Page 78 of Faking Ties

“It was the hardest thing I had to do.”

I laugh and pull out the ingredients we need. Stella comes to my side and gets out the bowl and mixer.

“My mom would always make these cookies for my birthday,” I say. “She’s huge on birthdays, and we’d celebrate for weeks.”

“That sounds horrifying.”

I laugh. “Not a fan of birthdays, I take it.”

“No, I hate them. When’s yours? That way I’ll be sure to avoid you during that time.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. It’s May fifth and I won’t allow you to avoid me. I’m going to force you to celebrate with me.”

Stella gives me a funny look. “We have the same birthday.”

“I’m not going to lie, I’m really starting to think we might be twins and not just random doppelgängers.”

“Yeah, I think we need to do a DNA test. Are you okay if I call Kai to organize one for us?”

“Sure.”

After the cookies bake, Kai swabs our cheeks and promises to have the results back ASAP.

“Where were you born?” I ask.

“Connecticut, at least that’s what my mom’s always told me.”

“You haven’t looked at your birth certificate?”

She shakes her head. “I never had a need to, but I’m starting to regret that. My parents and I aren’t that close. They only care about what I can do for them, the lifestyle I can provide for them.”

“I’m sorry.” I can’t imagine what that’s like, not trusting her own parents. But I guess she has a level of fame that can change the people around her. “Were they always like that?”

“No, it changed once I got my first Grammy. Want to watch a show while we wait for the results?”

“Yeah, I need the distraction.” I’m nervous to get the results. The possibility of having a twin and not knowing makes me equal parts ecstatic but also sad about all the years we missed out on.

We lose ourselves in a reality TV show about house renovations when hours later Kai returns with an envelope. “I had my friend rush this.”

Stella grabs the envelope from him and turns to me, our knees touching as we both sit cross-legged on the couch. “I’ve always wanted a sister, and I really hope we are twins.”

“Me too.”

“Ready?” she asks.

I take a deep breath and nod.

She carefully rips open the envelope, reads for a moment, and then snaps her head up and stares at me. “We’re twins,” she whispers before smiling. “We’re twins!”

Her words strike me like a bolt of lightning, leaving me stunned and speechless. Twins? I grab the letter from her to confirm it with my own eyes. Kai smiles at Stella from the corner, and my hands shakes as I read the confirmation in black and white.

A surge of joy erupts within me,as if a hidden part of myself has been discovered. “Twins?” I laugh and pull her into a hug. “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

“Me, too.” She grins. “I never thought our agreement would lead to this.”

“Right?” I laugh again, giddy. “I knew this connection between us was real.”

“I felt it too, but couldn’t explain it.”

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