally, but today Joe had seen just how deeply the wounds the other man had inflicted were.

  “I’m sorry he hurt you, Frannie.”

  She shrugged. “I survived and I like the person I am now much better than the woman I was back then.”

  “You’re a very special woman. He doesn’t deserve you.”

  She smiled then, a small yet poignant smile. “I won’t argue that one.”

  He didn’t want to talk about her ex. He wanted to talk about the two of them. “I’ll go get dressed and then I’ll call the lab, all right?”

  She touched his cheek with her fingers. “All right.”

  WHILE JOE was getting changed, Frannie again

  looked at the papers inside the manila envelope. According to the lab, Joe’s genetic markers matched Alex’s, yet Frannie knew he couldn’t be Alex’s father. She’d only made love with one man in her lifetime. That man was Dennis. Dennis, who had a scar across his abdomen that no amount of time would ever erase.

  Yet the lab claimed that DNA testing was the most conclusive and widely accepted method to test for true biological relationships. Confused and needing answers, she didn’t wait for Joe to return, but called the lab herself. She was talking to the communication coordinator, making notes on the back of the manila envelope, when Joe walked into the kitchen.

  He rested a hip against the counter, facing her as she finished her call. As soon as she’d hung up the receiver, he said, “You talked to the lab?”

  She nodded. “They stand by their claim that the test results are accurate.”

  “Then, we’ll repeat the test with another lab.”

  “We can do that,” she said, her eyes on the notes she’d scribbled on the back of the envelope.

  “We have to do that.” He went to the refrigerator and pulled open the door. “Do you want something to drink? I’m having a beer, but I have soda.”

  “No, thanks. I’m fine.”

  He popped the top of a beer can, took a long sip, then looked her straight in the eye and said, “As much as I wish I could say I had the pleasure of being part of Alex’s conception, we both know that isn’t true.”

  “Yes.” His provocative words sent a tiny shiver through her.

  “So you agree that we should redo the test?”

  She sighed. “It’s a lot of money, Joe.”

  “Don’t worry about the expense. I’ll pay whatever is necessary to get this mess cleared up,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I can’t let you do that. You already paid once. Besides, we might get the same results.”

  He frowned. “Frannie, you just agreed I’m not Alex’s father.”

  “I know, but there is another reason why you could have turned up as a genetic match,” she said, toying with the flap on the envelope. She’d written several phrases down while talking with the representative from the lab. She slid her thumb over the words identical twins, unsure how to broach the subject.

  He stared at her. “What other reason could there be? You read the brochure they gave us. Everyone has different genetic markers.”

  She took a deep breath and said, “Everyone except identical twins.”

  He had been about to take a swallow of beer, but paused with the can in midair. “You think I’m your ex-husband’s twin?”

  From the look on his face she could see just how ridiculous a possibility he thought it was. “It would explain the DNA results,” she said quietly.

  He chuckled without humor. “Well, you can forget that explanation. It’s simply not possible. I know who I am.”

  “Joe, there has to be a reason why your genetic markers matched Alex’s.”

  “Yes, the lab made an error,” he insisted, his voice rising.

  “But you look enough like Dennis to be his twin.”

  “Well, I’m not,” he denied vigorously. “Frannie, you’re way off base with that idea. I’m not adopted.”

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  “You just implied it by suggesting something absurd,” he argued. “My dad has pictures of my mother when she was pregnant with me. I’m not adopted. They wouldn’t have kept something like that from me.”

  “Joe, I’m sorry,” she apologized, unhappy with the distress she was causing him. “Would you just let me explain?”

  “Explain what?” he asked a bit impatiently.

  She searched for the right words. “It’s as confusing to me as it is to you, but I think you should know that Dennis did have a twin brother.”

  “Then, doesn’t that disprove your theory?”

  “No. His brother died from SIDS when he was only two months old.”

  He gave her another puzzled look. “I’m not following you.”

  She knew that he was going to think that her next suggestion was even more absurd than the last.

