The Twin

by Smokey Moment

  Niles drove to Manhattan every day for a week. The boutique looked abandoned but he wondered if she was working to open it. He peeked through the glass and could see boxes and shelving installed, but no clothing put out. He questioned the neighbors and no one mentioned seeing Bella in or around the shop. Niles was ready to give up. The stress and the time it took to drive the hour journey there and back, was taking a toll. But this day would be day ten. And as he drove, a feeling of calm came over him.

  Niles cut his radio on and honked his horn as a woman pulled out into his lane unexpectedly. He looked in his rear-view mirror then back to the road. The slow moving traffic was unexpected. He had been driving there much earlier in the day. But this was a day he decided to try something different and go at a different time. After nearly fifty minutes on the freeway, he exited and turned onto Miller Road. Clairmont was half a mile up. Niles was prepared for another disappointment.

  As he slowly approached the small standalone building that sat nestled on the corner, he saw a black Escalade parked in front. A car that resembled his father’s new car. Niles hoped it wasn’t. He drove past the SUV and turned to view the license plate. “Fuck,” he shouted. It was George’s car. Niles did a U-turn and parked on the side street. He sat looking around, nervous about what he would encounter. Soon the back passenger door opened. George emerged from his car, on his phone and looking as though he was set to make the deal of a lifetime. Niles turned the ignition off. He tried to calm his nerves. George stood outside the shop talking on the phone. He seemed engrossed in the conversation. He laughed and then his face took on a more serious tone. Niles cracked his window. He wanted to hear what George was saying. He didn’t believe Bella was there. He wasn’t even sure they had the right location.

  Niles sat waiting on George to attempt entry. And he decided this was the day he would demand his father leave her alone. Each second felt like an eternity. George was hesitant to enter. He talked on the phone as he stood outside the shop for nearly three minutes. Soon he ended his call and walked up to the door. He turned the handle and disappeared into the store. Niles jumped out of the car in shock. He had never been able to gain entry. He walked to the side of the building and look in a window. He could see racks had been placed. An old-world charm theme had been created. Paint on the walls, old rusted tin cans and old oil paintings throughout, gave a feel of escape. Niles knew it was Bella’s store. This was her passion. And she had spoken often about loving the appeal of the old chic design. The store looked different from the last time he had been there. Bella had accomplished a lot in a few days.

  “Hello. May I help you,” the woman said, as she emerged from the back of the store. Niles couldn’t hear what she was saying, but he could see she was talking to his father. His heart pounded. She doesn’t want to see me. What am I doing? he thought, as he hesitated to make entry. Bella never looked towards the window he stood at. A side window that was partially obscuring his view. He could only see Bella’s head, as she stood next to a rack that blocked his view.

  George looked her over. She was much prettier than he imagined. She was heavier than the image in the photo. But stress did that to a person. She was a widow. It was understandable. In any case, the grainy photo he received from his lawyer did her little justice. “Hi. I’m…um…George Langston,” he replied. Bella stared. This was Noah’s father. The man he always complained about. The man he told her was a greedy, covetous man who would feed his young to piranhas for a fee. Bella always thought Noah over-dramatized his father’s characteristics. But now that she saw him, she wasn’t so sure.

  “Hi. I’m Bella. How can I help you?” she asked. George stepped closer and Bella took a few steps back. “I’m here to make you an offer. I understand you were married to my youngest son. Noah. When he died, he left instructions on what to do and I am here to relay them to you.” Bella took another step back. She didn’t like George. “Instructions for what?” she asked. Her tone, matter of fact and unapologetic. “For you to live comfortably. I have a check for you for a million dollars. All you have to do is sign some papers, I’ll hand you the check and be on my way.”

  Bella was in shock. She understood the rift Noah had with his father. George was intimidating. He was threatening and condescending. The nerve of him. Bella couldn’t believe his gall. No one from his family checked to see if she was alright yet he stood before her with a check. He was ready to be rid of her. She understood what the payment was for. After much digging and research, she finally found articles on their family. Their wealth. Their businesses. The fact that they took care of national and international accounts. The Langston’s had homes all over the world. Their money deep. Their influence far reaching. And if a man that rich and obviously busy made time out of his busy schedule to see her, there was something amidst.

