The Other Twin

Josh asked questions. And he and Nathan had a real conversation. Isabella didn’t say a word, just cuddled her ratty blanket.

At the strip mall, Cheryl pulled up in front of the store. “Everyone out.”

Josh didn’t need help with his buckle and he unlocked Isabella’s chair, too. “Come on.”

The little girl crawled out Josh’s side of the car and took his hand. Nathan stood with the car door open, confusion filling his face.

Cheryl stopped on the sidewalk. “Has she said anything?”

“No.” He rubbed his neck. “Is that normal?”

“I don’t know.” After Levi, Josh had been pretty quiet, too. “Maybe.”

“What should I do?”

He looked so lost, she patted his arm. “Give her stability. Give her love.”

“I guess.” He wiped a hand over his face. “Where do we start?”

“Where’s the list?”

He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her. He pointed down two doors from the store. “I’ve been to that bar and never knew there were stores here.”

“I’ve been in this store and never knew there was a bar here.” And didn’t that highlight their differences?

“Let’s go.” She wanted this evening over, but the two kids were kneeling next to a shrub.

“I found a really cool bug.” Josh pointed at a branch.

“Wow.” Nathan crouched next to the kids. “It’s a praying mantis.”

Josh reached out to pick up the bug.

“You should leave it alone.” Nathan told him. “They eat the bad insects.”

“How come we haven’t seen any at my camp?” Josh’s eyebrows were pinched together.

“They aren’t that common,” Nathan said. “They’re cool-looking, aren’t they?”

“I guess.” Josh shrugged.

“I haven’t seen a praying mantis in years.” Nathan smiled.

Something loosened in Cheryl’s chest as she ushered them into the store. She’d been around Nathan’s identical twin a lot. She should be used to looking at his handsome face. But there was something different about Nathan. His face was...weathered. Like he’d seen too much, done too much, felt too much.

She straightened her shoulders. It was a mistake to romanticize Nathan. He’d lived a tough life—on purpose.

Nathan set a hand on her shoulder. “I forgot to thank you for helping me.”

She slipped away from his disturbing touch. “No problem.”

She headed for the booster seats while Josh zeroed in on the play equipment. She kept an eye on him as Nathan settled Isabella into each booster seat, testing the size.

Cheryl read the weight restrictions. “Do you know how much she weighs?”

He shook his head. Picking the girl up, he threw her over his head. She gave a bright chirp of a giggle. “Can’t be more than thirty pounds.”

“This one should last you a while.” Cheryl pointed.

“What do you think?” Nathan crouched next to his daughter, who shrugged.

“I guess that’s a yes.” He looked around the store. “What else?”

“She’s small, so she could use a booster seat at the table.”

“I’ll need to buy a kitchen table.” Nathan picked up two booster seats. “One for my folks’ house.”

She checked on Josh. He was coloring on an easel. She took in a breath. Her son loved drawing and coloring. How much would an easel cost?

Guiding Nathan to the strollers, she asked, “Do you want a stroller?”

Panic flared in his eyes. “Do I need one?”

“Not necessarily, but it’s nice when they’re tired and you don’t have enough arms to carry stuff and her.”

He stared at the choices, not moving. To speed up the selection process, she guided him to a small umbrella stroller. “This should work.”

Isabella sat in the seat, tugged up her blanket and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

“I guess that means we’ll take it.” Nathan rubbed Isabella’s hair.

“We can look at furniture now.”

He shook his head. “No used furniture.”

Wouldn’t that be a nice attitude to have? Cheryl checked through the second-hand clothes instead. “Do you want clothes? This is nice.” It was a pretty pink cotton sundress.

“Sure.” His lost expression was back.

She grabbed a few outfits and then called to Josh, wanting to pull him away from the art supplies before he could ask for something she couldn’t afford. “Can you help us find a stool for Isabella?”

“Over there.” Josh pointed to the side of the store, not moving toward her.

“Come test them out.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m too big for this.”

“That’s because you’re taller. Isabella, can you try it out?” The little girl stepped on the stool.