Read Online Mirror Image by Danielle Steel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Danielle Steel
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older. It seems deceitful, " Olivia said, looking thoughtful.
"Don't be so moralistic, Ollie. It's harmless. It doesn't hurt anyone.
I'm sure all twins do it." But they had only met twins once or twice in their lives, and never of comparable ages or sexes, nor quite as identical as they were. "Let's do it soon, " Victoria prodded her, always willing to cross the line and be daring, just as she had been in their childhood. But this time, when Olivia looked at her, she only smiled, and didn't answer, and Victoria knew she wouldn't do it. They were grown-up now. And Olivia thought switching was childish. "You'll turn into a dreary old crone if you're not careful, " Victoria warned, and Olivia laughed at her with genuine amusement.
"At least if I do, maybe by then you'll have learned to behave yourself." The two sisters exchanged a warm look, and Victoria chuckled.
"Don't count on that, big sister. I'm not sure I ever will behave myself."
"Neither am I, " Olivia whispered, and then left the room to get ready for bed, as Victoria looked longingly out the window.
Chapter 3.
Their father arrived, on schedule, late Friday afternoon, from Croton-on-Hudson. Donovan had driven up to pick him up in the Cadillac, and Olivia had the house in perfect order for him.
Everything was exactly as it should have been, everything had been dusted and shined and fluffed, and his bedroom was exactly the way he liked it.
Olivia had flowers everywhere, and it smelled exquisite. Even the garden had been cleaned up for him so he could use it, although it was just a small patch of green after what he was used to in Croton. But when he arrived, he was extremely pleased with what he saw, and he had high praise for Bertie and both his daughters. He always included Victoria to be kind to her, although he knew that it was Olivia who ran his household.
He was happy to see them both and looked lovingly at both of them.
And then he kissed Victoria, and thanked her for Olivia's hard work, which made them both giggle and he understood immediately what had happened.
"I'm going to have Bertie make you wear colored ribbons in your hair again, except that you'll probably do what you did then, and switch them."
"We haven't switched in ages, Father, " Victoria said plaintively, and Olivia looked pointedly at her.
"That's right, and who was trying to talk me into it just last night?
" Olivia said, as Victoria pretended not to remember.
"She won't do it anymore, Papa. She's no fun anymore, " Victoria complained and he laughed ruefully at her. "You two will make everyone miserable enough just by confusing them completely, without switching.
" He still shuddered when he thought of their presentation year two years before, they had both been so striking in their finery, that he hadn't been able to go anywhere with them without stopping traffic. In his opinion, it had truly been excessive. And he was hoping that this time people would be a little less excited each time they saw them. It remained to be seen. They were going out the next night to the theater.
On the night of his arrival, Olivia had planned one of his favorite dinners, with venison and asparagus and wild rice, and some clams that had been brought to them that morning from Long Island. There were vegetables from their garden in Croton that Donovan had brought down with them at her request, and a chocolate cake that her father swore would kill him, but of course he ate it. And after dinner, the three of them had coffee, while he talked about some of the treats he had planned for them, including the theater the following night, and several times in the ensuing weeks. There were people he wanted them to meet, two new restaurants he hoped to try with them, and he told Olivia that night that he wanted to give a party. It had been years since he'd entertained in New York, and he thought it might be interesting for them, particularly now with everyone home from New England and Long Island
"Don't be so moralistic, Ollie. It's harmless. It doesn't hurt anyone.
I'm sure all twins do it." But they had only met twins once or twice in their lives, and never of comparable ages or sexes, nor quite as identical as they were. "Let's do it soon, " Victoria prodded her, always willing to cross the line and be daring, just as she had been in their childhood. But this time, when Olivia looked at her, she only smiled, and didn't answer, and Victoria knew she wouldn't do it. They were grown-up now. And Olivia thought switching was childish. "You'll turn into a dreary old crone if you're not careful, " Victoria warned, and Olivia laughed at her with genuine amusement.
"At least if I do, maybe by then you'll have learned to behave yourself." The two sisters exchanged a warm look, and Victoria chuckled.
"Don't count on that, big sister. I'm not sure I ever will behave myself."
"Neither am I, " Olivia whispered, and then left the room to get ready for bed, as Victoria looked longingly out the window.
Chapter 3.
Their father arrived, on schedule, late Friday afternoon, from Croton-on-Hudson. Donovan had driven up to pick him up in the Cadillac, and Olivia had the house in perfect order for him.
Everything was exactly as it should have been, everything had been dusted and shined and fluffed, and his bedroom was exactly the way he liked it.
Olivia had flowers everywhere, and it smelled exquisite. Even the garden had been cleaned up for him so he could use it, although it was just a small patch of green after what he was used to in Croton. But when he arrived, he was extremely pleased with what he saw, and he had high praise for Bertie and both his daughters. He always included Victoria to be kind to her, although he knew that it was Olivia who ran his household.
He was happy to see them both and looked lovingly at both of them.
And then he kissed Victoria, and thanked her for Olivia's hard work, which made them both giggle and he understood immediately what had happened.
"I'm going to have Bertie make you wear colored ribbons in your hair again, except that you'll probably do what you did then, and switch them."
"We haven't switched in ages, Father, " Victoria said plaintively, and Olivia looked pointedly at her.
"That's right, and who was trying to talk me into it just last night?
" Olivia said, as Victoria pretended not to remember.
"She won't do it anymore, Papa. She's no fun anymore, " Victoria complained and he laughed ruefully at her. "You two will make everyone miserable enough just by confusing them completely, without switching.
" He still shuddered when he thought of their presentation year two years before, they had both been so striking in their finery, that he hadn't been able to go anywhere with them without stopping traffic. In his opinion, it had truly been excessive. And he was hoping that this time people would be a little less excited each time they saw them. It remained to be seen. They were going out the next night to the theater.
On the night of his arrival, Olivia had planned one of his favorite dinners, with venison and asparagus and wild rice, and some clams that had been brought to them that morning from Long Island. There were vegetables from their garden in Croton that Donovan had brought down with them at her request, and a chocolate cake that her father swore would kill him, but of course he ate it. And after dinner, the three of them had coffee, while he talked about some of the treats he had planned for them, including the theater the following night, and several times in the ensuing weeks. There were people he wanted them to meet, two new restaurants he hoped to try with them, and he told Olivia that night that he wanted to give a party. It had been years since he'd entertained in New York, and he thought it might be interesting for them, particularly now with everyone home from New England and Long Island
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