Page 11 of The Sweet Part
I ring the bell, and the door opens a moment later.
Sophie stands there in a red velvet dress, white tights, and shiny black shoes. “This is my Christmas dress.”
“Cool.”
I step inside and shut the door behind me. “Could you get your mom for me?”
“Mommy!” she yells at the top of her lungs.
“I could’ve done that.”
Her nose crinkles. “She’s not your mommy.”
“I know. I…” I trail off as two beautiful women appear, wearing identical black dresses, their hair up in a twist, silver earrings dangling from their ears.
It’s a test. The identical twin switcheroo. May wants to know that I see her for her. Truth is, dressed the same, hair the same, they truly are identical.
I turn to the woman on the left, studying her closely. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Then I turn to the woman on the right. “As does my plus one.”
May’s lips part in surprise. She blinks a few times. Ha! I passed.
Sophie giggles madly and claps. “He picked you, Mommy! Now you can go to the wedding.”
Alice gives me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, just a little joke. It wasn’t my idea.”
“May should’ve known I couldn’t be fooled.” I shake my head at May. “I told you I have identical twin brothers and uncles who love to pull a switcheroo.”
She nods, blushing, and gets her and Sophie’s coats from the closet. Alice helps Sophie with her coat, and I help May into hers.
She turns to face me. “How did you know?”
“It’s the spark in your eyes. Also, Alice has a small scar on her chin.”
She stares at me, clearly still in shock. Was she hoping I’d pick Alice?
I search her expression. “And I noticed that your skin is flawless.”
She sucks in air.
“Nice,” Alice says with a big smile.
I offer my arm to May, and she takes it. As soon as I open the door, Sophie dashes through it.
“Walk!” May yells. “There’s still ice.”
Sophie walks at a pace that’s nearly a run. She’s excited.
A few moments later, I open the back door of my freshly washed truck and help Sophie in.
She does her seatbelt on her own. Spying the wrapped wedding gift on the seat next to her, she grabs it. “Is this for me?”
“No. It’s a wedding gift.”
Her face falls. “Oh.” She puts it back on the seat. Now I wish I’d gotten her a present. Just something small, like a corsage. Damn, I should’ve gotten them both corsages. I shut her door.
