Page 21 of Her Second-Hand Mate

“Is everything alright there? Are you hurt?”

“What? No! Why are you asking me that?”

“I just – I need to know you’re okay.”

I felt my stomach sink. I wanted to say many things to him, starting with yellingof course I’m not okay, you just abandoned me without so much as a word. If you truly cared about whether I was okay, you’d have left a note.

“Dominic, I – you told me you’d appreciate being kept in the loop about my comings and goings. I’d appreciate it if you’d extend me the same courtesy. I was worried something had happened to you. Something bad.”

Silence. Then:

“It was an emergency. It wasn’t a planned trip.”

“You could have written a note for me to find once I got home. Or mindlinked me before leaving.”

“I didn’t want to disturb your trip. And I didn’t think of leaving a note. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too. You were... How was your trip?”

“It was good.”

“Good.”

Neither of us said anything into the mindlink for a while.

“Good night, Penelope.”

“Good night. See you in a few days.”

After a night of fitful sleep, I woke up just two hours before Isaac was scheduled to arrive. I’d missed my brother so much. I’d sometimes find myself sniffing the container of bay leaf because he smelled of laurel.

I was making his favorite lunch, scalloped potatoes and breaded chicken cutlets. I’d also started making cupcake batter, so I could pack up some for him to take back to his dorm. I knew they had a cafeteria at school, but I wondered whether the cook was more of a Mary or a Lillian.

My musings were interrupted by a knock on the door and I ran to open it. I don’t know who grabbed who first, but me and my twin were suddenly one again.

“I missed you so much, Pen,” he breathed into my hair. Just the simple hug had me sobbing.

“Oh, Isaac,” I couldn’t say anything more. I just cried as he held me. I felt at home again. I felt likeme.

“I got a letter from Father,” Isaac said as we were setting the table.

“Really? I got one from Nana,” I smiled.

“He wants to come visit us next week, do you think you and Dominic can make it into town for lunch on Thursday?”

“Oh, you mean he’s visiting you, and you are inviting the two of us?” I asked without any bite to my words.

It wasn’t Isaac’s fault Father cared more about one twin.

“Can you make it or not?” he sighed.

“I don’t know when Dominic will be back. I definitely can, since I have a class that day anyway.”

“Good, I’ll see you at my dorm at noon, then. Or I can pick you up after class and meet your friends?”

I looked away guiltily.

---