  But Bella wasn’t interested. This man that stood before her, was unaware of the power of a couple named Lewis and Connie Bradley. Parents who taught her to value herself above all else. Their teachings of hard work and perseverance were firmly implanted. She was the product of a union between two people, uncompromising in their values and beliefs.

  And Bella needed to express those beliefs. Because George had insulted her. To think her marriage was one built on anything other than pure love. What he didn’t know was she would give every dime to have Noah back. And she would raise more to have her life the way it was the first day she fell in love. Which was the second she knew that she would never be the same. But a painful reality existed. She was in love with Niles. Her marriage was supposed to be to Niles. The switch was never supposed to happen. Her and Noah were becoming like oil and water. They didn’t mix. And she had left it all far behind her. Her future was carved out and it included no one but herself and the baby she was carrying. What George thought of as fat, was a mother to be in her seventh month of pregnancy. And Bella was done with pain caused by anyone named Langston.

  “I don’t know how you found me. But your intrusion is not welcome. I have everything I need right here and I’m not taking one dime of any money you’re offering. I see why he felt so strongly about us never meeting,” she said, as she grabbed her stomach. George looked down and realized she was with child. “You’re pregnant?” he asked. “Stay away. Don’t come near me,” she said, as the pains increased. Bella doubled over as she tried to ease the pain. George walked towards her and tried to hold her arm but she snatched away.

  “Just go. Its none of your concern,” she said, as she stood up straight. The cramps easing. She walked over to her counter and dropped her head. Niles could see her better. She rubbed her belly. She worried about the stress on her unborn babies. He was stunned. She looked pregnant. He ran around to the front of the building and burst through the door. “Please leave pop,” he said, as he walked quickly to her. Niles kept his eyes on her. She didn’t look well and he worried. “You’re pregnant!” he said, stunned at the discovery. He never imagined she was. In all the chaos and tragedy that had engulfed him, he neglected to think about what could have been. He and Bella were intense and he realized that there would have been a strong possibility that she was.

  Bella didn’t want to show how desperately she missed him. She kept up her front. Her bruised heart told her to keep him at bay. He had done a lot of damage. Whatever happened in Vegas shouldn’t have. And she still didn’t have answers. But her pregnancy was delicate. And to talk about such an emotionally charged and hurtful subject was not in her best interest. She had her health and the health of her unborn, to consider. Her doctor told her to take it easy. She wasn’t supposed to be at the shop. She was ordered to rest.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, snatching away from him. George looked at Niles. He was, himself, waiting on the answer. Niles looked at Bella. He ignored George’s intense stares. “I’m here because I love you. I’m not letting you go Bella. I will keep trying until you hear me out,” he said, as he gently raked his hand across her cheek. Bella turned her face from him.

>   “You what! This is your brother’s wife.” George looked back and forth between them. “What’s going on here? Your brother dies and you help yourself to his wife. What the fuck is going on. And you young lady… How dare you disrespect the memory of my son. You’ll do anything to be in this family. Stoop this low. Fuck his brother. Can he rest in peace? You loose women… Always hunting men with money. You won’t get a dime of my…,” he criticized, before Niles approached him.

  “Don’t you dare talk to her like that. You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. That’s why he shunned you. Stayed away. Kept the marriage a secret. I won’t stand here and let you disrespect her. One more insult at the woman I love and I will disown you. You will lose your other son. I will never speak to you again,” he said, his face serious. He looked deep into his father’s eyes. He needed to relay the seriousness from which he spoke. George swallowed his pride and ceased his verbal attack of Bella. But he was angry. He didn’t understand. His sons were always stepping into each other’s shoes. He knew more than Niles thought he did. But this was extreme.

