Denial (4 page)
That evening, Amy stretched out on the sofa and smiled at Josh when he entered the living room carrying two glasses of orange juice, and a large pack of sweets.
Accepting the glass, Amy put it down on the polished floor.
Josh sat down. He took a long drink before placing his glass and sweets within easy reach.
Amy put her feet on his lap
Taking her right foot, Josh began massaging it.
Amy groaned with pleasure and lifting her arms, covered her eyes. She loved it when he massaged her feet. Enjoying his skilled manipulation, she murmured approvingly.
As he worked on her foot, Amy thought about how this time last year, marrying Josh was the furthest thing from her mind. She realized how dramatically her life had changed in the last twelve months.
When they began dating two years ago, neither had expected the relationship to turn serious. Back then, Josh had come to Scotland to finish his doctorate in software and electronics, and his temporary status was half the appeal, she liked the idea that it wouldn’t be long-term, but somehow their relationship went from casual to serious and last year, Josh made it clear that he wanted more. He wanted to make it permanent.
When he proposed, Amy had refused, explaining that at only twenty-four, she wasn’t ready. That had changed with her father’s death. It had devastated her so much that permanency suddenly appealed.
“How’s Maggie settling at the hospital?”
“She loves working with kids,” Amy replied. “I don’t how she does it, being a nurse and working with sick kids must be one of the most difficult jobs there is. Don’t you think?”
“Totally,” Josh said, focusing on her foot. “Do you think this whole situation about her not wanting to wear the dress is about getting at your mom?”
“Since my parents’ divorce,” Amy said, lifting her arms from her eyes, “Maggie’s never had time for Irene. In fact, I think she’s hell-bent on pissing her off as much as she can.”
Josh smiled. “I know it’s not the wedding you want. But we can’t really let Maggie turn up in some crazy outfit.” He rubbed her foot soothingly. “And we know that she’s more than capable of it.” He looked at her. “Do you want me to talk to her?”
“No,” Amy replied. She smiled at him appreciatively. ”We’ve already talked.” She wiggled her toes. ”And, I’ll have a good chat with her when we’re in Barbados celebrating my last days of freedom.”
“With your friends from Scotland?” Josh said, visibly relaxing. “I doubt you’ll have any time for a heart to heart given how crazy those chicks are.”
“Josh,” Amy said and laughed. “Crazy is allowed. It’s a celebration.”
“Talking about celebration,” he said. “Thanks for including Sophie and Celeste. I really appreciate it.”
“Well, just following instructions,” Amy teased. “You were the one who asked me to have a night here so I could invite your sisters.”
“I know, and like I said, I really appreciate it,” Josh replied. “Anyway, I hope your night doesn’t get too crazy. You’re flying out the next day, remember.” He said squeezing her foot. “The good thing is that Sophie is actually going, and it’ll be good for her. She does nothing but hunch over her laptop.” He lovingly rubbed up her leg. “This trip will mean a change of scenery, and an opportunity to get out of the routine she’s gotten into lately. And, it’ll give you and Celeste a chance to get along better.”
Amy looked at him in surprise.
“I’m not that dumb you know,” he said. “I know you haven’t really hit it off with her since the time she came to visit me last year.” He looked at Amy. “I’m not making excuses, but she was exhausted from the flight. You know there was a series of delays. And,” he added, frowning, “I’m worried about her.”
“Why?” Amy asked suddenly intrigued.
“Celeste still hasn’t told me what has happened to her in Somalia, and I know it’s serious.” He rubbed the weekend growth on his face then sighed. “She’ll talk when she’s ready, I suppose.”
“You’re right, it’s time Celeste and I got over that hurdle,” Amy said reassuringly. A note of humor crept in. “But, I still haven’t forgiven you for dumping me at the airport.”
“Honey, we’re talking over a year ago,” he replied. “I thought it was ancient history.” He leaned over, grabbed her hand, and kissed it. “Didn’t I make it up to you that night?”
“Ah. So
that poor, pathetic performance….was you making up!” she teased.
“Hmmm. Poor performance was it!” Josh said. Reaching over, he tickled her sides.
Amy squealed.
Smirking, Josh stopped then picked up the remote control.
The blue screen flickered.
Amy thought about her conversation with Sophie. Unable to resist finding out more about his twin, she asked, “Sophie was telling me about Celeste’s marriage.”
“Hmmm.”
Wanting attention, Amy flopped her feet back onto Josh’s lap.
“Uggghhh.”
“You’ve never really told me much about that,” Amy said. She pushed a foot into his hands. “Or that her ex-husband was a nut?”
Josh sighed.
Typical bloke tells you nothing
. “What’s the story?” Amy prodded him. “What happened?”
“Look,” Josh said, pressing the pause button. “There’s not much to tell. She married young, and the guy was too possessive, end of story.”
Amy wiggled her toes.
Josh grabbed a foot, and massaged a familiar tension knot with both thumbs.
Amy groaned.
