The Stolen Identity (The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series Book 7)

by Chris Taylor

  Turning the page, she scanned the headlines and skimmed over a story on the Federal Government’s proposal to increase the retirement age and another one on an assault and robbery in Kings Cross. The inner city Sydney suburb was a notoriously dangerous place after dark and she couldn’t understand why people found the need to risk it. There was no way she’d take to the streets of Kings Cross on her own at night.

  Her breakfast arrived in the hands of a cheery young waitress and Morgan set the paper aside. Liberally covering her bacon, eggs and sausages with ketchup, she began to eat. A woman’s laughter snagged her attention and she glanced up and noticed a man sitting at the next table chatting with a young woman who looked enough like him to be his daughter. A pang went through her and she couldn’t help but ponder the whereabouts of her father. He hadn’t said how long he was staying in Tennant Creek, but it could have been only for the night. He didn’t seem to have any concrete plans where he was going and when he’d return.

  Pulling her iPad out of her handbag, she opened it up to her mail. A handful of new messages appeared, most of them spam. There was a message from Georgie Whitely checking that she’d arrived okay and telling her to enjoy her time at home. Morgan grimaced. She wasn’t sure “enjoy” was the right word to use this time round. Still, all she could do was hope for the best and cross her fingers her dad would soon return. With that in mind, she sent him another email.

  Hi Dad,

  Thanks for letting me know you’re all right. I appreciate it. After my surprise meeting with Uncle Leslie, I was worried. I can’t imagine how it must have been for you to discover you had a twin. The very thought blows my mind.

  Take the time you need, Dad, but I wanted you to know I’m only in Armidale for a fortnight. It was all the leave I had. I hope you find it within yourself to return before I leave. It would be good to see you again. I miss you, Dad.

  Lots of love,

  Morgan xx

  With lips compressed, she sent the email into cyberspace and whispered a silent prayer heavenwards that her father would soon find Internet service somewhere along the road. His laptop was now several years old and didn’t always connect to available Wi-Fi. She’d bought it for his birthday. She should have insisted he upgrade to an iPad. They’d talked about it only a few months ago. Yet again, he’d declined her offer to buy him one.

  ‘Why do I need an iPad? The laptop works just fine. Besides, I’m familiar with the interface on this. I know where all the buttons are.’ He’d laughed, indicating the laptop open on his desk at the time. ‘Don’t go confusing me with any more technology, honey. You’d only be wasting your money.’

  Morgan hadn’t been willing to let the matter go so easily. ‘What about an iPhone, then?’ she’d suggested. ‘You could start out learning the ins and outs on that. Then, when I finally mange to persuade you to upgrade to an iPad, you’ll have the technique down pat. The iPhone and iPad use the same interface and all the same commands. The only thing the iPad doesn’t do is make phone calls, unless you’re connected to Facetime and even then, the person you’re calling needs to be on that, too.’ She’d paused to catch her breath and looked at him. ‘So, what do you think?’

  Her father merely shook his head and chuckled. ‘Facetime, iPads, iPhones… Where does it end? I’m perfectly content with my laptop. It does everything I need. Besides, why do I need a cell phone? I never go very far from home. The occasional day trip away with my golfing buddies is about all I do I these days. You know where to find me most of the time, honey. I don’t need to be reachable twenty-four seven, especially now that I’m retired. It’s one of the things I really enjoy, being able to get away from it all.’ He’d looked apologetic.

  ‘Not like you kids these days. You don’t know what it’s like to escape from the hustle and bustle of life every now and then.’ He shook his head slowly back and forth. ‘I don’t know where you find the energy to be constantly switched on. It must get exhausting.’

  Morgan had heaved a sigh of resignation and let the subject drop. If her father didn’t want an iPad or a cell phone, then that was his business. It wasn’t like he was in poor health with the need to contact emergency services at any time of the day or night. The more she thought about it, the more she’d agreed – he was probably right. He was content without a raft of technology complicating his life.

  But that had been months ago, before he’d discovered he had a secret twin and had headed off into the outback, alone except for his dog. Things were different now. He wasn’t just off for a day trip with his golfing buddies. He was on his own in the middle of nowhere. Anything could happen. She couldn’t help but worry about him and all of a sudden, she wished she’d ignored his protests, and at the very least, had bought him a phone.

  The sound of her cell ringing interrupted her thoughts and she pulled it out of her handbag. She checked the screen and her heart skipped a beat. The call was coming from her father’s home.

  Had he arrived back in Armidale already? Was that even possible? She didn’t know exactly where Tennant Creek was, but she knew it was in the Northern Territory. Had he driven all night, after sending her the emails? Was he even now waiting for her at home? With her chest tight with expectation, she answered the call.

  “Dad?”

  “No, I’m sorry, Morgan. It’s Leslie. Your uncle.”

  Disappointment flooded through her. “Oh… Uncle Leslie. I’m sorry. Dad’s number came up on my phone. I just thought… Never mind. What can I do for you?”

  “I understand this must have been a shock to you – arriving home to find your father gone and an uncle you didn’t even know existed, in his place. I… I wanted to call and explain, seeing as your dad’s not here to do it.”

