Chapter Thirteen
I
Tanner returned to the hotel. He stripped and showered, and though he hadn’t eaten much, he realized he wasn’t hungry. Instead he lay on the bed, his hands clasped behind his head, wondering whether there was some chance Jasper was his grandfather, or an uncle.
He didn’t want to leap to conclusions, but if he and Jasper truly were related, the circumstances of their meeting bordered on divine intervention.
As for Kaitlyn…
She had been more cordial than he’d expected. He was relieved by that, but as he stared at the ceiling, he wondered: Would she even care that she had inspired a reckoning in him? Would she trust that his reevaluation was sincere? And most important, would she be willing to give him a second chance? All he knew for sure was that meeting her had turned his world upside down.
The uncertainty left him feeling almost adrift. A week ago, he’d known what was coming next for him; a week ago, it felt as though his path was entirely up to him. But something had undeniably shifted inside him. He thought again of what Glen had said…I just knew, and yet…
He forced himself to accept that what happened next was her decision rather than his. It was a situation he was painfully unaccustomed to. Agitated, he lay awake the rest of the night.
II
Jasper had been asleep Sunday night when Kaitlyn stopped at the hospital to check on him on the way home after her rounds, so it wasn’t until Monday morning that they were able to speak. While still exhausted, he summoned enough energy to tell her more about what had happened to him.
Confessing his worries about the white deer, he described his encounters with the Littleton boys. Kaitlyn frowned at the mention of their names, remembering her instant dislike of Josh. Somehow it didn’t surprise her that not only had they been hunting illegally but they had abandoned an elderly man in the forest, perhaps even to die.
After assuring Jasper that she was looking after Arlo, she was about to broach the subject of his sons when Dr. Betters entered the room along with the orthopedic surgeon. Feeling that the conversation about Jasper’s family was best saved for a more private moment, Kaitlyn promised to visit again soon.
III
Not long after finishing breakfast, Tanner paid a visit to the sheriff’s office. At the counter, he was told that the sheriff was on a call and he was asked whether he’d prefer to meet with someone else. Tanner said he’d wait for the sheriff.
Thirty minutes later, Tanner was finally ushered into the office, where he was greeted with a handshake by a man dressed more like a high school teacher than an officer of the law. After quick introductions, Tanner shared a little of his background and his reason for visiting Asheboro, including the name his grandma had given him. For the moment he refrained from mentioning Jasper.
Charlie Donley leaned back in his chair. “That’s quite a story. Why exactly did you ask to see me personally?”
Tanner nodded, leaning forward. “I came here because I’ve been told that you’re acquainted with a man named Jasper Johnson,” he said. “He lives in a cabin by the Uwharrie and has a dog named Arlo.”
“Jasper?” Charlie looked startled. “Yeah, I know him. What about him?”
Tanner explained what had happened to Jasper over the last few days. When he finished, the sheriff sighed.
“He came into my office last week talking about that albino deer,” he said. “He was worried about illegal poaching, and I warned him to be careful. I guess he didn’t listen to me.” He shook his head in frustration. “You said he’s still in the hospital?”
“He is.”
“I guess I’ll have to pay him a visit.”
“He is a friend, then?”
“I suppose I know him as well as anyone does. He’s lived in the area his entire life, as have I, but he’s not really the social type.”
“I was curious if you knew anything about his family,” Tanner pressed. “Specifically, I was hoping you could tell me if he had a son or a younger brother who might have been named Dave or David.”
It took a few seconds before the sheriff’s face registered his shock, but Tanner could see him quickly putting the pieces together. “Dear God,” he breathed, before glancing out the window. Drawing a deep breath, he turned back to Tanner.
“I hope you have some time, because Jasper’s story is one for the ages.”
IV
After leaving Charlie’s office, Tanner visited the register of deeds at the county office, where he filed a request for a copy of David Johnson’s birth certificate. He was told that it would take a few days to be processed.
