Natalie came running down the walkway.
Behind her were Rose, Serena, Zoey, Lucy, Stella, Emma, Grace, Sophie, Scarlet, Susan and Layla.
Jude counted them.
Twelve.
All twelve wives.
They were real.
Or at least, they looked real.
Natalie reached him first and held his shoulders.
"Where have you been?"
Jude didn't answer immediately.
He looked at each of them.
Then he looked towards Layla.
She was standing beside Susan.
Her expression was worried.
"Jude?"
He approached her slowly.
"Are you really Layla?"
She looked confused.
"Of course I am."
He studied her face.
The little scar near her thumb.
The familiar way she tilted her head when she was worried.
The small crease beside her eyes.
He looked at her hand.
There was no pale embroidered cloth.
No silver thread.
No wooden key.
Only Layla.
He exhaled.
Then he looked towards the others.
"Where is the other one?"
Nobody answered.
Finally, Serena stepped forward.
"There was another Layla?"
