Sheki squirmed in her seat. “It does sound barbaric, and by the time we realized the inescapable trap we’d set for us all, it was too late to come good with our secret. We truly expected to go to our graves with it.”
“And deprive me of a sister, a twin sister,” Selene’s voice cracked. “Mother, I knew you were tough, but never suspected you were inhumane.” She buried her face in Craig’s shoulder and gentle sobs broke the stillness caused by her accusation.
No one moved, unsure as to how to deal with the news. Barbie filled in the gap. “I think everyone is in shock right now. Perhaps the girls need a break, to take it all in. We still have four glorious days at this resort and time enough to get to know one another better. I think we will all find that this honest revelation will be for the best as we move into the future.”
“Your wife is wise, Trace.” Sheki said. “A good night’s sleep will do us all good. I am looking forward to getting to know you, Jolene, and hope you can forgive me someday.” She stood and walked toward Selene, offering her a hand. “Shall we go to our suite and try to heal your broken heart?”
The two women left together, and Barbie and Craig conveniently disappeared into the suite. Jolene faced her father alone, and the silence ate at her soul. “I suppose we do need to sleep on it. Seems I can’t think of anything to say.”
“The fact that you are not throwing things at me and screaming at the top of your lungs is relief enough for tonight,” Trace said.
“I am angry, disappointed, and hurt. Throwing things is not my way of dealing with it.”
“If I can help…”
“You’ve done quite enough for now, daddy. Goodnight.”
Chapter 12
Jolene skipped breakfast the following morning and headed for Pineville. Street sales should give her the last bit of privacy she needed to come to grips with her expanded family. A cream cheese everything bagel and coffee from the café and she was ready to hit the many garage, yard and street sales to find that perfect used-gift to stuff in stockings hanging around the fireplace at the Inn.
Mr. and Mrs. Spivy had talked of nothing else but their 50th Anniversary Alaskan cruise to all who would listen, so when Jolene spotted the stoneware sculpture of a musher and dog-sled team, she nabbed it for fifty-cents. At this rate, her allotted budget of twenty dollars for this endeavor would be easy. A clown for Mr. Fiddle who loved to spout riddles at every turn; a crochet hook and pattern for Mrs. Jenkins who seemed to always have a home-made project on the go; a handy-dandy mock-tool with Pineville written on it for a fix-it guest who loved hanging out with the maintenance man. The outing proved to be the distraction she needed and she found herself slowly unwinding from last night’s ordeal.
When she saw the ceramic love birds hanging from a thick branch, she thought of Craig and Selene. That would be a good peace offering for her new sister. She’d longed for a sibling her entire childhood, but when her father did not remarry there was no hope of that dream becoming a reality – until now – and the mere thought of a grown twin sister brought tears to her eyes. But they both loved the same man and Jolene instinctively knew that was going to present a problem moving forward. Even if Craig chose to end it with her and move back to Sebring, there would always be the connection to Atlanta, and she couldn’t imagine betraying her new-found relative and hindering their relationship before it had time to root.
“Judging by that grin on your face, you must have slept well.”
Jolene spun around and nearly collided into Craig who stood behind her, one breath away. She backed up and hit the table holding all the trinkets the owners were pawning off on eager shoppers.
“You caught me in the act. Found an ornament for you and Selene. But now you’ve ruined the surprise.”
Craig looked down at the hands that gripped the gift. “Lovebirds—really?”
“Yes,” she stammered. “I can see how she depends on you and looks at you with such adoration.”
“Did you see how I look at her?” Craig asked.
“Well no…”
“Like a future sister-in-law that I will honor as such.”
“Oh no! Don’t think along those lines. Especially now that Selene is my sister. I could never take the man she cares for—not now.”
“Selene cares for her career, everything else takes second place.”
“I have a career,” Jolene almost choked on the words while attempting to place her in the same league as Selene.
“I sense that your priorities have changed. Am I reading that right?” Craig asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Last night altered everything – don’t you see that?”
“It didn’t change the way I feel about you and after you get to know your sister, you will see that any feelings she may have for me will be cast to the sidelines the moment she returns to work. At least with you, I knew you would actually miss me and be just as eager to spend every moment of your down-time together.”
“Craig – we can’t do this now.” She scanned the area. “Where is Selene?”
“Not interested in other people’s junk or saddling others with such a gift. She and her mother have gone shopping and are having a leisure lunch together. Lots of talking to do, I suppose.”
“You neglected to address Sheki as our mother – mine and Selene’s. That is the one thing I cannot wrap my head around. My father and Sheki Gabel