  Bella stood rubbing her belly in tears. She let out a moan and Niles ran to her and tried to help her to a chair but she yanked away. “Both of you leave. Now. Please!” she said, as she bent over in pain. “No. You’re coming with me. I have to get you to a hospital,” he said. “No! I want you to leave. I’ll be ok. I don’t want to see your face right now. Stay away from me.” George didn’t want to upset Bella any further. The situation had gotten out of hand.

  “Son let’s go. There is no way your brother would want his wife or his child upset by our presence. Whatever happened between you two, it is obvious she has moved on from it. And I must say, this was not my intention. To upset her this way. I actually came to give her money. And to give her my number for us to talk at a later date about what Noah wanted. I’m sorry Bella,” he said, as he turned to leave.

  “That’s not his baby,” Niles said to his father. George swiftly turned around. He glared at Niles. He couldn’t believe what he heard. “What?” he replied. “It’s mine,” he replied. Bella held her stomach. The pain seemed to vanish as swiftly as it had arrived. “I don’t understand. This doesn’t make sense.”

  George looked at Bella. She held her head high. She had done nothing wrong. His insults had no truth. She married who she thought she had fallen in love with. They had switched lives. It was Niles who she loved. And it was his seed she was now carrying. She knew them apart. She could trace back memories and she knew exactly when they were in her life, and at what point. And she still loved him.

  “He told me to love her with all my heart. That we made a mistake. That he loved me. And he loved her. And he wanted us to raise the babies he saw in a vision. He saw two kids. He told me this as he lay dying in the back of an ambulance,” he said, to his father. George was shocked. Niles looked at Bella. Her eyes widened. She wasn’t sure she heard him right.

  “No. It won’t work,” she said looking at Niles then glancing at George with contempt. Niles looked at his father. “Dad. Please! Go! You have upset her. Can’t you see this is the worst time for you to be here. She doesn’t want the money. I could have told you she wouldn’t take it. That’s not who she is,” he said, as he looked deeply in her eyes. Bella looked fiercely at him. Straight to his soul. He had done something unforgiveable by most standards. Yet her heart would not let go. She wanted to know what happened. How she ended up with a set of twins, in a complicated triangle that was so complex, she feared telling anyone. No one would believe her. She wasn’t sure she believed it. The shock of the situation had not worn off. And she had been stressing throughout her entire pregnancy.

  Niles stood under the microscope. Both his father and the love of his life, were confused. Niles looked at George. “Dad please. I will explain everything to you. Please just go before she stresses herself right into having the baby early,” he urged. “Not baby. Babies. There are two,” she said. Niles looked swiftly at her. He wasn’t sure he heard her right. “What?” he said. Bella looked at him and shook her head yes slowly. Niles grabbed her and she pulled away and looked down. She wasn’t sure she was ready for affection from him.

  She glanced at George. He became emotional. Bella saw the look in his eyes. Her face softened towards him. She no longer wished to grimace and express her anger at what she thought she knew about his character. He had no grandchildren. Something she imagined he would want. It would be crucial to his forecast of their family’s future. And he had none.

  “Alright son,” he said, his eyes still locked on her. He smiled at Bella and turned and walked away. Nile’s reached out and gently touched Bella’s arm. He wanted to get closer but he needed to take his time.

  “Are you alright?” he asked. “Yes,” she said, as she turned from him and walked over to the window. George’s car had not pulled off yet. She stared at the car window. Unable to see inside. He was watching them. That she knew for sure. He was not as bad as she originally thought. She understood his drive. He knew nothing about her and only sought to protect his family and their interest. She appreciated his concede and his apparent new interest in his heirs. She could see what he was thinking. She hadn’t heard the last of him. And he would want involvement with her children.

  Niles humbled himself. He would need to be careful. Bella was on edge. She rubbed her belly. She was still not out of danger. His father’s unannounced and self-serving visit was upsetting. “Let me take you to get checked out,” he said. “No. I’m fine. You should leave now,” her voice trembling with emotion. “No Bella. Not until I know you are ok. And that my children are fine.” Bella sighed. She walked to a chair and sat down. George’s car pulled out slowly. Niles walked to her and stood over her. He touched her hair. His favorite pastime. And it always soothed her.

