Twin Deception(22)

I couldn’t believe how lame his excuse was when he said that he didn’t know who you even were or why your picture was in his wallet. It was just always there so he had left it. I guess he was pretty upset when he drove away, because the next thing I knew he was calling me from the hospital days later. I still didn’t want to talk to him or have anything to do with him. He sent me an email trying to explain everything but it sounds pretty farfetched.” Christine laughed nervously. “I guess I feel really bad about not believing him now that I’ve met you.”

Sadi nodded slowly. Why the hell did Connor have a picture of her in his wallet? “Yes, it sounds pretty crazy. Believe me, it wasn’t any easier for us to believe that he was alive after all this time.”

The three chatted for a couple minutes longer before a cry from Connor Jr. in the backseat had Sadi excusing herself and driving back to the house. They managed to make it before both kids woke up, the gentle lull of the car putting Connor Jr.. back to sleep.

Sadi wanted to ask Connor about that picture but she just couldn’t get the words out. She wanted to ask him why her image was in his wallet, but she knew he likely wasn’t going to be able to answer her anyway. Maybe it was actually a picture of her and Luke and Christine had obviously assumed the man was her and Connor. That would be more believable.

Sadi made a note to try and snoop through the wallet one day to find it. She felt badly as soon as she thought about that. She shouldn’t be going through Connor’s personal items. That would destroy any trust they had built up between each other. Still she wondered. The feeling of unease never quite left her after that.





Chapter 8


Luke was less than thrilled to hear about Christine. Sadi couldn’t understand why he couldn’t just be happy for his brother. She had forced Luke into agreeing to go to dinner with Connor and Christine so that everyone could meet. Sadi thought that would maybe meeting Connor’s girlfriend would change Luke’s mind and get him out of the glum mood he had been in since Connor arrived.

Sadi had arranged for a sitter days before their dinner date. She found that she was excited to get out of the house and socialize with adults for one night.

Though she had been excited for it, when they were all seated around the table in what used to be Connor’s favorite restaurant, Sadi found that she worried about her children. She had left them with a sitter only twice before, and each time had been driven to distraction wondering if they were being looked after properly.

“Stop worrying,” Luke whispered after Sadi checked her phone for the hundredth time. “They’re just fine or Mary Ann would have called.”

Sadi nodded. “I know… it’s just hard.”

Luke squeezed Sadi’s hand under the table. She caught the look he sent towards Connor and Christine, who were affectionately holding hands on the other side of the table. Sadi squeezed Luke’s hand back, a warning against him saying anything that had anything to do with that less than pleasant look he was giving.

Connor and Christine told Sadi and Luke all about how they had met. Connor had found a job working as a janitor at the same school where Christine was a substitute teacher. It had taken Connor weeks to work up the nerve to talk to Christine, and even longer to finally ask her out.

Sadi thought that their story was cute. She glanced over at Luke and was surprised to see that same brooding look still on his face. What was wrong with him?

“Luke,” Sadi hissed. She poked him under the table with her foot. “I think that’s really cute,” Sadi said, encouraging Christine to keep talking. It was interesting to hear about the life Connor had lived. She was about to continue when Luke stood up abruptly. Sadi glanced up in shock.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t sit here and pretend like this is real. It’s not.” He looked pointedly at Connor and Christine. “You can’t be in love with each other when you don’t even know who Connor really is. You didn’t even know his real name until a couple weeks ago. You don’t know anything about him or his life.”

Sadi felt her mouth drop open. “Luke!” She was completely appalled at her husband’s outburst.

Luke reached for Sadi’s arm but she pulled away. “Come on Sadi, we should go home.”

“What? No!” Sadi flat out refused. She was mortified over the shocked and hurt looks Christine and Connor were sending Luke’s way.

Connor finally stood up as well and faced his brother. Sadi stared at the two of them, mirror images, even in the way they expressed their anger. She had never seen them angry with each other before.