Chapter One
The sun was setting over Kent, England, giving the sky a hue of orange. The former doctor of Memorial Hospital in California was in the shower when the doorbell had rung, but he did not worry about. He knew that Jaysen was downstairs, more than likely getting a bottle of wine uncorked and pouring two glasses. Jaysen had indeed wondered himself who could be at the door. He had just finished washing the dishes and had emerged from the basement, bringing with him a bottle of white wine. “I’ll get it,” he shouted up to Sebastian, though he didn’t think that his best friend would hear him, for he knew that Sebastian liked privacy. Jasyen Stripe crossed over to the front door and looked through the peephole. No one was there. The second time the doorbell rang he opened it and could not believe his eyes. A kid no older than eleven stood before him: his backpack hooked over both shoulders, his hair black, but looked slightly familiar to Jaysen and his facial features also looking familiar. As Jaysen knelt down to meet the boy’s eyes, he said, “May I help you?” “Can I see my dad?” Jaysen was dumbfounded. Dad, he repeated in his mind, but managed to say, “Are you sure you have the correct house?” The child just nodded his head and said nothing more, as Jaysen studied his face a little more. It bothered him, because there was a striking resemblance to someone, yet couldn’t place it. “Here –” “Yes, here. My dad lives here,” the kid announced. Conviction seemed to ring from his voice, emitting confidence. Playing with the idea, Jaysen asked whom his father was – smiling as he did so – thinking it was all a joke that this kid was pulling. He knew Sebastian didn’t have any kids, let a lone a girlfriend. Sebastian was not the type! Jaysen also kept in mind that the kid still had the wrong house. “All right, since you seem so confident that your dad lives here, who is he?” Jaysen still smiled, but now stood upright and crossed his arms over his chest. “Leo Ludsgarden.” Immediately floored and slack-jawed, Jaysen had a flashback on that very day when he helped Sebastian bury Leo in the backyard. Even though it had been months, to Jaysen it felt like only yesterday. Is this kid joking? Jaysen Stripe introduced himself, shook the boy’s hand and learned the kid’s name as Adam. Ushering him in and offering a seat on the sofa, Jaysen also offered anything to drink, “Water perhaps?” In kindness, Adam who claimed himself to be Leo’s son, had declined the offer and sat waiting. Waiting for his father. “Will you excuse me a moment?” “Sure,” the Adam replied. It was uncanny. The kid had spoken like Leo. It was no wonder why his looks and hairstyle were so familiar to Jaysen. It felt like déjá vu. Jaysen went upstairs and frantically knocked on Sebastian’s door, hoping he would have finished his shower. Sebastian opened his door to see Jaysen standing before him, his face drained of colour. “Are you okay?” Jaysen shook his head, his heart pounding within his chest and his mouth dry. “Is it your epilepsy?” Again, the same reply. Jaysen shook his head. Then, on impulse, he pushed Sebastian further back into his room and closed the door gently behind him. Gesturing a finger to his lips, he told Sebastian who was downstairs in the living room on the sofa, waiting for his father. The reaction of what Sebastian had on his face was merely no different then what Jaysen himself had just ten minutes ago. Sitting on his bed, wearing joggers and a cut-off t-shirt, Sebastian Masters wondered what to do. He was a man of honesty, and knew that his late friend, Leo was a virgin. Now it seemed that was all a lie. He cupped his face within his hands in disbelief, trying to think of what to tell this unknown kid waiting downstairs who was only eleven years old. After a moment, he looked back at Jaysen, “What do we do?” “Sebastian, we can’t keep him waiting,” Jaysen had made a point. “What if this kid had run away from where he was living to seek Leo out?” Jaysen had whispered. The thought of pouring more questions towards Sebastian would only infuriate him. “Okay, okay,” he already sounded tired of the conversation. “Lets go down and se him,” Sebastian rose from to his feet and followed Jaysen downstairs. The footsteps of both men caught Adam off guard and stood erect, as if at attention at military academy. “Hello,” he said, looking perfectly healthy. “Adam, I want you to meet Leo’s best friend, Sebastian,” Jaysen walked toward the kid. Sebastian stood before Leo’s son, looking astounded of the resemblance between Leo and the child before him. “Hello.” It was all Sebastian could manage before extending his hand. Adam took it and gave a firm handshake in return. “Where is my dad?” “What happened to your mother? Where do live?” Sebastian asked, trying to avoid the question with his own. Adam Ludsgarden started to explain that he was at a foster home, where he had stayed for a number of years. Over that time, he wanted to see his dad for so long and he finally got the chance and tracked Leo down to this address. As his story went on, elaborating more details, Sebastian held up a hand in surrender. “Wine, Sebastian?” Jaysen offered. “No. Beer, please.” “Adam, do you want anything to drink? We have soda, bottled water!” Adam would not accept anything to drink. He only wanted to see his father. “You