The Other Twin

by Nan Dixon

  “Mom—”

  “Now.”

  “Sorry,” the kid snarled. Under his breath he added, “Butthead.”

  “Close the door when you leave.” An egg could cook on Cheryl’s bright red face.

  Of course his couldn’t be much paler. He’d never had a kid walk in on him like that before. This was effing complicated.

  Josh stomped away, slamming the door.

  Cheryl whirled on him. “Why didn’t you sleep on the sofa?”

  “What?”

  “You should have slept on the sofa.” She rushed to her dresser and pulled on underwear.

  “This is my fault?” He hauled his boxers off the floor and yanked them on. “There were two of us here last night.”

  “This is the worst thing that could have happened.” She pulled on a bra and tank top, then grabbed shorts.

  “Wow. Sleeping with me goes down as the worst thing that’s ever happened in your life.” The bitter words rolled off his tongue. Last night had been possibly the best night of his life. Now this. He pulled on his T-shirt and shorts. “Issy and I will get out of your hair. Wouldn’t want to ruin your life.”

  He grabbed the doorknob. Thank goodness it was Sunday. He had all day to figure out how to manage the construction project and take care of Issy. Alone.

  “Nathan. Wait.” She slumped onto the bed. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  He pressed his hand to the wood. “I think you did.”

  Soft footsteps padded from the bed to the door. He didn’t turn around. Didn’t want her knowing how deep her words cut him.

  Cheryl’s arms wrapped around his waist. She set her cheek against his back. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want Josh to see us...” Her voice trailed off.

  “Together? You’re ashamed of me.” The words ripped out, like knives slicing into his gut.

  “No!” She pulled on his arm. “I’ve never done anything like this.”

  He should have walked out the door. Instead he faced her.

  “I have to think of Josh first.” Worry lined her forehead. “You understand that, right?”

  “Yeah.” Was he putting Issy first? He didn’t know. But his heart ached at the thought of anything hurting his little girl. “What do you want?”

  Her eyes closed. “I didn’t want Josh finding us in bed.”

  “That ship has sailed.” For the first time since the kids had gotten sick, he craved a beer. A really large cold one and it wasn’t even eight in the morning.

  Cheryl’s head dropped to his chest. His arms wrapped around her, even though his head hollered at him to step away. She would never choose him. Josh would see to that.

  He should be thinking about his daughter. How to get her healthy. How to get her to talk. “I should check on Issy.”

  She held him tighter. “Are we all right?”

  “We’re absolutely fine,” he lied.

  They could help each other with the kids, but he couldn’t afford to let her tie him in emotional knots.

  He just had to stop this falling-in-love shit.

  * * *

  ALL DAY, CHERYL and Nathan dosed the kids with antihistamines, dabbed on calamine or aloe vera, entertained, cajoled and comforted. Apparently, misery did like company. It had taken forever to get them to sleep.

  “The day care director’s voice mail said two more kids got the chicken pox right before the holiday.” Nathan set a bowl in the dishwasher. “A sister and brother. The boy’s in Josh’s room and the girl’s in Issy’s.”

  “At least we know where they got it.” Cheryl wiped the counters, shifting Nathan’s laptop. Shoot, with the kids sick, she’d forgotten about the disgusting video. She gnawed on the ragged edge of her thumbnail. What if whoever sent her the video had gotten frustrated and sent it on to the Fitzgeralds? “Can I borrow your computer?”

  “You don’t have to ask.” Nathan headed to the living room. “I’m going to watch the ball game.”

  “Go ahead.” She didn’t want Nathan knowing what she was doing. If he was engrossed in a game, hopefully he wouldn’t ask.

  She turned on the computer and opened her email.

  Another email with a DO NOT DELETE jumped out at her from the string of emails. With shaking fingers, she tapped the mouse to open the message.

  Deposit money now or the video goes out.

  The message was dated July fifth. Yesterday. Her fingers bounced against the keyboard. What if this...this...person had already sent the video to the Fitzgeralds?

  The mac and cheese she’d made for dinner threatened to come back up.

  Her fingers jabbed at the keys as she logged in to her banking site. Her hands shook so hard, it took three tries before she got it right.

  The rent and car loan checks hadn’t cleared. Once they did, she would have eighty dollars to spare until payday. She still needed money for groceries and gas.

  But with the kids sick she didn’t want to deal with Levi. It might be easier to just...give him something. She’d buy time to make another plan.

  Cheryl dug out Levi’s email and followed the instructions for sending money to inmates. Then she sent twenty dollars.

  She swallowed and replied to J Smith.

  I’ve sent twenty dollars. That’s all I have. Josh is sick.

  Clicking the send button, she slumped into the chair. The wooden bars ate into her back. She’d just given in to blackmail.

  * * *

  “ARE YOU SURE you’re okay with the kids?” Cheryl asked Nathan.

  She really wanted to ask what was wrong.

  The past three days, everything had been—weird. Too normal. Too everyday. Too accommodating.

  Nathan stayed away from her. No soul-searing kisses. No touches. Just brief swipes of his lips on hers, even after the kids were in bed.

