“Um, hi,” Parker said into the phone. “Can I speak to Mr. Adams? This is his son, Parker.”

On the wall, they both watched as the intercom sounded at the clone’s desk and he picked up the receiver.

“Thanks, Brenda,” he said. “Put him right through.”

Parker looked again at Jeremiah and then back at the wall.

“Hey, Parker,” the clone said. “What’s up? You okay?”

Jeremiah watched as shock crept over his son’s face. It was obvious that he heard the same words uttered in his ear exactly as they heard them from the monitor. The boy was absolutely silent as the impossibility of it set in.

“Parker?” the clone said, a look of slight concern on his face. “You there? Everything okay?”

“Y-yeah,” Parker stammered into the phone, eyes fixed now on the clone’s face. “I, um, I just wanted to let you know I’m staying after school today.”

“Oh, well, that’s fine,” the clone said. “Thanks, I guess. I’ll be home at the usual time. You sure you’re all right? You need to talk or anything? I have time.”

“Yeah, no, I’m all right,” Parker said, looking at Jeremiah again with an expression that entirely contradicted the remark. “I gotta go, though. I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight.” The clone hung up the phone with a shrug. Parker let his own phone fall from his fingers and remained absolutely still.

“This is incredible,” he said. “I can’t believe it.”

“I know,” Jeremiah told him. “I know it is. You all right?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Parker looked at him with a thousand questions in his eyes. “Dad,” he finally said, his voice unusually hushed. “Dad, was Mom a clone, too? Was that a fake Mom in that car? Is Mom here somewhere?”

Jeremiah’s heart sank.

“No,” he told his son as gently as he could. “No, Parker. That was really Mom. I’m sorry.”

“How could you do something like this, Dad?” he asked after a moment. “Why did you do it?”

“I don’t know, Parker. I’m still trying to figure that one out. But in a strange way, despite all of it, part of me is glad I did. Because now things will be better. I missed the hell out of you, though. I can tell you that.” He put an arm around his son and gave him a quick kiss on top of his head and Parker didn’t even flinch.

“Better, how?” There was a hint of anger in Parker’s voice. Jeremiah could see he felt betrayed. He didn’t blame him.

“Not better,” Jeremiah said. “Different, maybe. Watching that clone, I got to see where I went wrong. I’ve made mistakes, Parker. A lot of mistakes. I wasn’t the best father to you, and that was wrong. I should have done better. I should have been more involved, paid more attention. Now, I will. I only wish I could do the same with your mother.”

Parker let his head fall.

“I know you’re angry, Parker,” Jeremiah said. “I know all of this is confusing and a lot to take in after what you’ve just been through. I’m angry, too. I wish your mother was still here. I wish a lot of things. But that’s why this whole thing has to end. Now. I couldn’t have you alone with the clone, after your mother and all. It had to end. We need each other.”