FAMILY

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S3 Round Robin (2025)

Chapter 6

 Lucy

 

Applause sounded as the projector clicked, and the screen went black. Devin smiled as everyone began to talk about his travels. This was something Devin could offer. For most of those gathered would never leave the stone walls or if they did, none of them would venture beyond the city. But even then, the lives he had been living in Kenya and other places had been different acts.

First I’m a fraud, now I’m a coward, Devin sighed. 

The picture he had found from the music box was still stuffed in his pocket. He had wanted to discuss what he found with Father, as promised, but something had stopped him. It was an unspoken rule of those Below to never bring up the past, to question why they chose to leave their lives Above and come to reside in this hole in the ground.

What right do I even have to intrude on this Dorrance family? Devin asked himself. When Grace left, perhaps forced out.

His heart hardened at the thought as he pulled out the picture to study it again. Had these people forced Gace to leave such a comfortable life? What had led his mother to seek shelter in these walls all those years ago?

Most people didn’t come to the tunnels if family life was nice and cozy. He was already a bastard, what rich powerful family of strangers would want him anyway? His own biological dad had denied his paternal duties in a real father sense (operating more as patriarch of the tunnels than a dad) until roughly ten years ago.

“Who are they?” a voice said from his right.

Devin glanced over to see Diana’s sister, Susan. Her expression was curious, but not intrusive the way Diana’s could be at times. Her dark red hair was loose around her shoulders, a nice contrast to the navy blue shirt she wore.

“Ugh, nobody. I just found this picture.” Why did she have to notice me now?

“Ah.”

Was that an interested “Ah” or just being polite? Devin could almost laugh at himself. How good he was at slipping any role and playing it to perfection. But reading others, especially women when things were less superficial, it was tricky at times.

“I am…I actually think they might be relations of mine,” Devin said, tasting the words both in their honesty and how stupid it sounded. Would she even believe him when it sounded so wrong to his own ears?

And yet, when he looked over at her again, he found that same unintrusive gaze; she didn’t find it such an absurd notion, at least at face value.

“Diana’s told me most people who come down here leave behind family in the city… Above that’s what you guys call it right?”

“Yeah, usually it's to escape a bad past,” Devin chuckled. As a boy, he had fun away from the tunnels trying to find himself, and now he was right back here, trying to find the same thing.

Susan reached over. “May I?”

Devin handed the picture over. It wasn’t doing him much good anyway.

“Hm… Campbells Soup, Alex loves that.” She studied the picture more. “Do you know any of the history?”

“Nope, not a blasted thing,” Devin said. “Except that my mom was called Grace.”

“Maybe I could help you out.”

“How so?” Devin asked.

“My husband’s boss used to work for the family before he struck out on his own. I think it would have been around the time your…your mom came down. He might be able to tell us something.”  

“Really? I don’t want to bother the man.”

“Yes, and it’s no bother. He’s been a family friend now more than anything after… when my…”

Devin took her hand without thinking in a tender gesture. “It’s okay. I get it.”

Susan nodded, and he noted she didn’t immediately pull her hand away. “Thanks.”

“So, your husband’s boss? Huh, it’s really a small world.”

“With all your travels and even here.” Susan waved her hand to compass the whole network of the world Below and its Helpers. “And you still question how big the world is.”

“I guess I’m still learning a lot of stuff.”

Susan smiled.

XxX

Two days later, Diana returned from her doctor’s appointment, smiling. She entered her and Vincent’s chamber to see father and son talking on the bed.

“I’m certain Alex would like it if you included her.”

“I try, Dad, but she’s… odd.”

“Jacob,” Vincent admonished gently. “Alex, yes, is different in some ways, but that doesn’t mean she should be excluded.”

“But she said she didn’t want to be a candlemaker or live down here with us. She made it seem like Rebecca didn’t have an important job.”  

“And she feels bad about what she said. Go and invite her again.”

Jacob jumped off the bed. “Okay.”

Diana followed her stepson’s path a moment as he scurried off. “What’s wrong between Jake and Alex?”

“Alex thinks she upset Jacob,” Vincent began rising. “And my son needs to learn that not everyone is the same.”

“Hm.” Diana turned. “You would think such things would be obvious to him given his own father.”

“I speak more about the invisible differences that are less easy to spot.”

“Ah, yes, I know a thing or two about that, too.”

“Your sister says you are one of the normal ones in your family.”

Diana laughed. “Susan is clearly mistaken. I’m one of the oddest in our family.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Vincent turned to face her as she removed her coat and draped it over a nearby chair. “What did the doctor-?”

“Well…” Diana turned back, a smile spreading over her face. “It’s official…or so she says.”

Vincent hugged her gently before his right hand moved to her still-flat stomach.

Diana watched his lips lift in a genuine smile before a moment of sorrow entered his eyes. Her heart ached for him as their touch amplified his emotions to her for once not trying to hide them. Slowly, not wishing to break this moment, she placed her own hand over his; willing him to understand that she understood the dual emotions that must be swirling inside him. He had never gotten to experience the joys and pains of a pregnancy with Catherine as she carried little Jacob. It was yet another thing Gabriel had taken away from her husband and Diana hoped the monster rotted in hell for all eternity for it.

