I continued cooking while keeping an eye on Luke as he picked up a crayon.
Throughout dinner, Luke was relentless in talking about Luna. He told me about her favorite clothes, her preference for wearing her hair in braids or pigtails, and how much she loved swimming.
“Mom, she’s amazing. You’re gonna love her!” he exclaimed, taking a sip from his juice box.
Jeff hadn’t returned from work yet, so I was solely focused on Luke. The more he talked about Luna, the more I realized she held a special place in his heart.
“Do you think you have a picture of Luna?” I asked Luke as I was washing the dishes.
He dashed to his bedroom and came back with his class photo. I’d seen it before, but my eyes had always been drawn to my son’s goofy grin and wrinkled nose. I couldn’t recall paying attention to anyone else. But when Luke pointed out a girl in the photo, I was stunned. She not only resembled Luke but also bore an uncanny likeness to my mother – in – law in her younger days. My heart sank.
The resemblance to Luke was one thing, but to Jeff’s mother? That was undeniable. And Luke’s excitement at finding a “long – lost sibling” only intensified my growing sense of unease.
“Why don’t we invite Luna over?” I suggested to Luke. “If her mom is okay with it, you two can have a playdate.”
Luke’s eyes sparkled as he slipped into bed, clutching his teddy bear.
“Do you think she’ll really come?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.
“I’ll talk to her mom tomorrow when I drop you off,” I replied, getting ready for our story – time.
By the time Jeff got home, he was too exhausted for me to tell him about Luke’s mysterious “sister.” He had his dinner and promptly went to bed.
I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. I delved deep into the internet, searching for reasons why children might look alike. I read about doppelgängers and other odd phenomena. The more I read, the more unsettled I became.
Finally, I headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea, desperate to calm my nerves.