More Than One: A Novel (24 page)

              “So Jamie, Ash tells me that you're going to school for Radiology,” she said.

              “Yes ma'am,” I replied.

              “How are things coming along?”

              “Things are good. It's a lot of work, but I manage.”

              “That's good. I'm glad Ash has a friend like you to be a good influence on him,” she said.

              Ash rolled his eyes and looked at me. I smiled and turned back to her.

              “Ash is actually the best. I don't know where I would be without him.”

              “I'm glad to hear it,” she said turning to look at my parents. “Are you sure I can't offer you anything to eat or drink?”

              “Well, I could go for some water,” my mom said.

              “Me, too,” my dad added.

              “And for you Jamie?” she asked.

              “None for me. Thank you.”

              “Ash, can you help me with the refreshments?” she said standing up.

              “Yeah.”

              They disappeared around the corner and I finally loosened up. I was so tense here, but my parents were at ease. I sat and studied the area we were sitting in. I didn't remember this particular room from my dreams.

There really wasn't much of the inside of the house that I remembered from my dreams, just some of the areas on the outside.

              “So does any of this look familiar to you?” my mom asked.

              “No, I'm trying to remember if I've seen any of this in my dreams and I'm coming up blank,” I said.

              “Well, maybe we were wrong,” my dad said.

              I opened my mouth to speak, but Ash and his mom returned with the drinks before I could. Actually, the butler was the one who had the drinks on a tray and Ash was guiding him. His mom wasn't too far behind him, smiling. I could tell she was enjoying the company.

              Our parents settled back in their original conversation, while Ash and I huddled in the corner talking about other things. Everyone relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere, and I wasn't on edge like I was when we first got here.

              An hour later, the butler walked to the door and opened it. I didn't even hear the doorbell or a knock. That's when Ash's father came through the door.

              “Jeffery can you retrieve my bags from the car?” he said.

              “Right away sir,” the butler said and was gone.

              Ash's father was standing there in the foyer looking at some papers and didn't notice us watching him. Ash's mom got up and went to her husband to whisper something in his ear. He turned to us and smiled.

              “Ashton, what a nice surprise and I see you've brought guest with you,” he said.

              “Hey,” Ash said.

              I guess Michael was right about their relationship. Ash seemed so cold with his father. Ash's father came over and hugged him, then turned toward us.

              “Martin, it’s been too long,” he said as he shook my dad's hand.

              “Yes, it has William,” my dad said.

              “And Patricia, you're lovely as always,” he said kissing her on the cheek.

              “Thank you,” she said.

              When he turned to me, it was like he started walking in slow motion. The way he was looking at me made me uncomfortable. I felt like a little kid, I wanted to run and stand behind my dad.

              “Jamie, you've grown into a beautiful woman,” he said standing in front of me. “I remember you when you were just a baby. How have you been?”

              “I've been good. Thanks for asking,” I said.

              There was silence for a second and then Ash's father turned back to my dad.

              “To what do I owe this pleasant visit Martin?” he asked.

              I tensed up again. I didn't want to put anymore strain on Ash and his fathers relationship, and when he finds out that we all know the big secret, he might not be too happy with him. Then there was the fact that I was scared to find out the truth.

              Ash walked over to his father before my dad could explain why we were there. I blew out a deep breath.

              “They came with me because we have a couple of questions,” Ash said.

              His father eyed him before having a seat on the couch. His mom came from around the corner and had a seat next to him. That led everyone else to sit.

              “What's this about Ash?” his mom asked.

              I walked over to Ash and pulled him out to the entryway. Everyone watched us as we whispered to each other.

              “Are you sure this is the best time to blurt all of this out?” I asked.

              “Why not? He asked why you guys were here. Besides, I want to know what's going on, don't you?” he said.

              “Yeah, but...” I started.

              “But nothing. I told you everything will be fine. Calm down please and let's do this,” he said pulling me back toward the living room.

              “Ash, what's going on?” his father said.

              We took a seat.

              “Okay, let me start,” my dad interjected. “William, we came because Jamie has been having dreams about some murders that have been going on here in Rome. Have you heard about it?”

              “Sure I have. It is unfortunate, but what does that have to do with anything?”

              “Well, she is dreaming that she is committing the murders,” he said.

              “I still don't follow.”

              My dad looked at Ash and Ash shook his head. It was like there was an unspoken understanding between them both. It was weird.

              “They know everything,” Ash said to his dad. “They know I'm a clone.”

              Both of his parents eye's got wide as they looked around the room.

              “Well of course I should have known about this a long time ago, since I did help with the research,” my dad said. “And rest assure, your secret is safe with us, but we need to know if there is another clone?”

              Ash's mother looked at her husband waiting for him to talk. Maybe she didn't know anything. She looked so shocked.

              “Is it true? Did you make another clone and didn't tell me about it?” Ash asked.

              His father was still speechless. I know he did not expect to come home to this. I really felt bad for the way Ash sprung this on him. I wished we would’ve waited.

              “Dad?” Ash yelled.

