Chapter 18 - THE FIRST TIME JASPER VISITS MABEL’S HOMEJasper had visited cottage before, but never as Mabel’s home.
Previously it felt staff annex.
Now Mabel invited him for Saturday lunch.
No parents first hour? At seven, perhaps Elliot dropped and stayed nearby? Mabel trusted but this is regular visit; okay. Elliot dropped, would return.
Jasper walked in.
“Where’s uniform?”
“Gone.”
“You threw?”
“Stored one.”
“Rest donated.”
He explored.
Books.
Photo of Thomas.
Garden awards.
Old vinyl records.
“You like jazz?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you like quiet.”
“Jazz can be quiet.”
“You have boyfriend?”
Mabel nearly choked.
Frank photo.
“Friend.”
“You said maybe.”
“Nosy.”
He giggled.
He found baby photo.
“Me!”
“Yes.”
“You kept.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because love.”
Simple.
He saw Cecily letter framed? Mabel maybe not frame. In drawer.
They baked biscuits.
Jasper helped clean.
Mabel did not serve him automatically.
“Plate sink.”
“At mansion staff—”
“This isn’t mansion.”
He carried.
He learned.
At porch, Jasper asked:
“Were you lonely here?”
“Sometimes.”
“When working?”
“Yes.”
He had never considered Mabel went home alone after caring for family.
“Why didn’t you live mansion?”
“Because I wanted home.”
He looked cottage differently.
Mabel had always had interior life.
Children see caregivers as extensions.
Adults too.
When Elliot returned, Jasper said:
“Dad, Mabel likes jazz.”
Elliot paused.
“I didn’t know.”
Mabel laughed.
Thirty-six years.
He didn’t know.
Humbling.
Visit expanded Jasper’s concept:
May you like
Mabel could exist when he wasn’t present.
That made separation safer.
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