Page 31 of Ten Years Later
“I promise you, I am not.”
“I know. You’re a nice man. I bet you’re a great father. Vivian’s lucky.”
A lump formed in his throat. He pressed his palm into his aching chest, listening to Emily cry.
“Will you stay on the line with me?” she asked, her voice full of tears.
“Yes, I will.”
And he did until she went to bed and finally fell asleep.
The next day, Tuesday, Keaton continued work on the mural. Tomorrow he was due the paternity results. He’d go straight to the police then, and by tomorrow evening Mia would be in jail.
Downstairs, Zane worked on painting the kitchen a soft bone white. His music—Motley Crüe—filtered up through the house. Keaton preferred country, but he didn’t mind some metal now and then.
Emily wore a Kiss shirt when he went to her house. He hadn’t listened to Kiss in years.
Zane’s music cut off. Muted voices filtered up. Maybe the homeowners returned.
Seconds later, Keaton heard two sets of feet coming up the stairs—one heavy and one lighter. Zane entered the primary suite. Keaton glanced up from the mural and froze.
Dressed in her school uniform, Emily’s confused gaze moved between them, but she remained silent.
Keaton looked at Zane’s expression that said,What have you done now?
Keaton cleared his throat. “Mind giving us a minute?”
Zane backed out of the room. His feet tread the stairs down. Keaton took a breath.
Emily scowled. “He answered the door and I asked for Zane. He saidhewas Zane. I know you’re twins, but I can tell you apart. I don’t understand. Why did you tell me you’re Zane if you’re really Keaton?”
“Because I have a record. I wanted that job at the studio. If I gave my real name, Sharon would eventually find out. Not that it matters now, seeing as how I’m fired.”
“What kind of record?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at school?”
“I skipped. What kind of record?” she repeated.
“Drunk and disorderly.”Stalking.But he didn’t say that one.
“Why do you drink?”
“I don’t anymore.”
“But why did you?”
“Because I lost someone very close to me. I handled it wrongly with drinking.”
Emily stepped further into the room. Her eyes drifted off of him and over to the mural. “You’re doing a Black Skimmer.”
“I am, yes.” He stared at her birthmark.
She kept studying the mural. “So your name is Keaton Young.”
“Yes.”
“Is Vivian Young your daughter or Zane’s daughter?”
