“I have a spare room. You can put him on the bed. I don’t have a railing, but I’m sure if we put some pillows on the edge, he won’t fall out.”
Sadi nodded, thankful for anything at that point. To her shame, hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she laid Connor Jr. on the bed then placed his sleeping sister beside him. Sadi glanced down at her children. Two sleeping angels. They had no idea of the turmoil that Sadi was going through. She would do anything to keep it that way, would go to the ends of the earth to protect her children.
“I think I should make some tea,” Christine said. Sadi had to smile. Only a true tea lover could believe that tea would fix everything.
Sadi had to admit she did feel better after a mug of chamomile tea.
“I need to tell you why I’m here,” Sadi whispered, facing a very tired, very worried Christine from across the table. “I don’t know what’s going on in my life anymore. I don’t know what is true and what is a lie.”
Christine nodded even though she had no idea what Sadi was talking about.
“Luke and Connor, they’re identical twins, which you know. I was engaged to Luke at the time of the bombing. I found him in the hospital after it happened and Connor was missing. I married Luke six months later.
We have two kids…. everything was going so well, except that it was all a lie. I gave Connor some photo albums tonight in hopes that it would help him remember something…. It turned out he did.
He remembered everything, including the fact that he wasn’t Connor. He came into our bedroom in the middle of the night, screaming at Luke, beating him, accusing him of stealing his life, his home, me. Connor said that he was really Luke. Luke didn’t say anything. I didn’t know who to believe. It was like the whole world went crazy and I just had to get out. I took the kids and I left….”
Christine’s eyes had become very wide towards the end of Sadi’s story. Without saying a word, she got up and put the kettle on again.
“I’m sorry, I know I’ve only met you a couple times, but I really had nowhere else to go except for a hotel. I just need some time and space to think.”
Christine nodded. She came over and wrapped Sadi in a huge hug. Sadi had never felt such love and warmth radiate from a stranger before. No wonder Connor- Luke- god, no wonder the brother she hadn’t married said he loved this woman.
“You can stay here as long as you want,” Christine said. “I promise I won’t let Connor into the house. I don’t think either of them would think to look for you here.”
“You’re probably right. I’m sorry again to just barge in here in the middle of the night like a crazy person. Except that’s exactly how I feel right now. My mind is a mess.”
“Why don’t you get some sleep?” Christine said, placing her hand gently over Sadi’s. “Sometimes things seem better in the morning.”
Sadi nodded. She accepted a blanket and a pillow and curled up on Christine’s couch, since her babies were asleep in the spare bed. Sadi closed her eyes, replaying all the night’s strange events over and over in her mind. She doubted she would be able to find sleep, but finally sheer exhaustion claimed her and she drifted off.
Sadi was awakened by Katelyn’s crying. She sat up on the couch, totally panicked. She had no idea where she was for a second but then she remembered everything. She stumbled towards the spare bedroom. Katelyn was wet and hungry, and Connor was crying as well.
Sadi realized she had no diapers and no formula. She glanced around the room, and panicked for a moment before Christine appeared through the front door. She had bundles of diapers in her arms, as well as formula, bottles, and everything else she needed for the two children.
Sadi cried then. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
“It’s alright,” Christine said, placing a hand gently on Sadi’s back. “I work with kids so I’m familiar with what to buy. I hope everything is okay.”
Sadi knew Christine didn’t just mean the things she had bought. “It’s fine,” she assured her, looking through the bags. “I really have no way to thank you for this.”
Christine smiled. “That’s alright. I really don’t mind. I’m glad you’re here, though I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Sadi and Christine changed both babies. Christine took Connor to the kitchen to find something for him to eat while Sadi mixed up formula and fed Katelyn.
Chapter 11
Towards the middle of the morning Christine took the kids into the living room and gave Sadi some privacy in the kitchen. Sadi grabbed her cell phone, which she had turned to off, out of her purse. She switched it on and watched as the missed calls and texts loaded. Holy. Fourteen missed calls. There was text after text from Luke. Or Connor. Sadi sighed. From her husband, whomever that was