Roxie carefully reached out to touch the discoloration.She traced it twice before her eyes started blinking fast.“Is this really happening?”she whispered.
“I think so,” Lexie whispered back.
“Are you my sister?”
“I think I’m your twin.”
A sound left the back of Roxie’s throat, but then Lexie found herself pulled into a hug.She wrapped her arms around this stranger and clung.Oh God.It was happening.It was truly happening.She had blood, somebody who was hers that no paperwork or genetic test could ever deny.A sister.She had an identical twin!
She squeezed harder, but Roxie already had her in a death grip.“Where were you?”she asked.
Lexie stroked her hair.“I’m here now.”
“I missed you.”
“You knew I was out there?”
Roxie shook her head and clenched her fist to her chest.“Here.I missed you here.”
Lexie closed her eyes.She pressed her face into her sister’s hair and inhaled her spicy perfume.So had she.She just hadn’t known what it was she was missing.
“Holy Je-sus.”The man with the scruffy face was looking at them like something out ofRipley’s Believe It or Not!“Charlie, get out here.We need alcohol.Pronto.”
The handyman realized the light bulb was still popped up in his fist.He set it down and wiped his hands on his jeans.He grabbed a chair from atop a nearby table and flipped it over.The legs scraped loudly as he set it on the floor.Not caring, he did the same with another chair and patted the seat.“Sit.Sit before I fall over,” he ordered.“Char-leee.”
An ebony face appeared over the top of the half doors.“Keep your britches on, Skeeter.I’ll be there in a—” The man’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as he saw Roxie in duplicate.
“Look, boss.”Skeeter’s index finger waggled as he pointed again.“Look at this.”
“Sweet mother,” Charlie hissed.“Hold on.I’ll get the bourbon.”
Lexie and Roxie edged together towards the seats.They were both shaking so badly, they clung to each other to stay on their collective feet.At some point, they’d taken each other’s hand.Their fingers were interlocked, and neither was letting go.
Lexie had so many questions, but emotions were colliding inside her chest.She didn’t know where to start.“We have to figure this out.”
“Make sure,” her reflection agreed.
“What’s to figure out?”Skeeter bent closer, and his gaze ran over the two of them, this time with less confusion and a lot more interest.“You’re the same right down to the boobies.”
Roxie’s reflexes were quick.She reached out and bopped the man upside the head.
“Hey,” he said, rubbing the spot.“It’s true.”
“But you don’t have to say it out loud.”Roxie grabbed the back of the closest chair and dropped into it.She glanced at Skeeter as he moved outside of arm’s length.“Sorry.He’s a nice guy, but if he’s around long enough, you’ll eventually want to swat him.”
Lexie sat in the other seat, her knees finally giving way.“Do you work here with him?”
“Barmaid, manager and all-around utility player.”
“Don’t forget model.”Lexie pushed her hair back with a shaky hand.She couldn’t believe this day.From bad to worse… She didn’t think so!For once, the hatchet man had been wrong.
She stiffened.Why was he, of all people, popping into her head now?She shifted uncomfortably and concentrated on the here and now.She didn’t want to miss out on a moment of this.This day and place were going to be imprinted on her brain forever.“I hated that billboard an hour ago, but now I’m so glad you did it.”
“The billboard.Right.That’s what brought you here.”Roxie nibbled at her lower lip.“Has it been giving you problems?”
Problems?Her family had practically disowned her because of that sensational shot, but all that seemed insignificant now.Problems could be fixed, but people didn’t find sisters every day.Lexie waved off the question.“I should have read the article in the newspaper.”
Her gesture hitched midair.Had anyone taken time to actually read the article?
