The Other Twin

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.

“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.”

“I love you to the moon and back.” He hugged her.

This was her little boy. The one who gave hugs and told her he loved her. Why can’t he always be this way?

She dug in the box of his outgrown clothes and found a pair of PJs with ducks all over them.

“Those are mine.” Josh quacked.

Brad had always quacked when Josh wore those PJs. Cheryl couldn’t believe he remembered. “Isabella’s going to borrow them,” she choked out.

“Yuck. They’ll have girl cooties.” Josh wrinkled his nose.

She shook her head and moved back to the bathroom.

Nathan knelt next to the tub, filling the space.

“I guess we need to wash this hair.” Nathan grabbed the plastic cup she used for Josh and dipped it into the tub. “Ready?”

Isabella covered her eyes with her hands.

Nathan didn’t tip the girl back, just dumped the water over her head. And she didn’t complain. He picked up Cheryl’s shampoo.

“Not that one. It’ll sting.” She reached over his head and grabbed the baby shampoo from the corner rack. Her breast brushed the top of his head.

He took in a breath. She scrambled back.

“Here.” She held out the bottle, her face hot.

He had to stretch to get the shampoo. Squirting a little in his hand, he held it up for her inspection. “Enough?”

She nodded.

Nathan bit his lip and rubbed the shampoo through Isabella’s wet hair. His actions were so slow and gentle it was possible nothing was getting clean. Isabella kept her hands over her eyes.

Another time she would suggest he make shapes with Isabella’s soapy hair. Josh used to like being a dragon or a lion. He’d spend his bath time roaring.

Her son was only six and Cheryl was already reminiscing about his childhood.

She got closer, making sure she didn’t bump into Nathan. Hard when he took up so much space. “Why don’t I help you rinse?”

“Thanks.” He let out a deep breath.

“Lean back.” She tipped Isabella down. Nathan filled the cup and carefully worked the soap out of Isabella’s hair.

After sitting her up, Cheryl found a comb and ran it through the girl’s wet hair. “Is everything clean?”

“Yup,” Nathan said.

“I brought some PJs.” She handed Nathan the towel. “Let me find a toothbrush.”

By the time she came back, Nathan was struggling to pull the top over Isabella’s head.

Cheryl checked on Josh. “Time to call it a night, sport.”

“But they’re on the lake and they’ve lost their paddle.” His voice was thick with sleep.

“You’ll save them tomorrow.” She climbed up and kissed him. “Love you.”

“Love you.” His eyes closed. “Don’t tell my friends a girl slept here.”

“Humph.” She set the book on the nightstand and clicked off the light.

Enough light spilled from the hallway to guide Nathan to the bunk bed. Cheryl pulled back the sheets on the lower bunk and Nathan set Isabella in the bed. She brushed a kiss on Isabella’s forehead. “Good night, angel.”

Isabella whimpered and thrashed, as if searching for something.

“Does she have a blanket or a toy that she sleeps with?” Cheryl asked.

“God. How would I know?” He stumbled out the door. There was rustle of paper. He rushed back into the room. “I found the blanket she was carrying, but it’s filthy.”

Isabella grabbed it, hugging it to her cheek. Nathan winced.

“It’ll be okay.” Cheryl started to pat his shoulder, but that was too intimate in the darkened room. “You can wash it tomorrow.”

Nathan knelt and touched his daughter’s shoulder. “Night, Isabella.”

Cheryl didn’t stay to see if he hugged or kissed the girl. Heading back to the kitchen, she filled the kettle for her evening cup of tea.

Without turning, she knew from the way the air changed in the room that Nathan stood in the doorway. She asked, “All tucked in?”

“Yeah.” He paused. “How much would I have to pay you to keep her?”

“Your daughter?” Horror raced through her like a wildfire.

“How much would you charge to take care of her for the next couple of months?”

CHAPTER FOUR

MAYBE THIS WAS a mistake, but Nathan was desperate.

