The Other Twin

“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.