Chapter 15 - MABEL DISAPPEARSSunday morning, Mabel did not answer her phone.
By ten-thirty, Jasper was waiting beside the front windows.
By eleven, Valerie called again.
Nothing.
At eleven-fifteen, Adrian called.
“Have you heard from Mabel?”
Valerie’s stomach tightened.
“No.”
“She missed our appointment.”
“She doesn’t miss appointments.”
“I know.”
Jasper overheard.
“Where is she?”
Valerie turned.
“I don’t know.”
His face went pale.
“You said I could see her.”
“I know.”
“You made her go again.”
“No.”
“I didn’t.”
Adrian interrupted through the phone.
“Valerie, I’m going to her apartment.”
“I’m coming.”
Jasper ran forward.
“Me too.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because we don’t know what happened.”
“I’m coming!”
Valerie knelt.
“Jasper.”
Tears appeared.
She could see exactly what he believed.
That adults were taking Mabel away again.
Valerie made a decision.
“Fine.”
Adrian objected.
Valerie said:
“He stays with me.”
Forty minutes later they reached the small apartment above the florist.
The landlord let them upstairs after Adrian explained.
The door was locked.
No damage.
Inside, Mabel’s suitcase remained.
So did the blue box.
But Mabel was gone.
Jasper began crying.
Valerie hugged him.
Adrian searched the table.
A note.
He read it.
Then exhaled.
“She went to the hospital.”
Jasper froze.
“What?”
“Her sister.”
Adrian showed Valerie the note.
Clara fell. St. Joseph’s. Phone battery dead. Back as soon as I can.
Valerie closed her eyes.
Relief nearly made her laugh.
Jasper cried harder.
“She’s okay?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
Valerie looked at him.
She remembered Mabel’s refusal to make promises she could not guarantee.
“I believe she is.”
Adrian smiled slightly.
“Good answer.”
Valerie noticed the blue box.
“What is that?”
Adrian’s face changed.
Jasper looked too.
“Mabel told me about a blue box.”
Valerie stared at her son.
Adrian stepped between them and the table.
“It contains confidential documents.”
“About me?”
“Some.”
“About Jasper?”
“Yes.”
Valerie swallowed.
“The paternity test.”
Jasper looked up.
“What’s paternity?”
Silence.
Adrian closed his eyes.
Valerie sat.
This was the moment Graham had tried to delay.
Perhaps not forever.
Just until Jasper was old enough.
Valerie looked at her son.
“It means proving who someone’s father is.”
Jasper frowned.
“You already told me Dad was my dad.”
“He was.”
“Then why prove it?”
Valerie could have lied.
Instead:
“Because before you were born, I hurt your father.”
Jasper looked confused.
“How?”
“An adult way.”
Adrian watched carefully.
Valerie continued.
“And for a short time, he was afraid he might not be your biological father.”
Jasper stared.
“But he was.”
“Yes.”
“Did he love me before he knew?”
Valerie’s eyes filled.
“He loved you the moment he saw you.”
Jasper looked toward the box.
“Then I don’t care.”
Valerie blinked.
“What?”
“If he was my dad and loved me, I don’t care.”
Adrian smiled.
Children sometimes cut through seven years of adult shame in ten seconds.
The door opened behind them.
Mabel entered carrying her handbag.
She froze.
“Jasper?”
He turned.
“MABEL!”
He ran.
Mabel dropped her bag and opened her arms.
Jasper crashed into her.
She held him tightly.
Valerie stood several feet away.
Watching.
Mabel looked over Jasper’s head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither woman knew what to say.
Then Valerie whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Mabel’s expression did not soften immediately.
“For which part?”
Valerie almost laughed through tears.
“Apparently there’s a list.”
“Yes.”
Jasper pulled back.
“Can Mabel come home?”
Silence.
Mabel looked at Valerie.
Valerie looked at the boy.
Then at Adrian.
Then at the blue box.
“I think,” she said carefully, “we all need to talk first.”
Jasper frowned.
May you like
Mabel touched his cheek.
“That is a good start.”
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