The Mysterious Twin by Leona Karr

Author:Leona Karr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The sky was overcast the next morning, and the air hung heavy with moisture. The garden was water-logged from the continuing drizzle, but the winds driving the storm had died down. Ashley knew there would be no outside activity for her or the children that afternoon.

The only bright thing in the dreary morning was Davie’s happy mood. He gurgled and kicked his legs with joyful abandonment as she bathed him. She nuzzled the sweet-smelling baby and then dressed him in a miniature sailor’s romper suit. Gently brushing the yellow fuzz on his head, she decided he was going to have the same natural curl as his mother and aunt. As he nestled in her arms, taking his bottle, she was aware of a tug on her emotions caused by the realization that tomorrow morning would probably be the last day that she would “play mommy.” She’d never expected any maternal instinct to be aroused by just caring for Jill’s baby for a few days, but on some foolish level, she wished he was hers. Sighing, she quickly shoved the thought away before it could take root.

Her thoughts sped ahead to the arrangements that she and Jill would have to make when she called her that evening. The best time to slip away would be between eleven-thirty in the morning when the children went to lunch and three o’clock in the afternoon when the children’s activity time began. She could leave the house on pretense of having lunch in the village, and taking Davie for an outing. She’d catch the twelve o’clock ferry to the mainland where she’d arrange to meet Jill in a rented car. They would change clothes, identification and cars, and Jill could return on the two o’clock ferry. She’d be able to get back to the house before three o’clock and if she were a little late, it wouldn’t matter. She could always use the excuse of losing her way, even though Ashley had drawn a map for her and also a blueprint of the house. It wouldn’t do to have Jill fumbling around for her room or the nursery. The timetable seemed workable, and, knowing Jill, she’d be able to weasel her way out of any unexpected challenges.

And I’ll be free to go back home.

Ashley was surprised at the emptiness that thought created in her. And somewhere in the hollow feeling was the realization that she would probably never see Kyle Stone again. Not that it mattered, she told herself, but an inner voice mocked her attempt to deny that he had engaged her romantic fantasies. If the truth were known, she resented not being able to relate to him as herself. She suspected that Jill would break through the reserve that he carefully maintained, and they would become friends in short order. He might wonder why things had imperceptibly changed between them, but Ashley knew her sister would be able to handle the situation. No doubt she’d have the whole household eating out of her hand.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.