Nan Dixon - The Other Twin

“Josh.”

“One more minute.”

“One.” Cheryl held out her hand. “Let’s see your father.”

It took a few seconds but the girl put her hand in Cheryl’s and they walked over to Jed and Nathan.

“Jed?” she asked.

Both men looked up.

“I wasn’t sure where you wanted your daughter to stay,” she said.

Jed’s eyes went wide. “She’s not mine.”

Cheryl’s mouth dropped open. She shifted her gaze. “Nathan?”

“I...I...” His face paled. “I guess.”

“You guess?” No one had hinted Nathan had a child. How could he be so indifferent to Josh if he was a father?

“Is-Isabella. She’s m-mine.” Nathan looked miserable. “Her mother...left her.”

She herded the child next to Nathan, but the girl clutched her hand, forcing her to peel the girl’s fingers out of her grasp.

“Josh.” She backed away. “Time to go.”

Her son smoothed wet cement. “Just a little longer.”

“Now,” she insisted.

For once Josh didn’t talk back. The man he was helping gave him a high-five.

“Call if you need me,” Nathan said to Jed.

She hurried to get out the door ahead of Nathan and his daughter. But Josh said goodbye to every man in the carriage house. Everyone except Nathan.

At least Nathan and the girl were heading to the parking lot. She watched their body language. The little girl dragged her feet. Nathan’s shoulders were stiff as granite.

Not her business. She had wine-tasting appetizers to prep.

Nathan opened his truck door and lifted the girl into the front seat.

“What are you doing?” Even though she should mind her own business, she rushed over. “Where’s her car seat?”

Nathan rubbed his forehead. “Car seat?”

“You can’t put her in the front seat. The airbag could...hurt her.” She grabbed Nathan’s arm. “And she needs to be in a car seat, otherwise the seat belt could injure her, too.”

“Sh—” Nathan pressed his temples. “I mean shoot.”

Josh moved beside her. “Every dummy knows you need a car seat.”

Nathan glared so hard at her son, Cheryl put her arms around Josh’s shoulders.

“I don’t have one.” Nathan paced a few steps away. “I just...”

The man was pale. This didn’t look like a clueless father—he was too panicked for that. He looked lost.

“Josh’s booster seat is in my car,” she volunteered.

Relief softened his face. “Could I borrow it?”

“It’s hard to get the clips undone. Just...take my car.” She dug in her pocket for her keys. “She might not weigh enough for that booster seat. You need to get the right seat for her right away. What’s her name again?”

He dug through a bag and pulled out a piece of paper. “Isabella. Isabella,” he repeated, as if memorizing the name.

What was going on?

Nathan picked up the girl and carried her like a Ming vase. He set her next to the car.

Cheryl hurried over and unlocked the door.

Josh touched the little girl’s hand. “You have to climb into the seat.”

The girl nodded.

“Let me show you how to buckle her in.”

Cheryl demonstrated, then unbuckled her and let Nathan try.

“Thank you.” His eyes were glazed.

“Why didn’t he know her name?” Josh asked as they watched the car drive away. “Is he stupid?”

“Don’t call people names.”

He kicked at the pavement. “But he’s dumb.”

“I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

The little girl hadn’t said a word. She wasn’t much younger than Josh. Something was wrong.

Cheryl chewed on her thumb. Poor thing. But Isabella wasn’t her problem.

* * *

“I’M TAKING YOU to your grandma and grandpop.” Nathan couldn’t believe the words came out of his mouth. A kid. Isabella.

She didn’t speak. Just looked at him with her deer-in-headlights eyes.

Hell. How old was she?

“Can you talk?” He turned so he could see her.

She nodded, tucking the dirty blanket next to her face. That was something.

At his parents’ house, he pulled out the birth certificate. And stared. Father—Nathan Forester. He checked the birth date then counted on his fingers. He didn’t trust his brain. Four. He thought the kid was four.

That made sense. It had been five years or so since he and Heather had been together. But his memory was as holey as a pegboard, especially under stress.

He clicked open the booster seat latches. Isabella ignored his outstretched arms and scrambled out of the car. It was freaky the way she never said a word.

“Anyone home?” he called, leading her into his parent’s house.

The scent of lemons greeted them. “You’re in luck. Mom must be baking pie.”

Isabella popped her thumb in her mouth and stared.

His mom stuck her head out of the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

He swallowed. How did he introduce Isabella to his parents? New evidence he was a screw-up.

“I...I brought someone to meet you.”

Mom’s gaze dropped to the girl standing next to him. “Who is this?”

“Mom, meet Isabella.” His voice cracked.

His mom looked between the girl and him. Her mouth dropped open. “Nathan?” she whispered.

“Can you say hi?” Nathan touched the kid’s shoulder. Isabella shook her head.

Mom knelt and brushed back the dirty hair covering her eyes. “Hey there, Isabella. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?”

Isabella nodded.

Mom took her hand. “Let’s wash up and I’ll fix you a sandwich.”

Nathan headed into the kitchen and went straight for the fridge. He pulled out a beer and popped the cap. Swearing under his breath, he took a big gulp, then another.

“Put that down.” His mother’s voice was drill sergeant worthy.

“What? Why?”

“Because you drove a little girl here.” Mom helped the kid onto a chair.

Isabella’s hair was brushed and her face and hands were cleaner now. Thank God.

“Talk to me.” Mom pulled out bread, butter and leftover ham. She made a quick sandwich and cut it into four triangles.

The girl watched Mom with brown eyes that dominated her tiny face.

Nathan waved a hand. “Go ahead and eat.”

Mom poured a glass of sweet tea and stood next to him. “Who is she?”

“She’s...” God, he wanted that beer. And maybe another six. “She’s my daughter.” The words flew out of his mouth.

His mother’s face paled. She grabbed a chair, sinking in it. “Daughter?” Her voice barely carried over the hum of the fridge.

He nodded. “I thought about doing a test.”

Mom shook her head. “Look at her. She’s the spitting image of you and Daniel.”

He stared as Isabella devoured her food.

“When did you find out?” Mom stroked a hand down Isabella’s hair.

“About twenty minutes ago.”

“Today?”

He nodded.

“I have a granddaughter.” Her voice filled with wonder.

Good. He needed Mom’s enthusiasm.

Mom touched Isabella’s shoulder. “How old are you, honey?”

She held up her hand and pulled her thumb down.

“Four?” Nathan hoped the numbers weren’t jumbling in his head.

The girl nodded and took another sandwich triangle.

Mom hustled over to the cupboard, found a small glass and poured milk. Then she diced pieces of ham and slid them onto the plate.

“Where has she been?” Mom asked.

“I...” Nathan ran a hand through his hair. “Heather dropped her off and left. She said something about going into treatment.”

Mom hugged his shoulders. “You get to take care of this precious girl.”

“I can’t.” He was panicking just thinking about it. “I don’t know anything about kids.”