  Memories flooded in. Bella burst into tears. “I can’t deal with this now. I don’t understand what happened? Why did you switch? I don’t understand. Was I just something to conquer? The butt of some joke that had gone too far. You should leave Niles,” she said. Her serious demeanor profound. Her mind needed clarity. Her heart needed cleansing. And she wanted time alone. Niles sat beside her. He rubbed her hands. He took a deep breath. He had something to say before he left. Something she needed to hear. Something for her to ponder. He wanted her. He wanted their children. It was now or never. She was distant. She wanted no parts of him. And if that was to remain so, he wanted her to know how they came to be. So she could go on, with her questions answered. So, he told her the story of how she affected two lives at the same time;

  He saw you on the plane. I was back in New York. He wanted to meet you but I guess you weren’t interested. He tensed up after you shot him down. He called me. Wanted me to try. I was only supposed to talk to you. Get you interested in him. But the moment I saw you, my heart wanted more. And after we met, I couldn’t part from you. I wanted him to forget about you. It was too late and we had gone too far. And every time you called me his name, I wanted to tell you. But I was afraid. I didn’t want you to hate me. Leave. Assume we weren’t real. So, I kept quiet because I couldn’t lose you. But then Noah got angry. He came to the suite, demanding that I leave. I was furious. He continued on and he fell in love with you himself. I tried to move on. Forget about you. But I couldn’t. So, I buried myself in work. The gym. My friends. Anything to keep me busy. Anything to keep my mind off of you. Nothing worked… he said, pausing.

  He had more to say. He needed to explain his re-entry into her life.

  “Noah couldn’t have kids Bella,” he said. He watched her intensely. She looked off. “What? He couldn’t?” she replied. Niles shook his head. “No. And you had left. Filed for a divorce. He asked for my help. I wanted you. I missed you. And the truth was I wanted the baby to be mine,” he confessed. He held his head down as he continued. “It would give me something to hold close. Knowing that your child was mine. I needed something. You were mine first.”

  Bella looked at Niles. She l
oved him. She’d never known a love like his. What they had, had been interrupted. But he was back. Again. He had never really left. Everything had come together. In an instant she understood. She didn’t agree with what they did and she wished it never happened. She was supposed to be with him. But she felt guilty. Noah should have been able to talk to her. She would have shamed him but she would have forgiven him. But Bella’s love was clear. She was sure she wouldn’t have stayed. The revelation would have certainly ended her marriage. She loved Niles.

  Niles touched her stomach. Bella placed her hand on his. She didn’t see herself having her twins alone. A voice deep within whispered to her soul. She touched his neatly trimmed beard. He kissed her slowly then touched her belly again. He felt a kick just as he rubbed her stomach. “I guess they already know you’re here,” she said, as she winced from the strange feeling of twisted knots. “I’m taking you home. You need to relax,” he urged. Bella agreed.

  He helped her up and she closed her shop. Niles drew her blinds and helped her shut out all the lights. They left hand in hand. He opened her car door and helped her in. Bella smiled. She looked out the window as he walked around to the driver’s side. Her mind was filled with happy thoughts. It had been a long time since she felt such joy. Niles got in and watched as she stared out the window. “You ok?” he asked. “I am now,” she replied.

  He started the car. He was certain of one thing. They loved one another deeply. Enough to move mountains. And although they had suffered a terrible tragedy. They were sure Noah blessed their union. They were two people who should have never parted.

  “Ok everybody. They’re here,” Nicole shouted, as she ran into the grand room. It was the twins first birthday. Nicole could see Niles’ SUV making its way up the driveway. Austin grabbed the lighter and lit the candles on the large pink and blue cake. Twins Noel and Nila were celebrating their first birthday. The car pulled to the front door. George opened the door and stepped on the porch. Bella got out and removed Nila from her car seat and carried her to the porch. George had his arms extended in anticipation for his granddaughter.