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There was pounding on his door. Charles scrunched his nose and stretched before grabbing his glasses and sliding out of bed. He didn’t grab his robe as he assumed his matching pajamas were enough to greet someone at…
Charles rolled his eyes as he saw that it was 3:14 in the morning. Who would wake him up this early?
Terrifying thoughts crossed his mind as he moved to the door, flicking on lights. Someone else in the building was dead. There was a leak of some kind. An outage. Maybe there officers outside his door ready to arrest him to falsely accuse him for yet another crime.
He opened his front door and immediately had an armful of Mabel. He was startled only a moment as he returned the fervent hug, but was concerned as she cried into him. She didn’t do that often. She was usually the stoic one amongst the three of them. Oliver would constantly let them and the world know what he was feeling and Charles was even prone to instantly express his annoyance or glee, but Mabel usually held it in until she exploded and Charles knew that wasn’t good. Though likely due to her trauma, trust issues and her inability to rely on someone. She was getting better with the last two. She did rely and trust him and Oliver to be there at any moment with both the investigations and life.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Charles asked softly. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Mabel answered, releasing him some as she looked up at him with her reddened eyes and tear tracks. “Yeah. I, uh, just had a nightmare and I needed to see you.”
“You could have called. I would have waved from the window.”
Mabel smirked at the mention of their new habit. If they ever spotted each other they would wave. Mabel had bought a white board and would often write something that he’d have to use his binoculars to read and sometimes it was a mundane question about his sleep. Sometimes it was a question to see if he wanted to meet up at the Pickle Diner. They were all things she could have texted, but instead chose a whimsical way to make their days brighten a little. His favorite ones were often when she just write that she was coming over and then sit on his couch demanding grilled cheese as they binged reality TV with Oliver popping in to watch with them, but getting up every once in a while to text or call Loretta. He had learned the hard way not to giggle at his phone or chat over the Real Housewives while Charles and Mabel watched. Sometimes Lucy would come over on those days because she would have already been visiting Mabel before wanting to come over and surprise Charles and they’d watch whatever series the teen had gotten hooked on.
“It wouldn’t have been enough,” Mabel told him. “You ever have one of those dreams that when you wake you wonder if you actually woke up?”
“Yeah. I’ve had those for years. It got worse after we found out what happened to Sazz and dealt with Marshall. Well, Jan did. Sometimes I’d wake up scared to find Jan was just waiting in my coat closet again and ready to fulfill her desire to actually kill me. Or that maybe we really did d*e or end up seriously injured because the Arconia got demolished and now this is all some kind of pleasant way for me to accept my inevitable fate.”
“You think we didn’t make it out?” Mabel asked.
Charles shrugged. “This isn’t about me or my anxiety. We can talk about it later. This is about you coming to see me at three in the morning. You want something to drink? Or do you just want to sit?”
“Would you think it was weird if I asked for an omelet?”
“Mabel, I would gladly make you an omelet if that made you feel better,” Charles told her. He put his hands on her shoulders. “I care about you, dear. You know that, right?”
Mabel turned a little pink and looked embarrassed. “Yeah. I just feel silly.”
“Don’t be,” Charles replied. “You're just helping me start the day earlier than usual. It’s not like I’m shooting Brazzos right now. And we aren’t working on a case. Hopefully not for a while. Cinda’s took a lot out of me. Traveling across an ocean to solve multiple crimes was exhausting. And Oliver thought it was a good idea to do that then jump a plane to New Zealand.”
“When’s he getting in again?”
“I think he actually decided to extend the trip another week,” Charles answered as they walked into his kitchen. He started pulling out ingredients pausing to make a little bit of a face as Mabel slid onto the counter to sit. “Really?”
“You think I’m that unclean?”
“No. I just have a perfectly good table over there.”
“But I need to be close to you. I know that sounds irrational, but I already got out of bed walked around the building to get here to your door and wake you up. Rationale went out the window ages ago.”
“Let’s not go out windows unless ground is a foot away,” Charles murmured.
“You’d walk a ledge for me again if you had to,” Mabel teased.
“I would, but you already knew that,” Charles said. He stared at her a moment as her eyes darted away. “Mabel, you do know that, right?”
