“Caleb seems like a real character,” she said.
“We’re fraternal twins.”
She thought of Caleb’s demeanor, his similar yet not identical features. “Fraternal twins? I wasn’t even wondering about the physical differences. I was actually thinking he’s more of a loner.”
“He’s not had the easiest life,” he explained.
“I thought you both had a cushy life, went to the best schools.”
“I did. He’s the dark twin. Went the GED, community-service route.”
She noted his pained expression.
“My dad was an elected judge,” he said. “He couldn’t allow the appearance of special treatment.”
Dad.She heard the wistful note in his voice. “You know, I’m no shrink, but I might be able to relate to what you’re going through. If you ever want to talk…” Her voice trailed off, the intensity of his gaze evaporating her next thought.
“I appreciate that. It’s really easy to talk with you,” he said.
“You too. I feel like you don’t judge me for my issues,” she said, returning his honesty.
"I don’t. I think you’ve been through a lot.”
“You, too.”
She watched his fingers tapping the steering wheel.
"The thing with my dad is that he’s impossible to live up to,” Phoenix said. It sounded like a confession.
“Uh… have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“Ha! I hope that’s not me. But seriously, he was like this warrior of justice. This upright citizen in our community. He joked that what I do is hawk antacids.”
Orchid turned to face him. “That’s unfair.”
“Yeah, ‘cause I work on packaged beverages, and laundry detergent too.”
“Not that there’s anything wrong with all that. But what about your charity work?”
“And why do you think I do that?”
Understanding sunk in. “You know what sucks? Once your parents are gone, you never know what they would’ve thought of all your accomplishments.”
“I didn’t know them, but I think your parents would be proud of you. Any parents would.”
“Same with you.”
“Thank you.”
“Can I ask what happened? To your dad?”
He shot a glance at her.
That spark of a connection made her wonder if she shouldn’t have crossed into personal territory.Too late to be worried about that.
“Heart attack. It happened at work. If he’d been in a public area, they could’ve gotten him help sooner. They found him in his chambers. The suddenness of it…”
She nodded in sympathy. “There’s no time to adjust. No warning.” Here, with Phoenix, she wanted to return his vulnerability. “My parents died in a car crash. I witnessed it,” she said.
