FAMILY

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S3 Round Robin (2025)

Chapter 4

Allison

Diana came Below to wish Susan and Alex goodnight since her latest case kept her away from them. Diana made her way to Father's chamber. As she quietly slipped inside, she made eye contact with her sister across the room. She watched as Susan slowly made her way over to her as Diana went to stand beside Vincent.

"Are you...?" Susan asked without preamble.

"Shhh. Keep your voice down!" Diana hissed.

Susan's eyes widened in sudden understanding. She pulled on Diana's arm.

"Can I talk to you," she glanced at Vincent, 'in private?"

"Anything you need to say, Sis, you can speak freely," Diana told her.

The three of them moved out of earshot of everyone else.

"I know, but this is something I need to tell you. You can decide what you want to do afterwards. I'm sorry, Vincent, for being so mysterious, but this is something Diana needs to know." Susan tried to explain.

Vincent looked at Diana with concern.

Diana noticed Vincent's look and placed her hand on his cheek. "It's all right, babe. Susan wouldn't do this if she didn't think it was important. She knows there's no secrets between us. She doesn't feel she can share this with you. I promise I'll tell you everything." She caressed his cheek before she let go.

Vincent gave a silent nod of approval, and Diana steered Susan out of the chamber. Silently they moved to Diana's chamber. Once they were inside, Diana turned on Susan.

"What the bloody hell is all this about, Sis? And why didn't you want to say anything in front of Vincent?"

Susan could hear the sting of annoyance in Diana's voice.

"I found something out after Alex was about eighteen months. She had been having some developmental delays since she was born. Her doctor recommended genetic counseling and testing and I found out she has a condition called Fragile X Syndrome."

"Fragile X? What's that? I never heard of it." Diana looked at Susan.

"Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder caused by changes in a gene called fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1(FMR1). FMR1 usually makes a protein called FMRP that is needed for brain development. People who have FXS do not make this protein. FXS affects both males and females. However, females often have milder symptoms than males. Females with FXS can have normal intelligence or some degree of intellectual disability. " Susan explained.

"What kind of developmental delays did she have?"

"She had trouble learning new skills, she wasn't talking at the same time as other children her age. Wasn't making eye contact at times, sensitivity to crowds."

"Alex seems fine to me."

"It took her a long time to get used to people and open up."

"Is that why she never hugged me when she was little? Acting like a little bird with her hands flying about.”

"Yeah."

"What do I do?"

"When you see your doctor, tell him or her what I told you. They will discuss the next steps. FXS can be diagnosed by testing a person's DNA from a blood test. A doctor or genetic counselor can order the test."

"Why didn't you say something before this?"

Susan gave a shrug. "I was embarrassed, okay. Look at our family, everyone's 'normal.' I didn't want Alex to be treated differently. I didn't know I was a carrier till the doctor had me tested. Paul was tested as well, he's not a carrier."

"Did Mom and Dad know?"

"I doubt it. When we were kids, the doctors had no clue about genetic disorders. They didn't know to look for a genetic cause for whatever problem the kids had, unless it was obvious like Down's Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy."

"What am I going to tell Vincent?"

"Don't say anything."

"I can't lie to him."

"Okay, tell him you 'might' be a carrier as well. You'll know more after you see your doctor."

"Thanks, Sis, for confiding in me."

They made their way back to Father's chamber. Susan squeezed Diana's hand and then went in search of Alex. Vincent walked over to Diana, concern in his features.

"Diana?" Vincent took her in his arms.

"Later, babe." Diana rested her head on Vincent's shoulder. "I'll explain everything later. Let's just enjoy tonight."

Vincent nodded, took Diana's hand and they joined the others gathered.

 

XxX

"Father, Eli gave me something that I'd like to ask you about," Devin commented.

"Oh?" Father questioned.

"It's a music box that Grace gave Sebastian as a Winterfest gift."

"Oh my. I've always wondered what happened to that. I remember Grace said it was a gift from her mother. I'm surprised she ever parted with it."

"Do you recall anything she might have said about her family? Do I have any relatives of hers up top?"

"Grace never talked about her family. Her last name was Dorrance, and she was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, I think. Why?"

"Just curious. I've always wondered. Eli said the music box might contain a hidden drawer. Wonder if she ever put anything in it. Eli said Sebastian never opened it since it didn't work."

"I would be curious to find out myself. Let me know if you find anything?" Father asked.

As the festivities wound down, Vincent walked Diana back to her loft, and Devin went to his chamber to examine the music box in more detail. He removed it from the sack Eli gave him and placed it carefully on the bed. He felt around the outside of the box and found an indentation on either side of the lid. He gently pressed on one and then the other with no effect. When he pressed both sides together, a small drawer popped out from the bottom.

Inside he found an aged photograph. An older couple were surrounded by five adults and a multiple of children. He also found writing on the back of the picture. 'Grandpa John, Grandma Ethel. Christmas 1929.' He found another piece of paper with the names John Thompson Dorrance and Arthur Dorrance written on it as well as Campbell's Soup name next to it.

"At last, something to go on." Devin put the picture back and planned to show Father in the morning.