LITMIR.BIZ

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to meet Jack. To see what his life with his twin brother was really like. She didn’t need any more stress. If he had his way, he’d keep Grace, Gretchen and even Alyssa in a protective cocoon, safe from the harsh realities of life.

      Jack moaned and mumbled something under his breath and Jadon prayed his brother would stay calm until they’d been able to see Dr. Liz.

      At the hospital, the staff quickly admitted Jack for an inpatient psychiatric stay. The police had followed with his parents, doing the necessary paperwork to keep Jack under strict observation for his own safety.

      “The new medication was working,” his mother said in a low voice a while later, once they’d finished and were waiting in the lobby. “For a while he was doing better. I don’t know what happens to him, why he suddenly stops taking his pills.”

      He didn’t know either. Just more proof that his mother and his brother needed him. “Jack needs to stay in the inpatient program where they regulate his medication closely,” he said, drawing in a deep, heavy sigh. “But he has to stay voluntarily, we can’t force him. At least this episode wasn’t as bad as the last one. Has he been staying away from those useless friends he’d been tangled up with?”

      “I don’t know for sure, but I think so,” his mother said. “He seemed to be doing everything that Dr. Liz asked of him.”

      Jadon hoped so. His brother had gotten mixed up with a bad crowd, and under their negative influence Jack had become much worse. In fact, his brother had owed some of them a lot of money, which Jadon had figured out after he’d been jumped and robbed the last time he’d come home.

      He’d suspected at the time they’d thought he was Jack. Just like when they’d been kids, Jack’s troubles had often rubbed off on him. Because people couldn’t tell them apart.

      He’d suffered more than once for Jack’s sins. Yet he couldn’t hold his brother responsible for being sick either.

      “He’ll stay an inpatient now for a while, won’t he?” his mother asked, drawing Jadon out of his reverie.

      “Yes, he’ll be an inpatient for a while.” Probably not long enough. Psychiatric programs were losing money and government funding, making the inpatient programs few and far between. And in most cases the patient had to agree to stay.

      “Will you stay for a few days and talk to his doctor?” his mother asked. She glanced at his father, and he wondered why there were together. Had his father officially divorced his second wife? Were his parents thinking of getting back together again?

      “I can’t. I have to get back to Cedar Bluff.”

      His mother’s eyes widened in surprised dismay. “You can’t! What if something happens?”

      The old familiar guilt made him waver. Should he stay? His mother deserved to have a normal life, too. Heaven knew, she’d given up a lot. Didn’t he owe Jack and his mother at least some of his precious time?

      Yes, but so did Alyssa. He had other responsibilities now and the two were tearing him apart. He’d wanted to keep them separate but maybe he was deluding himself.

      Thinking of Alyssa, Grace and Gretchen waiting for him at the hospital made him shake his head. “I can’t. Mom, there’s something you need to know. You’re a grandmother, grandparents,” he amended, including his father in the announcement. “I have twin daughters, Grace Aubrey and Gretchen Louise. They were born just a few days ago.”

      “Twins?” his mother repeated in stunned surprise. She couldn’t have looked more shocked if he’d announced he’d been kidnapped by wild monkeys. “My goodness, you’re married?”

      “No,” he said grimly. Marriage was not an option. Convincing Alyssa to stay with him on a temporary basis was hard enough. And what more could he ask? Jack’s difficulties weren’t easy to handle. Some families weren’t meant to stay together. “The babies were born prematurely and the smaller one, Gretchen, has had some complications. We haven’t had time to really think about the future.”

      “I see.” His mother fell silent and he knew she was upset and hurt that he hadn’t brought Alyssa over to meet her. Or that he hadn’t invited her to Cedar Bluff to meet Alyssa.

      How could he explain a relationship he wasn’t sure he had?

      “Look, a lot has happened. Alyssa is being discharged today from the hospital. I need to get back. I’m sure you’ll meet Alyssa soon, maybe at Christmas.” His voice lacked conviction, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t really want Alyssa to be a part of his problems with Jack.

      “All right.” His mother looked a bit forlorn, but he noticed his father stepped closer, adding his support. Seeing his parents together again after so many years made him wonder what would be different the second time around. Did his parents have what it took to stick together this time if things went bad with Jack again? Love couldn’t solve everything.

      “Dad, it was good to see you again.” He made an effort to mend the rift of the past, thinking about how he’d feel if his daughters remained angry at him for years on end. Not good. He forced a smile. “I’ll be in touch with both of you about our plans for the holiday.”

      “Bye, Jadon.” As he turned to leave, he heard his mother exclaim, “Grandparents! Can you believe we’re actually grandparents, Josh?”

      “Good news,” his father agreed. “And about time.”

      Jadon felt bad, knowing he should have asked them right then and there to come back with him to meet their grandchildren.

      But first he needed some time alone with Alyssa.

      Outside, it had started snowing again. Good thing his parents hadn’t come with him to meet Alyssa after all. The roads were slick, forcing him to drive much more slowly than he wanted to. At one point a woman spun out in front of him, hitting the median of the interstate and coming to a jarring stop. He’d gone over to help her, to confirm she wasn’t badly hurt, and had waited with her for the police to arrive before going back out on the highway again.

      He headed to the hospital first, even though it was late, nearly eight o’clock at night by the time he made it back to Cedar Bluff. He’d called Alyssa’s cell phone, but it had gone immediately to voice mail, indicating she didn’t have her phone turned on. He pulled into the hospital parking lot and shut off the engine.

      The hospital wasn’t a white building, like so many of them were, but had been structured with a dark brown cedar wood which made it stand out starkly against the snow-covered trees. In the summer the building meshed with the wooded landscape, but not now. A brightly lit Christmas wreath hung over the front door, a welcoming beacon through the swirling snow.

      Inside, the warmth and the muted Christmas music engulfed him. Odd that being in the hospital felt very much like coming home.

      Alyssa wasn’t in the nursery. He spent a few minutes with Grace and Gretchen, amazed and relieved at how well Gretchen was doing without her mask.

      She looked so much better without it.

      As much as he wanted to stay and hold his daughters, he really needed to find Alyssa. No doubt Simon had driven her to his house. Braving the snow-covered streets once again, he headed home.

      But the house was dark. Not a single light shone through the windows. Frowning, he glanced at the clock. Had she gone to bed already? It was early, but she was no doubt exhausted.

      Inside, he flipped on the lights as he walked through the kitchen and into the living room. He expected her to be on the sofa, since he’d taken down her bedroom set, but she wasn’t. If she’d made herself at home in his bed, she couldn’t be that upset with him. Treading softly, he opened the door to his room.

      Empty.

      Alyssa wasn’t here, waiting for him.

      He

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