Though the sheriff couldn’t remember David’s exact age when he died—early- to mid-twenties was the best he could do—the chronology struck Tanner as close enough to continue working the theory that Jasper might be his grandfather. By his estimate, David would have been roughly the same age as his mother.
He was still wrestling with the question of whether to talk to Jasper. The old man was recovering from a traumatic experience and Tanner didn’t want to make things any harder for him than they already were. There was also the possibility that Jasper might not want to meet him, and was it right for Tanner to force the issue? He didn’t know…
But Kaitlyn might.
Uncertain what else to do, Tanner texted her.
Would you be willing to meet me for coffee after work to discuss Jasper? He had a son named David, whom I believe might be my biological father. I’d be grateful for your advice.
V
Kaitlyn was in the office with a patient when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Wondering if it might be the school texting about Casey or Mitch, she took a quick peek at the screen and saw a preview of a text from Tanner on her home screen saying, “Would you be willing to meet me for coffee,” before the rest of the message was cut off.
She slipped the phone back into her pocket without opening the actual message to read the whole thing. It was already one of those days in which every appointment had run long. Furthermore, Jasper’s situation and Tanner’s confusing pronouncement, along with house calls the night before, had left her emotionally and physically drained. She didn’t have the time or the energy to deal with Tanner right now, nor did she feel that anything would be accomplished by having coffee with him. What would be the point?
Refusing to dwell on it, she spent the rest of the morning seeing patients, and it wasn’t until she’d gone home at lunch to check on Arlo that she remembered he’d texted.
Reading the full message, she found herself reeling. As much as she appreciated what he’d done for Jasper, she didn’t want to get any more emotionally entangled with Tanner. But what if he was right about Jasper?
She pondered the options. Jasper was her patient and Tanner was an aborted fling. Her primary allegiance was clear; it would come down to what was best for Jasper. Having settled that, she texted Casey and Mitch, letting them know that she’d be home a little late. Then she responded to Tanner’s text, informing him that she would be happy to meet him at half past five, not for coffee, but at her office.
VI
At the appointed time, Kaitlyn poked her head into the waiting room. Tanner was the only one seated and she waved him in. In her office, she took a seat behind her desk while Tanner sat in the chair opposite her. He was as handsome as ever, but she steeled herself to ignore it.
“Fill me in,” she began, resting her chin on her folded hands, elbows on her desk. Tanner laid out what he’d learned from the sheriff, as well as his reservations about talking to Jasper.
“Well, it sounds like a strong possibility, but who knows?” Kaitlyn commented. “I also agree that the decision about whether to meet should be up to Jasper, especially given his fragile condition. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“What would you suggest?”
“The best proof, of course, would be a DNA test. But I’m sure Jasper is going to want to know the reason for the test before he gives his consent, and to be honest, I have no idea how he’d react to being told.”
As Tanner mulled it over, the silence felt weighty. Finally, he looked up, his eyes glittering with golden brown flecks. “What if there’s another way to prove he’s my grandfather? While still leaving the option of meeting me completely up to him? Without alerting him to my existence, even.”
Kaitlyn shot him a quizzical look. “I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“You’d have to be willing to ask him a single question. And after that, you can let me know what he wants to do.”
She stared at him. “What are you thinking?”
VII
Tanner departed shortly afterward. Kaitlyn, meanwhile, remained seated as she reflected on the conversation. Tanner’s plan was solid, and she appreciated the fact that he had no intention of adding any stress to the old man’s life. God knows, Jasper’s life had been hard enough already. Horrible, even. She hadn’t known the circumstances of the fire in which he’d been so gravely injured, and as Tanner recounted what the sheriff had told him about the incident—and what Paul had done in the aftermath—she’d felt sick to her stomach. She couldn’t imagine how Jasper had managed to keep going.
After a few minutes, she left the office and made the short drive to the hospital. Tanner was already there, seated in the small lobby. He looked up as she passed but said nothing, and after reviewing Jasper’s records on the computer she took a deep breath and went to find him.