must be hungry, at least,” Jaysen pressed, knowing that there was more than enough food in the fridge. “No gracias,” Adam replied. Sebastian was shocked to find out that the boy, at such a young age, knew Spanish! He sat beside Adam immediately and said, “Usted entiende Español?” “Si,” Adam looked straight at Sebastian, his dark eyes seeming so much like Leo. “Who taught you?” Sebastian looked back at Jaysen, who brought him the beer, while holding a glass of wine for himself to drink. “My mom…” his voice trailed off. The feeling of depression washed over him and he looked to his running shoes, but managed to continue, “Before she died.” Adam still could not lift his head to meet either Jaysen or Sebastian. “Who was your mother?” Jaysen ventured, trying not to upset the boy. As if an unknown force held his head down, Adam raised his head slowly and looked at Jaysen with tears welling in his eyes. “Her name was Ashley, Ashley Masters,” the boy before them bowed his head once again to look at his shoes. Jaysen started choking as he took a sip of his wine, nearly spitting it out onto the floor, while Sebastian’s eyes grew wide. They exchanged fleeting glances and Sebastian looked back to the Adam once he knew Jaysen Stripe was going to be all right. His throat tightened when he heard his sister’s name. When was the last time he heard Ashley’s name? It was when she died here in Kent and Leo brought her body back to California where they had the funeral. Now all that remained in California for Sebastian was a dark and empty house, ready to be sold. By his request, items were being shipped to the summer house via private plane. Sebastian did not even want the private jet anymore. He had felt like there was no use for it since he gave up his practice in California. He kept thinking to himself he was no longer a doctor, yet he didn’t regret his decision to leave. Jaysen was waiting for Sebastian to say something. When the words never came, he asked, “When did Leo send you to a foster home?” This evening was interrogation for poor Adam Ludsgarden. They didn’t grill him, but the thought of finding Leo and upon the mention of Ashley, Sebastian’s sister, bewildered them. They were hungry for information, yet supplying no solid answer for him. Adam looked at Jaysen, his eyes watery and replied, “When my dad left for California. When my mom died,” he then turned to Sebastian, who was still dumbfounded, yet wanted to know everything about his nephew. Sebastian snapped back into reality and said with a raspy voice, “I am your uncle.” He tried so hard to conceal his pain from the loss of his sister, the woman he looked up to when he was Adam’s age. Adam saw Sebastian’s emotions as if he was looking through glass. He could see the pain and torment in his eyes. He suddenly thought he said something wrong. Gently, he placed a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, told that he now has an uncle. “Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?” Sebastian shook his head as Jaysen looked on. The exchange of those four words, Jaysen thought, must have been difficult for him to say to an eleven-year-old. He took a seat on the left side of Adam, so they flanked him on the sofa. “Would you like to stay here tonight?” Sebastian offered. The child’s hand still placed on his shoulder. Jaysen looked at Sebastian with a knowing look. “Why not stay here permanently!” Adam turned from Sebastian to face Jaysen and said, “My foster-parents don’t know I’m here,” he explained. “I kind of slipped out of the house,” the first smile he cracked since he entered the front door. However, that smile quickly faded, just as fast as the sun was setting. “Well, now you have a relative here, and I’m sure your foster-parents won’t object – especially if they meet him and know that he’s a doctor!” The boy’s smile returned for a brief moment and when he removed his hand from Sebastian, he said, “You’re a doctor!” Amazed at what his uncle did. Sebastian looked at Jaysen and pursed his lips, hoping that Adam wouldn’t notice. Yet again, the boy was not fooled. He saw the look on Sebastian’s face and asked what happened. Now it was Sebastian’s turn to explain, but he said, “Another time. Go home and tell your parents you want them to meet me.” Adam stood from the sofa once more, but in protest. “What about my dad?” Although he requested to see his father, the eleven-year-old boy was ushered to the front door, told to go home and notify his foster-parents about a relative in Kent. Adam’s protest heeded an explanation and even as he walked home – his foster-home – he wondered why Jaysen and Sebastian were keeping his dad’s whereabouts from him. Was there something he didn’t know? Was there some big secret? No. Adam knew his father, Leo was still alive and he was determined to visit him. He wanted what every kid his age wanted! To bond with their fathers, play ball, go camping and everything else that a son would do with their dads. Even though Adam did not get the chance to see his dad or the warm welcome, he did manage an uncle. But it was not the greeting he expected – he thought – he didn’t know what to think. For someone to make a good first-impression, Sebastian didn’t make the cut. Adam also noticed something strange about Jaysen, but failed to put his finger on it. What was it about him?
