Dear Daddy,

I went to school today. I had a math test. I hate math so much, but Mommy helped me study for it. It was our times tables. Twelves. We're getting into the really big numbers now! Anyway, I was outside on the playground with Marina, swinging on the swing set. Marina and I jumped off, which we're not supposed to do, but I think Brady was the only one who noticed. Brady just winked at us. Marina and I walked to jungle gym and I climbed to the top. You can see the best up there. I looked around the playground and I saw a woman standing the tall oak tree by the edge of the school. For a moment, I thought it was Mommy. She was tall and pretty and blond. Their hair was even cut the same way. She had a camera out and she was snapping lotsa pictures. I waved at her and she started to laugh. I don't know why she was laughing, so I turned around to see if Marina saw her. When we looked back, she was gone. I wondered who she was. I couldn't wait to tell Mommy I saw her twin!

Mommy wasn't nearly as happy about it as I was. We were eating dinner, spaghetti, when I mentioned it. I said, "Today, at school, I saw a lady that looked just like you. I thought it was you for a minute. How cool is that?"

Mommy started to cough, like she'd started to choke. She took a sip of water before coming over to my chair. She kneeled in front of me. "Chloe, where was she?"

"At school. I said that!"

"No. Where at your school?"

"By a tree. We were playing outside. Marina saw her, too. I'm not making it up!"

"I didn't think you were. Was she doing anything?"

I looked back and forth, between Mommy and Angel. Angel had stopped eating and she was just staring at me. They both looked very upset. I was already regretting telling Mommy about her twin.

"She was taking lots of pictures. All over the school and the playground. I bet she was a photographer just like you used to be, Mommy."

Mommy leaned back on her feet before getting up. She walked to the phone and called Uncle Bailey.

Uncle Bailey, Uncle George, and John came over really fast. A couple of others came, too, including a guy who said he was an artist. He likes to draw pictures like Angel does. Mommy was pacing a lot, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I was really sorry I'd told her about her twin by now. The drawer was sitting next to me on the couch.

"What did the lady look like, Chloe?" Mommy asked again.

I gave her a look before I rolled my eyes. "I told you. She looked like you."

Mommy smiled a little. "Which is?"

"Blond hair, white skin, tall, pretty...ummm...I couldn't see her eyes or anything. I was far away. I just..."

I stopped talking. I wanted to cry all of a sudden. Mommy was still pacing, the drawer was sketching, and Uncle Bailey looked really mad. Uncle George was typing really fast on his computer, like he was trying to find something about the Mommy-look-alike. John muttered something like, "Shoulda known Jill looked like you, Sam. That only makes sense."

"Who is Jill?"

John had a shocked expression on his face. It's like he thinks I'm deaf just because I'm little.

"I was just thinking about that nursery rhyme. You know, Jack and Jill."

"Oh. Why?"

"I don't know. It just popped into my head."

John did the look exchange with the others. They think I miss those too.

"I just want to go to bed now."

"Chlo, it's only eight. You don't have to go to bed for an hour." Mommy said.

"I know. But I'm tired. Maybe John can tuck me in and tell me a story."

"Bailey, you think we could finish this tomorrow?"

"Sure, Sam. James, come on, let's go on. George, John?"

"Coming, Bailey." George said while he folded his computer into a bag.

"Oh, no. I'll be staying here tonight."

All of them stopped, even Angel.

"What?" Bailey said.

"I'm staying her tonight. I'm not going to let them stay here alone."

'There are six agents downstairs."

"Well, it won't hurt if they have an extra one up here."

"John..."

"I am."

Mommy was watching John with the special look again. She always looks so peaceful when she watches him like that. Angel looked far from peaceful. She had crossed her arms and she was tapping her foot. Uncle Bailey finally nodded and then smiled at me.

"Good night, Chloe. I"ll see you in the morning, Sam."

"Night, Bailey."

So everyone except John left. Suddenly, crying didn't seem so important. John was going to stay with us tonight! I wanted to jump up and down, but I didn't think that'd make Mommy happy.

I changed into my pajamas and brushed my teeth. John and Mommy came into my room to tuck me in. "John, where are you sleeping?"

"On the couch, Chloe-Girl."

"You can stay in here with me! I have room!"

John grinned at me. He looked really happy for a minute.

"Thanks, Sweetheart, but I'll be okay on the couch. Now, that story you volunteered me to tell is ready. So, why don't you settle in and I'll get started."

I nodded and slid under the covers. Mommy pulled them up to my chin and John sat down on the edge of the bed. He brushed the hair off of my forehead and I saw Mommy watching us. She looked happy and sad all at once. I wished I knew why. I was happy. Mommy should be, too. "Once upon a time..."

John started telling me a story about a Mama Bear and a Baby Bear. But I was hardly listening. I couldn't stop watching Mommy. She had closed her eyes and her mouth was all twisty. Then I saw her cheeks shining. She was crying. I wanted to jump out of the bed, but I don't think she wanted us to know she was so sad. I wondered if she was thinking about Daddy. Sometimes I still cry when I think about him. But I didn't ask. And before I knew it, John was done with the story. I smiled at him and closed my eyes.

"Good night, Chloe-Girl."

"G'night, John. G'night, Mommy."

She swallowed and said, "Night, Sweetheart." And she turned off the light with John following her out the door. I heard them whispering for half the night in the living room before I fell asleep.

Love,

Chloe Waters