Reflection

Chapter 16

"Ms. Pavesi," the detective began as he returned to the room after what felt like hours.

"It's Ms. Lapu," I defiantly murmured.

"Mmhmm, as I said, Ms. Pavesi, we have spoken to your family, Charlie Turner, and your boss at Brown and Associates. Antonia Lapu has been in New York City until yesterday when she traveled to Washington, D.C., with her mother to be reunited with her family."

"What?" Disbelief filled me.

"This is what I believe happened. You, Ephie Pavesi, robbed that bank. When you met your twin yesterday, you realized you had an out. You could pose as Antonia and go undetected. Unfortunately, your brother realized your plan and turned you in. Isn't that right?"

"No, I am Antonia. Where is my mom? She will know."

"Your family is here with Antonia. I can bring them in," he sighed as he stood.

Moments later, my family was there. Nick, Peter, my mom, Ephie, all crowded into the room. Their eyes all slipped to my handcuffed hands before dropping to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Ephie," Nick began. "But when I learned what you had planned for Antonia... I just couldn't let it happen."

It was an admirable performance, with just enough of a heartbreaking warble to make me even feel sympathy for him.

"Mom, it's me," I pleaded, leaning towards her, but my mom recoiled just as she had in the library when Ephie entered.

It was the final nail. My mother recoiling from me was proof that I was now Ephie. There was no one left that would believe me.

"I'm sorry, Ephie. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I didn't stay to help you. I'm sorry that you ended up this way," my mom crumbled.

"It's okay, mom," Ephie soothed as my mom leaned heavily into her shoulder, thinking it was mine. My mom was pulling from the strength of our bond, but Ephie had stolen that bond. 

"Ephie, we will get you an excellent lawyer. I knew you were in trouble. I just never thought you would take it this far," Peter lamented.

"She has a good case for insanity," the detective noted. "She really thinks she is Antonia."

"What?" Ephie shot in shock. "She thinks she is me?"

"Yes, she has quite the tale," the detective noted.

"Oh, Ephie, my dear sweet sister. I wish things were different," she cooed. "But we'll visit you. And when you get out, we will be here for you, to love you. Nothing will ever change that!"

Peter smiled at his daughter, the daughter that had stayed with him and grown up in with the strength of the Pavesi family. Even I began to question who I was. Was I Antonia? Was I the kindhearted daughter? Or was I Ephie?

I gave up. The game was over, and Ephie and Nick had won. They had planned out each step. There were no coincidental meetings; there were no fond recollections of our lives together; there were no vows of forgiveness. Each moment since the robbery had been carefully constructed to manipulate and twist. Now, I was Ephie, and she was Antonia.

At least as I sat in my cell staring at the nefarious face that haunted my every reflection, it was over. I knew what each new day would bring to me. There was peace in the schedule.

"Pavesi, you have a visitor," the guard barked from my doorway.

"I do?" I blinked up from my bed.

Four months; I had been there for four months without a single visit. It was proof that my own mother had been fooled, but maybe this was a glimmer of hope. Perhaps Ephie's act had slipped.

I tugged at my boxy orange jumpsuit as I shuffled to the visitor area. There, sitting at a table, was me, my former self.

"Hello, Ephie," she smiled up at me. "Please, join me. I'm so sorry I haven't been by to visit, but I've just been so busy."

"Busy?" I echoed back to her in a daze. Busy was never a word that would define me again.

"Yes, well, I've moved here... to D.C." Her eyes gleamed as she continued to play the role of Antonia. "Unfortunately, Charlie and I broke up, but I am sure you saw that coming," she smiled.

"I am working with Nick and Daddy," she proudly smiled.

"Does he know?" I pressed.

"Know what?"

"Does Peter know?"

"Peter knows everything, silly. I would never keep a secret from my dad. He misses you, though, but we all know this is what is best for you." Her brows furrowed as she continued to relay the updates of the family. "The structure is good for you. That is what Mom and Dad say. They are lovely, by the way. Daddy is so happy to have mom back. And I have loved getting to know him. He has been telling me all these wonderful stories of when I was little."

"You've stolen my life," I growled.

"I've stolen nothing. If I had, I would be the one in that lovely jumpsuit. Orange isn't my color, though," she giggled. She bowed her head low to me as her open, friendly face slipped away. "I told you I had already won. You stole our mother from us. Now, we have her back. Our family is what it was supposed to be."

"You can't win a game when only you are playing!" I snarled.

"Well, it appears that is not true. After all, Nick and I have everything we've ever wanted, and you... well, you have an hour in the yard three times a week," she teased. She then straightened and returned her face to the open, warm expression. "I tried to bring you some of Grandma's cooking, but I suppose they were afraid we'd bake a file in it or something. You look thin; how is the food?"

"I look like my biggest nightmare," I barked.

"Oh, dear. Are you still suffering from those terrible nightmares? Nick told me of the visions you had been having." She shook her head at the thought of them. "Imagine watching someone slice their own hand open," she smiled as she held up her hand, revealing the scar.

"I was the victim, too. I was taken. Why did you do this to me?"

"You were never a victim. You were too perfect to be a victim. You convinced Mom I was evil, that the only way to protect you was to leave us. This is what you did."

"Is that how you convinced Nick? Peter?"

Ephie let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, Ephie, you always have had such a wicked sense of humor. Nick and Daddy didn't need any convincing. This was our plan."

"What?"

"You took our mother from them, too. Now we have her back, and we will not be sharing ever again." Ephie's eyes were cold as they bore into me.

"When I get out of here, I will come for you, all of you. I have the Pavesi genes in me now," I promised.

"Oh, this sounds like fun. Isn't life better when you have nothing to lose?" She asked. "I gave that to you, the clarity."

"You gave me nothing but a reason to hate you," I shot.

"Daddy always says that hate is just a form of curdled love. So, I love you too, sis," Ephie winked. "Anyway, I have to get going. I hope you'll forgive me, but I don't think you'll get many more visitors. It's just too hard for Mom and Dad. As for Nick and I, well..." She stood up and looked down at me in disgust. "We are just so busy. Goodbye, Ephie."

I watched her pace away, carrying my life with her.