Page 6 of The Doctor's Twins

“Why do you say that, Alyssa?”

“No reason. It’s just…well, you’re going to be so far away from me. I guess I’m gonna miss you, is all.”

“Aah, Lyssa. I’m going to visit often. I promise,” I said and hugged my friend as tightly as I could.

“You’d better!”

There was a soft knock on the door.

“Honey, are you ready?”

It was Dad.

“Yes, Dad. I’ll be right out.”

I took one last look in the mirror and bade a final farewell to Miss Taylor. Onwards and upwards!

“Oh, my goodness, my princess. You look stunning.”

“Thank you, Dad. How’s Mateo holding up?”

“So cool and calm, you’d think he’s done this before. How are you feeling?”

“A little nervous.”

“Just a little? I was a wreck on my wedding day. Needed a few shots of whiskey to settle the old nerves. I got a hairy eyeball from the minister. He must have smelled the Irish courage on my breath,” Dad chuckled.

“It’s a shame Mateo’s parents can’t be here today. They would have loved you.”

“That’s so sweet of you to think about that, Dad.”

Mateo’s parents died when he was a teenager. I imagined they would have been incredibly proud of the fine man their son turned out to be.

“Is it hard, Dad?” I asked.

“What? Marriage? Nahhh. Nothing’s hard when you find your soulmate, sweetheart.”

Was Mateo my soulmate? I must have thought so. I certainly wouldn’t leave my country, my family, and my friends behind if I hadn’t believed as much.

“Ready, my love?”

“Ready, Dad.”

* * *

I woke up and looked at the nightstand. What? No coffee? You agree to marry them and then they start slipping, I thought. Perhaps I was spoiled. Mateo had left a cup of coffee for me on my nightstand every morning since the first one we’d woken up to together. It was so sweet of him.

I turned to his side of the bed, hoping to find him there, his soft, wavy hair all over the place. But his side was empty. We were back home in Mexico City after a fantastic wedding and honeymoon. I was sad to see my family off and I did have a little cry when Alyssa left too, but that was life.

After a long, lazy stretch, I got out of bed and went for my morning tinkle. I looked for Mateo’s usual good morning love note when I went downstairs, but there was none. He must have had a crazy day planned and forgotten to leave me one.

The ladies from the cleaning service, who came three times a week, were busy with their usual tasks.

“Good morning, Mrs. Garcia,” one of them greeted me with a nervous smile.

“Hello,” I smiled and made my way to the coffee machine.

I was starving, so I rummaged through the fridge for breakfast. Now that I was the woman of the home, I supposed I’d have to make sure that there was food at the ready. My mom had always been in charge of our family’s meals. We were spoiled for choice as kids. I remembered the warm feeling I’d get as soon as I stepped through the front door after school to the smell of her cooking. I wanted my family to have that.

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