The Girl of His Dreams (Bachelor #1)

by Janet Nissenson

  “Careful,” he teased. “If I can’t find a way to convince Aubrey to speak to me again, I may have to resume my campaign to steal you away from Ian. In the meanwhile, why don’t we order lunch?”

  He gave their orders to their waitress, watching as Tessa steeped a tea bag in the pot of hot water she’d requested.

  “Aubrey’s a tea drinker, too,” he observed idly as he stirred a packet of sugar into his tall glass of iced tea. “The only time I’ve seen her drink coffee is when she’s ordered a frappuccino. And I always told her that was more like a milkshake than coffee.”

  Tessa smiled faintly. “That doesn’t necessarily mean she and I are related in any way. Lots of people prefer tea over coffee. But I would like to know as much as possible about her, Jordan. At least what you know about her background, her family, where she was born, that sort of thing. There are so many gaps in my family history, so much I don’t have a clue about, that I have to at least consider the possibility that Aubrey’s some sort of cousin or other relation. I know there’s an old saying that each of us has a twin somewhere in the world, but I’ve never really believed that. However, I don’t think it’s just a coincidence that we look so much alike.”

  Over lunch, Jordan shared the limited amount of information he had about Aubrey’s family history. Tessa tensed up immediately upon learning that she’d been adopted, but then looked rather dismayed to discover that she had been brought up in San Diego.

  “I know for a fact that I’ve never lived there,” she remarked. “Which is rather surprising, considering what a gypsy my mother was, and how often she moved us around. But she didn’t like California very much, and while we did live in Palm Springs once we never came any further west.”

  “Oh, but Aubrey wasn’t born in San Diego,” he recalled. “I remember now because she was telling me how her parents first met. They were both professors at the University of New Mexico. Which I believe is located in - ”

  “Albuquerque,” finished Tessa tautly. “Which is one of the many different places my mother and I lived over the years. In fact, we may have passed through there two or three different times. How old is Aubrey?”

  “Twenty-five. And her birthday is in February, if that helps at all.”

  Tessa shrugged. “I’m just not sure, Jordan. I would have been not quite five years old at the time, considering that my birthday is in May. And while I remember certain things from when I was that age, I definitely don’t recall my mother having another child or being pregnant.”

  “I can’t say I remember much of anything when I was that age,” acknowledged Jordan. “Not until I was a little older, like seven or eight, and even then some of the memories are fuzzy. So it’s not all that surprising you might not recall that time in your life too clearly. But do you think you were at least living in New Mexico at the time?”

  “Maybe. We moved around so often it would be almost impossible to say for sure. But I know I went to kindergarten in Santa Fe, one of those fleeting childhood memories that we have sometimes. And I would have started school in September of the year Aubrey was born, so I’m almost certain we were living somewhere in the state at the time. I’ve started to do a little digging around here and there, some research, asking for school records and things so that I can try and establish some sort of timeline of my childhood. Needless to say, my mother couldn’t be bothered with that sort of thing. Not to mention the fact that I lost everything we owned - photos, papers, documents - in an apartment fire when I was sixteen.”

  “The same fire that killed your mother, I take it,” Jordan commented somberly.

  “Yes. Ian must have told you that, because it’s not something I usually care to talk about,” murmured Tessa. “It was the worst time in my life, Jordan, and considering how many bad times there were that tells you something. At least Aubrey seems to have had a happy life, good parents, that sort of thing. Did she ever discuss her biological parents?”

  He shook his head. “She knows nothing about them. Her choice, apparently. Her parents - her adoptive parents - have always been willing for her to learn about her biological family, but Aubrey insisted she didn’t want to know. She adores her parents and her two brothers, and said they’re the only family she’d ever want or need. But I get the impression that she would have her parents blessings if she changed her mind about it.”

  Tessa hesitated. “The last thing I want to do is upset Aubrey more than she’s already been. But all I’ve been able to think about since seeing her last night is whether or not the two of us might be related in some way. And, well, you’re going to think this sounds crazy, but even though we didn’t say a word to each other I felt this weird connection, something I couldn’t explain even if I tried. I’d like to at least reach out to her and ask if she’d be willing to meet me, talk to me. Do you think she’d agree?”

  “Possibly. I can’t imagine why she’d be angry at you, since you were just as much in the dark about this whole doppelganger thing as she was,” mused Jordan. “So if you’re asking me for her contact information, I’m happy to give you her cell phone number. Whether or not she’ll take your call or agree to meet with you is anybody’s guess.”

  “I understand. And that’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

  Tessa handed him her cell phone so he could enter Aubrey’s number into her list of contacts. He gave Tessa a wry smile as he returned her phone.

  “If and when you speak to Aubrey, I don’t suppose you’d like to put in a good word for me?” he asked meekly, trying his best to look contrite.

  But even though Tessa laughed at his sad puppy dog face, she shook her head. “Sorry. You’re on your own there, Jordan.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Given the thoroughly rotten mood she’d been in for the past two days, Aubrey’s natural inclination was to let the incoming call just go to voice mail. And if she was being perfectly honest with herself, what she really longed to do was fling the stupid phone against the wall or flush it down the toilet or something. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she’d been so angry, so worked up. And the last thing she was in the mood for right now was to have a conversation with anyone.

