Midnight Wonders

7.6.2. The Debts That Remain Unpaid

Luc almost thought he hadn't spent any time outside, because it was night again when they left Under-The-Green-Hill and arrived at the bus stop. It would have been entirely possible, too. But the rainclouds were all gone and the bench was completely dry, and it looked like it had been dry for a while.

"It's night," said Fenella. She was looking up, letting the moonlight wash over her face. She sounded breathless. "It's night."

"Yes," said Luc. He glanced down at Kay to see how he was faring. He hadn't let go of Luc, still clutching him tightly, and he was not looking up (at least, not enough). He was staring at Luc. "Don't you want to look up?" Luc said.

"Why would I look up?" said Kay.

"To see the moon," Luc said, "and the stars, and space. It's endless. Look up, Kay."

Kay looked up.

There was something different about watching someone at night. It was something about the intimacy. The mystery. The moon could render every scene a painting under its dim light.

"Stars," said Kay. "And the moon." He looked back down at Luc.

"Yes," said Luc.

"And nothing."

"It's space. Which is...kind of nothing. It's everything shaped like nothing."

"There's light in the nothing."

"Yeah," said Luc. He thought he could understand how there had still been the barest of light in Under-The-Green-Hill. "The sun loves us so much it gives us daylight even though it's so far away, and even when we turn away from it, it still gives us light through the moon."

"Take me inside," said Fenella. "It's cold."

"Oh," he said, remembering. "We'll have to walk a bit, but...come on."

He didn't lead them to his house. They went to the Jacobses' place.

Standing at the front door, it occurred to Luc that it was the middle of the night and Mr. Jacobs was surely sleeping deeply. If he knocked, would he wake Catherine? But then he looked at Fenella, who seemed at once small and vulnerable and full of hope. Another idea came to mind, and he took out his phone to call instead. The 4:00 a.m. time in the corner of the screen screamed at him to respect others' sleep, but he ignored it.

Mr. Jacobs picked up after several rings. "Hello?" he said groggily into Luc's ear.

"Um, hello," said Luc. "Sorry it's so late...early. I'm outside your door. I have...someone here." He glanced at Fenella, then took the phone away from his ear and put it on speaker.

"You mean Kay?" said Mr. Jacobs, and Fenella flinched at his voice. There were soft noises as he moved about. "Don't take him to my house; take him back to yours."

"No, it's—Well, Kay is here, but there's someone else." Luc glanced at Fenella, gesturing for her to speak. She looked like a rabbit ready to run. "It's—"

"Hold on, I'm coming," said Mr. Jacobs. He hung up.

A moment later, the light turned on in the living room. Footsteps sounded softly. The door opened, and Mr. Jacobs was there, still squinting at the light he'd just turned on. "Oh, it's—" He blinked at Fenella. "Oh," he said.

"Ewan," said Fenella, her voice commanding the firmness of Luc's first meeting with her. She seemed to have regained some newfound strength upon seeing her son. "Is that still your name?"

Mr. Jacobs opened his mouth to no words. He nodded. "It has always been my true name."

"Then I am still your mother," she said.