The Other Twin

“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.

“Thank you.” She stripped the dirty T-shirt off Isabella. “You can read until I bring Isabella in.”

Josh grumbled but, as she undressed Isabella, she heard the ladder creak as he climbed to the top bunk.

Cheryl could count Isabella’s ribs. Even at their worst, she’d always made sure Josh had enough to eat.

“Climb in, honey.” She helped the little girl sit in the tub.

The pop of the swollen kitchen door announced Nathan’s return. She turned, hating that her back was to the door.

He came in with a grocery bag. “I couldn’t find any PJs, but there’s shorts and T-shirts.” The clothes he held up were obviously dirty.

“We’re not putting her in those. I’ll...find something of Josh’s.”

“Thanks.” He backed out the door.

“Where are you going?” Cheryl kept her tone mild because Isabella watched them.

“I thought I’d...” He pointed down the hall.

“You need to give her a bath.”

His eyes widened.

“She needs a toothbrush, too.” She poured soap on the washcloth. “Here.”

“You want me to scrub?” Nathan’s eyes were huge now.

She handed him the washcloth. “She’s your daughter.”

Squeezing past him, she inhaled his scent. He smelled good. Citrus and woodsy.

“Mom, what’s this word?” Josh asked as she came into his room.

She stood on the edge of the bottom bunk to see. “Kayak.”

“Kayak.” He giggled. “It’s a funny word. Shouldn’t it be pronounced like ‘kay’ in okay?”

“I guess it didn’t want to be plain.” She kissed his cheek. “I love you.”