Daisy/Lena finally got the help she needed. Grady referred her to a service specializing in getting women out of abusive and stalker situations. Last Rayna heard, they helped her start a new life. Where, Rayna isn’t sure, but she hopes there are no hard feelings about what happened.
Rayna moved back in the day after Remi was discharged from the hospital, effectively kicking Daisy/Lena out, although she was on her way out of town as it was. Remi needs emotional support and Rayna needs help doing basic everyday tasks, so it works well for them to once again live together.
The girls have been talking a lot about why they drifted apart, attributing a lot of it to Rayna’s depression, and self isolation as she didn’t want to admit she was suffering from the former. It’s hard for Remi to deal with what her sister did, but they’re working through it, together.
“Okay, lean over so I can squeeze out the water.”
Rayna does so and her sister shuts off the water to the shower, helping her step out onto the bathroom rug. She towel dries her hair, than begins brushing it.
“What are you going to wear tonight?” Remi peeks around to look at Rayna’s face.
Rayna smiles. “Well, I’m not sure what’s going to look good with this cast, but I was thinking maybe that blue blouse that’s sort of loose with a black mini skirt?”
“Sounds beautiful to me,” Remi responds, still brushing her hair. “Braid?” she asks.
“Sure, French braid please.” Rayna can’t lie, it’s nice to have her sister around to help her with her hair and showering. Otherwise, she doesn’t know what she would do.
Tonight is hers and Detective Brown’s, Derrick Brown’s, first date. They’ve kept in contact over the past few weeks while he’s been closing the case, and found out they have quite a bit in common. Of course, they had to wait until the case actually closed for him to be able to officially ask her on a date, so it feels much overdue. Rayna is excited.
They’re going to go to dinner and a movie. Usually she would be more into doing something active, but with her arm, a movie will probably work out better.
“You’ll have to tell me all the details.” Remi smiles, as if reading her sister’s thoughts.
Although they still don’t have twin ESP, they have definitely gotten better at reading each other’s body language and facial expressions. Something about both of them experiencing a kidnapping has probably helped with that.
“Is John coming over?” Rayna asks, one eyebrow raised.
“Not tonight. I think we are going to go out to dinner and then maybe the arcade.”
Rayna smiles at the idea of her sister’s date. Even though she and John have been dating for over two years, it sounds like they’re truly starting over.
“Are you going to—“
Remi cuts her off. “I don’t know yet.”
The silence hangs between them. Rayna can’t deny that the road ahead of her sister is long.
Rayna certainly doesn’t have it easy either. She’s decided, while she’s unable to do much because of her cast, that she will go back and get her radiologist technician license. Breaking her arm and shoulder showed her a whole new side of medicine. One that she’s extremely interested in. She’s sure she’ll have to wait tables while she finishes the two year degree, but it doesn’t seem so bad.
“There, all done.”
Rayna turns and looks at the mirror above the sink, her sister’s face appearing right next to hers. They still look the same, except for the two inch long slight pink scar on Remi’s cheek.
MARK
NOW
He knew his plan would work. Women are so predictable, he laughs as he runs a comb through his hair. He picks up his phone from beside the sink and begins to delete all the fake texts he sent himself pretending to be his own girlfriend.
He knew Katie would go crazy over the thought of him cheating. He didn’t know how crazy, he was honestly just hoping for her to leave him, but death by cop is acceptable anyway.
And now he’s free to start his master plan.
And he won’t make any mistakes.
Sources:
Adewumi, James. “Twins in West African Culture and Society of the Iron Age.” Artifacts Journal // University of Missouri, University of Missouri, Apr. 2014, artifactsjournal.missouri.edu/2014/03/twins-in-west-african-culture-and-society-of-the-iron-age/.
DeRuiter, Corinne. “The Embryo Project Encyclopedia.” Conjoined Twins | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia, Arizona State University, 3 Nov. 2011, embryo.asu.edu/pages/conjoined-twins.
Fierro, Pamela Prindle. “Amazing Facts About Identical Twins.” Verywell Family, Verywell Family, 10 Aug. 2019, www.verywellfamily.com/identical-twins-2447126.
“Mirror Image Twins.” Twins Research Australia, National Health Hope Davis Page 1 11/27/2019and Medical Research Center, www.twins.org.au/twins-and-families/about-twins/171-mirror-image-twins.
Vaziri Flais, Shelly. “The Difference Between Identical and Fraternal Twins.” HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 Nov. 2015, www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/The-Difference-Between-Identical-and-Fraternal-Twins.aspx.
If you enjoyed Before Now, please take a moment to leave a rating or review, and check out Hope’s other mystery novels, The Fate of Ava Miller and Deceptive Perfection! Available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before Now is Hope’s third novel. When she isn’t writing, she is busy traveling the world, trying new foods, or hanging out with friends. A graduate from Metropolitan State University, Hope grew up in Colorado but currently calls Nevada her home. To find information about her other or future novels, follow Hope on Twitter or Instagram: @thehopeopera.
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