  “Maybe the baby boy that his parents brought home from the hospital and who died two months later was not Dennis’s twin.”

  “You can’t possibly believe there was a mix-up at the hospital and my parents were given somebody else’s baby?” He pushed away from the counter and shook his head. “Frannie, if you think that, you’ve been watching too many movies. I was born in a military hospital. My father was an officer in the Navy. It couldn’t have happened.”

  “How can you be so sure? You and I both know that there are documented cases where babies were switched at birth.”

  “But it didn’t happen to me,” he said adamantly. “My mother would have known if it had. You don’t think she would have realized that the baby in her arms belonged to someone else?”

  “Joe, what happened to your mother? I know she died when you were a child, but you never speak about her.”

  “She died from injuries she sustained in a car accident. I was only eleven.”

  “I’m sorry. It must have been very painful for you.”

  He nodded. “She was a good person.” He looked Frannie squarely in the eye and said with conviction, “She was my mother, Frannie. If she hadn’t given birth to me, she would have told me. I know she did.”

  Frannie wasn’t going to argue that point. “Where was your dad stationed when you were born?”

  “In Guam.”

  “Joe, Dennis was born in a military hospital in Guam.”

  He kept shaking his head. “That doesn’t prove anything, Frannie.”

  “No, but it does mean you can’t ignore the possibility.”

  “It’s not a possibility,” he declared firmly. He ran his hands over his face, then said, “Look. I know you’re only trying to find answers to a puzzling situation, but hasn’t what’s happened between you and me so far shown you that speculating can be a waste of time? Look at the erroneous conclusions that have already been drawn since the day we met. I think we owe it to everyone involved to make sure that an accurate test has been performed before we do any more guessing.”

  Frannie wasn’t convinced that hadn’t already been done. There were too many similarities for her not to believe Dennis and Joe were identical twins.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I know this is difficult for you. The last thing I want to do is make this any more complicated than it already is, but, Joe, what happens if the next test results are the same?”

  “We’ll cross that bridge if we get there,” he replied. “For now, the only assumption I can make is that someone made an error at the
lab. Now, can we change the subject?”

  Frannie wanted to put her arms around him, to shower him with comfort that would take away all the doubts her questions must have put in his head. As much as he wanted to deny it, she knew he hadn’t taken what she’d said lightly. It was there in the lines on his face and in the uncertainty in his eyes.

  She knew it was easier for him to doubt the accuracy of the paternity test than it was to consider the possibility that the identity he’d had for thirty-three years was false. No one, not even Joe, could predict the changes such a discovery would bring.

  Frannie thought of the Admiral. For a man in his condition to suddenly discover that his only son had been switched at birth could be devastating. On the other hand, Arlene could learn that the son she thought had died as an infant was still alive.

  Maybe Joe was right. It was better not to discuss the subject until the second DNA test had been done.

  “All right. No more talk about the results. But first I have to say one more thing,” she said. “I need to apologize for the way I screamed at you down there on the dock.”

  The cloudiness left his eyes, replaced by a slight twinkle. “I’m just glad I never had my appendix out. When you were standing down there on that dock, I was thinking how lucky I was not to have left the oars in sight. The way those arms of yours were flailing, I’m not sure you wouldn’t have clunked me over the head if one had been handy.”

  She grinned sheepishly. “I did wonder if I should grab a shovel from the shed on my way to the beach,” she quipped. “I’m sorry I went off like that, but I got the report this morning and I was seeing red.”

  “There’s no need to apologize, Frannie. In the short time I’ve known you I’ve discovered that you’d do anything to protect your children. That’s a quality most men would admire in a woman. I know I do,” he said, stepping closer to her.

  Again, his words made her feel special. “I won’t let Dennis hurt them anymore. That’s why when I got that lab report, all I could think was that he’d fooled me yet again. I thought you’d sweet-talked me and filled my head with all sorts of lies.”

  He moved so that he was close enough to reach up and run the back of his fingers across her cheek. “It wasn’t sweet-talking, Frannie. I meant everything I said.”