“Just by two minutes,” Ivy groused as only a newly six-year-old could.
Maren understood the struggle. Opal hadn’t liked being the youngest either. “I’m older by three minutes.”
Fiona stuck her tongue out at Ivy.
Ivy rolled her eyes at her sister.
Maren laughed out loud. The interplay was so familiar. She and Opal had once had that sort of relationship.
Ivy grinned, then asked Maren, “Where’s your twin?”
Maren’s heart gave a small bump as pain stabbed at her. If only she knew. Heart aching, she answered honestly, “At the moment, I don’t know.”
Both of their little faces scrunched up in confusion.
“Why not?” Ivy asked. “Don’t you like her?” She slanted a glance at her sister.
“Of course she likes her,” Fiona stated firmly. “They’re twins. Like us. We like each other.”
Ivy wrinkled her nose. “Most of the time.”
Maren bit her lip to keep from laughing again. Oh, how she and Opal had quarreled as kids and teens. But at the end of the day, they were each other’s best friend.
At least they were until they weren’t. Until grief and choices separated them from each other, creating a chasm that Maren prayed could be repaired. How had she let life get to this point? She should have worked harder at being a better sister, better friend, to Opal. Then maybe she wouldn’t be out there hiding, pregnant and alone. The burn of tears pricked her eyes. She blinked rapidly to keep them from showing.
“Girls,” Dottie intoned a warning.
Hoping to thwart the argument she saw brewing between the girls and their grandmother, Maren said, “Being a twin is special. Sisters are friends forever. Don’t ever let anything come between you.”
If only she and Opal had adopted the philosophy of not letting anything come between them, then maybe Opal wouldn’t have delved into drugs. Maybe she and Maren could have helped each other through the difficult days rather than turning away from each. If only…
There was no use looking at what-ifs. The past couldn’t be changed.
The girls considered for a moment, then looked at each other as if in silent agreement. Maren had shared many a silent conversation with Opal as a kid. She’d thought that special bond was lost to her when she’d believed Opal was dead. But now there was a chance, no matter how slim, that she and Opal could get that back. That was if she and Colt could find her.
The twins walked away and were soon giving chase to a couple of boys.
Allowing her gaze to skate over the happy, smiling faces of both family and friends, she finally landed on Colt, and a deep sense of contentment tried to take hold. She fought against it. She couldn’t let down her guard.
Colt met her gaze across the patio and the small smile he gave her brought heat to her cheeks, belying the conviction she needed to stay detached. She wasn’t sure that would be possible as long as they worked together. Because he made her yearn for things, things like a home, children, family, in ways she never had before.
* * *
The burner phone in Colt’s pocket buzzed. He retrieved the device and stared at a number he didn’t recognize displayed on the small screen. Pushing the talk button, he said, “Agent Dawson.”
“This is Agent Spares,” a deep male voice said. “The boss wanted me to inform you that the blue panel van was found near Littleton.”
Anticipation revved in his veins. It was the same van the shooters had been driving when they’d shot at Maren on the side of the road. “Did Forensics find anything useful?”
Maren, who’d joined him on the patio, stilled next to him, but she practically vibrated with interest.
“No, the suspects torched the vehicle,” Spares said.
“Figures.” Frustrated with the lack of progress, Colt thanked the agent and hung up. He relayed the info to Maren.
“Shadow’s being careful,” she said. “But eventually, he’ll make a mistake. We need to find Opal. She can identify him and stop his reign of terror.” Maren’s agitation was palpable. “We should be out there searching for her.”
Her obvious distress had him tied up in knots. “If we knew where to look, we would be searching for her. She could be halfway across the country by now. Until she makes contact with Vinnie, there’s not much we can do.”
