Nan Dixon - The Other Twin

“No parent does at first.” Mom squeezed his hand. “You’ll learn. There are plenty of books that can help.”

All his muscles tensed. “I can’t read.”

“It takes you longer, but you can read.” She frowned. “You could try books on tape, too.”

“I don’t have that kind of time.” He had a restaurant to build.

Mom raised her eyebrows. “For children, you make the time.”

“I was h-hoping you’d help,” he sputtered.

“Of course I will.” She grinned. “I have a granddaughter.”

“I mean...” He waved his hand around. “Have her live here. With someone who knows about kids.”

“She’s your daughter.” The smile slipped off his mom’s face. “You need to get to know her.”

“I will.” He paced.

Her chair squeaked as she stood. She headed to the fridge and brought back the milk carton. “She’ll live with you.”

He ripped at his hair. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You’ll learn.”

“Learn?” His voice grew louder. “Me? Impossible.”

Isabella stopped eating. Her gaze bounced between Nathan and his mom.

Pop came down the back stairs, rubbing his neck like he’d just taken a nap. He probably had. His chemo treatments were brutal. He stopped, looking between Nathan and his mom as they faced off.

Then Pop spotted the kid. “Who do we have here?”

Mom took Pop’s hand. “Samuel, meet Isabella, our granddaughter.”

“Our...” Pop’s gaze shot to Nathan. Disapproval tightened the lines around his mouth. “Our granddaughter?”

Nathan swallowed. Not able to find the words, he nodded.

“Nathan just found out,” Mom added.

Pop crouched in front of the girl, his knees popping. “What’s your name again?”

“Isabella,” Nathan and his mom said together. Nathan set a hand on the kid’s trembling shoulder. “She doesn’t say much.”

“Debbie, do I smell pie?” Pop asked.

Mom nodded.

“Well, why don’t we try some of that?” Pop asked Isabella.

The kid nodded. She’d already finished the sandwich and extra ham. Hadn’t Heather fed her?

While Mom pulled out plates and the pie, Nathan whispered, “I don’t know how to care for a kid. How about you and Mom handle that for me?”

Pop raised a bushy white eyebrow. “I’ve raised my kids.”

Nathan rubbed at the ache in his chest. “I can’t screw up.”

“You’ll figure everything out.” Pop slapped him on the back. “Just like we did.”

He couldn’t do this alone. He wasn’t prepared.

Mom set a piece of pie in front of him.

Nathan stabbed at the slice, bringing a forkful to his lips. The tart lemon made his mouth water.

There had to be someone he could tap to take care of the kid.

He thought through the women he’d dated in Savannah. There was Tracie, but she could barely take care of herself. Gabby—aptly named since she talked everyone’s ear off—was kind of an airhead. A nice airhead, but still not right.

He’d never been attracted to the motherly types.

The only mother he knew was...Cheryl. They lived next door to each other.

Hope had him releasing a deep exhale. Cheryl.

* * *

CHERYL COULDN’T AFFORD to pay for her next culinary class. She swallowed back a sour taste. She would have to apply for grants and financial aid.

She stared at the paperwork scattered over her kitchen table. Well, not her kitchen table—the Fitzgeralds’. She’d left all her furniture behind when she’d run from Levi.

What a sorry life. The only things she and Josh owned were their clothes and a car. And the bank owned most of the car. A car Nathan still had.

It was after seven. What was he doing? She’d planned to go grocery shopping after work. She needed her car.

“Bath time, Josh,” she called.

“I took one last night,” he yelled from the living room.

“And today you poured concrete and moved dirt for Miss Bess.”

Josh came into the kitchen. “Can I take a shower?”

“If you promise to scrub. Everywhere.”

He looked offended. “Promise.”

She turned on the shower taps while he stripped. “In the hamper, please.”

Back in the kitchen, she straightened her papers. She had to apply for loans online, but didn’t have a computer. Luckily, the Fitzgeralds didn’t mind her using the business center. She’d head over in the morning.

There was a knock at the kitchen door and Cheryl jumped. Couldn’t help it. No one knocked on that door. Even though it had to be Nathan with her car keys, her belly did a little flip.

She was safe. Levi was in prison. “Who is it?”

“Nathan.”

Unlocking the dead bolt, she pulled on the swollen door to find Nathan and Isabella on the other side. Nathan’s face was drawn and solemn.

“I could fix that for you.” He examined the sides of the door.

“I don’t use this door.”

His gaze snapped over to hers. “Can we come in?”

She wanted her keys. Stepping back, she let them into the kitchen. Isabella swayed on her feet. “Shouldn’t she be in bed?” Cheryl whispered.

Nathan shook his head. “I...I don’t have a bed for her.”

He helped Isabella up onto a kitchen chair. She crossed her arms on the table, put her head down and closed her eyes.

Cheryl gnawed her lower lip. “She’s old enough not to fall out of bed if she sleeps with you.”

“I don’t know what to do with a kid.” He paced to the table and stared at the papers. “I need help.” He held her gaze with those deep brown eyes.

“What?” She wanted to sweep up the loan paperwork so he wouldn’t see her financial state.

“You have a bunk bed.” He stepped closer. “Can she sleep here?”

“Here?” Her voice squeaked.

“Could you help me out?” His body slumped. “Please?”

His issues weren’t hers. She had problems of her own.

Isabella whimpered. Nathan didn’t comfort her.

Cheryl’s resolve cracked. The child shouldn’t suffer because Nathan didn’t know what he was doing. “Just for tonight.”

A smile broke over his face like a sunrise. She hated the gooey feeling it gave her.

“When Josh is done in the bathroom, you need to give her a bath,” she warned.

His smile evaporated. “But she’s a girl.”

“Yes.” She shook her head. “Does she have pajamas?”

“I don’t know.” Nathan sighed. “I’ll check.” He escaped to his apartment.

Cheryl stroked Isabella’s back. The girl blinked, but didn’t say anything. That was...different.

“Are you ready for a bath?” Cheryl asked.

Isabella nodded, her eyes heavy. Cheryl held out her arms and the girl reached up. Josh was so sturdy, but Isabella felt like she would float away.

The shower was off. Cheryl knocked, then bumped the bathroom door open with her hip, still holding the sleepy girl.

Josh was brushing his teeth. “What’s she doing here?” he asked, his mouth full of foam.

She should have asked Nathan to look for a toothbrush for Isabella. “She’s sleeping in the bunk bed tonight.”

“A girl?” He shook his head. “That’s for my friends.”

Maybe Cheryl needed to set more play dates with both boys and girls. The few kids Josh had asked to sleep over were all boys. That was fine but she didn’t like his attitude. “She’ll sleep there tonight.”

Josh finished with his teeth and started to leave.

“Hang up your towel.” She turned on the faucet and filled the tub. “And please bring Isabella a towel and washcloth from the closet.”

He grumbled but came back with a towel set she’d used when he was a baby. The memory was bittersweet. That had been such a wonderful time. Brad had been in-country and they’d been happy.