The sun was setting over Kent, England, giving the sky a hue of orange. The former doctor of Memorial Hospital in California was in the shower when the doorbell had rung, but he did not worry about. He knew that Jaysen was downstairs, more than likely getting a bottle of wine uncorked and pouring two glasses. Jaysen had indeed wondered himself who could be at the door. He had just finished washing the dishes and had emerged from the basement, bringing with him a bottle of white wine. “I’ll get it,” he shouted up to Sebastian, though he didn’t think that his best friend would hear him, for he knew that Sebastian liked privacy. Jasyen Stripe crossed over to the front door and looked through the peephole. No one was there. The second time the doorbell rang he opened it and could not believe his eyes. A kid no older than eleven stood before him: his backpack hooked over both shoulders, his hair black, but looked slightly familiar to Jaysen and his facial features also looking familiar. As Jaysen knelt down to meet the boy’s eyes, he said, “May I help you?” “Can I see my dad?” Jaysen was dumbfounded. Dad, he repeated in his mind, but managed to say, “Are you sure you have the correct house?” The child just nodded his head and said nothing more, as Jaysen studied his face a little more. It bothered him, because there was a striking resemblance to someone, yet couldn’t place it. “Here –” “Yes, here. My dad lives here,” the kid announced. Conviction seemed to ring from his voice, emitting confidence. Playing with the idea, Jaysen asked whom his father was – smiling as he did so – thinking it was all a joke that this kid was pulling. He knew Sebastian didn’t have any kids, let a lone a girlfriend. Sebastian was not the type! Jaysen also kept in mind that the kid still had the wrong house. “All right, since you seem so confident that your dad lives here, who is he?” Jaysen still smiled, but now stood upright and crossed his arms over his chest. “Leo Ludsgarden.” Immediately floored and slack-jawed, Jaysen had a flashback on that very day when he helped Sebastian bury Leo in the backyard. Even though it had been months, to Jaysen it felt like only yesterday. Is this kid joking? Jaysen Stripe introduced himself, shook the boy’s hand and learned the kid’s name as Adam. Ushering him in and offering a seat on the sofa, Jaysen also offered anything to drink, “Water perhaps?” In kindness, Adam who claimed himself to be Leo’s son, had declined the offer and sat waiting. Waiting for his father. “Will you excuse me a moment?” “Sure,” the Adam replied. It was uncanny. The kid had spoken like Leo. It was no wonder why his looks and hairstyle were so familiar to Jaysen. It felt like déjá vu. Jaysen went upstairs and frantically knocked on Sebastian’s door, hoping he would have finished his shower. Sebastian opened his door to see Jaysen standing before him, his face drained of colour. “Are you okay?” Jaysen shook his head, his heart pounding within his chest and his mouth dry. “Is it your epilepsy?” Again, the same reply. Jaysen shook his head. Then, on impulse, he pushed Sebastian further back into his room and closed the door gently behind him. Gesturing a finger to his lips, he told Sebastian who was downstairs in the living room on the sofa, waiting for his father. The reaction of what Sebastian had on his face was merely no different then what Jaysen himself had just ten minutes ago. Sitting on his bed, wearing joggers and a cut-off t-shirt, Sebastian Masters wondered what to do. He was a man of honesty, and knew that his late friend, Leo was a virgin. Now it seemed that was all a lie. He cupped his face within his hands in disbelief, trying to think of what to tell this unknown kid waiting downstairs who was only eleven years old. After a moment, he looked back at Jaysen, “What do we do?” “Sebastian, we can’t keep him waiting,” Jaysen had made a point. “What if this kid had run away from where he was living to seek Leo out?” Jaysen had whispered. The thought of pouring more questions towards Sebastian would only infuriate him. “Okay, okay,” he already sounded tired of the conversation. “Lets go down and se him,” Sebastian rose from to his feet and followed Jaysen downstairs. The footsteps of both men caught Adam off guard and stood erect, as if at attention at military academy. “Hello,” he said, looking perfectly healthy. “Adam, I want you to meet Leo’s best friend, Sebastian,” Jaysen walked toward the kid. Sebastian stood before Leo’s son, looking astounded of the resemblance between Leo and the child before him. “Hello.” It was all Sebastian could manage before extending his hand. Adam took it and gave a firm handshake in return. “Where is my dad?” “What happened to your mother? Where do live?” Sebastian asked, trying to avoid the question with his own. Adam Ludsgarden started to explain that he was at a foster home, where he had stayed for a number of years. Over that time, he wanted to see his dad for so long and he finally got the chance and tracked Leo down to this address. As his story went on, elaborating more details, Sebastian held up a hand in surrender. “Wine, Sebastian?” Jaysen offered. “No. Beer, please.” “Adam, do you want anything to drink? We have soda, bottled water!” Adam would not accept anything to drink. He only wanted to see his father. “You must be hungry, at least,” Jaysen