CHAPTER THREE - Mirror Image

Walking up that staircase seemed to take a lifetime. With each and every step, my heart started beating faster and faster, my flustered thoughts racing through my mind. As we neared the landing, I stopped and clutched the railing. It was like I couldn't breathe, like all my breath had suddenly been sucked out of me. I felt Pete's hand on my waist and it brought me back to reality. I slowly sucked the air in and started to breathe heavily.

Definitely not the best time to have an anxiety attack.

From where we were standing, I could see flashes of light and hear the quick snapping of a camera, while a male voice was saying "Good. Now hold your head higher – Perfect – One more – That's great!" and then even more snapping.

Pete and I rounded the corner and we came in full view of the studio area. White backdrops, tall lamps shining incredibly bright lights onto a model, perfectly made up and dressed in a gold evening gown. Rock music was loudly playing on a stereo that was propped up on a stool.

Then – I saw him. Craig Manning. My dad... possibly.

I was surprised to see that he seemed as out of place like we were, with his messy curly hair, dressed in jeans, sneakers and a plaid flannel shirt over an old Led Zepplin T-shirt. He didn't seem notice us standing there. He seemed completely absorbed in what he was doing.

Pete nudged me and nodded in Craig's direction. I made a face and slowly cleared my throat. I gripped Pete's hand tightly.

"Hello?" I said. Craig didn't look up. "Hello?" I said, louder. Still nothing. The stereo was blaring. I looked over desperately at Pete. Once more, he nodded in Craig's direction. I sighed.

As soon as I turned back though, Craig's eyes met mine. He had stopped for a quick second and looked up from his work. My heart literally stopped at that one moment. Soon enough, it started racing.

I saw Craig's eyebrows furrow and he mouthed something to himself, which I couldn't hear over the music. He reached over and turned the stereo off and started walking over to us, one hand holding the camera, the other one outstretched. That same weird look was still on his face.

"Hi. I'm Craig Manning." I tentatively shook his hand. I was at a loss for words. I could see him searching my face with his eyes. I started to feel uncomfortable, and looked over cautiously to Pete. I guess Craig caught my look because he quickly apologized.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," he said. "I-I just had this weird feeling. This is going to sound weird, but when I saw you standing here, I honest to God thought it was a blast from the past. You look like a mirror image of my wife when we were younger."

I let out a shaky breath. I felt faint, like I couldn't handle what was happening. Wow.

This really was him – how could I deny it now? I was talking to my father.

I didn't know what to do, what to say. I didn't know whether to cry, smile or scream to the world that I had finally finally found the one person I had been wondering about my whole life.