Page 9 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
"Very funny, Zac," she bit out, her tone laced with sarcasm. "If you're going to fake amnesia to get out of our marriage, you could at least make it believable. But thanks for making it easier for me to see that divorce attorney I have lined up in Frisco."
She expected him to flinch, to show some sign of guilt or remorse. Instead, she saw something else in his eyes—realization.
"You must be Barb," he said slowly, his voice measured. "I'm Liam, his older twin brother."
Barb stared at him, disbelief clouding her thoughts. This had to be a sick joke. She knew Liam was his twin, but she also knew her husband, and Barb was sure he was the man standing in front of her. She searched his face for any sign of deception, anything that would confirm her suspicions. But his expression was calm, sincere, even as he met her gaze head-on.
"You're lying," she finally said, though her voice waveredwith uncertainty.
Liam nodded, a small, rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I’m sorry, but I’m not. My brother and I are identical twins.”
“If you’re not Zac, then where is he?” Barb asked, biting back the anger that trembled through her. “Other than a year-old article about you and your brother, no one has been able to get hold of him.”
Liam glanced at his wristwatch, and Barb noticed it wasn’t Zac’s watch. It was a sleek Rolex worth more than she probably made in a few years, and her unwavering certainty that he was Zac started to falter.
"I'm heading to the main lodge," Liam replied. "If you're headed that way, maybe we can walk together. I have a meeting I have to get to. I’ll explain as much as I can along the way."
Barb hesitated. The last thing she wanted was to hear more lies, but her curiosity gnawed at her, demanding answers. With a reluctant nod, she gestured for him to lead the way.
As they walked, Liam began to recount what had happened. "My brother had an accident," he said quietly. "He lost his memory. The day he was supposed to go back to Africa, someone tried to kill me. My brother took the bullet meant for me. He fell and hit his head hard. That’s when he lost his memory."
Barb's steps faltered. Her mind struggled to process his words. Zac had been in an accident? He’d lost his memory? Surely someone from his family would’ve reached out to tell her? She glanced at Liam.
He obviously knew who she was, so Zac must’ve told his family about her. More anger flared up inside her at the thought that Zac’s family had just not bothered to let her know that her husband had been injured.
When they reached the lodge, she was still reeling. But before she could say anything more, Liam’s phone rang. He answered it, then quickly asked the caller to hold. He turned to Barb, his face serious.
"Look, I know this is hard," he began, lowering his voice. "But I need to ask you not to contact my brother."
Barb’s breath hitched. "Why? Is he here?"
Liam hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. "Yes," he admitted. "But there's something you need to know. He’s here with Courtney Waller. His ex-fiancée. He thinks they're still engaged."
Barb's world tilted on its axis. "What did you just say?"
The picture in the article clipping flashed through her mind of the brunette attached to Zac’s arm, and her world felt like it had exploded. Before there was still doubt in her mind, still that sliver of hope that maybe something like this had happened or he’d been forced to take an undercover assignment, and he couldn’t contact her as he had to keep his family safe.
But this felt like the final blow to their relationship, shattering that tiny sliver of hope into dust.
"I’m sorry, Barb," Liam continued, his voice almost apologetic. "I can’t get into great detail right now as I’m already running late for a meeting. We brought my brother here, hoping this place would spark some memoriesfor him. It’s the last place he remembers going to, and it also happens to be where he and Courtney got engaged ten years ago."
“What?” Barb felt like there was a crushing weight on her chest trying to push her down. She had to force her legs not to buckle beneath the excruciating pain slicing through her heart and into her soul. She thought she’d gotten over the worst of the pain over Zac, but she was wrong.
“I can see how this news has affected you,” Liam stated. “Would you consider staying elsewhere, just for a while? I can arrange a hotel in Frisco or further away, somewhere for you and your son."
She knew the offer was meant to be considerate, but it landed like a slap in the face. "You can stick your offer where the sun doesn’t shine," Barb snapped, her voice shaking with fury. "I was invited here by myfriends, who happen toownthe lodge. I’m not going anywhere." She swallowed. She didn’t like confrontation. “If it’s uncomfortable for you and your familythat I’m here, thenyouleave.”
Before Liam could respond, Emily appeared at Barb’s side, her eyes blazing. "You heard her," she said sharply, cutting off any further protest from Liam. "Barb is staying, and if anyone’s leaving, it’ll be you and your lousy brother."
Barb felt a surge of gratitude for her friend’s support, but the turmoil inside her was far from settled. She watched as Liam sighed, clearly outnumbered, and stepped back, his expression resigned as he shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that,” Liam told them. “It’s essential that we be here until my brother regains his memories.”
“Why here?” Emily challenged. “There must be a million other places that would jog his memory.”
Liam’s eyes flashed with impatience before they heard an angry voice come through the receiver of his phone. “Sorry, I have to go.” He spoke into the phone. “I’ll call you back on my way.” He hung up and turned his attention back to them. “This is where wehaveto be.” His eyes fell on Barb, and something that looked like regret flashed in them. “I’m sorry, Barb, if you don’t leave, thenthis is going to be a very painful and awkward time for you.”
“We’ll see about that,” Emily promised. “This ismylodge, and I’m officially kicking you and your family out. You have two hours to leave.” Emily linked her arm through Barbs. “Come on, Barb, the temperature is already freezing out here withouthimlowering it a few more notches.”
