TAYLOR ARRIVED AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE RIGHT ON TIME and hurried in. The receptionist called her into the examining room a few minutes later, and she caught her breath after changing into a gown. She hadn’t told Jack the nature of her visit. She wanted to make sure everything was fine first.
The doctor came in and they exchanged pleasantries. When he was finished with his examination, he smiled at her.
“You were right. You’re pregnant. We’ll do an ultrasound to see how far along you are. You said you’ve missed two periods?”
She nodded.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Taylor had taken a home pregnancy test right before she’d gone to Athens, but she’d wanted to be sure. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Jack. After her infertility issues with Malcolm, she had given up on the idea of another child. But lying in the exam room, she began to imagine what a child of theirs would look like. Maybe the baby would have Jack’s blue eyes and her dark hair. She hoped he or she would have Jack’s dimples and his smile. She found herself smiling from ear to ear as she daydreamed. The doctor returned and she lay back as he rubbed the gel on her stomach then placed the ultrasound wand on it. She heard a sound and realized it was her baby’s heartbeat. Elation filled her at the sound and she wished now that Jack was here with her.
“Everything looks great. Strong heartbeat. Looks like you’re about nine weeks along. I’ll prescribe you some prenatal vitamins and see you back here in a month. I’ll also call in a refill for your thyroid medicine as you had your endocrinologist send us the bloodwork you had done three months ago.”
“Great. Thank you.”
* * *
Taylor tried Jack’s cell phone when she got to her car but it went right to voice mail. She made a stop at the pharmacy to pick up the vitamins and her thyroid medication, and when she got back to the safe house a little after four, Jack’s car wasn’t in the driveway. That was strange, she thought. A niggle of worry nestled in her chest. Flinging the car door open, she sprang out of the driver’s seat and hurried to the door.
“Jeremy, I’m back,” she called.
He was sitting on the sofa and stood as she entered.
“I was wondering where everybody was.”
She frowned. “What do you mean? I told you Jack went to meet someone about Dakota’s passport.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “When? I just got here. I was pulled over by the police on the way home, some kind of mix-up. They thought my car was stolen.”
Her pulse quickened, and she broke out in a cold sweat. “What? Where’s Evan?”
“I don’t know. I thought he was with you,” he said.
“What? I left him here with you a few hours ago,” she yelled, racing to the bedroom where she’d last seen him. The bed was empty. “Evan, Evan!” she was screaming now, looking under the bed and in the closet. She heard Jeremy approach and looked up. “He’s gone!”
Jeremy looked confused. “Taylor, what are you talking about?”
“It was you . . . or it looked like you. How is this possible?” She was shaking now.
“What time was this?”
“One.”
“I was being detained by the police then.”
She pushed past him and ran to the bedroom. She took the gun from the top shelf and came back out, pointing it at him.
“Where’s my son?”
“Taylor, please. I told you, I just got here.”
She shook her head. “No no no. You were here.”
He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. “It’s a citation from the police. Look at the time.”
She grabbed it from him. He was right. Then who was here before? “He looked just like you. I don’t understand.”
“Two of us. There must be two of us. Twins.”
They looked at each other in shocked silence. As soon as the words left Jeremy’s lips, Taylor knew it was true. It had to be. But where had he been all this time and why had Crosse kept him a secret?
Still in shock and hoping she was somehow wrong, she ran into the bathroom, looked in every corner of the small house, continuing to yell for Evan, tears streaming down her face. “Where is he?”
She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Jack. Voice mail.
“Jack, Jack! Where are you? They took Evan. He’s gone.” She sank to the ground, despair filling her. “He took Evan,” she sobbed.
“We’ll find him,” Jeremy said.
“I have to go. Wait here for Jack.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get my son.”
“Taylor, wait. You can’t just run off alone.” He stood in front of her, blocking her.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she pushed him hard on his injured shoulder. He fell back in pain and she ran from the house, jumped in her car, and drove as fast as she could.