  “Um…of course. I… I guess so. But, don’t feel like you have to. I mean, it’s none of my business—”

  “Of course it’s your business. I’m your uncle, your father’s identical twin. You already know we were separated at birth, but there is a lot more to it.”

  Morgan’s head spun. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear his story. Though both her grandparents were now dead, they’d been an important part of her life. She had many fond memories of spending time with them. She still missed them. She didn’t know how she’d feel if her uncle had less than flattering tales to tell about two people she’d loved and admired all her life.

  “Um… I’m not sure I need to know the secrets of your childhood. It’s enough that my dad’s excited to have you in his life. I’m happy for him, for both of you. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

  “I appreciate your discretion, Morgan. I’m sure you’ve worked out my life wasn’t quite as smooth sailing as your father’s. I guess I just want to know that my less-than-stellar background doesn’t matter to you.”

  Morgan swallowed. She wasn’t sure how she felt about her long-lost uncle, but whether he’d lived a less privileged life didn’t matter. She and her dad were alike in that. She never judged anyone on their looks or what they did or didn’t have. It was their character that was important, the only thing that mattered. She hurried to reassure him.

  “Of course it doesn’t, Uncle.”

  “Then you’ll come over for tea and let me tell you all about it.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she accepted.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  It felt weird knocking on the door to her father’s house, knowing that he wasn’t home. There had never been a time in her life until yesterday that she’d arrived at Butler Street without a single family member around to greet her. Okay, Uncle Leslie was family, but she’d known him less than twenty-four hours. It would take some time to come to think of him in that way. Her father urged her to accept his twin and spend time getting to know him. For her dad’s sake, she was determined to do it.

  She knocked a second time and was finally rewarded with the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door. A moment later, Leslie greeted her with a smile.

  “Morgan! How lovel
y to see you again! Thank you for coming over.”

  He stood back to allow her to enter and she was once again taken aback by how closely he resembled her father. The hairstyle, the dimple in his cheek when he smiled, the way he dressed. He even smelled like her father! She hadn’t noticed that the previous night.

  She wondered if by some freak “twin synchronicity” they actually wore the same brand, or whether he’d simply borrowed what was in the bathroom cupboard. His clothing was also the same style her father wore.

  Her father prided himself on his neatly pressed slacks and array of designer polo shirts. After her mother died, he’d paid a woman from the town to wash and iron his clothes. Prior to that he’d spent all his working life wearing suits, business shirts and ties and he found it hard to dress down, even in his retirement.

  Her uncle wore a pair of tan-colored pants that could have been her dad’s. He had teamed it with a green Ralph Lauren polo shirt, a brand her father favored. Her uncle had hinted at hard times, but it looked like his life had changed for the better now. She realized she was curious to hear more about the truth.

  * * *

  Leslie added bowls of cream and sugar and a plate of fresh banana cake to the tea tray and thought about the woman who waited for him in the other room. She was attractive and confident and her blue eyes – so much like her father’s – exuded intelligence. She was a daughter any father would be proud to claim.

  One of Leslie’s many regrets was that he hadn’t fathered any children, at least, none that he knew about. Now that he was well and truly in the second half of his life, he wished he’d spent a bit more time looking for the kind of woman he might have wanted to be the mother of his child. Not that he’d ever been in a position to support a family.

  “Do you need any help in here?”

  Morgan’s question startled him from his thoughts. He looked up as she came into the kitchen and acknowledged her query with a forced smile.

  “Thanks, honey, but I have it all under control. It’s been a month since your father went away. I think I’ve just about learned where everything is.” He shot her another smile, hoping to set her at ease. He could only imagine how strange it felt for her to be in her father’s house without him and with a stranger in his place.

  She frowned and he could see she was still nervous. No doubt it would take time for her to come to terms with what had happened. He’d do all he could to help. It was the reason he’d invited her over, and after what had happened with her father, it was the least he could do.

  With that thought in mind, he picked up the tea tray and headed back into the open-concept living and dining room filled with tasteful and expensive furniture. A fine oak dining table with eight matching chairs filled half of the space. A carved sideboard in matching oak stood against one wall.

  On the opposite side of the room was a three-seater leather couch and matching recliners that faced a widescreen TV. Though the leather showed signs of age, especially one of the recliners, they were still nice pieces and would have cost a pretty penny. It was just another example of how far apart their lives had been.

  A familiar wave of anger surged through him, but he forcefully thrust it aside. That part of his life was over. He’d done what needed to be done. He might not be comfortable with his motives, but he was sure pleased with the results. Leslie O’Brien had moved up in the world. Of that, there was no doubt.

  Placing the tea tray on the dining table, he pulled out a chair and seated himself before reaching out for the pot of tea. “Do you take cream and sugar, Morgan?”

  She took a seat opposite him and shook her head. “No, thanks. Black is fine.”

  He poured her a cup and handed it to her and then poured one for himself. Adding a generous amount of cream and two sugars, he stirred it before bringing it to his lips.

  “Mm, just how I like it. Hot and sweet and creamy.” He followed the comment with smile.

  She smiled back. “Just like my dad. I still can’t believe how much you look like him.”