“You’d pay me to take care of your daughter?” Cheryl’s face filled with shock.

“You’re an expert.” He held up his hands.

“I can’t—”

“Can you think about it?” he interrupted.

“No.” Cheryl looked at him like he was sludge from a sewer line. “She’s your daughter.”

“I don’t know how to take care of her. It’s dangerous leaving a child with someone like me. Just...think about it. Please.” He yanked open the door. “Thanks for helping today.”

She slammed the door in his face and snapped the lock shut.

Nathan threw open his apartment door and headed straight to the fridge. His beer opened with a hiss. Now what? If Cheryl refused, who else could he turn to—Daniel? They weren’t that close. His brother would tell him to clean up his own damn mess. Besides, Daniel and Bess were getting married this summer. He wasn’t stupid enough to suggest they take on a kid.

Tipping his head, he slammed back half the beer. How long would Cheryl let—his brain wouldn’t retrieve his kid’s name—stay? He finished the beer and pitched the bottle into the open recycling bin.

After four years, why would Heather insist he take care of their kid?

He dug through the bags, but couldn’t find anything that looked like Heather’s phone number.

He grabbed another beer from the fridge. What the hell should he do now? He kicked back in the lounge chair and drank.

* * *

SOMEONE SCREAMED.

Nathan jerked upright. The leg rest on the lounge chair snapped closed. Hell, he’d fallen asleep.

Another muffled scream came from next door. His heart hammered against his ribs.

Rushing down the hall, he tried Cheryl’s door. Locked. He pounded on it. “Open up!”

His only answer was another scream.

He raced back to his apartment and grabbed his keys, searching for the carriage house master key. No wonder his brother labeled everything, not that letters would have made any sense right now.

He shoved key after key into the lock. Finally one turned. He pushed on the stubborn door, promising he would fix it if everyone was okay.

Another cry broke out. He honed in on the sound and sprinted down the hall.

“You’re safe. You’re all right,” he heard Cheryl murmuring. He burst into the kids’ bedroom.

Cheryl jumped, his daughter in her arms. “What?”

“I heard screaming.” He searched the room for an intruder.

Fear filled Cheryl’s eyes. Josh stared at him like he was the burglar. His daughter shrieked again.

Nathan drew in a breath. “I thought someone had broken in.”

“You did.” Cheryl glared at him, handing him the girl.

“What? No!” He held up his hands and stumbled back.

“Take her,” Cheryl whispered. “Comfort her.”

“Shush now.” He took the kid and ran his hand hesitantly down her back She trembled like a bird cornered by a cat. What had made her scream? “Hush.”

Jesus. Now what?

Cheryl tucked Josh back into bed. “Go back to sleep, honey.”

Nathan bounced Isabella a little. Didn’t people do that with babies? But his daughter was four.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and her muscles softened. How could she trust him? He was a screw-up.

“I think she’s asleep.” He tried to hand her to Cheryl.

She shifted away. “Put her in bed.”

The sheets were pulled back, so he set her in the middle of her pillow. Isabella curled into a ball and whimpered.

“Rub her back.” Irritation filled Cheryl’s voice.

He did and Isabella relaxed under his hand. His tension eased with each stroke. Pulling up the covers, he tucked the sheets into the edge of the bed. His mom had done that. As kids, he and Daniel pretended they were caterpillars, tucked in a cocoon.

After joining Cheryl in the hall, he whispered, “What the hell was that?”

“Night terrors.” Cheryl put her fists on her hips. “How did you get into my apartment?”

“I heard screaming. You didn’t answer the door,” he shot back. “I used the master key.”

Her lip trembled. “Don’t you ever—ever—use that key again.”

He backed away. “Got it.”

There went his idea that they could work together, that she’d take on the role of nanny. That idea had come with his third beer.

Cheryl sniffed. “You’ve been drinking.” She said it like he was a serial killer.

“A couple of beers.” No big deal.