  It was like Nathan had left her, even though the four of them had spent the past four days in the same apartment. Without her even asking, Nathan had slept on the sofa.

  She wanted him to sleep with her. But how could she say that after freaking out last time?

  “What did you ask?” Nathan turned from washing Issy’s hands.

  “Are you sure you’re okay with the kids?” It was only midafternoon, but Abby needed her help for an anniversary party. She and Nathan had given the kids their undivided attention, but Josh and Issy had been getting harder to entertain.

  “We’ll be fine.” He helped Issy off the stool, ruffling her hair.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  “Fine.”

  She’d been getting the same answer for three days.

  “Okay.” She twisted her hair into a bun. “Issy’s medicine is in the kitchen. Josh’s bottle is in the bathroom.”

  He looked up from helping Issy dry her hands. “We’ve been doing the same routine for days.”

  “I know.” She hurried over and touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I wish I could be here tonight.”

  “Mom,” Josh whined.

  “What do you need?” She squatted next to Josh as he drew.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  She wanted to brush back his hair, just to touch him. But angry spots covered his face and scalp. If she could take them away, she would. “You and Mr. Nathan will have a good time. And Issy, too.”

  “We won’t.” Josh shot an ugly look at Nathan. The word he mouthed looked suspiciously like butthead.

  Her stomach twisted. Josh’s attitude—bad to begin with—had gotten worse since he’d found Nathan in her bed.

  “We’re working on Issy’s mural. Then we’ll watch a movie.” Nathan smiled at her. A smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “We’ll be fine.”

  There was that word again. Fine. Between Nathan and her s
on, she was walking a tightrope with angry gators snapping at her heels. She didn’t want to lose Nathan, but maybe she already had.

  Nathan set a hand on her back and guided her to the door. “Go. Everything will be—”

  She covered his mouth with her hand. She couldn’t stand to hear the word again. “I get it. You’ll be fine.”

  He grinned under her fingers. His first real smile since Josh had found them.

  The coil of stress in her belly loosened. Maybe she and Nathan were still a team.

  She took his hands. “I think it’s time to tell Josh about us.”

  He swallowed. “Are you sure?”

  Holding his gaze, she nodded.

  Together, they could work out Josh’s aggression. Together, they could make Issy comfortable enough to talk. Together, they could overcome everything.

  A light came back into Nathan’s eyes. A light that had been missing the past few days.

  “Sleep in my bed tonight. Please?” she whispered.

  He grinned. “If that’s what you want.”

  She curled her fingers around his. “I do.”

  She turned to go, her burdens a little lighter on her shoulders.

  Josh stood in the kitchen doorway, hands on his hips. His spotted face twisted into a scowl.

  “Be good for Nathan tonight.” She waved. “I’ll check on you when I get home.”

  She headed across the courtyard, a spring in her steps. Maybe the reason Josh had never liked Nathan was that he’d instinctively known Nathan threatened their status as a little family of two. She would make sure Josh knew he was loved, but her son would have to adjust. She wanted Nathan and Issy in their lives.

  She’d never thought she would love again, but she did. She loved Nathan Forester.

  As she pulled open the kitchen door, she did a little shimmy. Tonight she would tell him.

  * * *

  “FINISH DINNER AND we’ll head over to the other apartment,” Nathan said to Josh.

  Issy’s plate was clean so he scooped her up and twirled until she giggled.

  He couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. Cheryl was finally going to tell Josh.

  A couple of hours ago he would have said he and Cheryl were heading into the trash. Now? He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of Issy’s shampoo. He and Cheryl were officially together.

  “I don’t want to.” Josh pushed broccoli around his plate.

  “Well, that’s the plan.” He kept his voice mild. Somehow he had to crack the nut that was Josh. Somehow they had to connect. Art should be the ticket. “I thought you wanted to help me paint Issy’s wall.”

  “It’s dumb.” Josh took his plate and scraped his dinner in the garbage. Not a good sign. It might be a long evening.

  “Let’s go,” Nathan said.

  Issy waited by the door, scratching her arm.

  “Don’t scratch,” he whispered, unlocking the door.

  He’d barely been in their apartment over the past four days. The place looked sad. It didn’t have the life Cheryl’s apartment had. It didn’t have her energy.

  His furniture might have been newer, his things more expensive, but Cheryl’s apartment was a home. And that was what he wanted. He wanted to build a life with Cheryl, Issy and Mister Grumpy Pants.

  Maybe painting Issy’s mural would break through to the kid. He didn’t care what the mural looked like, he just wanted Josh to contribute. Wanted Josh to know he was proud of his art.

  “Can you get the drop cloths out of the kitchen closet?” he asked Josh.

  “Why can’t you do it?”

  Nathan pulled Issy’s bed away from the wall. “Because I asked you.”

  Josh muttered under his breath, but at least he headed to the kitchen.

  Nathan should know how to get through to a rebellious kid. He’d been one most of his life.

  Nathan set Issy on her bed. “Are you watching or painting?”

  She pointed at her bed.

  “Can you say watch?” he asked.

  She held her fingers over her lips, shaking her head.

  Josh dragged in a drop cloth. One. At least he’d done that. When they needed another, Nathan would ask again.

