Jill Weatherholt - A Mother For His Twins

“Oh, my. I always knew he’d come back, but I didn’t expect him to return with children.”

Joy hadn’t anticipated either scenario. “Why did you think he’d return to Whispering Slopes?”

Faith laughed. “Because of you, of course.”

“That’s crazy. He’s got children, so he must have a wife. Besides, he’s come back to teach.” The thought of working so closely with him seemed like a bad dream. “I can’t believe this is happening. His presence makes everything feel like it just happened yesterday.” Her words sparked a shiver.

“You need to talk with him and tell him what happened to you, Joy.”

Her stomach rolled over at the thought. How could she ever talk to him about that night she’d been waiting for him at the pond? “I don’t think I can. Besides, what’s the point?”

“Talking about it might help with the healing process. It’s been fourteen years... You’ve got to let it go.”

Sprigs of partially frozen fescue flattened underneath her feet. “I don’t think I can. I’m too ashamed. Besides, it won’t change the past. Can we move on to another subject? I want to forget about Nick Capello.”

“That’s going to be a little hard given the fact that you’ll be teaching his kids and working together.”

“I’ll just treat him like any other parent or coworker.” Joy knew convincing herself of that would be easier said than done.

“But he’s not.”

The truth in Faith’s words stung. “He’s a stranger to me now.” She spied the boys climbing off the teeter-totter. Once again, Tyler assisted Jordan. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for listening.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah—I’ll be fine.” Joy ended the call just as the twins approached. The knot in her stomach squeezed a little tighter knowing she hadn’t been truthful with her sister. From now until the end of the school year, she’d have a constant reminder of a love lost. But it wasn’t fair to the boys for her to treat them differently. Despite the resemblance, somehow she’d have to forget their father was the love of her life. “It’s a little cold. Are you ready to go inside?”

They exchanged a quick glance with one another. Tyler spoke first. “We’d rather stay out here with you.”

She knew that look... Fear. “Don’t you want to meet your new classmates? I’m sure they’ll be excited to welcome you.”

Jordan kicked his tennis shoe into the wet ground. “They pwobably won’t like us.”

Joy noticed Jordan struggled with the letter r . She rested her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What makes you say that?”

Tyler hopped up on the bench next to her. “The kids at our old school didn’t.”

What was not to love about these enchanting children? “Could it have been your imagination?”

Jordan took his brother’s lead and plopped on the other side of his teacher. “No, they didn’t.” He spoke softly.

Tyler glanced up toward the sky. “They said we were different because we looked alike.”

Kids could be so cruel sometimes. “You know what I think?” Joy stood and then knelt in front of the bench. “I think maybe they were jealous because they knew you were guaranteed to always have a best friend.”

Tyler’s eyebrow arched exactly how his father’s always had. “What do you mean?”

“When you’re a twin, you’ve got a best friend for life. You know someone who always has your back. I’m a twin. Not identical like the two of you, but I know what I’m talking about.”

Grins washed across their faces.

“If anyone ever teases you again you tell them you’re so special, God had to make two of you.”

In one swift movement, the twins wrapped their arms around her. She pulled back—frightened by the tug she felt on her heart. “So, you haven’t told me anything about yourselves. Where did you live before you came to Whispering Slopes?”

“In Chicago.” Jordan answered first.

“That’s where our mommy was born.” Tyler’s smile faded.

“She died there, too,” Jordan added.

Joy had wondered about their mother and why she hadn’t come with Nick to registration. Now she knew. The tear that puddled in the corner of sweet little Jordan’s eye caused her heart to squeeze. She knew the pain of losing a parent at a young age.

“We didn’t really want to move, but Daddy wants to teach where he grew up,” Tyler explained as he jumped off the bench at the sound of the school bell. “He’s going to be the new principal, too.” The child reached for her hand as they strolled toward the building.

What? That was impossible. The boys must have misunderstood. Nick couldn’t be here for that job. The knot in her stomach squeezed a little tighter. She’d been studying hard to obtain her master’s degree and had nearly completed the program. There was only one opening for a principal in Whispering Slopes—and it belonged to her.

* * *

“Here’s the list of school supplies we need. Miss Kelliher said to go to Buser’s General Store. They’ve got the best prices.” Tyler pulled the crinkled piece of paper from his superhero backpack and handed it to his father.

Nick smiled at his son. He always liked to be in charge, while Jordan seemed to follow his brother’s lead.

The twins’ half-eaten ice cream sundaes were turning into milky soup. Since they’d arrived at One More Scoop, they’d chattered nonstop about their first day of school.

Seeing his boys so excited helped to ease some of the painful memories and the guilt that haunted him. Nick smiled at the familiar chalkboard hanging on the wall behind the register. The menu listed all of the specialty flavors of ice cream. They still made Coke floats. Everything looked exactly how it had when he was a kid. It even smelled the same, like a sugary waffle cone on a boardwalk during the height of summer.

Jordan scooped a spoon of the melted dessert from his bowl and held it to his lips. “All of the kids wuh weally nice.”

Nick laughed as the treat dribbled down his chin. It made him happy to know his son had had a good day. Jordan struggled at times in social situations due to his speech impairment. Nick yanked a napkin from the holder and passed it to his son. “Here, I think you need this.”

“Yeah, and no one teased us about looking alike either,” Tyler added.

Jordan wiped his mouth as the whirl of a blender charged from behind the counter. “Even if they had, Miss Kellihuh told us what to say. She’s weally nice.”

Nick’s ears perked up at the mention of Joy’s name. There was a part of him that had hoped he’d run into Joy, but when he’d made the decision to move home, he never imagined his first love would end up teaching his sons. “What did she tell you?”

“She said if someone teased us to tell them we were so special God made two of us,” Tyler said, wearing a huge grin. “She’s really cool.”

He closed his eyes for a second and pictured Joy’s face. Her response to the boys was exactly what he’d expect. It’s what he’d loved most about her. She always knew what to say at the perfect time. “She’s right, you know.”

“She’s a twin, too.” Jordan picked up his bowl and started to drink the melted ice cream.

Nick reached for his arm. “Use your manners, son.”

“Sowwy.” He put the treat back onto the red-and-white-checkered tablecloth and fidgeted in his seat.

“Yeah, Daddy, Miss Kelliher has a twin sister.” Tyler took a sip of his water. “But they’re not identical like us.”

Growing up, Nick remembered Joy wishing she and Faith were identical. Her twin was good in math while Joy struggled. She always thought it would be nice if Faith could take her place on the days they had a test. “Yes, I know.”