Taking On Twins. Carolyn Zane

threw her hands up. Where Chopper was concerned it was impossible to reason with her boys. “Fine. But don’t put it in your shirt pocket. You’re getting mustard everywhere.”

      “Okay.” Alex removed the mustard-slathered bread and slapped it into her hand. “Here. Could you put this in your purse?”

      Annie exhaled mightily and searched the ceiling for patience. Her crisp white blouse now sported yellow polka-dots in various shapes and sizes. Dabbing at them with a napkin only made them worse.

      From inside the kitchen, Emily recognized the familiar voice and openmouthed, flew to the pickup window and craned her neck to catch a glimpse. Wyatt! After seven solid months on the lam, to finally see a member of her family was overwhelming. She blinked back the tears of joy. Help had arrived at last and now, perhaps, someone might just take her seriously.

      Reaching behind her, she untied her apron and waved at Roy who was busy over the sizzling grill. Helen was making coffee and Geraldine was out on the floor. They’d be fine without her for a few minutes. “I’m taking a break,” she called and they nodded.

      Emily rushed through the restaurant as old fashioned as its name implied. The walls were a rough plank and overhead, shelves were loaded with historic knickknacks and plants. In the background, some easy listening was piped in through speakers in the ceiling. The murmur of voices ebbed and flowed, and underscoring it all, silverware clanked and the grill sizzled.

      Wyatt glanced up at the sound of her approach. “Emily!” He held out his hand and pulled her into the booth beside him and gave her temple a sound kissing. Eyes thirsty, he drank in the sight of her, checking her over until he was satisfied that she was all right. He reached up, touching her shock of chestnut-red hair and was once again reminded of his Annie.

      Emily plucked a napkin from the chrome dispenser on the table and crushed it to her mouth. “How did you find me?”

      “Rand and Austin tracked you down.”

      “I would have called, but it’s not safe.”

      “I know.”

      “You do?” She pushed her napkin to her eyes and cast him a watery smile. “You believe me?”

      “We all do.”

      “Oh,” she blubbered. “Finally.”

      “Better late than never?”

      “Oh, yeah.” Smile tremulous, she turned her back to the aisle. Facing him, she leaned on her elbow to create some privacy. “I don’t have much time. This is the middle of the Saturday lunch rush and it can get a little hairy here.”

      “That’s fine,” Wyatt said with a nod. “We can talk later. I plan on staying for several days—”

      “Really?” Emily heaved a ragged sigh. “I’ve been starved for news of home.”

      “Well, I’m loaded with that, and more.” He tapped the envelope that lay in front of him on the table, then slid it over to rest in front of her.

      Emily stared. “What’s this?”

      “The news you’ve been waiting for. It’ll make some interesting nighttime reading, that I can guarantee.”

      “It’s about Mom?”

      “And her identical twin sister. A woman named Patsy Portman.”

      “A twin. I knew it,” she murmured.

      “We’re guessing that you were right all along about Patsy taking Meredith’s place.”

      “It happened the day of the accident. I just know it. Remember when Mom went off the road and wrecked the car?”

      “Emily, do you have any idea what may have happened to Meredith?”

      “I can’t remember,” she whispered. “It happened so fast, and it’s years ago now. I was crying and confused. My head hurt and Mom’s head was bleeding so much. I think I passed out. What I do remember is seeing another woman there who looked exactly like Mom. Then, I don’t remember anything until she brought me into the emergency room. I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t bleeding anymore…”

      Wyatt slowly nodded. “Meredith must have disappeared between the accident and the emergency room, while you were unconscious.”

      Snatching another napkin from the dispenser, Emily scrubbed at her nose. “Mmm. That’s what I’ve always suspected. But no one believed me until now.”

      “We believe you, honey. We’re on your side and we’re here to help you.”

      “What about Mom?”

      Wyatt slipped an arm around her shoulders and brought the top of her head to his neck. “We’re working on that. Austin’s on her trail, as we speak.” He tried to inject a note of confidence into his voice. “What exactly happened the night you left?”

      In a halting voice, Emily spoke. “Someone tried to kill me. And, he nearly succeeded.”