It had been the same when I met Gabe, until Alex came into the picture. Just thinking about it felt like a nightmare. A terrible one at that. After I married Alex, all my inspiration stopped and then Dad died. One of our last conversations was about my block. He had said the block would eventually lift. He was right.

My stomach growled, alerting me that I had not eaten most of the day. If not for my hunger, I probably would have holed up in my room for the remainder of the evening.

Even though it was quiet, I knew Gabe was out there.

As I pushed the navy comforter aside, I thought of how I ended up in bed. After hopping in the car, I remembered Gabe saying he wasn’t going to argue with Trent anymore. Then, I was out like a light. Deep down I knew Gabe put me here.

My stomach rumbled again. A light bit of nausea came as well. It was definitely time to eat.

Exiting the room, I saw Gabe in a chair, bent over as he looked at a file. I hadn’t made a noise, but he looked up, probably sensing me as I always did him.

A huge grin spread across his face. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did. I feel a million times better.” It was hard not to smile back.

“Good. You look much more rested. I was worried.”

Nervously, I tucked a piece of hair that had escaped my bun behind my ear. This was the first time we’d been alone besides the emotional bathroom incident.

He stood. “Are you hungry? I ordered some food not too long ago and have it in the warmer. Bennett and Marie stopped by to see if you needed anything.”

Bennett and Marie were some of the most caring people I had ever met. They were going above and beyond to make sure Francesca, Nonno, and I were taken care of.

“That sounds good. I’m starving actually.” Gabe set toward the kitchen. I called after him. “Where’s Trent?”

A few cabinet doors opened and closed in the kitchen. “He went with the technician to take my DNA to the lab. A man named Nathan is outside. Do you need something?”

DNA? This was news to me. “No, just curious. Why did you give him your DNA?”

A few moments later, he handed me a tray. As Gabe removed the dome, the succulent aroma filled my nose. “I ordered you tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. You told me once you always ate this when you were sick.”

He remembered.

My mouth salivated as I took a bite of the cheese that was still warm. “Oh my gosh! This is delicious. How did you remember?”

Gabe cocked an eyebrow. “There isn’t a moment I’ve forgotten with you. I remember everything about you, Willow. Absolutely everything.” His words silenced me and I simply nodded. Fact was, I hadn’t forgotten anything about him either. “It’s good to see you eat. To answer your earlier question, they’re using my DNA against the finger you received. Since we’re twins, there should be a match.”

I shuddered at the memory of opening the box with the finger after I’d been to the art gallery. The memory of the aroma would never leave me. It was imperative I focus on something else before I became sick again. “Do you think isn’t Alex’s?” If not, then who’s? Panic ebbed its way in as the possibilities sped through my head.

“Willow.” He paused, but I kept staring forward, thinking about it.

Alex may still be alive? He was burned.

How was he alive? Would he come back?

Gabe crouched in front of me. “Willow, look at me.”

The command in his voice brought my head up.

“I’m leaving no stone unturned, sweetheart. None. I want to make one-hundred-percent sure. I examined the remains myself after I broke into the coroner’s office. I confirmed the dental records matched mine since Alex doesn’t exist technically in the system.”

Words from the police came to me. “The police said it was only a partial match.”

“Yes, but the part that survived the fire matched my dental records. It’s common for twins to have the same records. The only difference would be if Alex had some work done I hadn’t, or vice versa. I’m sure inconsistencies would be found if we had his full dental record.”

Thank goodness. I closed my eyes and calmed my racing heart. Alex was dead. He was burned. There was no reason to worry about him. However, the police thought Gabe was dead. “How are you going to tell the police you’re still alive?”

He cleared his throat. “They never recorded the death. To everyone else I’m still alive. The entire precinct under Commander Taylor was corrupt. I think the commander may have known we were twins. If they recorded the death, the military would have been notified.”

“And that’s the other reason you’re doing this test.”

“Yes.” Unease crept back in my mind. “Willow, let’s wait to see the results. Alex was involved with some nasty people. He might not have wanted me to know because it would lead me back to you.”

True.

I pushed the thoughts from my mind for the time being. When we got the results back, I would worry if need be.

Gabe sat about three feet away from me on the couch and shifted to face me. “I need to ask you something.”

I swallowed a bite. “Okay.”

His hands tapped his knees. “Can I go to the appointment with the doctor tomorrow? I get it if you say no, but I do want to be part of every aspect of this pregnancy.”

Honestly, I hadn’t thought about Gabe being present. Until now, I had forgotten about Dr. Byrum. This was something I wasn’t able to deny him. “I’m fine with it, but you have to leave the room when I’m dressing.”

“Deal. Thank you.” Visibly he relaxed.

The conviction in his voice helped assure me that he was in this for the long haul. The last thing I wanted was for him to worry about being a father. “I want you to be part of this baby’s life. I won’t keep you from him or her.”

He watched me and I looked away, afraid of revealing too much. I touched my stomach, wondering how I would be able to do this if we weren’t able to work things out.

“Willow, I’m not going to ask you to be away from our baby. Ever.”

My eyes shot to his. How had he known I was worried? We were connected on such a level that I shouldn’t have been surprised.

He continued, “The last thing I want you to worry about is not being with our child. I won’t ask you to give up any time.”

“What?”

His hands flexed like he wanted to reach for me. “I do not want our baby to be away from his or her mother. Everything that happens will be because you want it to. The only exception would be to keep you guys safe.”

Needing the connection, I reached out to touch his arm. “I promise to keep you involved in the decisions. This is your baby, too. Gabe, I’m trying. It’s a lot for me to work out.”

“I understand. I never was worried about you keeping the baby from me. I know you. And you know me. We’ll figure it out.”

He did know me. I knew him, too. But I never could have imagined this scenario between us. Things felt a little too intimate as I pulled my hand back. “Can I ask you a question?”

Scooting a little closer, Gabe turned his palm up inviting my hand. “I’m an open book to you now. You can ask me anything and I’ll answer.”

“What did you do to get Trent on your side?”

He chuckled and shook his head as he combed his hand through his hair. “I told him the truth.”

Truth. What truth? I was intrigued. “Which was?”

He locked his eyes on to my lavender ones. Again I felt the charge. “What all happened. How madly in love with you I still am. How I would die before I let anyone else harm you.”

“Gabe…” I wasn’t sure what else to say. That happened a lot around him.

He scooted a little closer, but kept space between us. “I’m not rushing anything. I know it seems like it, but I want to be honest with you. I’m not pushing you to say anything back. But… I will never hold anything from you again. You’re it for me, Willow. I’ll wait forever.”

&n

bsp; I needed a change in subject even though the walls around my heart unwillingly crumbled some more. There was a lapse in talking as we got lost in our thoughts. Mine went back to simpler times with Gabe and me. I took another bite before asking the next thing on my mind. Gabe said he was an open book, guess it was time to see how true that was. “When are you going to see your mom?”

Tags: Kristin Mayer A Twisted Fate Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net