              That was the first time I heard him reference his father that way. I know he must have been hurting behind this and was just lying to protect me. I couldn't imagine going through life thinking I was the only one of my kind and then find out later there was another. All those years when he was confused, and had no one to talk to about what he was going through. It had to be hard.

              “Ash, listen to me, this is far beyond your understanding. Anything I've done, I did it for you,” he said.

              “Just tell me. Did you or did you not make another clone?” he said with a stern voice.

              His father looked down, like he felt ashamed.

              “Yes.”

              Ash stood up and started pacing the floor.

              “I can't believe you lied to me. Why didn't you tell me before? You led me to believe that I was the only one. Do you know how many nights I sat up wanting to get things off of my chest and never felt like I could come to you? You made me stay in this house day in and day out and I had no one. I can't believe you,” Ash yelled.

              “Ash, please calm down and let your father explain. You don't know the circumstances,” my dad said.

              “Yeah Ash, please calm down,” I said.

              I grabbed his hand and looked deep into his eyes. I could see the pain seeping through and it hurt me. I never knew that he had to go through this. The whole time I’ve known him, he could never tell me. How much did he suffer having to hold that in?

              I leaned in and hugged him and he squeezed me back. He kissed the top of my head and then let go of me. I held onto his hand, I didn't want him to blow up again, although he had every right to be upset.

              “Look, Ashton. I am so sorry about not telling you. I didn't know how you would take the news. I was already putting us all at risk and I just figured it would be better if you didn't know,” Ash's father said.

              I pulled Ash to a chair and we sat down together. My hand was on his chest and it was rising and falling quickly. I tried to comfort him, but he wasn't allowing it.

              “So, this other clone, where did the DNA come from? How did all of this come about?” my father asked. “I was under the impression that the process failed.”

              Ash's father looked up and took off his glasses to rub his eyes. He cleared his throat and began talking. He explained that when my parents left, how he and Dr. Lewis studied day and night on the failed experiment. They tried again and this time it worked. The clone grew at a normal rate, and they watched her closely to see if there were any changes and at the time, there weren't any.

              He then went over the story of how Ash came about, but we already knew this from Ash. I looked into the doctor's eyes and I realized I recognized them. I couldn't place them at the time, but as he continued to talk and look around the room with worry in his eyes, I knew exactly where I knew them from. In some of my dreams, this was the man who stood over me before I blacked out. He was the one taking care of me. A shiver ran down my spine and Ash felt me jump and looked at me.

              “William, where did the DNA for the other clone come from?” my dad asked again.

              He instantly looked at me. Once again, my heart started racing and I felt uncomfortable. Everyone's gaze turned toward me and I felt like I was on display. I started hyperventilating, and Ash wrapped his arm around me and told me to breathe. My dad came over and squatted down in front of me. He pulled my face up to his and I tried to hold back the tears. The concern in his eyes made me let go and cry. My dad turned back to look at Ash's dad before he got up and sat on the corner of the chair I was sitting in.

              “I found out that Mark still had some of her samples frozen in his lab. I just wanted to see if our theory was right. I never thought it would work, but when it did, there was no way we could discard her. She was a living, breathing person. We've studied her for years, along with Ash of course, and you would be amazed at how far the research has gotten...” Ash's father started.

              “Let me get this straight,” my dad said standing up. “You cloned my daughter without my knowledge or consent and you failed to tell me about it? Don't you think I had a right to know that information? I put everything into this.”

              “I know you're upset and you have every right to be. But you have to understand, that we, not just Dr. Lewis and I, you included, have stumbled upon something great. I thought you of all people would be happy,” he said rubbing his hands together. I could see where Ash got it from. “You were the one who pushed us to believe it was possible. If it weren't for you, we would have never gotten this far.”

              My dad still looked furious.

              “William, you say that to me now, but if my daughter wasn't having dreams of what your clone has been doing, we would have never known that she or Ash existed. There is no excuse for what you've done,” my dad said.

              I looked over at my mom and she was sitting there looking oblivious to what was going on. She stared into space and didn't move a muscle during the whole ordeal. Ash's mother was the same way. Occasionally she would gasp, but then there was nothing else.

              “I understand your frustration, but there was no way we could have known how you would take us using your daughter's DNA, that's why I didn't tell you. It sounds bad, but I did it in the name of science. You can appreciate that, right?” he said.

              “Look here, don't tell me what I should appreciate...” my dad said.

              “Dad,” I yelled cutting him off. “It's already done, so stop yelling. It doesn't matter what he did twenty years ago, what matters is what is happening now.” I turned to Ash's father. “Do you know if this clone is involved in the murders here in Rome? I know you monitor her.”

              He looked surprised.

              “How do you know that?” he asked.

              “Because I've dreamed about this house, her room, your laboratory, all of it. I don't know why I do, but I do. I can see what she does through my dreams sometimes. I can even feel her emotions. I know that right now, she is in pain. There are times that she sits in her room rocking and when she gets really angry, her chest hurts. How am I doing so far?” I said.