Several people mill about the living room as Nick stands in the dark by the window close to Mable. She says, "Don’t worry, no one wants to upset the balance. Especially after you lost Sasha." Nick glares at her and says, "I hope you mean that. It’s my choice, Mable." "Just remember, secrets have a way of coming out when you least expect them," she says. Nick says, [["I have my own theory about secrets."|Theory]] [[“That’s only going to happen on my terms, not yours.”|Keep Secret]] “You don’t have to be so mean. I’m just thinking ahead,” says Mable. “Don’t think. I’ll do the thinking for you where my daughter is concerned,” says Nick. “Just be prepared for the questions, because you’re the one she’s going to ask,” says Mable. Nick says, [[“You’re going to mess up everything.”|Mess up]] [[“Most I can tell her is a mild form of the truth.”| Mild truth]]Aunt Mable leans in close and says, "Mild truth is just other words for a lie." "I can't tell her everything. She's too young to understand it," says Nick. "You might find out she's more grown up than you think," she says. Nick says, [["What do you know that you haven't told me?"|Guilty]] [[“You don’t know what you’re asking. Just let me grieve, please.”|Mess up]]"The suspicious mind is a guilty conscience. I’m not the one hiding things,” she says. “We just have to get through loosing her Mom. You can’t expect me to topple her world by letting her know she’s adopted,” says Nick. Mable says, “I don’t. I wasn’t thinking. We have to hold on to what we have, and right now, that’s family.” Nick asks, [[“No matter how screwed up it is?”|Screwed up]] [[“You’ll keep the secret then?”| Keep Secret]] “Absolutely. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I promised a long time ago to go along and I’m not going back on my word,” says Mable. “I’m more worried that she’s going to get into serious trouble hanging around Caroline, than anything else,” says Nick. Aunt Mable asks, “What do you think they’re going to do?” “I don’t like the possibilities. She’s a year older and her parents have set no boundaries,” he says. “She’s probably looking forward to the summer. Besides, Jillian and Kris are going to look out for her and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble,” she says. Nick says, [[“It’s going to be hard with out Sasha around. I’m glad I can count on you.”| Trust]] [[“The rules haven’t changed. I’m going to take some time off to make damn sure she tows the line.”|Threat]] “It’s not just me anymore. Social media is loose and there’s no end to what people can find out. I just don’t want anyone to start digging. Not into your past.” “I have rules about social media and being online. There isn’t any Facebook in my house,” he says. She retorts, “Well now days everybody and their dog has a cell with Facebook. How stupid are you? These are teenagers—“ “Stop,” he says. “I’m sorry,” she says. Nick says,[[“I’m more worried that she’s going to get into serious trouble hanging around Caroline, than anything else.”|Worried]] [[My teenager is going to do as I say. I don't need your interference."|Threat]]“I won’t tell her, but you can’t control everything and one day she’s going to meet up with someone who knows,” says Aunt Mable. “She’s fifteen. Maybe you can’t control your kids, but I’ll damn sure control mine,” Mable shakes her head and looks away. “I don’t want to fight. It’s in her best interest is all I’m saying,” he continues. “I hope you’re right,” she says. Nick says,[["You promised a long time ago and I'll hold you too it."|Threat]] [[“I don’t want to fight. It’s in her best interest is all I’m saying”|Keep Secret]] Mable takes a step back and asks, “You really can’t tell when someone is trying to help you, can you?” Nick stares at her and says, “The only help I need is for you to stay out of my business.” “I know there’s something shady about your past that ties to Jayden’s adoption. Why don’t you get it off your chest so it will quit making you such an asshole,” says Mable. Nick slams his hat to the ground, [[“She told you, didn’t she?|Sins of past]] Mable asks, “What do you think they’re going to do?” “I don’t like the possibilities. She’s a year older and her parents have set no boundaries,” he says. “She’s probably looking forward to the summer. Besides, Jillian and Kris are going to look out for her and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble,” she says. Nick says, [[“It’s going to be hard with out Sasha around. I’m glad I can count on you.”| Trust]] [[“The rules haven’t changed. I’m going to take some time off to make damn sure she tows the line.”|Threat]] “It’s not just me anymore. Social media is loose and there’s no end to what people can find out. I just don’t want anyone to start digging. Not into your past.” “I have rules about social media and being online. There isn’t any Facebook in my house,” he says. She retorts, “Well now days everybody and their dog has a cell with Facebook. How stupid are you? These are teenagers—“ “Stop,” he says. “I’m sorry,” she says. Nick says,[[“I’m more worried that she’s going to get into serious trouble hanging around Caroline, than anything else.”