  She’d called her parents, of course, not wanting them to panic when their nosy next door neighbor contacted them about the unexpected occupant in their house. They were still back East on their vacation, but were due to return home three days from now. And while Aubrey hadn’t wanted to upset her parents, or ruin their last few vacation days, she’d had to give them some reason for her sudden return to San Diego. All she had told them was that she and Jordan had argued, that she was furious with him, and badly needed to be alone right now. She certainly hadn’t gotten into any specifics, and there was no possible way she was going to inform her parents that she’d met a woman who looked exactly like her. Time enough to drop that sort of bombshell face to face.

  Aubrey scowled at her phone, not recognizing the number but noticed it had a San Francisco area code. She knew it wasn’t Jordan’s number, either his personal or his office phone, and she was prepared to follow her initial inclination and let it go to voice mail. But her fingers hesitated over the Accept Call button, some weird little sixth sense telling her that she needed to answer this call, that it was important in a way she couldn’t begin to explain. Sighing, and telling herself she was probably going to regret this, she tapped the green button.

  “Hello?” she greeted warily.

  There was a brief pause on the other end, making her think that she should have followed her instincts because it was probably a telemarketer or spammer. But then a soft female voice came on the line, and Aubrey felt an odd little sensation in her tummy the moment she heard the woman speak.

  “This - this is Tessa Gregson, Aubrey. I hope that I haven’t caught you at a bad time. And I’m sure you’re as upset and confused about this whole situation as I am, but please don’t hang up on me. Please.”

  Aubrey had been half-exp
ecting, half-dreading this phone call, not knowing what her reaction would be if and when it ever came. She realized now why she’d had a strange feeling a few moments ago, why she’d felt the compulsion to answer a call from an unknown number. And even as she fought off a sense of panic, resisted the urge to disconnect the call, she instead replied uncertainly, “I - no. I won’t hang up. I guess we should, well, talk.”

  “Yes, that was my thought, too.” Tessa sounded relieved. “Though I’ve got no idea where to begin.”

  A sudden suspicion crossed Aubrey’s mind. “You’re not calling for that rat bastard Jordan, are you?” she demanded. “Because that would be the lowest of the low on his part, getting someone else to do his dirty work.”

  “No. You have my word,” assured Tessa. “I’ve spoken to him, of course, which is how I have your phone number. And he may have jokingly suggested I put in a good word for him - his words, not mine. I told him in no uncertain terms that he’s on his own in that regard. I’m calling you for - well, for myself, I suppose. And for you, too, Aubrey. To find out if there’s some possibility that you and I are - ”

  “Related?” finished Aubrey. “Yeah, that thought has crossed my mind quite a few times since seeing you the other night. And now it all sort of makes sense to me, you know? How people would look at me strangely when Jordan introduced me around at his office, and then at the hospital where this nurse was convinced she’d seen me before. And some of his friends as well. Do you know that arrogant ass Finn McManus, by the way? Not one of my favorite people, I have to say.”

  “Finn? Oh, the football player. Yes, he’s a real ladies man, even more so than Jordan. Oh, I mean, the old Jordan, of course,” Tessa amended hastily. “Be - before he met you. Because he’s obviously crazy about you, and you’ve been living with him and all.”

  Aubrey chuckled at the other woman’s obvious discomfort. “It’s okay, honestly. You haven’t told me anything I didn’t already know. Jordan was an admitted manwhore before he met me, which was just a few months ago. And at least I know he’s been faithful to me since that time. Otherwise, I would have dumped his sorry ass weeks ago.”

  “I can’t really comment on his past - er, relationships. But when I saw him yesterday, he was terribly upset, Aubrey. It’s obvious that he cares about you a great deal, that he feels terrible about how this whole thing unfolded. And - no. I promised you that I wouldn’t go to bat for him, and I won’t. This call isn’t about Jordan. It’s about you and I. Jordan told me that you were adopted as a baby, but that you’ve never had the inclination to find out anything about your biological parents.”

  “That’s right. I’ve always considered the people who raised me - my mother and father - to be my real parents. And while the two of them have been nothing but supportive, even encouraging me to find out about my background, I never thought seriously about it. I guess I was happier not knowing, not wondering why someone would feel compelled to give me up,” admitted Aubrey.

  “I can understand that,” replied Tessa quietly. “And I might feel the same way in your situation. The difference being that a lot of my past is still a big mystery to me, with lots of gaps in time and no way to fill them in. My mother died when I was only sixteen, and I don’t even know who my father was. Ian and I have made attempts over the last few years to find out more about any other family I might have, but we keep hitting dead ends. Until I saw you, that is.”

  Aubrey closed her eyes, massaging the dull headache over her forehead that had been getting progressively worse all day. Hearing the woman who could be her twin voice Aubrey’s own suspicion - that the two of them were related somehow - only made her headache worse.

  “You really think that there’s some family connection between us then,” she stated flatly.

