Chapter Twelve
I
After the phone call with Tanner, Kaitlyn was mentally composing a list of items and medicines she thought Jasper might need before retrieving her medical bag. The kids insisted on going with her, and once they were in the SUV, Kaitlyn drove to her office, where she quickly grabbed everything. They were already deep in the Uwharrie when Tanner’s next text arrived, letting her know that Jasper was being transported out of the forest.
Turning around, she started toward the hospital, wishing she’d asked Tanner for more specifics about Jasper’s condition. She’d always found Jasper to be a walking contradiction, both strong and frail at the same time. That he’d still been alive when Tanner found him was something of a miracle, and as she drove, she wondered if he would make it. Two or three days in the forest exposed to the rain and cold was a long time for anyone, let alone someone his age, with his ailments.
She hadn’t mentioned her worries to the kids, but she questioned her decision to let them come with her. Too late now.
Casey and Mitch followed her into the emergency room, where she learned the ambulance hadn’t yet arrived. While they waited Kaitlyn spoke to Michael Betters, the emergency physician on duty, a man she’d known for years.
She briefed Dr. Betters on what she knew about Jasper’s condition as well as his medical history, and they shared their concerns about the possible head injury. Depending on its severity, they agreed to transfer Jasper to the hospital in Greensboro as quickly as they could.
The ambulance arrived almost an hour later, and Kaitlyn walked beside the gurney as Jasper was wheeled in. The ER staff sprang into action—vitals were taken and both a visual and a technical exam commenced, which showed a lower-than-normal body temperature and signs of severe dehydration. Jasper was immediately hooked up to an IV of Ringer’s lactate, and within a few minutes, his vitals began to stabilize. A CT scan was ordered, and the results showed a minor subdural hematoma. X-rays of the upper vertebrae and cranium were taken, which to Kaitlyn’s relief showed no sign of fracture or cracking. Additional X-rays were taken on his legs, which indicated a severe lateral malleolus fracture, in which the base of his fibula had broken and was poking through the skin, and what appeared to be a sprained knee. Surgery would be required for the ankle, and Kaitlyn reached out to an orthopedist she trusted. Jasper remained unconscious throughout. With his vitals continuing to show improvement, both she and Dr. Betters made the decision to keep him at the local hospital, at least for the next few hours.
When the flurry of medical activity finally slowed, Kaitlyn exhaled and held Jasper’s hand for a little while, watching the steady drip of the IV. She knew that when it came to dehydration, fluids often prompted what would otherwise appear to be a miraculous recovery, but Jasper had yet to open his eyes.
When she went to update the kids, they listened quietly, their questions the same as hers. Would he recover? When would he wake up? How long would he have to stay in the hospital? When Mitch asked if he could see him, she shook her head.
She was still sitting with them when Dr. Betters surprised her by coming out to find them.
“Believe it or not, he woke a few minutes ago and he’s able to talk,” he said. “He’s a tough old guy.”
“Can we go see him now?” Mitch asked again.
“Let me check on him first,” Kaitlyn said, brushing a lock of hair out of Mitch’s face before following Dr. Betters to Jasper’s bedside. Sure enough, his eyes were open, and she smiled.
“Hi…Doc,” he mumbled, his voice hoarse.
“You gave us quite the scare,” she said, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “How are you feeling?”
He closed his eyes. “It…hurts,” he finally croaked out.
“What hurts?”
It took him a long time to answer, and she had to lean close to hear him.
“Every…thing,” he whispered.
II
Kaitlyn brought Mitch in to see Jasper, though she warned him that Jasper needed rest and they couldn’t stay long. Casey tagged along, and Mitch sat next to Jasper, peppering him with questions.
The answers came in fits and starts. Yes, he’d gone to the forest because of the white deer. Yes, he’d slipped and broken his ankle. He’d been in the forest since Thursday morning. Kaitlyn knew there was likely more to the story than Jasper was sharing, but she figured the details would come out in time.
Jasper asked who’d found him, at which point Casey jumped in, explaining who Tanner was. Listening, Kaitlyn wrestled with her discomfort. Then, witnessing Jasper’s exhaustion, she shooed the kids out. Betters promised to keep her updated, although she’d already decided to stop by the hospital again, after she finished her usual house calls.
On the way home, she swung through Bojangles with the kids to pick up a late lunch.
Pulling into the drive at home, she saw Tanner and Arlo waiting for them.
III
Casey and Mitch raced onto the porch to talk to Tanner, and after updating him on Jasper’s condition, they badgered him for details about how he’d found the old man. He stood as he gave them a quick recap of his search with Arlo, explaining that he hadn’t wanted to leave the dog alone.
“I wasn’t sure what else to do,” he said, meeting Kaitlyn’s eyes for the first time. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s all right.” Kaitlyn nodded, before handing the bag of food to Casey. “Would you mind bringing these inside for me, and you and Mitch can eat?”
