Body Double by Alane Hudson Read Free Book Online Page B

know,” Charlotte said with a laugh. “I thought the same thing. She pretends he’s not even there. Doesn’t answer his questions, doesn’t respond to his remarks, doesn’t even look at him.”
    “And you get away with that?” Andrea asked.
    “Trust me,” Sarah said. “It’s better for both of us that way.”
    Andrea’s stomach churned, thinking of all the people she would have to fool into believing she was Sarah. Why had she agreed to this crazy plan? “What about your maid of honor? She’s surely going to know I’m not you.”
    “She already does,” Sarah said, nodding her head at Charlotte.
    “Don’t worry,” Charlotte said. “I’ll be with you every step of the way, diverting people and questions, making excuses for you. I’ll have your back.”
    Andrea breathed her relief. She had the urge to drop to her knees and kiss Charlotte’s hands. “Oh, thank goodness. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to face all those strangers alone.”
    “While you were having lunch, I ran out and got a duplicate driver’s license, just in case you said yes. The airline ticket to Hawaii is in my name, so you’ll need it to board the plane. The only problem you might have is that it says my eye color is green.” She handed the card to Andrea. “There’s no mistaking your very blue eyes for my green ones.”
    “I’ll need to wear colored contact lenses anyway,” Andrea said, examining the license. “The question is: can I get them before the wedding?” The photo looked enough like her to pass even careful scrutiny.
    “I have an eye doctor friend who’ll get you squared away. I’ll call him and get you in tomorrow.”
    They went over the contract for payment and the power of attorney itself. Charlotte explained how Andrea should sign the marriage license and staple a copy of the power of attorney to the application for marriage license that she would submit to the county.
    Sarah also gave her the information for a small bank account she kept for such things as vacations, toys, and spa visits, along with an ATM card so she could withdraw cash as needed. “Use the money to pay your mortgage or rent, utilities and phone, buy your meals, pay for gas—all that stuff. There’s only about eighteen grand in it, so don’t go crazy, but use what you need.”
    “Wow,” Andrea said. “That’s, um...”
    “It’s the least I can do. You’re helping me out of a tight spot here. Also, if you can manage it, I’d like you to stay at my house, or at least spend some time there, and drive my car, especially when you go to meet with the wedding planner and to the rehearsal. I’d raise eyebrows showing up in your Ford.”
    “Got it,” Andrea said with a grin.
    Tracy came in to notarize their signatures on the paperwork. She made twenty-five copies and used her notary seal embosser on each one. “I don’t know if you’ll need all these, but it’s better to have them than not. I’ll keep the original here and make more copies if you need them.”
    “Feel free to wear anything in my closet,” Sarah said, offering Andrea a key ring with two keys on it. “This is my house key and the key to the sedan. If I could bother you for a ride to the airport, that’ll make everything easier. You can park your car in my garage. It’ll be safe and out of sight, and when you need to be you, you’ll have it right there.”
    “Listen,” Andrea said. “I know I signed the non-disclosure agreement, but my best friend is going to get suspicious if I’m suddenly unavailable and run off to Hawaii. Can I tell her?”
    “Does she work for the media?”
    “No, and I’ll make her swear not to tell a soul—even her husband.”
    Sarah hesitated, a doubtful expression on her face. “All right, as long as she agrees not to tell anyone. It’s not fair for me to make your own life difficult while you make mine easier. If you need to tell your folks, that’s okay too—with the same caveat.”
    Charlotte handed her a sheet