Chapter 123
After school, he didn’t go home like he was supposed to. Instead, he had the driver take him to the building where Dorothea’s company was.
But today, he wasn’t there for Dorothea. He was waiting for Mamie, the woman who looked so much like his mother that it almost hurt to look at her.
It was like the universe was on Garth’s side. Around four o’clock, Mamie got ready to stop by the bank and then head straight home.
“Aldin, can you help me follow that lady p>
Aldin looked uneasy. “Garth, it’s getting late. You really should be heading home p>
“Come on, please? If you don’t help me, I’ll just get out and follow her myself p>
Aldin gave in, sighing as he pressed the gas and trailed after the white car in front of them.
Mamie had no idea she was being followed. She spent half an hour at the bank talking to the manager, then headed back to her car, only to be ambushed by a little kid who threw his arms around her.
She was startled at first, but then her eyes softened with recognition. “Garth p>
“Mamie!” Garth beamed up at her.
Mamie crouched down so she was eye-level with him. “What are you doing here? Where’s your family p>
Her first thought was that Garth was lost.
That gave Garth an idea. He blinked, a sly look in his eyes. “Mamie, can you take me home? Or maybe call my dad and ask him to pick me up p>
Mamie checked the time on her phone. She still had plenty of time before she was supposed to meet her boyfriend.
She smiled gently. “Alright, how about we wait in that KFC over there p>
Garth nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, let’s go p>
Mamie ordered food and brought it to their table. She set the tray in front of Garth and asked, “Do you remember your dad’s phone number p>
“I do!” Garth rattled it off without hesitation.
Mamie dialed the number. On the other end, a deep, cool voice answered, “Hello p>
“Hi, is this Garth’s father? Your son got separated from his driver. We’re at the KFC on Sunset Boulevard. Could you come pick him up p>
There was a pause, then a calm reply, “Alright, I’ll be there soon. Thank you for letting me know. May I ask your name p>
“My last name is Main p>
After the call, Garth watched her nervously. “What did my dad say p>
Mamie could tell how anxious he was. She reached out and gently patted his head. “Don’t worry, your dad isn’t mad. Here, eat your fries. Want some ketchup p>
Garth shook his head right away. “No thanks. I don’t like ketchup on my fries p>
Mamie raised her eyebrows, a little surprised. Most kids loved ketchup, but apparently not Garth. Funny enough, she didn’t like dipping her fries in ketchup either.
Meanwhile, Scott hung up the phone and slipped on his jacket. His assistant looked confused. “Scott, the people from the Commerce Bureau are coming over soon p>
“Let them know I’m sorry, but something’s come up with my son. I have to go p>
Scott drove himself to the KFC as quickly as he could.
The voice he’d just heard on the
phone kept echoing in his mind, but
he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He
that
called Aldin and
Garth had really run off.
When Scott got to the restaurant, he parked, went inside, and scanned the crowd until he spotted Garth sitting near the play area. He started walking over, but then he noticed the woman sitting across from his son. She had shoulder-length curly hair. Cóntent
Those features they were burned into his memory, no matter how many years had passed.
Scott swallowed hard and walked quietly toward them. He heard the woman’s soft voice Garth that’s enough. If you eat too much, your stomach will hurt later p>
Mamie must have felt someone watching her, because she looked up right then and
locked eyes with Scott.
She froze for a second, then smiled. “Hello, are you Mr. Stephens p>
Scott’s face was a mix of emotions. Did she just call him p>
Mr. Stephens?