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m just some damsel in distress that you and Oliver feel you need to save,” Mabel stated. “I talk a good game about being independent and everything, but I keep feeling like you two are propping me up.”
“What?” Charles returned. “Are you kidding me? You are far from a damsel, Mabel. You’ve willingly dived into danger. You knew there was a possibility of Jan being down in the basement and you and Oliver still went down there to stop her. You took on Oscar when you thought he was a stalker. You faced Kreps in a boxing ring without anyone for back-up. You’ve stood up to studio heads and egotistical actors. You’ve held your own against a very stubborn Oliver Putnam. You kept yourself alive long enough so Oliver and I could provide an assist. I watched you take a butcher knife and cut off a finger. Yes, it was fake, but I could completely believe if needed to you’d do something like that to save yourself, me or Oliver. Or Loretta. Or even Theo. Maybe Howard.”
“Maybe Howard,” Mabel agreed.
“And isn’t propping up one another something that friends do?” Charle continued. He cracked the eggs. “You were just as insistent as I was to get to Lucy during the blackout. Yes, we had to essentially drag Oliver, but I know he was worried. You’ve tried to help me in the dating world so I'd have a chance at some happiness, but mistakes were made on both sides because sometimes I think a little bit with my…” He glanced down then up and Mabel scrunched her nose. “Exactly. But you encouraged myself and Oliver with the play despite us ignoring you a little bit. You cared enough about Sazz to want to find answers. You liked her from the moment you met her. Most people do.”
“She was a cool person,” Mabel acknowledged. “I’m sad I didn’t get to spend more time with her.”
“Friends are you own personal cheering squad, therapists and the family you choose.”
“You’re very wise, Charles-Haden Savage.”
“Thanks. It comes from all the mistakes I’ve ever made in my life.”
Mabel laughed. “I needed that.”
“What? For me to admit that I’m not perfect? I think we’ve established that a number of times. I get scared and anxious and I’ve still got a little bit of ego.”
“No. To laugh.”
“Ah.” Charles refocused on the pan with the eggs and his ingredients.
“Did you mean that?”
“Mean what?” Charles asked, glancing over his shoulder briefly.
“That friends are the family you choose?”
Charles took in a deep breath as he turned off the stove and put the omelet on a plate. He contemplated his answer as he pulled out a fork then presented everything to Mabel. She took the plate and proceeded to start sliding off the counter when he held up a hand and shook his head. She resettled and began to eat.
“For a long time I didn’t really have friends. I had Sazz, but I was never great at treating her the way she deserved. I was a little bit self-absorbed and then I grew solitary. I had acquaintances that were fair-weathered. I couldn’t call one and have them just come over to enjoy a meal with unless there was a deal involved or a gig to offer. I think before you and Oliver the last time I felt really happy was with Lucy and her mom. I didn’t feel like I was part of anything real again until you two came along. Yes, you’re my friends and I do have actually family in Doreen, her husband and my nieces, but I like to think I chose you and Oliver to be my family. I’ve accepted that maybe I’m not your dad, but sometimes I feel like it. Or at least an uncle. And Oliver is definitely the little brother I never wanted, but I’m glad I have. And Loretta’s most assuredly my sister. Well, I suppose sister-in-law if Oliver is my brother. Then I feel vaguely responsible for Lucy.”
“You totally feel responsible for Lucy,” Mabel said. “You’re always asking about her grades and college and her future.”
“Those are things you usually ask.”
“They don’t involve a follow-up to help study or give a recommendation letter when those usually come from teachers. I’m also pretty sure I heard you offering her some money for college.”
“It’s expensive.”
“It’s not your job, Charles.”
“But I feel like it is.”
“Then feel like that. You’re being a good former pseudo step-father. And a really good present father.”
Charles gave her a hopeful expression. “I didn’t overstep any boundaries?”
“Well, I’m not going to call you my dad unless it’s out of necessity. I told Oliver the same thing. He only needed reassurance when I jokingly called Loretta mom when we went to that tea room together to shadow a suspect.”
“Why wasn’t I there?”
“You went to lunch with Michael Caine. I don’t know why. You obviously hated the guy. Didn’t he steal your role in Jaws 4?”
“Right from under me. Agreed to do it for less money and still bought that stupid house.”
