Double Trouble

14

Elena and Lena spent hours sitting on the couch in the Gilbert apartment, telling each other everything. Lena told her mother about her encounter with Elle at camp. How she and her sister got closer, switched roles and how the real Elle was doing in New Orleans.

"I have no doupt she's doing fine. Your father is a great Dad. Always has been." Elena answered.

"So, what's the deal with you and him?" Lena started her interrogation.

And then, Elena told her daughter the story of her and Elijah. How he was the big brother of her classmate Rebekah. How she first met him, how they became friends first before becoming a couple. How happy they were when they got married and how much they enjoyed becoming parents. But, much to Lena's disappointment, even her mother did not know why Elijah had filed for divorce and left to New Orleans eventually. He never told her why he was doing what he did. In fact, it seemed like he never told anyone.

Lena sighed. "Well, I guess we have to get this out of Dad then." And as she thought of her father and sister, she suddenly jumped off the couch and gasped. "O my god, I completely forgot! The music contest! Elle needs me!"

"Contest? What are you talking about?" Elena asked in confusion.

"The music contest in Richmond, today! I was gonna go there by bus, so Elle and I can switch places! Because she doesn't know how to play the piano! Dad would notice!" Lena quickly explained. "I have to get ready!"

"You're not going there alone! I'll take you! When is it?" Elena replied determinedly and headed towards the  hall stand where her coat and shoes were waiting.

"It starts at 6 o'clock!" Lena yelled from her room while changing.

The brunette woman checked her watch. "My god, that's in half and hour! Come on, we have to hurry, sweetheart!"

***

Richmond

Elle had looked around the theatre for her sister, but she could not find her. Now, she was anxiously sitting on a chair in a room where all the contestants sat until the guy with the clipboard called them onstage.

An hour passed and the room slowly got emptier and emptier. Finally, it was only Elle left in the room and still no Lena anywhere.

"Lena? It's your turn now, come on!" the clipboard-guy said. Elle felt a big lump in her throat when she followed him, fear rising in her. She was shaking.

On stage, there was a big piano standing there, waiting for its player. In that moment, Elle felt like that piano was threatening her. Clutching the book with Lena's music notes in it, she slowly approached the piano and sat down. With shaky hands, she placed the book on the holder and pretended to look for the right page for a few seconds.

People from the audience started to murmur quietly, wondering what took her so long. Elle barely heard them. She only saw the music notes and they seemed even more intimidating to her than the piano. She let her fingers hover over the keys, preparing herself for an utter embarassment and the complete failiure of her and her sister's plan.

"Elle!"

Someone behind her whispered her name. Relief flooded her entire body when she recognized the voices of her sister and mother. She let out a deep sigh. Then, she cheerfully turned to the clipboard-guy and told him she had the wrong music book. With that excuse, she swiftly left the stage and a few seconds later, a girl that looked exactly like her came back.

Lena had not played the piano in months, but when she sat down, it felt to her like coming home. Energy and joy rushed through her as she started playing. She poured her soul into the music and let it take her to her own world of tones. The other people, the contest, everything else faded for a moment. There was nothing but her, the piano and the music.

When Lena finished her play, there was a moment of silence. Then, the people in the audience began to clap enthisiastically and cheer for her. Elijah was beaming with pride. Lena looked at her Dad and smiled. This was not just any contest. It was the forst time that both of her parents were there to hear her perform. When she looked to her right, Elena was still standing behind the curtain, clapping and beaming too. And, of course, Elle. Elle was relieved that her sister had come in time, impressed and proud of her play and incredibly happy to see her. Overwhelmed by emotions, the Gilbert girl now ran onstage and lovingly hugged her sister.

The audience was, to say the least, surprised. Two completely identical girls! This was something they did not see often. Elijah's smile vanished and shock pierced his bones when he saw his second daughter enter the stage as well. He immediately stood up and made his way to the stage.

Hayley saw the second girl too, but she did not know who she was. Given the resemblance between the two girls, she knew the most likely reason for it. And she did not like it one bit.

"Elijah! Would you care to explain this??" she said in a halfway collected manner, but when she went to look at her man, he was not sitting in his seat anymore.

Elena saw her daughters becoming uncomfortable and heard the murmurs in the audience. Quickly, she pulled the straps which were holding the curtains. Elle and Lena shot their mother grateful glances when the curtains fell and hid the twins from the curious eyes of the audience.

In that moment, Elijah came onto the stage from the left side. While Elena was still standing on the right. His eyes widened and his breath stopped for a moment when he saw his ex-wife standing before him.

"Elena!" he said, his voice barely a whisper.

The brunette had known that he would probably be there, but nothing could have prepared her for seeing him again.

"Elijah!" she breathed out.