  “I don’t know. But I think I’d like to find out. And given that I have no one to ask on my end, no resources whatsoever, that means you’re my only hope of getting that sort of information,” explained Tessa. “Information that you’ve obviously been reluctant to find out for yourself. So I suppose it’s entirely up to you on where we go from here.”

  “I don’t know.” Aubrey blew out a breath sharply. “I mean, sure, I’m as curious as you are to figure out why there’s such a strong resemblance between us. But it’s got to be just some weird coincidence, don’t you agree? I mean, wouldn’t your mother have told you if you had other family, like a - a cousin or something?”

  “My mother had a very troubled upbringing, Aubrey. A traumatic one, even. And she was very clever, very adept at avoiding questions and keeping things hidden from me. Growing up there were never any family photos or documents or anything that might give me a clue about my background. So maybe now you can understand my need to find out anything I can about my past, or any family I might have. I hate to put you in that position, and I realize I have no right whatsoever to ask, but - well, I suppose I’m asking anyway,” finished Tessa uncertainly.

  “Shit,” muttered Aubrey under her breath. She wasn’t in anywhere near the right mindset right now to deal with something like this. And she’d never needed her parents’ advice more than she did at this particular moment, wished with all her might that they were right in the next room instead of on the other side of the country.

  “Look, let me give it some thought, okay?” she told Tessa. “I’ll admit to being as curious as you are about any connection between us, even if it involves having to delve into my past. But I owe it to my parents to talk it over with them first, get their blessing, even though they’ve already given it in the past. I was going to wait for them to return from their vacation in a few more days so I could discuss it face to face, but I can’t keep this from them any longer. I’ll give them a call in a few minutes and see how they feel about it. I’ll - well, I’ll call you back after I’ve talked to them, and maybe have some more time to process everything.”

  “Thank you, Aubrey,” replied Tessa softly, her voice sounding a bit choked up. “I realize I have no right to intrude on your privacy, that you don’t owe me a thing. But I’d be so grateful to find out anything that might be related to my past, anything at all.”

  “It’s okay,” assured Aubrey. “And I can’t really explain why I never bothered to find out about who my real parents were. I guess I was just so happy with the family I already had that I never felt the desire or the need. I have the best parents in the whole world, the best brothers, too. And I didn’t want to spoil that, or to become disillusioned if I discovered my biological parents were, well, not such nice people.”

  “I don’t blame you in the least,” agreed Tessa. “And it’s wonderful that you had such a happy childhood, such amazing parents. Not everyone can say the same about their own lives.”

  There was no bitterness in Tessa’s voice, just sadness and perhaps a little bit of envy. Impulsively, Aubrey asked, “What was she like? Your mother, I mean.”

  Tessa gave a sardonic little laugh. “Where do I even begin? She was beautiful and brilliant and could charm total strangers into taking her into their homes - something she did on a regular basis, by the way. But she was also completely irresponsible, flighty, and impetuous, and always unpredictable.” Her voice cracked a little as she added, “And she was also a very sick woman. Mentally, that is. My mother had full blown bipolar disorder, and it got increasingly worse over the years. She was too stubborn to get treatment, or stay on any sort of medication for very long. By the time I was ten years old I never knew what mother I was going to see that day - the happy, carefree gypsy or the one who was too depressed to even crawl out of bed.”

  “My God.” Aubrey felt mildly nauseous at this revelation, not even wanting to imagine what it must have been like for Tessa growing up with such a volatile mother. “How - I mean, was it her illness that caused her death?”

  “Indirectly. She died in a fire, a fire that destroyed the apartment building we were living in at the time in Tucson. I was at an after school job when it happened, s
o I wasn’t there to help get her out in time. When I had left for school that morning, she was too depressed to even get out of bed. I always assumed she slept right through the fire alarms, or was just too out of it to realize the whole place was on fire.”

  Aubrey sank down on the living room sofa, her legs feeling oddly shaky at learning about the sad fate of Tessa’s mother - a woman whom Aubrey was beginning to suspect might have also been her mother.

  “I’m so sorry, Tessa,” she told her kindly. “What happened to you after that?”

  “Too much to go into over the phone,” declared Tessa. “But that was all a long time ago, almost fifteen years now. Sometimes it seems like it all happened to another person, given how different my life is now. And while I might not have had a very easy time of it growing up, ever since I met my husband I’ve been living a fairytale, Aubrey. Ian’s the most wonderful man in the entire world, the best husband and father any woman could ever dream of.”

  There was so much genuine emotion in Tessa’s voice, such undeniable love for her husband, that Aubrey knew without having to ask that she had never been a serious threat for Jordan’s affections. Still, though, Aubrey needed to know one thing.

  “Jordan said that you and Ian were crazy about each other,” recalled Aubrey. “And speaking of Jordan, there’s something I need to ask you. Apparently, if your husband can be believed, Jordan was – is - rather infatuated with you. And I know how he feels about getting involved with married women, plus you don’t seem the sort who’d be unfaithful, not to mention your husband looked like he wanted to beat the crap out of Jordan, so I’m fairly sure you never had an affair with him. But before you got married - did the two of you ever date, or - or…”