Mabel rolled her eyes. “Look, you and Oliver and Loretta are totally people I would choose if I had to do all this over again. And it’s nice knowing that Will finally trusts me. He did fess up to telling Oliver he shouldn’t put his faith in me.”
“When was this?”
“When Oliver was in the hospital. You had gone out for a little bit while we were both waiting for Will to show up. It’s easy to have a conversation when Oliver isn’t conscious to jump in with his two cents. He told me thank you for caring about his father and that maybe he was wrong about me. Of course the me he remembered was the teenage version that broke into people’s apartments.”
“Didn’t Oscar have a key?” Charles asked. “Couldn’t really be breaking in if you had a key.”
“You’re getting good at this skirting the rules thing, but we did steal a few things. Well, I didn’t. I just went along and poked at things. Zoe was more into that. I just liked our fake mysteries and exploring. We’d bump into Will and Theo. Theo was really skittish then and now I know why.” She scowled. “But, uh, Will scolded us a little. Tim and Oscar sorta told him to back off. Zoe flirted enough to get Will flummoxed and he’d walk away.” She looked at the floor for a moment.
“It’s okay to still be sad about Zoe,” Charles told her softly. “And Tim.”
“I know,” Mabel mumbled. “It still hurts.”
“You know you still haven’t told me the real reason you came over here. You said nightmare, but you didn’t get into specifics.”
Mabel sighed and nodded, setting the plate next to her. “You got hurt.”
“I’ve gotten hurt before,” Charles pointed out. “I was poisoned. Fake stabbed, which yes was just a bunch of theatrics, but that Alice really put some muscle into. Kinda felt like she was acting on a little anger. I nearly suffocated on stage fog. One of those cops that chained us up got a little rough.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Charles said. “I mean, he was probably taking advantage of the situation. Given free reign by the mayor is too good of opportunity to pass up.”
“Charles.”
“I said I was fine and I am.”
Mabel frowned. “Charles, we could have added charges…”
“We put away a lot of people involved in Lester and Nicky’s deaths. I lived. We all lived. We saved the building. It’s done.”
“You are so stubborn.”
“I’m aware. Now, continue.”
“Fine.” She took in a deep breath. “We were tailing a suspect. It was just us because we thought for sure that Oliver wouldn’t understand how to be subtle because let’s face it he rarely is. We lost the guy in a crowd of people crossing a street and couldn’t figure out if he’d gone into like one of the businesses nearby so we decided to call it for the day and try again later. We started to walk away past an alley when the suspect jumped out and just stabbed you. Kinda like Alice did. Except this time there wasn’t any fake blood and the knife was very real. The guy pulled it out said to leave the case alone or I would be next. And then you were on the ground just bleeding and begging me to help you. I tried to help you, but I panicked, Charles. I just panicked. Your blood was all over my hands and you were just dying on a sidewalk. And then I woke up and had this compulsion to see you. To make sure you were still alive.”
“Oh, Mabel. I’m fine.”
“Yeah, well, I had to check. I had to feel you.” She emphasized her point by poking his shoulder. “Real. Hopefully. Maybe we’re in some kind of Matrix mind thing. Or this is your subconscious reeling from the fact we are dying or have died horribly under the Arconia.”
“Don’t suggest that,” Charles told her making a face. “We made it out. We saved the building. We solved Cinda’s death. And now we’re actually getting to rest again. Hopefully for a long time.”
“Hopefully,” Mabel agreed. “I’m sorry I woke you up.”
“And forced me to make you food,” Charles added with a grin.
“Yeah. I really twisted your arm.”
“It’s really okay that you came over here, Mabel. I don’t mind. I’m pretty sure I made it clear I do see you like a daughter and that you’re my family. Doreen asks about you.”
“We talk.”
“You do?”
“Yes, mostly about you, but sometimes we get into some nice conversations. Mostly it does come back to you. Occasionally she’ll send a thirst text about Oliver and I’ll remind her that he’s married and that I do not see Oliver in that way.”
“And you talk to Lucy. Is there anyone else?”
