The Lost Pack

** Paige’s POV **

The school was fantastic, and all the staff were very welcoming. The head teacher, who prefers to be called Regina rather than Mrs Green, didn’t seem at all phased when I explained Jaxon’s history at his previous school.

By the time the tour was over, Jax had already made friends with a few of the kids, and he hadn’t wanted to leave. Regina had agreed for him to start with half days tomorrow before he starts full-time next week.

The walk back through town had been nice. We had stopped for ice cream at a small parlour. Then we had picked up some art supplies from a craft shop, so Jaxon can sit in the garden and paint, whilst I call the utility companies to get everything set up.

I’m still on hold with the internet company when there’s a knock at the door. I glance at Jax, who is still sitting in the back garden painting, and move to answer the door. Poppy hadn’t said she was visiting today, and we don’t know anyone here yet, so I’m tempted to ignore it, but curiosity gets the better of me and I open the door.

My heart seizes for a second when Ryder’s face stares back at me with a grin and my eyes shift to his hand, checking for the birthmark.

“Hey, sorry to call unannounced, but I was passing and thought maybe Jaxon wanted to kick a ball around,” Callen says with a ball tucked under his arm.

Before I can even respond, he pulls a small card from his pocket and hands it to me.

My number,” he says casually. “In case he ever wants a rematch, or if you need anything while you’re settling in.” 

I take it, tucking it into my back pocket.

He has changed his clothes since I saw him a few hours ago. Swapping out his black shorts and T-shirt for a baby blue T-shirt that makes his eyes look even more blue.

“Um… he’s actually busy at the moment,” I say, just as Jaxon runs in, holding up his painting and proudly declaring he’s finished.

“Callen!” Jax shouts excitedly when he spots him at the door. He runs towards him, tripping over his unfastened shoelace and landing with a heavy thud on the wooden floor against the wall.

“I’m okay,” Jax declares before I have a chance to ask him.

“Slow down, buddy, there’s no need to rush,” Callen says.

I help Jaxon to his feet and check him over. He doesn’t seem injured, but his painting is completely destroyed, as well as the once immaculate wall.

Blue, red and yellow paint is smeared down the wall like a crude attempt at a rainbow on the magnolia wall.

“Sh*t,” I curse under my breath and rush to the kitchen for a cloth. This is not the first impression I want to give to the landlord when he visits tomorrow.

“I’m sorry, mummy,” Jaxon says with tear-filled eyes as he looks at the mess on the wall.

“It’s okay, baby, it was an accident,” I reassure whilst I wipe the paint from the wall, which only seems to make it worse as I smear it further.

“Here, let me help. It was my fault for turning up unannounced,” Callen says, stepping into the house and holding out a hand for the cloth.

I’m about to protest when the phone tucked under my ear finally connects to an agent. I nod and hand the cloth to Callen to take the call. If I didn’t need the internet for work, I’d have hung up and called back tomorrow, but their call centre closes soon, and I need to get connected as soon as possible to meet the manuscript deadline.

I go through all my details and haggle a good deal on a TV and broadband package as I watch Callen and Jaxon clean the wall. Then they go out in the back garden to kick the football around whilst I watch them through the window.

When I end the call, I stay at the window watching Jaxon play. He looks so happy and thoroughly enjoying playing football. Greg never had time to play with him this way. He was always too tired or too busy, and I never was good at sports. My dad always said I had two left feet.

As I watch them, I can’t stop my mind from imagining another life. If Ryder hadn’t disappeared on me, and we lived together as a family for the last six years. Would this be how our life would have looked? Jax and Ryder out in the garden playing ball games whilst I prepare dinner? I catch myself smiling at the imagined life, and then I sigh.

I need to ask Callen if he has any siblings. I think that is the best way to see if he knows about Ryder, because no one can convince me they are not twins. I can’t ask in front of Jaxon, though. If Callen reveals he is Ryder’s brother and something awful happened or Ryder doesn’t want to meet Jax, then I’ll just be putting my son through unnecessary hurt.

I step out the back door, and Callen grins at me. “I think you have a future football star in the making here.”

“I scored a goal!” Jax says, throwing his hand up in the air.

“I know, I saw it. Well done Jax, it was a great goal,” I smile.

“Can Callen stay for dinner?” Jaxon asks, his big blue eyes full of hope.

“I’m sure Callen already has plans.”

“I don’t,” Callen shrugs.

“Great,” I force a smile, not keen on having him over for dinner when we only met him a few hours ago.

“How about I order a takeout? There’s a great Italian that does delivery and their lasagne is to die for,” Callen says with a groan.

“I like lasagne,” Jaxon nods.

“Three portions of lasagne, then?” Callen asks, looking at me.

“Sure, and thank you for helping with the wall and Jaxon.”

“It’s no problem.”

Although I didn’t want him to stay, I can see how much Jaxon enjoys having him here, and it takes his mind off Greg. Plus, I might find some time to ask him some questions when Jax is out of earshot.

Callen was right. The lasagne was amazing, and I had to fight the urge to groan like he had when it seemed to melt in my mouth. After dinner, I send Jaxon upstairs to wash and change into his pyjamas whilst we clear the table.

“You are good with kids. Do you have a lot of little ones in your family?” I ask, trying not to sound like I’m interrogating him.

“No, not in my family, but there are several kids in my... friend group.” He paused, making me suspect he’d rather have used different words.

“So, do you have a lot of family here in town?”

“Not really. I grew up in foster care and only recently found out I have a brother,” he says as we carry the empty plates to the sink.

A cold ripple slides down my spine. Jaxon’s eyes. Jaxon’s smile. Ryder’s face. It all collapses together so fast my brain can’t keep up. My heart pounds in my chest and my breath catches in my throat. I almost drop the plates into the sink as my hands tremble.

“An older brother, or younger?” I ask, my voice coming out higher-pitched than I’d like.

“I’m not actually sure. We are twins, and we don’t know which one of us was born first, but I think I’m the older one,” he laughs.

The world tilts, and for a second, I’m back in that hospital room, holding a newborn with Ryder’s eyes and no way to reach the man who left me to raise him alone.

“And he lives here in town?”

“Yes, just on the outskirts,” he says.

My head suddenly feels funny, and I grip the countertop to steady myself. I was right. He is Ryder’s twin, and Ryder is alive and right here, in the town I have just moved to. Is this fate or a cosmic coincidence?

I have no idea what to say next. Do I tell him his twin is Jaxon’s father? Do I demand he take me to him or call him and tell him to come here? How do I approach this and keep my son safe?

If he’s Ryder’s twin… then Ryder is close. Too close. And I can’t let anyone, especially a stranger with his face, see me unravel.