VIII
As much as he knew he needed to stay, Jasper hated being in the hospital. He’d spent too much of his life in hospitals already. He’d said as much to Doc Betters when he’d come by to see him earlier, and he’d repeated it to the orthopedic surgeon, in case Betters hadn’t been listening. Betters wouldn’t make any promises. Instead, because of Jasper’s improving condition, the orthopedic surgeon had made the decision to operate the following morning, which likely meant Jasper would be stuck here for even longer.
The nurses had tried to make him comfortable, of course. They’d adjusted the bed so he could sit up and turn the television on, but the volume was too low for him to make out what was being said. Not that he’d be interested anyway; it was tuned to the Discovery channel and as far as he could tell, the show was about volcanoes. As there were no volcanoes within a thousand miles of Asheboro, he wasn’t sure why he should care. What he really wanted to know was whether the white deer was alive. He wondered if the Littleton boys had continued to hunt in the forest after leaving Jasper stranded; he wondered whether they’d gone back on Friday for one last attempt before the hordes of turkey hunters descended. He’d asked the nurses about it, but no one seemed to know anything. Nor did Charlie; the sheriff had dropped by a few hours ago to reproach Jasper for acting like a fool.
He was glad that Dr. Cooper was watching Arlo, though, as she’d told him at her morning visit. That was kind of her, but he should have warned her not to fall for any of Arlo’s tricks. The dog wasn’t always hungry, even if he acted like he was about to faint from starvation. You couldn’t trust Arlo to tell the truth when it came to food.
But he was a good dog. He’d gone to find help, and help had eventually come. If asked beforehand, Jasper would have said the dog wasn’t capable of something like that. Oh, he might have wandered out of the forest easy enough. It was pretty much his backyard, but Jasper wouldn’t have expected him to be smart enough to make it all the way to Dr. Cooper’s. It wasn’t as though he’d ever spent a lot of time there, and once the boy had treated him with hot dogs, Jasper figured Arlo would have known a good thing when he saw it and simply stuck around for the duration. Why look for the old man when I’m eating hot dogs here? But no. The dog had done his duty.
Miracles never cease, Jasper thought, but the folks at the hospital didn’t quite recognize Arlo for the hero he was. When Jasper had asked if the dog could stay with him, he’d been told that pets weren’t allowed. He wondered if that applied to service animals, too. Lost in thought, he took a moment to realize Dr. Cooper was standing in the doorway.
“Hi, Jasper,” she said. “Do you mind if I come in?”
Jasper fiddled with the sheet, making sure his privates were covered. She might be his doctor, but that didn’t mean she needed to see something she wasn’t in the mood to see. He waved her inside and she approached with a smile before pulling up a chair.
“You’re looking a lot better than you did this morning, I must say,” she remarked, “and your numbers are looking good, too. I saw that your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow?”
“The doc said I’m going to need screws to hold my ankle together.”
“That’s common with a fracture like this,” she assured him. “How are you feeling?”
“My skin’s itchier than usual, but I’m trying to ignore it.”
“Is it working?”
“Nope.”
“Are you getting enough food?”
“I told the nurses I don’t eat much, but they don’t seem to care. One of them fixed me with the evil eye until I finished everything on my tray.”
Kaitlyn smiled. “She did the right thing. You need to get your strength back. How’s your head?”
“Doc Betters says it’s fine. I don’t have a headache anymore.”
“That’s great,” she said. “Oh, by the way, Mitch told me to tell you hello. He said he’s looking forward to carving with you again, whenever you feel up to it.”
Jasper nodded. “I’m thinking of carving him a deer and having him paint it white. Have you heard whether that deer’s been spotted again?”
“I haven’t, but if I do, I’ll let you know. Regardless, I don’t think you should venture into the forest for a while.”
“Charlie said the same thing to me.” He made a sour face.
“Charlie?”