|Worried]] [[My teenager is going to do as I say. I don't need your interference."|Threat]]“I’m glad too. I have something to confess,” says Mable. Nick raises his eyebrow and says, “After all that?” “I already told her,” she says. “Told her what?” “I know the promise and I know you’re going to be mad, but I told her she was adopted before the funeral today,” she says. “You just said about your promise. What the hell were you thinking?” “She found that picture Sasha had stuffed in an old album. She thought it was Sasha holding her on the day she was born, but then she pulled out the birth certificate.” Nick [[says, “I’ll kill you|Explain]] Mabel asks, “Why don’t you tell me?” “Listen, you’ve got to keep quiet about this. I could lose everything,” says Nick. “You won’t lose her. Just tell me,” she says. “Shut up. I’m talking about my job, my reputation, my life,” he says. Mable tilts her head and asks, “Just because you adopted a child and didn’t tell her?” “Because I planted the evidence that convicted her mother so I could adopt her,” he says. Mable’s mouth hangs open. Nick continues, [[“You’ll tell her it was a joke, or a story to take her mind off losing her mom to cancer. |Lie to cover my assets]] [["I have to move away. I'll pack tonight."|Run away]] Mable says, “I had to explain. She caught me off guard and I asked her not to tell you she knew, but we both know that’s not going to happen.” “I can’t believe you. You have no idea what you’ve done,” says Nick. “I think if it you talk to her it will bring you closer,” she says. “Oh my God. She’s going to search for that woman,” he says. “No. She just wants answers from you,” says Mable. Nick screams, [[“And what happens when she finds her, Mable? Did you give that any thought?”|Run away]] “You can’t be serious,” says Mable. Nick asks, “See what your poking around has done?” “Well don’t expect I’ll be the last one to ask questions about a thing like this,” she says. “What were you thinking?” “I just didn’t have all the facts,” he mutters under his breath. Mable tilts her head and asks, “What are the facts?” Nick replies, [[“You ask too many questions for your own good.”|Ingnore past sins]] [[“You can’t tell a soul if I do.|backstory]] Mable asks, "What are you talking about?" “Jayden’s real mom is in West Oaks Sanitarium. She went crazy after spending a decade in prison,” he says. “Oh, Nick. Why? I don’t understand,” she says. “I’ll tell you why. That no good, piece of shit, Robert Manacule, killed Jayden’s younger sister. [[I talked to the mother first, but her story didn’t make sense.|backstory]] Mable says, “Nothing makes sense anymore.” “I’m wrong in what I thought was right, but now it’s done,” says Nick. Mable says, “You act so morally superior and all this time…” “I knew she was lying and I knew one of them was responsible for their little girl’s corpse,” he says. “Maybe you were right,” says Mable. Nick says, [[“I thought so at the time.”|Humble]] [[“It’s done and now we have to protect Jayden.”|Ingnore past sins]] Mable says, “Time has a way of changing a person’s perspective. Don’t ask me how I know that.” Nick replies, “I thought the woman would turn on him, or confess. I never thought he’d get off and I’d find out she was innocent.” Mable says, “I believe you, but now what?” Nick says, “Now we have to go to the Sanitarium.” Mable asks, “For what?” “To fix this,” says Nick. Mable asks, “How are you going to do that?” Nick replies, “I don’t know, but it’s going to start with the truth.” THE END Mable says, “Things like that are never really done,” “I can’t change it,” Nick says. She asks, “How could you let Jayden’s real mother rot in prison?” “Sasha and I wanted that baby,” he says. “Well now you have her and when she finds out the truth about her past…she is going to hate you,” she says. [[“Don’t say that. Never say that’” he says.|Wrong]] “You can’t ignore the past and expect to have a future,” says Mable. “People do it all the time,” says Nick. “So, what are my choices, either carry the burden of this lie to your daughter, or unearth the all those skeletons you left buried fifteen years ago?” asks Mable? [[Nick says, “There is no choice. Just leave the past alone.”|Stay secret]] “All I can promise is that I love you both. I can’t promise that this secret won’t come out,” says Mable. “I don’t need your promises. I need your cooperation,” says Nick. Mable replies, “I’m not one of your flunky officers, Nick. Besides, I have always been supportive of both you and Sasha when it comes to Jayden. Don’t you think it’s time to start thinking about how all this is going to affect her life?” Nick stares at Mable, crosses his arms, gets very close to her face and says, “No.” Mable leans back against the wall as Nick brushes past her and disappears into the hall. THE END