  “Can you spread it against the wall?” He pointed, just in case he messed up telling his right from his left. Josh always caught those mistakes.

  Nathan headed to his room to get the supplies he’d bought.

  “Here’s your palette, paints and brushes.” He handed the materials to Josh.

  “Wow.” Josh’s eyes were as big at the lids of the acrylic paint. He picked up a brush and stroked the perfect edge.

  “You’ve been working on blending colors in your art class, right?” Nathan asked.

  “Yeah.” Josh chewed his lip. “When you say these are mine, do I have to give them back like at art school?”

  “That’s up to you and your behavior, slugger.”

  Josh’s blond eyebrows came together in a frown.

  “What do you want to start with?” Nathan asked.

  Josh moved to the right side of the wall. “The castle.”

  Grays and tans. Nathan handed him the book with the picture of the castle. “In case you need a reminder.”

  He’d painted the wall an off-white before he and Josh had sketched the princess kingdom on the wall. “What color do you want the princess’s dress to be?” he asked his daughter.

  Issy scooted off the bed and grabbed her doll’s dress, holding out the bright fabric.

  He had to be patient, but couldn’t she just say pink?

  Nathan combined red and white to make the pink. It wasn’t quite right, so he added a little blue and held up the color. “Is this good?”

  She nodded.

  Before he painted the dress, he checked on Josh. All was fine there.

  Nathan hit the button on Issy’s CD player and the Frozen soundtrack filled the room.

  He stroked on the color, filling in the skirt. Then added more white to give the fabric folds and depth.

  “How did you do that?” Josh asked.

  He demonstrated. “Don’t forget we’re putting the sun in that corner.”

  “I learned about shadows in art class.” Josh nodded.

  The music played. Issy bounced on the bed and Nathan and Josh painted. Neither of the kids scratched. It was a win.

  He’d just started painting a frog when his phone rang.

  “Hey, Cheryl.” He grinned.

  Josh twisted around, a frown on his face.

  “How are the kids?” Cheryl asked.

  “Good. We’ve finished dinner and are working on Issy’s mural.”

  “Let me talk to my mom.” Josh tugged on his arm.

  “Give me a minute.” Nathan moved to the doorway. “How’s the anniversary party?”

  “The couple was a half hour late. We’re backing everything up.”

  He sighed. “That’s too bad.”

  “Don’t wait up,” she said.

  “I will. I want to.” He closed his eyes. “I’ve got things to tell you.”

  “Me, too,” was her soft reply.

  He’d never told a woman he loved her. Would she laugh? Tell him she could never love someone as dumb as he was?

  No, Cheryl wasn’t like that.

  “I can’t wait,” he said.

  “I want to talk to my mom.” Josh’s tone was belligerent.

  There was a crash in the background. “I have to help Abby.” Cheryl sounded frantic.

  “Okay. See you later.”

  He disconnected.

  “I wanted to talk to my mom!” Josh slammed down the brush and palette. Paint splattered across the floor.

  “Hey!”
Nathan shoved his phone into his pocket. “Look at the mess you made.”

  “You’re a butthead.” Josh kicked at the door frame. “You didn’t let me talk to my mom. I wanted to tell her what I’d done. And you’re too stupid to let me use the phone.” The words spilled out of Josh.

  Even with the kid sick, Nathan couldn’t let this go. “You’re done. And you won’t be keeping the art supplies.”

  “You’re mean.” Tears sprang from Josh’s eyes. “I’m telling my mom you’re mean.”

  Issy cowered on the bed. Her thumb crept into her mouth.

  “And I’ll tell her what you did and said.” He bent to pick up the stuff Josh had thrown. “Get paper towels out of the kitchen closet.”

  Josh stomped into the hall.

  Nathan rinsed the brushes in the bathroom.

  Josh tossed the paper towels at his feet and they unrolled.

  “Once we clean this up, you’re going to bed.” Nathan grabbed the towels, wet some and handed them to Josh as they headed back to Issy’s bedroom.

  “I get to watch a movie.” Josh scrubbed hard enough to swirl the colors together.

  “Not now.” Nathan cleaned up behind the kid. “You’re going to bed.”

  Josh shot him dagger-filled glares but they cleaned up together.

  “I’m going to my apartment.” Without asking, Josh took the paper towels back to the closet. That was a good sign—maybe.

  “We’ll be right there.” Nathan changed Issy into her PJs, then held out his arms. “Come on, let’s brush your teeth.”

  He locked up. In Cheryl and Josh’s place, the shower was running. In the kitchen, he got Issy’s antihistamine ready. “Here you go.”

  Josh came into the room.

  “Did you brush your teeth?” Nathan asked.

  “After I take my medicine.” Josh looked at him with big, innocent eyes. Too innocent. “Will you fill my dropper?”

  Nathan filled it, then closed the bottle. “Put this back in the bathroom, please.”

  “Sure.”

  Josh was acting too cooperative. What was he up to? Nathan started after the boy, but Issy tugged him into the bathroom. He supervised her brushing and dabbed on calamine lotion. “Anything else itch?” He dotted as many spots as he could see.