Chapter 2 - THE SUITCASE ON THE MANSION STEPSMabel left through the front door at three-twenty that afternoon.
She had waited until Jasper was still at school.
That had been Valerie’s demand.
The old brown suitcase bumped softly against each stone step.
Mabel descended slowly, one hand gripping the handle, the other tucked inside the pocket of her navy uniform where the photograph rested.
She reached the bottom.
Then stopped.
Nineteen years.
That was how long she had walked through those doors.
She had arrived when Graham Aldridge was still a young executive with more ambition than money.
She had watched the mansion expand.
Watched Graham marry Valerie.
Watched arguments begin behind doors people thought staff could not hear.
Watched Jasper come home from the hospital wrapped in a pale-blue blanket.
Mabel looked back one final time.
The front door opened.
“Mabel!”
Her heart stopped.
Jasper ran outside.
His school backpack bounced against his shoulders.
Valerie appeared several steps behind him.
Her expression was furious.
“Jasper!”
He ignored her.
He raced down the steps and threw both arms around Mabel’s waist.
Mabel nearly lost her balance.
Then she held him.
Carefully.
Tightly.
“Please don’t go.”
Mabel closed her eyes.
“Jasper…”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
His voice broke.
Mabel stroked his brown hair.
She had promised herself she would not cry in front of him.
Not one tear.
Children remembered adult tears.
Sometimes they believed they were responsible for them.
“Look at me.”
He did.
Mabel smiled.
“You are going to be all right.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
Valerie descended two steps.
“Jasper, enough.”
He turned but refused to release Mabel’s hand.
“Mom, please let Mabel stay.”
Valerie gave a dismissive laugh.
“You’re crying over her?”
Jasper’s face fell.
“She’s just the maid.”
Mabel felt Jasper’s fingers tighten around hers.
Valerie pointed toward the house.
“Inside. Now.”
He did not move.
“But she raised me.”
Valerie’s expression remained cold.
“She was paid to do that.”
Mabel looked at her.
Valerie looked back.
Neither woman spoke.
“You don’t need her anymore,” Valerie added.
Jasper’s lip trembled.
Mabel crouched as far as her knees comfortably allowed.
“Listen to me.”
He looked at her.
“You will never hurt my feelings by going inside.”
“I want to come with you.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because this is your home.”
The words nearly stuck in Mabel’s throat.
At that moment, she was no longer certain they were completely true.
But Jasper did not need that burden.
Not yet.
“Will I see you again?”
Mabel looked toward Valerie.
Valerie’s eyes warned her.
Mabel turned back to Jasper.
“If it is up to me.”
Valerie stepped closer.
“Jasper.”
Mabel squeezed his hand.
“Go.”
Slowly, he let her go.
He walked back toward the mansion.
Halfway up the steps, he turned.
Mabel smiled.
He continued.
Turned again.
Then disappeared through the door.
Valerie remained outside.
The two women faced each other.
“You had no right to say that.”
Mabel frowned.
“To say what?”
“If it’s up to you.”
“It was the truth.”
“You are not contacting him.”
Mabel’s expression changed.
“I will not do anything that harms that child.”
“You are no longer part of this family.”
Mabel looked at the mansion.
Then at Valerie.
“I never claimed to be.”
Valerie’s eyes narrowed.
“You act like you have some special right to him.”
“No.”
Mabel picked up her suitcase.
“I have a responsibility.”
“To whom?”
Mabel paused.
Valerie stared.
“To Graham?”
Mabel said nothing.
Valerie stepped down.
“What did he give you?”
“Goodbye, Mrs. Aldridge.”
“Mabel.”
She began walking.
Valerie followed two steps.
“What did Graham give you?”
Mabel did not turn around.
She kept walking down the long circular drive.
Only when she reached the iron gate did she stop.
The mansion was barely visible behind the trees.
Mabel opened her hand.
The photograph lay against her palm.
One tear finally escaped.
It rolled slowly down her wrinkled cheek.
She turned the photograph over.
Graham’s handwriting.
If anything happens, protect my son.
Underneath, almost hidden beneath her thumb, was another line.
One Valerie had never seen.
The blue box stays with you until he needs the truth.
Mabel stared at it.
For eighteen months, she had prayed Jasper would never need that truth.
May you like
Now she knew differently.
The time had come to open the box.
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