“Why? Are you scared of what I might be telling people?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, Sazz and I texted a little. I, uh, did talk to Joy for a while there until that relationship imploded. Will, Theo and I have a group thread where we talk about our fathers and father figures. It’s mostly so Will knows what Oliver is up to and Theo lets us know if Teddy is feeling especially annoyed or murderous towards us, particularly Oliver. The rest of the time we’re just trading memes and chatting. Will even invited me over to his house for dinner.”
“Without us?”
“I told you. Will and I are cultivating a relationship over the mutual fondness and sometimes extreme annoyance of Oliver. Kinda hard to do if the two of you are there. I’m sure you’ve spoken with my mother about me.”
“I haven’t gone over for dinner without you.”
“Really? Because Oliver wouldn’t shut up about those tamales. I really would have thought he at least would have made the trip for another plate.”
“He and I agreed that we wouldn’t go unless you invited us.”
Mabel looked at him fondly. “That is very sweet, but I only invite my mother over here now because I feel like she might trap me in the house to keep from returning to my murder building. She doesn’t want to come because she thinks I’m wasting my life still and all the bad juju that might be hanging around. So we usually end up at the diner or some place she wants to try.”
“You’re making a living off of this life,” Charles pointed out.
“And she doesn’t understand that. Being a podcaster and selling away life rights for a Hollywood movie weren’t exactly on the job board when she was looking work. She just barely believes being an actor and a theatre director are viable job options either. I think she’s worried that one day once again I’ll have no direction or enough money to eat.”
“I’d help you find something.”
“Once upon a time I wouldn’t have even taken your offer seriously, but I know better than that now,” Mabel responded. “Thank you.”
“I’d even let you live here and eat my food.”
Mabel laughed. “I’d drive you crazy.”
“I’m pretty sure you’d be a better roommate than Oliver.”
“Is this about him leaving the hotel bathroom like it had been hit by a tornado?”
“I had a strange sense of déjà vu when I had to hunt down more towels,” Charles admitted. “Though I’ve seen your bathroom. You’ve got a lot of products. I’m not sure Emma had that many. Joy came close. Some of her stuff however were things she had just accidentally brought back from set.”
“I did tell you I could have shared. We are grown ups, Charles.”
“I’m aware, Mabel. I just didn’t want to encroach on your personal space. Though I do appreciate you letting me crash on the extra bed when Loretta came for a visit.”
“You know we all assumed you knew what a necktie on a door meant,” Mabel said.
“I just thought it was Oliver being absentminded. I’ve found his socks in his fridge before. His scarf hanging off a light fixture. A single slipper in his piano.”
“In his piano? How?”
“I was tinkling on the keys because I was waiting for Oliver and it didn’t sound right. So, I lifted the lid and viola. A single slipper.”
“That’s still really weird.”
“I know.”
“Okay. I can see how you wouldn’t assume anything. I’m still sorry you were a little traumatized and now you know for the future.”
“He doesn’t lock his door, Mabel. And after he comes back, Loretta is going to be coming in right after him to stay for a few months. We’re gonna have to be extra cautious when we go over.”
“I would hope that Loretta locks the door.”
“And if she’s caught up in the whirlwind?”
They both stared at each other in fear.
“We knock,” they stated in unison before cracking up.
“I’m gonna clean up,” Charles said as their laughter finally died down. “Go get in bed. We’ll see if we can’t get a few more hours of sleep.”
“Your bed?”
Charles shrugged. “We can have a sleepover. I can even make a pillow boundary if you’d like.”
Mabel stared at him for a long time. Her dark eyes darting all over his face and he suddenly felt too open. Anxiety started to creep up his spine. He shouldn't be scared of his friend, but sometimes her gaze was just a little to piercing.
“Okay. Sure. Why not? If we can’t sleep then we can make fun of Oliver.”
“That’s the spirit,” Charles told her as she got off the counter. He made a motion for her to move along and she rolled her eyes before walking away. He picked up her plate to take to the sink when he heard her softly calling his name. He turned around in with some confusion and once again found himself with an armful of Mabel.
“Thank you, dad,” she mumbled into his shoulder.
“Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime.”
****
“You had a sleepover without me?!?”
Mabel sighed and looked at Charles. “I knew we shouldn’t have told him.”
“I didn’t think he’d care that much,” Charles returned as Oliver continued to rant and rave over the injustice of being excluded.