Chapter 40 – Strange Reception

After the weekend, Claire comes home, upset. She walks around the back where JP and Noa are cleaning up the vacant lot next to the kitchen.

“My bag’s been stolen!” she exclaims. “Right at work, from my locker!” She plops down on a pile of stones.

The men look at her in surprise.

“That should be a safe environment,” says Noa.

JP calmly places the rake against the wall and picks up his phone. “I’m going to call Frits.”

Lisa comes outside. It’s as if she sensed something is wrong, because she looks worried.

Claire explains what happened; she’s calmed down a bit now.

“I feel so empty without my bag,” she concludes softly.

“I was just about to get the mail from the mailbox, but someone else already did it,” Lisa says dryly. “It was broken into and emptied in broad daylight!” she continues indignantly. “Hopefully there wasn’t anything unusual in the mail.”

When Frits enters the kitchen a little later, JP is just setting down a mug of tea for Claire.

“I found this mail on the street,” he says, holding up two envelopes in his hand. He places them on the table, and Lisa immediately looks at them.

“I saw your broken-in mailbox too,” he says. “What’s going on here?”

When it remains quiet, he turns to Claire.

“I immediately reported your stolen bag to the office. Have you blocked your card yet?” he asks Claire.

“I’ll do that right away,” she says. “Luckily, I brought my phone to my desk. Thanks for your trouble, Frits.”

“You’re welcome,” he replies. “I’m glad I could help you.”

That same day, JP repairs the mailbox.

A few days later, the DNA tests arrive. JP and Frits want to take the tests together, but Mimi doesn’t think that’s a good idea; She doesn’t want to risk infection. The men look at each other nervously, shrug, and take turns opening their mouths while Mimi solemnly runs the swabs along the inside of their cheeks.

At the end of the week, the two couples head north to visit Jean Paul’s parents. Flora and Frits remain behind the hedge when JP rings the doorbell with Lana beside him. He doesn’t want to startle his parents by taking Frits along right away. His mother has been depressed and withdrawn for as long as he can remember. He’s had little contact with his younger brother and sister. They rarely see each other and only speak on birthdays.

In the living room, over a cup of coffee, Bernard and Elise talk about how his brother and sister are doing. They don’t ask anything about JP or Lana and barely look at Lana. She feels uncomfortable around her in-laws. JP notices and abruptly cuts off a lengthy story about his brother.

“Do I have a brother you haven’t told me about?”

The living room falls silent. Then his mother starts to cry.

“I knew this was coming,” she mumbles through her sobs.

“No,” Bernard says curtly, “you couldn’t have known.”

Elise blows her nose, straightens her shoulders, and looks at her eldest son.

“Have you met him?”

“Yes,” JP answers. “And you can too, because he’s standing right here on the doorstep.”

His mother is startled and a moment later looks at him hopefully, her eyes wet. Bernard sits sullenly next to her on the couch, his arms tightly crossed.

“Please go get him,” Elise says softly.

A moment later, Frits and Flora follow JP inside. Flora sits next to Lana on the couch.

“You’re twins too!” Elise exclaims.

“Are we twins too?” JP asks, surprised.

His mother nods. “Identical.”

She gets up and walks over to Frits. “Can I hug you, son?”

Fritts nods. When he puts his arms around her, she breathes a sigh of relief and a happy smile spreads across her face. Then she sees Bernard’s face. He’s still sitting still, glaring at her. Her expression darkens. She pulls away and sits back down next to her husband.

Elise looks at the four young people, amazed and moved: Lana and Flora on one bench, JP and Frits across from them. She thinks for a moment and nods.

“I had a best friend, Sophie,” she begins. “We married our childhood sweethearts at the same time. We got pregnant at the same time and took pregnancy classes together. My delivery was difficult. Sophie stayed with me as long as possible, but had to go home after two days for her own delivery. Unfortunately, something went wrong there. Her son died at birth.”

She looks at Frits sadly.

“I was weak after the birth. Sophie was so sad and had so much milk. I suggested she nurse one of my boys. At home, everything was ready for her baby… and so she took you away.”

Elise looks at her youngest son. “You’re five minutes younger than Jean Paul. You’re named after my father. He was a policeman.”

Frits looks at her in surprise. “That’s special. I’m a police officer too. A detective, even.

She looks at him proudly. “I like that. A tribute to my father. He was a wonderful man.”

“Why wasn’t I brought back to you?” Frits asks.

“I got pregnant again soon,” she says softly. “It was a difficult time.”

Bernard interrupts her. “Enough is enough. You’re upsetting your mother.”

Elise jumps up, walks over to Frits, and throws her arms around him.

“I’ve always loved you, boy,” she murmurs against his chest. “I’ve never forgotten you.”

Then she walks into the hall, sobbing, and her steps disappear on the stairs.

Bernard stands up angrily. “I want you all to leave. You upset Elise by stirring up the whole story again.”

“Don’t you think we deserve the truth?” JP demands angrily.

“Get out!” Bernard snaps, pointing to the door.

Stunned and defeated, the two twins leave the house.