Epilogue 2
EVELYN
Los Angeles – California.
Two weeks later...
Ever since my cell phone alarm went off at seven in the morning, I had the clear feeling that that day would be very different from the others.
Initially, it was strange to wake up in such a luxurious room, in a hotel that I could never afford to stay at.
The reason, however, was strictly professional.
I had been working as a Spanish translator on the weekends.
Knowing this, Michael, my best friend's husband, had recommended my services to his brother Logan Turner, who was going to participate in a large conference that brought together doctors from all over the Americas.
I barely knew the guy. I only saw him from afar during Camila and Michael's wedding.
He had arrived shortly before the ceremony began and left as soon as it was over.
A week later, his secretary called me with the job offer.
And of course, I accepted. I was so deep in debt that I needed all the extra money I could get.
I got out of bed and started walking towards the bathroom, but stopped when my phone emitted a notification sound.
When I picked it up, I found text messages sent from an unknown number.
UNKNOWN:
How long are you going to keep running away from me, love?
Give me a chance.
We need to talk.
Please call me.
I rolled my eyes, wondering how Peter could be so cheeky. No matter how many times I blocked him, he always insisted on sending me messages through some other SIM card.
After everything he had done to me, it was very arrogant of him to think that I would agree to talk to him.
As I had done every other time, I blocked that new number.
I put my cell phone back on the table next to the bed and went to the bathroom, where I brushed my teeth and took a long shower.
The agreement was that I would meet Dr. Logan Turner in the hotel lobby at eight thirty in the morning, since the conference activities would start at nine.
I had arrived at the hotel the night before and thought I would still see my client. Which didn't happen.
A shame, because he was quite the eye candy.
However, he had one huge flaw: apparently, he was quite antisocial. It was a good thing that this would only be a working relationship for two days.
At least, that was the plan...
I finished my shower and got dressed in a suit that was very appropriate for the formality of the event. I tied my long brown hair in a ponytail, put on some makeup and left the room.
As soon as the elevator door opened upon reaching the ground floor, I noticed a strange movement in the lobby.
There was a rush, loud voices talking at the same time and, near the door, a small crowd was gathered around something that, from where I was, I couldn't see.
I could’ve simply gone on my way, if it weren’t for the fact that I had a huge interest in gossip. The first thing that came to mind was the possibility of some celebrity being at the hotel.
I started walking with the intention of getting closer to the place, but I stopped when I saw something curious. At the bottom of a large cart used to carry luggage, there was a child, apparently trying to hide.
I bent down, getting a better look at her.
“Hi,” I said, seeing that it was a little girl who must have been about six years old at most. “Are you lost?”
She shrank even more. She looked so scared. Maybe it was all the commotion around here.
I insisted, “Hey... How are you?” I paused, waiting for some response. She was staring at me, but didn't say a single word. “Did you lose your mother? Is she somewhere in this hotel?”
After a brief pause, she shook her head.
“Your daddy, then? Someone responsible for you?” She nodded. And I smiled. “That's great. Can you show me where he is?”
I held out my hands and she came towards me, emerging from her hiding place. Once standing, she pointed to the cluster of people in the middle of the lobby.
“Ah... is he there? In the middle of that mess? That's great. That must be why you ran, right?”
She remained quiet and gripped my hand tightly. I started walking, leading her toward the small crowd that was gathering around something.
Or rather, someone. That’s when I finally recognized the man who was the target of several camera flashes and a barrage of questions from what appeared to be journalists. Lots of them. More than twenty, mixed in with other people who just seemed curious about the situation.
But what had happened there? Had Dr. Turner made a medical mistake and killed a patient, or something like that?
Only then did I notice he was holding a little girl’s hand.
A little girl identical to the one I was with. They were clearly twin sisters.
“Rory!” she yelled, pulling away from Logan Turner and running toward us.
All eyes followed her, turning to me.
The two little girls hugged each other tightly. The journalists, who had previously seemed to be asking Dr. Turner questions, practically ran towards me. Photo flashes began to go off, while cell phones, microphones and recorders were held out in my direction.
Amidst a crowd of voices, a reporter spoke louder, asking me a question, “What's your name?”
What the hell was going on, my God?
If Dr. Turner had actually killed someone, I had nothing to do with it!
“Evelyn García,” I replied, confused.
The same woman asked another question.
“So, you're the mother?”
“ Whose mother?” I asked.
It was a ridiculous question on my part, since it would have been more effective to answer emphatically with a no. I didn't have any children, after all.
Before anyone there could explain to me what all that was about, Logan Turner's voice stood out as he practically shouted from where he was standing, “Yes, it's her. She's the mother of my daughters.”
More shots were fired, completely blinding me.
I couldn't understand what was happening there. It was as if I was still asleep, trapped inside a dream that made no sense.
After all, how could I have just woken up one day and been publicly declared the mother of Logan Turner's children?
Of the daughters that, apparently, no one even had any idea he had.
To be continued...