Even after eight years she knew the guilt would on occasion rear its ugly head that Vincent had been unable to save both Catherine and his son in those long months.

“It’s okay, Vincent. I can stay with Mary if you-”

“Never.” The fierce, protective single word was a beacon of light among the darkest moments. “You… and this… our child are not leaving my sight.”

Diana smiled. “I know, but… if you ever need time.”

“I thank you for such thoughtfulness.” His hand reached up, caressed, and smoothed her red hair from her face. “Your heavenly empathy is a great gift to me, my love. But hear this now. Our child is the future Diana, and he or she should not have any the burden of the past. And Jacob will love being a big brother.”

Diana’s smile returned, reassured by his words. “Who shall we tell first?”

“We must tell everyone now. It has been difficult keeping it all a secret.”

Diana’s eyes roamed over their chamber. A sense of mischief sneaked into her voice as she said, “I don’t think everyone can fit in here, babe.”

Vincent laughed. “I do believe this child brings out your humor.”

“Hm, I don’t think Susan or Alex would ever say I was funny.” 

Her smile grew as Vincent rested his hand against her forehead. “On the contrary, I find you quite funny.”

Diana lightly patted his arm before she leaned in to kiss him.

XxX

That night at dinner, the official announcement was made, met with cheers and whistles of applause from those held most dear to the couple. Diana caught Father’s unease creeping across his face. Why was he concerned?

XxX

The elder Jacob Wells stood before his collection of medical journals, searching. After the announcement of the new child, his new grandchild, Diana’s sister, had confided something else to him.

 He was forever thankful that his friend and former classmate, Peter Alcott, kept him up to date on all the medical advances occurring Above since he had come Below all those years ago. At times he wondered at his choice of profession given his fondness, especially in later life, for familiarity and the steady comfort of concrete, unchanging facts of life. But the medical field was always evolving and changing. Fragile X Syndrome was one such thing, only discovered in 1991 in the Netherlands.

“Is something wrong, Father?” Vincent asked, entering the study.

“No, nothing…” The older man’s eyes flickered to the book held in his hands. “Susan mentioned it, and I wanted to check my records on the subject.”

“I see.”

“As much as it seems like we have Helpers everywhere,” Father began. “It is still a tiny minority in the city.”

“I know, bu-”

“And Diana’s doctor isn’t one of them.”

Vincent stared at him. “You don’t trust Diana’s judgment?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I trust Diana’s judgment more than most; you know that.” Father laid his hand on the medical book. “But if Diana has those tests, or any bloodwork for that matter, regarding this pregnancy she’s putting not only her child at risk, but you as well.”

“What risk, Father? Surely it is better to know if there are any risks.”

“I’m not disagreeing with that, Vincent, but her child, like his or her brother Jacob shares your blood too.” Father’s face darkened. “I won’t give anything to that monster Gabriel, but he at minimum knew how to keep secrets. The medical community would have a field day if they discovered some strand of DNA or blood type they’ve rarely encountered.”

“Rare, not unheard of, Father.”

“But the last thing Diana needs is the stress of her avoiding questions that she can’t answer. Above Diana’s marriage to you doesn’t technically exist.” 

Vincent paused even as his father’s words cut deep. He wasn’t technically wrong. He couldn’t go and be with her at doctor’s appointments or other important moments that a husband should. Jacob’s birth had been kept a secret from the world, but Diana still lived Above, and people knew her. There would be no hiding this child in the same way. His heart ached as he realized that officially he could never come right out and claim Diana’s child as his own, not in the way most husbands and fathers could. But that was going to change once Diana moved Below on a more permanent basis.

After a moment, Vincent asked, “What about if Peter did the examination on Diana?”

“He’s almost ready to retire Vincent. And those tests would still need to go to a lab where anyone could find out. But yes, I can ask him.”

“Thank you. I’ll talk to Diana about this.” Vincent turned to go and paused. There was more beneath Father’s concerns, he could sense it. “Is there something else troubling, Father?”

Father began to fiddle with the journal in his hands. “No…nothing. I’m just glad that this syndrome shouldn’t affect Diana’s health as much while she carries.”

Vincent stared at him.

Father sighed, relenting. “It’s only it’s been four years and nothing until now. Diana won’t be what is considered a “young” mother.”

“Why does that concern you? Diana can still run laps faster than women half her age.”

“So could Grace had she desired.” Father took a deep breath. “She was Diana’s age when she gave birth to your brother…”

And never woke up again. Died in childbirth, Vincent finished the unspoken thoughts. Death had taken so many mothers from their children. The woman who found him, Anna, had died before Vincent had gotten to remember her. Grace had died in childbirth and left Devin adrift. And through a cruel twist of fate, his beloved Catherine had been taken away from little Jacob’s life. It was a horrible trend for the Wells men.

Vincent moved to his father’s side, nodding to acknowledge the truth of the older man’s words, even as mentally he shook his head. No, I’ll do everything in my power to make certain that doesn’t happen. One of my children will know their mother.