Finally, I regard my stepson. “What’s going on, Nathan? Why are you here?”
“The police called me. You collapsed.”
And then I remember DS Oliver’s stern face.
“Why didn’t they call Penny?”
“They did but Penny didn’t pick up. I did.”
“The spa,” I mutter. “She warned us about the signal.”
“Yep,” he shrugs. “She’s having too much fun to come and care for her old mum.”
“You don’t know that,” I say, irritated. “How long have I been here?”
“About three hours or so. I just got here. They think you can probably go home soon but you need to be signed off by a doctor first.”
“Did you text Penny? She might get patches of signal here and there.”
“Not yet,” he says. “To be honest, I got in my car and came straight here.”
I smile. “You were worried about me?”
His expression is non-committal, perhaps even cheeky. “Why wouldn’t I rush to see my loving stepmother?” The words are laden with familiar sarcasm.
As always, I have no idea where his true feelings lie, or even where mine do. There is affection for this man, of course there is, but after what happened, I’ve always felt afraid of him.
A silence stretches between us. Nathan sighs and pulls a chair up to the bed. “You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you? You’re always thinking about that day and nothing I do will change that. Penny is blood and I’m… the unwanted child who came along as baggage with the man you loved.”
“Nathan, that isn’t true.” I reach out to touch his hand, but he pulls away. “You were never unwanted. But I… I had difficulty bonding with you. And I blame myself for that. Though your father didn’t help matters.”
He rolls his eyes. “Dad was fine. A bit strict I suppose. Anyway,” he waves a hand to indicate that we should move on, “are you going to tell me what the hell has been going on and why you’ve been questioned by the police? You have atwin sister. Is that right?”
I try to make the explanation brief. “Yes, and she’s missing. Her name’s Claire.” I bite my lip. Then add, “It was her in that photo that was posted on Twitter. The police also found some of her clothing in my house.”
“Did you kill her?” he blurts out.
“No! Of course not.”
His smile widens into a wicked grin. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Nathan. I am quite sure.” I know he’s teasing me and his sense of humour is dark, but I feel like there’s a small part of him, deep down, that may actually suspect me of such a terrible thing.
“It’s not looking good for you though, is it?” he points out. “She was in your house. Why? And how did she know about you when you didn’t know about her? Unless you did?”
“I only found out about her a few days ago.” I glance at Nathan. “Claire is missing, but she isn’t dead. Not until they find a body. The police have nothing but confirmation that she turned up to my house and probably broke in. I don’t know why she did that. Maybe she tried to leave me a message somehow.”
For the first time, all trace of amusement dissipates from Nathan’s expression. “Yeah, because if your twin is in danger, it might mean you are too.”
“What?”
“Well, you and her have the same face, right? If someone has hurt your twin, it might be because they thought she was you,” he says.
A shiver runs a cold finger down my neck and along my spine. “I need to get out of this hospital room. I need to go home.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” he asks.
I look up into his face and he seems genuinely concerned. His features are so much like Scott at his age, dark eyes, heavy brows, full lips. It’s true I haven’t always been the best mother to him, let alone the one he desperately needed, and yet here he is willing to help me.
