Page 24 of Mika's Heart

Chapter 6

Mika

It’s been three weeks since Atka got back from Montana and found me in his shower.

Three weeks of him getting home before me and having supper ready. He’s an amazing cook.

We’ve learned a lot about each other over the last several weeks.

I’ve even confided in him a little more about my situation although he still doesn’t yet know that my brother is possibly Taylor, his boss.

The next day after our first evening together, I went to work and told Arin about how Atka professed that we were meant to be.

I don’t think she stopped laughing for a week after that.

She now makes it a habit to ask for all the details about our evenings together every day before we leave the shop for the day.

“Girl, you know you are falling for him. Hell! Who wouldn’t? The man is hot as hell!”

“Arin! You are married!” I say the one thing that I seem to say to her a lot.

“I have eyes and I’m not dead!” Her usual response.

Hearing our front door open behind me, I continue talking to Arin, knowing that Gina, the part time front desk clerk, will take care of them.

“I’m convinced that everyone in Alaska is a little bit insane.” I laugh just as we hear something clatter to the floor.

We turn towards the front of the shop and come face to face with Taylor Burns for the first time ever.

He’s staring at me with his mouth wide open and eyes as big as quarters.

“Taylor? What’s wrong?” Arin rushes over to him and takes the baby he’s still holding.

The baby seems to be the only thing he didn’t drop on the floor.

“Who?” He asks, still staring right at me.

“This is Mika. I told you I hired someone. Why are you looking at her like that? Stop being rude!” She demands, slapping his arm and his eyes move to his wife.

“She looks exactly like my mother.” He whispers to her through clenched lips.

They both turn back towards me and I feel like a deer caught in headlights.

My own heart is racing rapidly. He just admitted that I look like his mom. Our mom. She was probably our mom and he’s probably my brother.

Tears cloud my eyes just as I sink to the floor crying.

I feel arms around me and see that it’s Arin. Taylor is kneeling in front of us with tears of his own.

They let me cry for several long minutes and once the tears stop, I wipe my face with my hands.

“You know who I am?” Taylor asks.

“I’m not certain. I thought that I might be your sister. It’s why I’m here. In Alaska I mean. I didn’t know Arin was your wife until after I started working here.” I hurriedly say so they don’t think that I’ve been stalking them.

“Looking at you, I have no doubts but we will have to get a DNA test done. Not to mention all the unanswered questions about where you’ve been.” His eyes tear up again. “Jesus. I never thought I’d ever see you again.”

“How about we all go out to eat? You two need time to talk and I’m starving.” Arin announces.

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