Second Chances(30)

Yes, there would still be all those questions and more. And while many of those would likely occur to this Paige, they would not completely consume her as they would Nathan. They might perhaps cause her a restless night or two, but they wouldn't likely become the focal point of her existence. She'd likely be able to resume a normal life. She'd have an interesting story to tell her friends. A story that was a bit scary, a bit mysterious, and certainly rather unique. Sure, everyone knew you should shred your documents and not give out private information, but still identity theft was definitely not unheard of. The person stealing your identity didn't usually look exactly like you. However in the age of plastic surgery even that could possibly be explained. Right?

All this had flashed through Nathan's mind many times since encountering Paige. Consciously he had not wanted to believe it and yet on some level he had actually hoped that perhaps it would be true. Either way there were questions to be asked and answers to be searched for. Which set of questions or rather which set of answers would be easier to deal with?

He wanted his Paige back, had wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. However, if this wasn't his Paige then he did not want to wreck her life. He thought of her as his Paige, for the most part believed her to be his Paige, but still there were so many questions. More then anything he wanted for this to all be over. He saw the pain and anguish she was going through and it hurt him, hurt him tremendously knowing he was the source of it all.

Did that even make sense? No, he doubted it did, but then his thinking hadn't been exactly crystal clear these last couple of days. He wanted it this way. He wanted it that way.

Can't have it both ways, Buckeroo.

And he knew that was true. He also knew if he could have it any way he wanted it, then none of this would have ever happened. Paige would never have...have what? Died? Faked her own death? Had her death faked?

Yeah, well if wishes were trees then you'd be living in one hell of a forest.

Again it was the blast of a horn that pulled him back to reality. For a moment he looked and actually saw the cab driver again, but it wasn't the cabbie. He was long gone, Nathan's money in his pocket. This horn belonged to a silver Toyota Camry. The man behind the wheel waved his hand at Nathan, who got the message loud and clear. Get the hell out of the road you nut!

Nathan stepped back up onto the sidewalk, not remembering ever having stepped off it. He turned back toward the restaurant and saw Paige was looking at him. He did his best to act natural and smiled. She returned it, but there was an unquestionable look of puzzlement in her eyes. Even at this distance it was unmistakable. It was a look she had given him many times in the past.

Well someone that looked like her had given you that look before.

"Aw, shut up," he muttered to himself as he started after her.

"Yeah? Well screw you too buddy. Next time I'll just run you over," the man from the Camry yelled out his window at Nathan, who didn't even try to explain he hadn't been talking to him.

He sighed and moved to join Paige. He glanced briefly at the woman on the patio, but not long enough to draw her attention. Not that he thought he could. She was still sitting there alone, her gaze locked on Paige. Nathan had a sickening feeling he knew exactly who she was waiting for. And if he was right, then this meeting was only going to leave him with even more questions.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE



"Yes, your party is waiting for you," the hostess told them. "Right this way."

Nathan did not realize that a single person constituted a party, but he wasn't about to argue. He walked beside Paige, following the hostess as she led them through the restaurant. His stomach turned as he saw where they were being lead. He'd known the patio was where they would end up, just as he knew who the rest of their party was, yet he'd still been holding out hope that he'd been wrong.

He kept his eyes in constant motion as they walked. Paige. The restaurant patrons. Paige. The door to the patio. Back to Paige. He could see just how nervous she was, though he doubted anyone else could.

They emerged out onto the patio and instantly he sought out the woman in the red pantsuit. He stole a quick glance at Paige and then his attention snapped back on the woman. She appeared to be a few years older than Paige, though exactly how much older Nathan was not sure. He'd never been good at estimating ages, especially in the age of plastic surgery, not to mention the magic some women seemed to be able to perform with makeup. However neither surgery nor makeup could change the fact that they weren't the same age and something about that gnawed at Nathan and he filed it away in the back of his mind. She was an attractive woman, not overly thin, but by no means chunky.