“The sheriff. He came by earlier.”
“Is he going to do anything about the Littletons?”
“There isn’t much he can do. The forest is federal jurisdiction. And it wasn’t as though the boys did anything to me. I just fell.”
He watched Kaitlyn’s brows form an angry vee. “They could have helped you or called someone for help…” she sputtered. “Honestly—”
“It ain’t a crime not to do those things,” Jasper said with a shrug. “I doubt they knew how bad I was hurt.”
“You’re being way too reasonable about all this,” Kaitlyn protested.
“I’ve been around longer than you. Some battles you just can’t win.”
“Well, just so you know, Casey told me she confronted Josh about leaving you in the forest when you were hurt, and he was dumb enough to admit it. Let’s just say his popularity has begun to wane, at least at the high school.”
Jasper smiled, thinking it wasn’t much, but at least it was something. He watched as Kaitlyn drew her chair closer to the bed.
“Jasper? Can I ask you a few questions?”
“That’s what you’ve been doing since you’ve been here.”
She smiled. “I know, but these are different. And I’m not sure quite how to begin. For starters, it’s not really any of my business. But it might be yours.”
“Just ask what you want.”
“Okay, but before I do, I want you to know that I’m on your side, and I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” When Jasper nodded, she seemed to gather herself. “I just recently learned about the circumstances of the fire in which you were injured, and what happened to your family. I can’t imagine how terrible that must have been for you, and I understand why you never wanted to talk about it. I wouldn’t want to talk about it either. And I’m very sorry for what you went through.”
Jasper said nothing. He felt her reach for his hand before she went on. “But I’m here because I wanted to ask you something about your son David. If you don’t want to answer, that’s of course fine.”
Jasper nodded, feeling his curiosity grow.
“Do you remember anything about David’s teenage years?”
Jasper closed his eyes for a moment. “I remember everything,” he whispered, swallowing hard. “It’s all I have left.”
“Do you know if he ever had a girlfriend or a young woman he cared about?”
“Yes.”
“Was her name Monica Hughes?”
At the name, Jasper felt an almost electrical jolt. “How do you know that?” he asked.
“Can you tell me anything about her?”
“David loved her, but she moved away,” he said in a shaky voice. “Her father was in the army, and he was posted to somewhere in Europe, I think. David never saw or heard from her again. It broke his heart.”
Kaitlyn seemed to be staring at him with infinite tenderness. “If David was anything like you, there’s no doubt that Monica loved your son dearly. The reason David never heard from her was because she passed away not too long after she moved.”
“She died?”
Kaitlyn’s voice was tentative, but gentle. “Did you know she was pregnant when she moved?”
“No,” said Jasper.
“She was. I don’t know the details, but something went wrong when she was delivering the baby,” said Kaitlyn.
It took Jasper a moment to understand what she was telling him.
“She was pregnant, and then she died?”
“Yes. She gave birth to a boy.”
“And David was the father?”
“Yes.” Kaitlyn nodded.
“You know this for sure?”
“A DNA test will confirm it, but I wouldn’t be telling you this unless I was fairly certain.”
Jasper’s eyes began to fill with tears as comprehension slowly dawned on him. “The boy lived? I have a grandchild?”
“You do,” she said, dabbing at her own tears. He listened as she drew a shaky breath before going on. “His name is Tanner Hughes. He’s the one who found you in the woods.”
It was almost too much for Jasper to process, and he grabbed the bed rail, as if hoping to steady himself. “Tanner Hughes,” he repeated.
“Which brings me to another question,” Kaitlyn said, squeezing his hand. “Tanner asked me to find out whether you’d like to meet him. If you don’t want to meet him, he told me to let you know that he understands, and that he’ll never try to contact you again.”
Jasper stared at her, the tears beginning to fall. He was silent for at least a minute, as the tears ran down his face.
“Yes,” he said finally, trying to steady himself, feeling a sudden sense of wonder. “I’d like very much to meet my family.”