“I didn’t really know the guy. She met him at med school. When they broke up, he was weird.” Josh worked the knot out. “I think she broke up because eventually she couldn’t go anywhere. At her graduation, he put a guy in hospital for giving her too much attention.”
“Why would he do that?”
“C’mon. You’ve seen her?” Josh said, releasing her foot. He picked up his orange juice. “Nick couldn’t accept she got attention. And, boy, does Celeste get attention.”
Amy nodded. “I know what you mean, Maggie thinks she’s beautiful.”
“Just Maggie?” he queried. “Not you?”
“Okay,” she said reluctantly. “I guess me too.”
Josh raised his eyebrows. “She’s got some kind of allure.”
“Allure?” Amy said. “What? Like a Venus flytrap kind of allure?”
Josh laughed. “Get those claws in, tiger.”
Amy grinned.
“All I know is that when we were in high school, I was plagued with horny teenagers wanting to ask her out. Celeste had the pick of the bunch, but she really only had time for her homo friend Alex.”
“Josh!” Amy said, surprised at the uncharacteristic attitude. “C’mon, you know better than that. Alex is a great guy.”
Amy had met Alex several times over the last few months. She was aware he was a childhood friend of Celeste’s, and she had gotten to know him as he regularly visited the Cameron household.
“Just teasing,” Josh said. He stifled a yawn. “Let’s see…when Nick came along they were inseparable.” He thought for a moment. “At first I didn’t notice his jealous streak because they were so close, but after a while, they drifted apart. I used to wonder if Nick would have been so heavily involved in Celeste’s life if her swimming hadn’t ended when it did.” He drank some juice then smacked his lips. “Celeste was a swimmer on her collegiate team. Back then, she didn’t have much time for anything, but swimming and studying.” He looked at Amy. “Time’s in short supply when you compete.”
Amy watched with interest as sadness filled his eyes.
“Her swimming career ended when she was kayaking with some friends and it overturned and busted her shoulder pretty badly. It was a tough time for her.” He lightly ran his finger down his right cheekbone. “And she was left with the scar as a reminder.” He raised his brow. “I think Nick was nothing more than a distraction.” He paused. “Celeste’s not the only gorgeous one in the family.” He lowered his voice. “The ladies find me irresistible.”
“Oh,” Amy replied, eyes twinkling. “Don’t you mean irritating as hell?”
“Do you want me to show you how irresistible I am?” Josh said. He picked up her foot and began kissing it.
Knowing where it would lead and wanting the conversation to continue, Amy sat up.
Miffed, Josh stretched his arms then sighed heavily. “I’m glad Maggie’s is out tonight. I want you to myself.”
“Don’t change the subject on me. I’m interested in finding out about your sister.”
“Oh c’mon, is it too much for a guy to ask to be alone with his hot, soon-to-be-wife?”
“Tell me.”
Josh sighed. “Okay, I guess I’m going to have to tell you something or you’ll be at me all night like some old cackling witch.”
“Oh, honey,” Amy said, fluttering her eyelashes. “You’re such a sweet-talker!” She pressed a hand to her heart. “Tell me or else.”
“Else what?”
“Or else no conjugals tonight…big boy!”
“She hates anyone drawing attention to the fact we’re twins,” Josh said quickly.
Amy laughed.
Josh winked. “And when she went to med school, she didn’t tell anyone because of the attention it would bring.”
“Why?”
“Why are you so interested in her now?” he asked. “You weren’t last year.”
Amy stuck out her tongue. “C’mon, answer the question.”
“People have a thing about twins,” Josh said. He leaned over the arm of the sofa and put his empty glass down then picked up the family-sized pack of sweets he’d brought in earlier. “Can we watch the movie now?”
“No, I want to talk.”
“Oh, c’mon,” he said. “I know you’ll like it.”
Amy ran her hand up his thigh. “Is she like you?”
Josh groaned when Amy stroked him.
“Down boy.” Amy patted his crotch gently then moved away. “That’s just a little taste of what’s to come if you play ball.”
“If you play with my balls again,” Josh said. “There’ll be no later!”
Plucking the pack of sweets from him, Amy opened them then popped some into her mouth. “You didn’t answer my question,” she said, chewing. “Is Celeste like you?”
Josh reached in and grabbed a handful of sweets. “Maybe we fit the classic stereotype,” He threw some into his mouth. “You know, one outgoing, one shy,” he said, chomping. “Even when we were kids she hated attention. Celeste liked being in the background. When her swimming career was over, she didn’t make a big deal about it.” He paused, as if realizing that for the first time, then shrugged. “She just took up other sports and even married Nick on the quiet.” He laughed. “My folks were really pissed when she told them.”
Amy asked inquisitively. “So, Celeste marries Nick without anyone knowing and then when things go down the tubes, joins MSF.” She reached into the pack for more sweets. “Why?”
“Amy…I don’t know,” Josh said. “Unlike what your crazy cousin thinks, we’re not psychically connected.”
Amy laughed. Only Maggie would try to convince the most logical guy on the planet that being a twin meant there had to be some psychic connection.