  He shrugged. “Hey, we’re identical twins. What more can I say?”

  “Yes,” she murmured and took a sip from her cup. “It’s come as such a surprise.”

  “Your dad said something very similar. Would you like to hear my story? I’d very much like to share it with you. Perhaps then, you might feel more comfortable with me in your father’s house.”

  A faint blush stained her cheeks. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand and cut her off.

  “It’s all right, Morgan. I understand. You arrived here expecting to see your father. Instead, you discover he’s gone away without telling you and find me here in his place. To add to the confusion, I’m the long-lost twin nobody knew about. You’re entitled to feel a little out of kilter.” He laughed in an effort to ease the lines of tension that had gathered around her mouth.

  She smiled hesitantly. “You’re right. I… I am feeling a little like I’ve been hit head-on by a Mack truck. Dad and I keep in touch regularly. I haven’t heard from him much over the past few weeks and I haven’t spoken to him for nearly a month. He didn’t call me for my birthday, or for the anniversary of Mom’s death. They’re dates he normally wouldn’t miss. I was worried about him. It’s the reason I hopped on a train and came up here. I wanted to see for myself that he was okay.”

  “Instead, you found me. I can understand how that hasn’t helped ease your mind.”

  She gave him another grudging smile. “You’re right. It kind of freaks me out a little when I look at you. You look so much like my dad and yet, you’re virtually a stranger.”

  She blushed again and looked away and he could tell she was embarrassed by what she’d said. Her next words confirmed it.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Leslie. I didn’t mean—”

  “It’s all right, honey.” He hurried to reassure her. “I understand.” He took another sip from his tea. “Like I told you, your dad didn’t react much better. If I hadn’t looked so much like him, I don’t think he’d have believed me. We had a few tense hours early on, don’t you worry.”

  “But you sorted things out, right?” she insisted. “You didn’t have a falling out? That’s not why he went away, is it?”

  “No, of course not. It didn’t take long to sort things out. I told him all about my past, how we’d been separated at birth. He was shocked and saddened and mad all at once and everything in between. He left because he needed some time to himself, to come to terms with things. He urged me to stay right here and make myself at home.” He spread his arms wide. “So, I have.”

  She nodded and her face relaxed. She brought her tea cup to her mouth and sipped.

  Leslie offered her the plate. “Would you like some cake?”

  She reached over and took a piece and murmured her thanks. “Did you bake it?”

  He chuckled. “No, though I’ve been known to bake every now and then. I bought it at the bakery downtown. It’s good, though, don’t you think?”

  She took a bite and swallowed and then nodded. “Yes, it’s good. And I bet I can guess exactly where you got it. Moxons, on Marsh Street, right?”

  “It sounds like you know it well,” he teased. “Do I take it you’re not a cook?”

  She laughed. “Good guess, Uncle. Despite my mother’s constant urgings, I was never interested in spending time in the kitchen. I preferred to be outside, riding my bike or playing with my friends down at the river. Even when I was in high school, Mom couldn’t convince me to come inside and learn the art of baking a pie. I guess I just wasn’t cut out for that kind of thing.”

  “You take after your father,” he guessed.

  “In almost every way,” she agreed.

  A comfortable silence fell between them. They both sipped their tea. A moment later, Morgan lifted her gaze to his. His chest tightened in anticipation. Was this it? Had he done enough to win her trust? Was she finally ready to hear?

  “Tell me your story, Uncle Leslie.”

&n
bsp; * * *

  Morgan pushed her cup of tea to one side and folded her arms in front of her. Being at the table, sharing food and stories in her home, brought back fond memories of life with her mom and dad. She couldn’t count the number of meals she’d shared with her family in this very spot – and later, with just her dad. They’d talked and talked about everything, even when she was a kid. As an only child, she was loved and adored and they were interested in everything she did. She never resented their intrusion into her life. In fact, she enjoyed the attention. There were plenty of kids around her who didn’t know what it was like to live with parents who cared.

  Occasionally, they’d refuse to let her do something or to go out to a party with her friends, but there was always a firm, but loving explanation as to why they’d decided the way they had. The mutual respect and love they had for each other lived on into her adulthood. And then her mom got cancer and for a while, everything changed. For months, her mom was in and out of hospital, going for treatments here and there until at last, there was nothing more they could do for her and that was the worst thing of all.

  All the time, during and after, Morgan had been attending university and did the best she could. Her mom had been gone nearly twelve months when she met Colt at a college Christmas party. The few short weeks they were together were a high point in her sorrow, and together were the most magical weeks of Morgan’s life – and then she got pregnant…

  If her mom had still been alive, she would have told her. Perhaps her mom would have even been able to convince her to keep the baby. But the timing was all wrong. Her dad was still consumed by the grief of losing his wife and was in no fit state to consult over something as momentous as an unplanned pregnancy with a man she barely knew. Besides, she still had another year of college. A baby was totally impractical…

  She swallowed a heavy sigh and forced herself to concentrate on her uncle. No doubt life had also thrown him some twists and turns. All of a sudden, she wanted to hear them. Reaching across the table, she squeezed his hand encouragingly. He looked a little startled, but slowly began to speak.