“I...” said Kalissa, not knowing where to start.
“I’ll call you back,” Darci said into the phone, replacing it on its cradle.
She moved around from behind the desk, taking several swift steps forward.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” said Kalissa.
“What on earth?” Darci stopped about ten feet away.
Voices sounded around the corner of the hallway, coming rapidly closer. Kalissa quickly stepped inside the office so they wouldn’t see her.
“I’m so sorry,” said Kalissa, regretting her decision to show up unannounced. “I thought this was the best way. But I didn’t think...I didn’t know...I realize this must be a bombshell for you.”
“Who are you?” asked Darci.
“My name is Kalissa Smith. I saw your wedding pictures, and well...I guess you can figure out why I’m here.”
“You look just like me.”
“I know.”
“I mean exactly like me.”
“Weird, isn’t it?”
Darci moved closer, peering at Kalissa.
Kalissa knew she was doing the same thing back.
Darci’s eyes might be a slightly paler shade of green. But their mouths were identical, so were their chins, their noses, even their hairline. Kalissa had never come across anyone with that little swoop at their part, never mind the exact shade of auburn in their hair.
“Are we twins?” asked Darci.
“I think we must be. My birthday is October third.”
Darci’s eyes widened. “Holy cow.”
“I didn’t want to bother you,” said Kalissa. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I mean, I know you must be busy, being a newlywed, and with this huge company and all. But I’m going on a date tomorrow night, and there were these girls in Annabelle’s Discount Boutique, and they thought I was you, and they took a photo, and I realized it could happen again, somewhere else, like the Navy Pier, while I was on a date, and people might think it was you.” Kalissa clamped her mouth shut. “I’m rambling.”
“We’re twins,” said Darci in obvious astonishment. “I don’t understand. How did that happen? Were you raised by our mother? Why didn’t she bring you back? And why didn’t dad ever tell me that—” Darci smiled. “Now, who’s rambling?”
“It’s unbelievable,” Kalissa whispered.
She hadn’t expected to feel this way, this ache deep down in her heart. She wanted to grab Darci and pull her into a hug. She had a sister. Tears started to tingle at the backs of her eyes.
The door whooshed open behind her.
“Sweetheart,” came a man’s voice. “Tuck is asking if...Oh, I’m sorry.”
Kalissa turned.
The man, obviously Shane, instantly froze in place.
“Darling,” said Darci, a tremor in her voice. “It appears there’s something more my father neglected to mention.”
“What on earth?” Shane started to circle Kalissa.
“We have the same birthday,” said Darci.
“Is this a con?”
Kalissa couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t blame Shane one bit for his suspicions. She’d have worried about him if he had accepted this at face value.
“Is she asking for money?” asked Shane.
“No,” said Darci.
“I’m not,” said Kalissa. “You couldn’t get me to take money if you tried.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s how all the best cons start off.”
“Look at her,” said Darci.
“We’ll want DNA,” said Shane.
“Take it, if you want it,” said Kalissa. “But it’s not necessary. I’m not going to hang around. I only wanted to warn you, well, warn Darci. Since your wedding, people have started to mistake me for her. I’m out in public. I shop at discount stores. Sometimes I swear, or get angry with a store clerk or, and this is the big one, go out on dates. I have a date tomorrow night, and I was worried I’d be mistaken for Darci. That might look bad on the two of you, and I didn’t want to cause either of you any trouble.”
Shane stared at her in silence.
“Thank you,” said Darci. “That’s very considerate of you. But seriously.” She broke into a grin. Then, without warning, she rushed forward, opening her arms to pull Kalissa into a hug. “I have a twin sister.”
Kalissa closed her eyes, unexplainable feelings coursing through her.
Darci drew back, cradling Kalissa’s cheeks with her hands. “You are beautiful.” Then she laughed. “Didn’t that sound conceited.”
Kalissa took in every contour of Darci’s face, settling on her left cheekbone. “You have a freckle.”
“You don’t.”
“I don’t,” Kalissa agreed.
Shane cleared his throat. “I’m cancelling everything for the rest of the day.”
Kalissa turned to him. “Oh, no. Don’t do that. I didn’t plan to mess up your day.”
“Of course I’m doing that. You two have a million things to talk about. We’ll go to the penthouse, order some dinner. And wine. We’ll need some really good wine.”
“For a toast,” said Darci.
Shane gave a disbelieving shake of his head. “A toast is the least of why we need the wine.”
* * *
Riley could have happily done nothing but stare at Kalissa all night long. Her hair was full and shiny tonight, bouncing around her bare shoulders. Makeup brightened her beautiful face. While her tight jeans and the breezy little tank top were already giving him fantasies.
They’d snacked their way through the food kiosks and bought matching key chains with colorful, stylized letters on the fob. He’d held her hand while they navigated the crowds, waiting in a long lineup to get on the Ferris wheel. But it was worth the wait. The skies were clear, dotted with faint stars, while the skyline of Chicago was illuminated in the clear night air.
The bustle and noise of the crowds disappeared as they swept upward in the dangling car. The wind buffeted them, cooling the air temperature. Riley wrapped an arm around her, letting his
