Brides And Blessings. Molly Bull Noble

him she was adopted and asking him to hire a private detective to search for her birth parents. Mike phoned a reliable detective agency the next day and signed on one of their investigators to handle the case.

      Discovering that she was the daughter of an unwed, teenage mother was surprising. She practically fell out of her chair on learning that she had an identical twin sister.

      Once she got Holly on the phone, the sisters set up the get-acquainted meeting at the cabin. At their first face-to-face, it was Holly who suggested that they switch lives, perhaps because Suzann had shared how depressed she’d been lately. Suzann’s actor boyfriend, Greer Fraser, had dumped her for another movie actress, and her heartbreak had been smeared all over the tabloids.

      At first, the mere idea of assuming her sister’s identity shocked Suzann. To begin with, such a disguise would never work. Suzann’s face and figure had been on movie screens, in magazines, and on television since she was in diapers.

      Holly attempted to convince her sister that she would look different without that heavy makeup she constantly wore in California. When Suzann finally saw how much Holly looked like her with makeup, she was persuaded to give the madcap idea a try. Still, even at this late date, she had doubts.

      Suzann squinted at the autumn-kissed hills beyond the east window. They couldn’t have found a more beautiful setting for their scheme.

      Holly’s transformation still amazed her. Bleachedblond hair, carefully applied makeup, and a designer outfit hid her sister’s true identity. But no amount of makeup could hide Holly’s winsome smile or the wide-eyed innocence of her chocolate-brown eyes.

      Holly peered at Suzann questioningly. “I’m doing the innocent stare thing again, aren’t I?”

      “Really, Holly, I think you look great. Still, you’re going to have to keep working if you hope to look like Suzann Condry.”

      Holly bit her lower lip. “I’m trying, really.”

      “I know you are. You know you really are a dead ringer for me,” Suzann said, hoping to encourage her sister. “In fact at the moment, you look more like me than I do.”

      Holly laughed nervously. “A lot has happened in two weeks, hasn’t it? I think letting your hair go back to its natural color and the black-rimmed glasses add just the right touch. Now, if I can ever get used to these contacts, I guess I’ll be all set”

      Holly was warm and tenderhearted. She was also naive. Was Suzann expecting more of her sister than Holly could give?

      Absently, Suzann curled a lock of her long, dark auburn hair around her forefinger. “Do you think we can pull this off?”

      “I certainly do.”

      “Then I think we can too,” Suzann said with feigned optimism. “You know, I’ve dreamed of this.”

      “Dreamed of what?”

      “A normal life.” Suzann smiled thoughtfully. “I’ve been in the limelight since before my second birthday. This will be my first opportunity ever to live like normal people do, and I owe it all to you.”

      “Think of it this way—you’re giving me the chance to wear designer clothes and live in a mansion in the California hills. What more could I want?”

      “How ‘bout your life back?”

      “I’ll get it back in six months,” Holly said. “That’s soon enough for me. Still, I’m unsure how to play a movie star.”

      “At least you won’t have to do any acting,” Suzann said. “Playing a church librarian in Oak Valley, Texas, might be the hardest role I’ve ever taken on.”

      Holly shrugged. “The only acting I’ve ever done was a role in a church musical.”

      “You’ll do fine,” Suzann said. “And remember, Mike will be right there to help you out, anytime you need him.” Suzann smiled. “Mike McDowell’s a sweetheart. And the best agent I know. But don’t let all that charm fool you. I’m paying him big bucks to show you the ropes in California.”

      “I’ll try to remember.”

      Suzann wanted to kick herself for reminding her sister that she paid Mike to be nice to Holly.

      “I’m sorry,” Suzann said beseechingly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Sometimes I can be pretty thoughtless, I guess. But I never meant to hurt your feelings.”

      “You haven’t.”

      Suzann feared that she had. Something was bothering Holly.

      “Tact is seldom necessary in Hollywood,” Suzann explained. “In the future, I’ll try to remember I’m not in Tinsel Town anymore.”

      “I’ll try to remind myself that I’m not me anymore,” Holly said. “I’m you now.”

      “And I’m you.” Suzann tried to make her voice sound perky and inspiring. “Doesn’t this sound exciting?”

      “Yes,” Holly said under her breath. “Yes, it does.”

      Suzann’s upbeat comment hadn’t lifted her sister’s spirits. She wondered what would.

      “You hinted that you have a secret crush on the youth director at your church. What did you say his name was?”

      “Josh Gallagher.” Holly laughed self-consciously. “Some of the women in my Sunday School class call him Sir Gallagher-had.”

      “I believe there was once a famous knight by that name.”

      “So I heard.” A trace of a smile still lingered in Holly’s eyes. “And for your information, I never said I had a crush on him. Josh doesn’t know I’m alive. I said he was good-looking. Probably every single woman in the church noticed that.”

      “I stand corrected.” Suzann wiggled her nose teasingly. “Now, back to Mike.” She put her hands on her knees. “I want you to feel free to phone him at any time and for any reason.”

      “All right.”

      “He’ll also be your escort whenever you go out socially, so he can tell you who is who among my circle of friends. Any problem with that?”

      “Not at all. I’ll need to be with someone who knows who I really am. Otherwise I would never be able to go through with this—this disguise.”

      Suzann’s throat felt dry and sore. However, she’d learned long ago that mentioning one’s aches and pains proved pointless. The show must go on—no matter what.

      She reclaimed her mug from the coffee table and blew away invisible steam before lifting it to her lips. The warm liquid soothed her burning throat.

      Somehow, the sugary taste and the scent of fresh coffee also triggered still more thoughts on her physical condition. Was she sick instead of tired? Impossible. Suzann Condry was never ill.

      She swallowed slowly and glanced back at her sister. Holly had already demonstrated what a kind, straightforward person she could be. Still, how could Holly possibly fit into the world Suzann had left behind? And deep down, was Holly wishing she’d never suggested that they make the switch?

      Five weeks ago Suzann didn’t know she had a twin sister. Now that she’d had the opportunity to know Holly, they had bonded in ways Suzann never thought possible. A lump formed in her throat. It wouldn’t be easy to say goodbye.

      “Holly, it’s not too late to back out. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

      “I’m sure. And I have no intention of backing out.”

      “You can’t know how much this means to me,” Suzann said. “And how much I appreciate what you’re doing.”

      “You’re my sister. We’re family now.”

      Suzann reached over and hugged her sister. “You’re great.”