Chapter 12 - VALERIE’S STORY BEGINS TO CRACKValerie changed her story three times in one week.
First she told Jasper that Mabel had retired.
Jasper said:
“You fired her.”
Then she said Mabel had wanted to leave.
Jasper answered:
“She cried.”
Then Valerie claimed Graham had always believed Jasper was too dependent on Mabel.
Jasper pulled Mabel’s note from his memory.
Your father loved you more than anything. If anyone tells you he wanted me away from you, do not believe it.
“You’re lying.”
Valerie stared.
This time she did not send him to his room.
Instead she sat down.
“Do you think I don’t love you?”
Jasper looked confused.
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you believe Mabel more than me.”
He thought about it.
“Yes.”
The honesty wounded her.
“Why?”
“Because her stories stay the same.”
Valerie looked away.
The words were simple.
Childish.
Devastating.
That afternoon Adrian Cole formally notified Valerie’s attorney that First Commonwealth Trust was reviewing the attempted refinancing.
No extraordinary distribution or lien could proceed.
Harrison was furious.
“You told me this was manageable.”
Valerie stared at him.
“You told me Mabel had no real power.”
“I hadn’t seen the documents.”
“You told me firing her would help.”
“It should.”
“It triggered a review.”
Harrison paced.
“We can still argue she is interfering with parenting.”
Valerie laughed bitterly.
“You want me to go to court and explain that my seventy-two-year-old former housekeeper is dangerous because my son misses her?”
“We make it about boundaries.”
“While asking for four million dollars?”
Harrison went quiet.
Valerie looked at him.
“What exactly is your exposure if this loan doesn’t happen?”
His eyes changed.
That was answer enough.
“How much?”
“Valerie.”
“How much?”
He sat.
“Two point three million.”
She stared.
“You told me eight hundred thousand.”
“Things changed.”
“Things changed?”
“The fund had redemptions.”
Her face drained.
“You were using the mansion to save your company.”
“Our future.”
“No.”
She stood.
“Your company.”
Harrison’s tone hardened.
“And what exactly is your future without access to Graham’s money?”
Valerie slapped him.
The sound shocked them both.
He touched his cheek.
She stared at her hand.
“Get out.”
“Valerie.”
“Get out.”
His expression became cold.
“You think Mabel is going to save you?”
“No.”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Valerie looked toward the ceiling.
Jasper’s room above.
“My son does not need to save me.”
Harrison laughed.
“No. He just owns the house you live in.”
That sentence landed hard.
He left.
Valerie remained still.
For the first time, she understood how far things had drifted.
She had fired Mabel partly because Harrison told her Mabel stood between them and financial freedom.
She had believed him.
Because believing him served what she wanted.
That evening Jasper came downstairs.
He saw Valerie sitting alone.
“Where’s Harrison?”
“Gone.”
“For dinner?”
“No.”
Jasper studied her.
“Forever?”
Valerie almost smiled.
“I don’t know.”
He nodded.
Then turned away.
“Jasper.”
He stopped.
She wanted to apologize.
Instead she asked:
“Do you really think Mabel raised you?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt.
“Did I do nothing?”
Jasper frowned.
“No.”
“What did I do?”
“You’re my mom.”
Valerie’s eyes filled.
He continued.
“Mabel is Mabel.”
Something about that distinction loosened something inside her.
Jasper had never been asking Valerie to surrender motherhood.
He had been asking her to stop denying another love.
Valerie wiped her eyes quickly.
“Go wash up.”
He started toward the hall.
Then paused.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Can Mabel be family even if she’s not related?”
Valerie closed her eyes.
May you like
For once she did not answer immediately.
And Jasper knew that silence meant her old story was beginning to crack.
Related Stories
