Entertainment

Mystery Author’s story (Chapter 13)

Read from the beginning – links at the bottom.

March 1, 2022

The story continues, and so does the mystery? Who is the author?

Chapter 13

The following Saturday, Jason found himself in front of Paige’s house once again. He knew that she wouldn’t be home as she was making final preparations; however, this time, he wanted to spend more time with his son. Rachael opened the door as if she were expecting him and led him inside the house. She held out a key and handed it to him.

“Paige wanted me to give you a key. She suggested that you would be over this morning.” Rachael stated. He took it and put it on his keyring right away. “What do you want with my daughter?” she asked cutting to the chase.

“Believe it or not Mrs. Dillion but I was ready to propose to Paige years ago. The past two months have proven to me that I still want to marry her. I want to be a father to Aiden also.” She gave him a once over and he squirmed.

“You never denied that Aiden is yours. You took Paige’s word without doubting it.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Paige would not lie to me. One glance at the picture and I knew at once that he was mine. When I told my own mother, she suggested a DNA test. I told her that there is no doubt.” Rachel nodded in approval and opened the door wider enabling him to step inside.

“She cried for months after she came back home. And tried desperately to find you for years. Over and over, her heart broke as each lead turned up empty. After her… injury, Paige became more desperate to find you.”

“I tried to find her also. I searched prison records for years, or police records from the date of her arrest. I made no progress, and it was as if she disappeared from the face of the planet.” He paused for a moment as Rachael continued to size him up.

“Aiden, your Daddy is here.” She finally called upstairs. “He wants to take you to the park.” Footsteps came running closer and closer until Aiden stopped short at Jason’s legs.

“Did you eat breakfast?” Jason asked.

“Yep.”

“Brush, your teeth?”

Yep”

“Are you sure,” He paused. “With toothpaste and not water?” Aiden didn’t answer right away so Jason continued. “We’ll go when you are ready.” Aiden reluctantly went back upstairs, and Rachael gave Jason another approving glance.

“Did you want to come with us?” Rachael snorted.

“And miss a rare day all to myself? I don’t think so. She walked to the doorway, plucked a set of keys from a key rack and gave them to Jason. “You need to drive Paige’s car because Aiden still needs a car seat.

They left a few minutes later. Using GPS to navigate, Jason began to drive, pleased that he had earned Paige’s trust so soon. Once parked and out of the car, Aiden, like his mother beelined to the swings. He hopped on one and waited expectantly for Jason to push which he did with gusto.

For an hour and a half, Jason attentively followed his son as he ran from swings, to seesaw, to monkey bars, back to swings. He asked his son as many questions as he could think of to ask a five-year-old and learned a lot about his son’s likes and dislikes. They walked across the street to grab burgers and fries then returned to the benches. Aiden modeled his mother by sitting on top of the table crossing his little legs. Learning from his brother, Jason gave his son the burger first and rewarded Aiden with fries at the end of the meal.

“Can I ask you a question Daddy?” he asked mid bite. Amused, Jason agreed.

“Did mom kidnap me?” Astonished, by the question Jason almost chocked on this own food.

“Why would you ask that?”

“Cuz, for my whole life my friends made fun saying that I didn’t have a daddy like they did. I told them that I did, and they said prove it. They saw you at church and now think that Mommy kidnapped me from you so you couldn’t find me. I look more like you than her. And they are saying that she isn’t my real mommy.” By that point, Aiden was fighting back tears tormented by the comments that must have come from the parents as well as the kids. Jason was relieved that Paige wasn’t here to hear this conversation. She would be crushed.

“Aiden, your mother and grandmother were there when you were born. She must have shown you pictures.” Aiden nodded through hiccups. “Your mother had you in her stomach for nine months, and she gave birth to you. She didn’t kidnap you.

“They both have loved you every single day of your life.” Aiden looked up with wide eyes.

“Even when I am a boogie,” Jason smiled amused by the silly name for bad behavior.

“Yes. Remember that your mommy told you that we go lost?

“Yes,” HE wondered how to explain undercover work to a five-year-old.

“You must like to watch TV. Did you know that the people don’t use their real names?” The boy rolled his eyes.

“Yes, they play pretend. It is not real; Even I know that.”

“Well your mom and I didn’t use our real names when we met. Both of us were pretending but we didn’t know that we were pretending. Do you understand?”

“Were you lying. Grandma says that lying is bad. My friend Billy lied once and got in trouble. His little brother lied too but he didn’t get in trouble because his mommy said that he didn’t know any better.”

“I guess we were lying to each other and that is why I couldn’t find your mother when she got lost. I am older so I should get in trouble not your mommy. We found each other just recently. And last week I was able to finally meet you.” Aiden reached up to Jason and gave him a big squeeze.

“I am glad that you found us,” Choking back tears, Jason was able to make out, Me too; Aiden.”

They went back to the house and played transformers until Rachael came back. Once again, Jason found himself on the trundle bed and went to church with Aiden and Rachel. After lunch, Rachael pulled him aside.

“Paige is going under cover this week isn’t she.” Unsure what say, he nodded. “Watch over my baby,” she said solemnly.

“I will.”