Chapter 8 — Finding Mark Ellis
Jason did not immediately decide to find his father.
For two days, he did nothing.
Then he asked William whether Seabrook retained old employee directories.
It did.
One 1995 staff booklet contained:
MARK ELLIS — MARINA OPERATIONS.
Home city:
Norfolk, Virginia.
No current address.
But the resort maintained an alumni group for former seasonal employees.
Claire contacted its organizer.
A current email address came back.
Jason stared at it for nearly an hour.
Then wrote:
My name is Jason Cole.
My mother’s name is Melissa Cole.
You worked with her at Seabrook in 1995.
He stopped.
Deleted everything.
Started again.
Finally he wrote five sentences.
No accusations.
No demand.
Just:
I recently found a letter you left for my mother behind the window trim in Staff Room 4B.
The reply came forty-three minutes later.
Is Melissa okay?
Jason stared at the screen.
Mark remembered her instantly.
They exchanged several messages.
Then Jason wrote:
I need to ask something difficult.
Did you ever know she had a son?
The answer took longer.
Finally:
No.
Then:
Jason, are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?
Jason’s hands trembled.
He replied:
Yes.
Mark called five minutes later.
Jason almost didn’t answer.
Then he did.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice answered.
Older.
Unsteady.
“Jason?”
“Yeah.”
Silence.
Then Mark said:
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”
Jason looked at the old envelope.
“Neither do I.”
That became their beginning.