“Get your act together. You have a daughter depending on you.” She stalked down the hall to the kitchen and then pointed at the open door. “You didn’t even close the door!”

“I was worried.” How could he have known about night terrors?

“Out. Pick up Isabella by eight.”

Damn. Who would watch the kid tomorrow?

* * *

CHERYL TAPPED ON the top bunk. “Last call for breakfast.”

Both kids were exhausted from Isabella’s nightmare. Cheryl was tired, too. But the day wouldn’t wait.

She pulled back Isabella’s bedding and caught a whiff of urine. Great. “Time to get up, Isabella.”

She tugged off the little girl’s wet bottoms and led her to the bathroom.

Last night she’d washed Isabella’s meager laundry. When the girl was finished in the bathroom, Cheryl helped her put on the least stained clothes she’d found.

“Josh.” She shook his shoulder. “Unless you want to miss the camp bus, you need to move.”

He pushed off the covers, hung over the railing and dropped to the floor. “What’s that smell?” He pretended to choke, then headed for the bathroom, still gagging.

“Come on, Isabella.” She headed to the kitchen and the silent girl followed. She would deal with the sheets later.

She set her in Josh’s old booster chair and poured a bowl of cereal. By the time she was buttering toast, Josh joined them.

“That’s my chair,” he complained.

“And you’re too big for it.”

He took his toast to the table and started eating.

Cheryl quickly pulled his lunch together. Sandwich, apple, carrot sticks and a cookie.

“Can I have three cookies?” He turned those big brown eyes at her.

“Three? That’s too many,” she said.

“My friends like your cookies.”

“You’re giving them away?”

“I share.”

Great. Did the other parents know the kids were trading food? It was only for another week, so she tucked two more cookies into the bag.

Sipping her tea, she watched the kids finish their breakfasts. Josh had forgotten his resentment and chatted on and on. He even gave Isabella the last piece of toast.

The girl didn’t speak but she nodded every now and then. What would Nathan do with Isabella today? Not Cheryl’s concern.

At exactly seven thirty, the construction crew arrived. They were better than an alarm clock. Low voices murmured on the ground floor. She could measure the restaurant’s progress with each hammer strike and screech of the saw.

She wanted to work in Abby’s new restaurant, but she hadn’t gathered the courage to ask her boss. She’d hoped to take more classes, but that would bury her in debt.

“Brush your teeth,” she told the kids. Nathan should be here soon.

Right on time, she heard someone climbing the outside steps followed by a knock on the door.

She threw the dead bolt.

Nathan hadn’t shaved. His eyes were bloodshot. Had he been drinking all night?

Crossing her arms, she stepped back as far as she could to let him in.

“Did she have any more problems sleeping?” he asked.

“She wet the bed. You should buy Pull-Ups.”

He shoved his hand through his hair. “What the hell is a Pull-Up?”

“They’re a nighttime diaper,” she explained with a sigh. “Maybe Isabella wasn’t used to the bed.” Or to her father.

“Crap. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.” He held out a hand. “Did you think about taking care of her?”

“I can’t.” She wasn’t taking on his responsibilities when she had so many of her own. “You’ll learn.”

His shoulders slumped.

“Josh,” she called, “we have to go.”

Nathan caught her hand. At his touch, an unwanted zing went through her body. She tried to pull away, but he hung on.

“I need help. I need... I don’t even know.” He squeezed her fingers. “Can you at least help me shop? Please?”

His brown eyes were darker than her son’s. Darker than Brad’s. At the memory of Brad’s laughing eyes, she yanked her hand away. “Josh, hurry.”

The kids came to the door. Isabella wrapped her arm around Cheryl’s leg, hiding from Nathan. He reached down, but the girl scuttled back.

“It’s okay.” Cheryl picked her up and handed her to Nathan.

“Please help me shop for her. I’ll...pay you. Twenty bucks an hour. For...” His voice trailed off.

He couldn’t remember his own daughter’s name? “Isabella.” She didn’t have time to get involved, but her heart ached for the frightened girl.

