“I swear, I’m not breaking up with another one of your boyfriends. No more twin swapping. You’re just going to have to grow a pair and do it yourself. Come home from Africa or India or wherever you are this time, go knock on the poor guy’s door, and say, ‘Hi, So-and-So, you’re a great guy, but this isn’t working for me anymore.’”
“I’m in Alaska. And no. That’s not it, I promise. I’ve been stuck out here in the middle of nowhere for a week, waiting for some engine parts to come in to fix the village’s one and only plane. But if I don’t show up for the contract job by tomorrow, I’m going to lose it. I already spent the good faith advance they gave me to pay for the first month of Mom’s rehab. I just need you to go to Italy, sign the contract for me, and pretend to be me for a few days to make everyone happy. You’ll have to hurry, though. My flight leaves in about three hours. Just remember to use my passport since the tickets are in my name.”
“Italy?! Three hours?!” Katy whisper shouted, her large brown eyes opened wide with incredulity. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not kidding. And Katy, this deal will pay me more than enough to cover all of Mom’s rehab and pay off the house.”
“Is this a joke?”
“No. These people are the real deal and very serious. And rich. Really, really rich.”
“Let me guess, you have to pay back the advance if you cancel.” Katy sighed. The price of just one month of their mom’s rehab would cover the rent on their small, two-bedroom emergency apartment for more than a year.
“I told you, I paid for Mom’s rehab. I have to keep this contract.”
“What kind of job pays that much?”
“I can’t tell you. I signed an NDA.”
Perfect. Just like Emily to sign a non-disclosure agreement. “Did you really sign an NDA? Or do you not want to tell me what you’re doing because I won’t approve?” Nothing new there. Emily had enough wild child in her bones for both of them. Which was why Katy had the steady job and the boring, predictable life. Katy’s boss might be a tyrant, but the law firm offered a reliable paycheck.
“It’s an emergency. You know I wouldn’t ask if I had any other options.”
That was debatable. But Emily wasn’t a liar. If she said this job would cover all their mom’s bills and pay off the mortgage on the burned-to-a-crisp house, she meant it.
“Three hours? Really? That’s barely enough time to get to the airport and through security, let alone go home to change and pack! And what kind of papers are you signing that you can’t e-sign? Everyone signs papers online now. It’s a thing! You can even buy a house that way! Are you buying a house? In Italy?”
Emily laughed. “Calm down. Not everyone likes to sign online. There is a property involved as part of a larger negotiation. These people are traditional. Eccentric. They’re Italian. Old money. Like ancient castles, old. They insisted on an in-person signature. No big deal. I even had a corporate attorney look all the papers over. These people are legit. As for the trip, you’ll be fine. I packed all the essentials when I was at your place a couple weeks ago. I knew I would be on a tight schedule, just not quite this tight. Go home, grab my luggage—it’s in the hall closet—and head to the airport. You can eat once you get past security if you’re really hungry. When you land, there will be someone waiting to pick you up. Well, waiting to pick me up.”
Katy’s stomach lurched. “Italy? I don’t know, Em.”
“My passport and ticket are in the front pocket of my carry-on.”
Too bad their passports had been in a fireproof safe in the basement. If they’d burned, Emily wouldn’t be able to ask her to go to Italy on such short notice. “I can’t leave. What about my job? What about Mom?”
“Your job stinks. You can find a new, better one after you get back. And you have been taking care of everything since the fire. Let me help you out. The doc said she’ll be in the new rehab facility for at least six weeks. They’ll treat her like a queen. Please say you’ll go?” Emily cajoled. “You need a vacation. You can hang out by the pool. Maybe do some shopping. I’ll meet you there by the end of the week. I promise. Twin swear.”
Katy squeezed her eyes tightly shut, her heart filled with longing at the idea of strolling the streets of Italy, wearing a sundress and sandals, shopping, sipping Italian wine. The vision momentarily buried her misgivings. Was that why Emily had been so secretive lately? She should have pushed her sister harder. Instead, she’d been so busy working extra-long hours trying to cover all the bills, she’d ignored her sister’s unhappiness, assuming that, like her, she was stressed and worried about their mother. Tired from working so hard.
Katy groaned. They’d always dreamed of going to Italy together. How did her twin always manage to make everything sound so simple and appealing? “And that’s it? Show up, smile, and pretend to be you for a few days?”
“Exactly!” Emily clapped her hands through the phone, her words filled with relief. “As I said, I already reviewed all the paperwork. All you have to do is sign my name. Thanks, Boo!”
“Wait! I haven’t said…” Katy cut her words short at the telltale click as the line went dead.
Great. Now all I have to do is tell my boss I need another week off and hope she doesn’t fire me. Or pray maybe she does.