Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
The memories hurt.
Right then came the bite of heat on her tongue as the newest flavors penetrated. Feeling her eyes widen at the punch of sensation, she focused on that, on the external. Across from her, Yakov laughed again, generous and warm and beautiful in a way no man had ever before been to her, and said, “Go with it.”
So she did, and decided that the food was delicious.
As was Yakov Stepyrev.
Far, far beyond her reach, but she could pretend he wasn’t for this moment out of time. And she wouldn’t wonder what could’ve been had she had a different life, been a different Theo. Because soon enough, he’d know the terrible, awful truth of her, something even Pax didn’t know.
A stir at the door to the restaurant.
Glancing over, Yakov threw up his hands, a scowl on his face. “No, I got here first!”
Twisting in her seat at the comment that sounded like a reply to a statement that hadn’t yet been made, Theo looked over her shoulder to see . . . Yakov standing there. Only, no, it wasn’t Yakov. This man wore spectacles, and a checked shirt over jeans . . . and he was still a near-perfect replica of Yakov.
Chapter 22
Dear Hien,
Thank you for hosting us for Christmas and New Year in Zürich. We’re still buzzing from the trip—and so excited for you to visit us in turn. We’ve already booked the guest quarters in the city for all four of us, so we can do every one of the sights! Though you must also come back to the den with us often. Everyone wants to meet my famous engineer sister!
And of course, we’ll take our newest siblings out and spoil them so badly that Mom and Dad will pull out their hair. Seeing Otto and Grady settle into the family, begin to smile and act like cubs their age should, it makes my heart grow a size each time I see them.
Amidst all this joy, I do worry about what I hear coming out of the Net. It appears that there was a major shift in the tone of the response to the questionnaire this time around from the last time it was sent out.
It’s clear that the recent spate of serial murders across multiple continents and cities has pushed people to the edge. But that isn’t the right reason to make a decision this big. It’s a decision that could impact generations and it should be made with thought and care.
And yet I know I’m prejudiced in my thoughts, that I resist the idea so much because I know that should the new Silence come into being, it would alter everything, perhaps even destroy the bond between us.
I want our children to grow up together, to become lifelong friends as we are. I want Marian and me to adventure together with you and Kanoa to our silver-haired years. It would shatter my heart to have you distance yourself from me, Hien—and this is what I see in the specter of Silence: a future without my little sister.
Your big brother always,
D.
—Letter from Déwei Nguyen to Hien Nguyen (17 January 1974)
EVEN AS THEO tried to make sense of suddenly seeing double, the other Yakov scowled an identical scowl. “Hey, we booked it first!” he protested. “Seriously? Again?”
Groaning in concert, the two—almost simultaneously—said, “I’m going to pretend you’re not here.”
Laughter from the silver-eyed Psy in a sharp suit of a blue so dark it was almost black, who stood beside the other man. Dramatic cheekbones, olive skin, perfect jawline paired with eyes tilted sharply upward and hair of silky black, he was as close to physical perfection as a man could get.
Yet nothing in Theo reacted to him as she did to Yakov.
Neither did she react to the man who was a carbon copy of Yakov, complete with the dimples.
“You’re hangry, my darling Pasha,” the Psy man said. “Let’s go eat.” He waved at Yakov, then shot Theo a penetrating look before nudging his date to the back of the small restaurant, as far as possible from both Yakov and Theo as well as the courting couple.
“Your brother,” she said to Yakov, her voice husky.
“Pasha.” He made a face in his brother’s direction and, from the glint in his eye, received an equally sour look in return. “Officially Pavel Pain in the Ass Stepyrev.”
“Twins.” Her heart thundered. “You didn’t say.”
“What?” A frown. “No, I guess not. It’s not something to say unless it comes up.”
Of course, he was right. People didn’t go around randomly announcing they were a twin. “I’m a twin,” she blurted out. “It’s not in the records, but I’m a twin. The older twin by two minutes.” It was suddenly so important that he believe her.
“I’m the younger by one minute,” he murmured. “And I knew that—about you and Pax.”