Casey playfully wrapped an arm around Mitch’s neck. “C’mon, dopey,” she said. “Let’s let the grown-ups talk.”
Arlo, his nose trailing the bag of food, followed the kids into the house. When the door closed behind them, Kaitlyn crossed her arms, reminding herself to keep her emotions in check. “We all owe you a serious thank-you,” she began. “I’m not sure how much longer Jasper would have lasted had you not found him when you did.”
“I was glad to help,” Tanner said. “Is he going to be okay?”
She told him about Jasper’s condition, keeping her demeanor professional, before adding, “And he’s going to be in a cast for a while. Whether that means he’s going to need crutches or a wheelchair, I’m not sure yet. I’ve arranged for a first-rate orthopedist to see him.”
Tanner was quiet for a moment. “His hands were really cold,” he said.
Kaitlyn nodded. “I think it might have something to do with the effects of the fire he survived. I assume you saw the skin grafts.”
“I did,” Tanner said. “He also has psoriasis.”
At her startled look, Tanner explained. “While I was waiting for you, I spent some time on the internet to look up why his skin looks the way it does.” He rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment, as if debating his next question. “How much do you know about Jasper?” he asked finally, casting a sidelong glance at her. “Personally, I mean.”
“Why are you asking?”
Tanner clasped his hands in front of him. “I saw his license and the registration in the truck,” he said. “His last name is Johnson.”
At her blank look, he went on: “It turns out, I’d visited his cabin earlier this week, hoping to speak with him, but he wasn’t home. He was one of the names I found in the old phone book as well as the new one.”
All at once, she recalled Tanner mentioning the name of his biological father and her eyes widened as she processed the implication. “You think he might be your father?”
“No,” Tanner said. “His age doesn’t fit, and I’m looking for someone named Dave or David.”
“But?”
“But he’s lived in Asheboro a long time. And he might have relatives.”
Thrown by the unexpected direction of their conversation, she slowly lowered herself into a rocker.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think about his last name in terms of your search. I guess it’s because I just think of him as Jasper. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “Would you know if he has relatives? Or if he had sons?”
“I’m pretty sure he was married and had children, but he doesn’t really talk about it. I don’t know if he had sons. And I don’t know if he has other relatives.”
“Do you know anyone who might know? Friends or neighbors, for instance?”
Kaitlyn shook her head. “I have the sense he pretty much keeps to himself.” She squinted at him. “Have you tried looking online?”
Tanner nodded. “I spent the last hour searching, but I couldn’t find anything. The next step would be to try county records, but they’re not open until tomorrow.” He hesitated. “Do you think Mitch might know something that could help?”
“I’m not sure what all they’ve talked about. But you can ask him.”
Rising from her chair, she went inside, emerging with Mitch a minute later. When Tanner asked if Jasper had relatives or sons, Mitch nodded.
“He had two sons, but I don’t know their names.”
“Do you know if he has friends in town?”
Mitch wrinkled his nose, thinking about it. “Maybe the sheriff. I think he’s mentioned him a couple of times.”
When Mitch could add nothing more, Kaitlyn shooed him back into the house. She surreptitiously studied Tanner, who seemed lost in thought before finally offering a quick smile that triggered a raft of memories she preferred not to revisit. As if sensing her discomfort, Tanner took a step off the porch. “Once he’s on the mend, do you think it would be possible for me to visit Jasper at the hospital?” he said, turning to gaze up at her, one foot on the stair.
“I’m sure he’d be willing to meet with the man who saved him, but for now, he needs rest. Maybe give it a day or two.”
He nodded. “Thanks for your help.”
“Thank you. For finding him,” she echoed.
Tanner took a few steps toward his car before turning around. “Hey,” he said. “There’s something else I wanted to say, if it’s okay.”
Kaitlyn tensed. “Yes?”
“I want to apologize,” he said simply. “For not being clear with you from the beginning. About going to Cameroon. And you were right. I hadn’t really thought it through, so in addition to the apology, I want to thank you. If you hadn’t said what you had…” He trailed off, as though grasping for the right words. “I’ve done some soul-searching over the last couple of days, trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be. I just wanted you to know that you’ve helped me recognize how important those questions are.”
Kaitlyn stared at him, unsure what to say. A second later he turned and left, driving away from the house as she watched himgo.
IV
It didn’t take long for Casey to corner her mother in the kitchen.
“What did he say?” she pressed, before Kaitlyn even had a chance to collect herself.
“He wanted to know more about Jasper,” she said, pretending to busy herself by cleaning up the remainders of the kids’ lunch.
“I know that much, but why?”
Knowing it wasn’t her story to tell, Kaitlyn kept it vague. “He just saved his life,” she pointed out, storing the leftover chicken in Tupperware. “I think anyone would be curious.”
Casey eyed her critically. “What’s going on with you? You’re acting kinda strange.”
“I’m fine,” Kaitlyn demurred. “It’s just been a crazy day.”
“Are you going to see him again?”
Kaitlyn hesitated. “I honestly don’t know.”