pressed, knowing that there was more than enough food in the fridge. “No gracias,” Adam replied. Sebastian was shocked to find out that the boy, at such a young age, knew Spanish! He sat beside Adam immediately and said, “Usted entiende Español?” “Si,” Adam looked straight at Sebastian, his dark eyes seeming so much like Leo. “Who taught you?” Sebastian looked back at Jaysen, who brought him the beer, while holding a glass of wine for himself to drink. “My mom…” his voice trailed off. The feeling of depression washed over him and he looked to his running shoes, but managed to continue, “Before she died.” Adam still could not lift his head to meet either Jaysen or Sebastian. “Who was your mother?” Jaysen ventured, trying not to upset the boy. As if an unknown force held his head down, Adam raised his head slowly and looked at Jaysen with tears welling in his eyes. “Her name was Ashley, Ashley Masters,” the boy before them bowed his head once again to look at his shoes. Jaysen started choking as he took a sip of his wine, nearly spitting it out onto the floor, while Sebastian’s eyes grew wide. They exchanged fleeting glances and Sebastian looked back to the Adam once he knew Jaysen Stripe was going to be all right. His throat tightened when he heard his sister’s name. When was the last time he heard Ashley’s name? It was when she died here in Kent and Leo brought her body back to California where they had the funeral. Now all that remained in California for Sebastian was a dark and empty house, ready to be sold. By his request, items were being shipped to the summer house via private plane. Sebastian did not even want the private jet anymore. He had felt like there was no use for it since he gave up his practice in California. He kept thinking to himself he was no longer a doctor, yet he didn’t regret his decision to leave. Jaysen was waiting for Sebastian to say something. When the words never came, he asked, “When did Leo send you to a foster home?” This evening was interrogation for poor Adam Ludsgarden. They didn’t grill him, but the thought of finding Leo and upon the mention of Ashley, Sebastian’s sister, bewildered them. They were hungry for information, yet supplying no solid answer for him. Adam looked at Jaysen, his eyes watery and replied, “When my dad left for California. When my mom died,” he then turned to Sebastian, who was still dumbfounded, yet wanted to know everything about his nephew. Sebastian snapped back into reality and said with a raspy voice, “I am your uncle.” He tried so hard to conceal his pain from the loss of his sister, the woman he looked up to when he was Adam’s age. Adam saw Sebastian’s emotions as if he was looking through glass. He could see the pain and torment in his eyes. He suddenly thought he said something wrong. Gently, he placed a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, told that he now has an uncle. “Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?” Sebastian shook his head as Jaysen looked on. The exchange of those four words, Jaysen thought, must have been difficult for him to say to an eleven-year-old. He took a seat on the left side of Adam, so they flanked him on the sofa. “Would you like to stay here tonight?” Sebastian offered. The child’s hand still placed on his shoulder. Jaysen looked at Sebastian with a knowing look. “Why not stay here permanently!” Adam turned from Sebastian to face Jaysen and said, “My foster-parents don’t know I’m here,” he explained. “I kind of slipped out of the house,” the first smile he cracked since he entered the front door. However, that smile quickly faded, just as fast as the sun was setting. “Well, now you have a relative here, and I’m sure your foster-parents won’t object – especially if they meet him and know that he’s a doctor!” The boy’s smile returned for a brief moment and when he removed his hand from Sebastian, he said, “You’re a doctor!” Amazed at what his uncle did. Sebastian looked at Jaysen and pursed his lips, hoping that Adam wouldn’t notice. Yet again, the boy was not fooled. He saw the look on Sebastian’s face and asked what happened. Now it was Sebastian’s turn to explain, but he said, “Another time. Go home and tell your parents you want them to meet me.” Adam stood from the sofa once more, but in protest. “What about my dad?” Although he requested to see his father, the eleven-year-old boy was ushered to the front door, told to go home and notify his foster-parents about a relative in Kent. Adam’s protest heeded an explanation and even as he walked home – his foster-home – he wondered why Jaysen and Sebastian were keeping his dad’s whereabouts from him. Was there something he didn’t know? Was there some big secret? No. Adam knew his father, Leo was still alive and he was determined to visit him. He wanted what every kid his age wanted! To bond with their fathers, play ball, go camping and everything else that a son would do with their dads. Even though Adam did not get the chance to see his dad or the warm welcome, he did manage an uncle. But it was not the greeting he expected – he thought – he didn’t know what to think. For someone to make a good first-impression, Sebastian didn’t make the cut. Adam also noticed something strange about Jaysen, but failed to put his finger on it. What was it about him?
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