“Fine. You don’t have to pay me,” she said. “Just...buy me and Josh dinner.”

* * *

NATHAN PULLED CHERYL’S car in front of his parents’ house. Begging to use her car again hadn’t been fun.

Mom had agreed to watch Isabella during the day. At least until he found day care or his parents left for Pop’s monthly cancer treatments in Texas. He wanted to turn the whole mess over to someone more capable than him, but no one volunteered.

“We’re at grandma’s.” He unbuckled Isabella. She held up her arms and latched onto him like a monkey. His heart stuttered. He stroked her hair. “You’ll have fun.”

He wasn’t sure if he believed his lies. Fake it until you make it, right? That had been his motto in school. That or “Screw it. I don’t understand, so why bother?”

This time not bothering wasn’t an option.

“Come on, kid.” He hoisted her higher onto his hip. “You remember grandma from yesterday?”

She nodded.

Mom met them at the door. “Here you are. We’re going to have fun today.”

Isabella clung to his neck. “I’ve got to work, kiddo.” He’d already checked in with Jed, but he needed to get back to the site.

“Come on, honey.” Mom pried Isabella off his shoulders and hugged her.

“You sure you won’t reconsider having her live here?” he asked.

Mom shot him a look. “What time will you be back?”

“Five thirty.” He took in a deep breath. “Cheryl’s helping me shop.”

Mom set Isabella down. “We’ll see you then.”

He ruffled the kid’s hair. “See you later.”

Isabella’s face crumpled.

He knelt down to her level. “Tonight we’ll shop for your bed.”

She nodded but didn’t smile. Hell, he couldn’t remember ever seeing her smile. Josh was always grinning or laughing. How did Cheryl do it? Could Cheryl get the little girl to smile?

He pushed his daughter out of his head as he drove back to Fitzgerald House. He needed to concentrate on Abby’s restaurant. He arrived in time to check the lumber order. The numbers didn’t dance and it looked like the right amount of wood. He signed off, then he and Jed carried it to the staging area. “Let’s build a staircase. My brother should be here soon.”

He could visualize the gorgeous, curved wood staircase winding up to the old hayloft.

“Are we ready?” Daniel walked in, strapping on his tool belt.

“Yeah.” He and Daniel tended to fight on job sites, but since they were building something this technical, he wanted his brother’s expertise.

“Why do women always want curved staircases?” Jed asked as they shaped the semicircular walls.

“To make us crazy.” Daniel hammered in another two-by-six.

“I told Abby it would cost more,” Nathan said.

“That’s never stops a Fitzgerald,” Jed drawled.

It was tough, exacting work. Nathan made the first calculation. Jed verified and Daniel would agree or disagree. There wasn’t much talk, just the screech of the saw, the pounding of a hammer and the creak of the wood. The morning flew by.

“I love the smell of freshly cut wood,” Cheryl announced from the doorway.

Nathan’s gaze snapped over to her.

“Abby was pulled away by a guest.” She held up a tray. “She wanted me to bring over lunch.”

She avoided Nathan’s gaze but a blush dusted her cheeks. A streak of flour decorated her shirt, just under her breast. Nathan wouldn’t mind tidying her up.

He froze. That wasn’t the way to think about the woman who was helping him with his daughter. He couldn’t screw this up.

“What is that?” Cheryl stopped next to the staircase framing.

“We’re building the beam that will anchor the risers.” She frowned, so Nathan added, “The staircase steps.”

“We’ll add the inner core and build in slots for each riser.” For once his words flowed smoothly. “But first we have layers of laminate to glue to ensure the stairs are stable.”

“That’s fascinating.” She reached out to touch the curved plywood.

He shook his head. “Don’t.”

“I can’t wait to see everything come together.” Green sparks gleamed in her brown eyes. She tapped her lip. “We never settled on a time for tonight.”

“Yeah.” He pushed his hat off and scratched his head.