Hot Revenge Box Set 2

After clearing up the breakfast dishes, I go looking for Klempner. I find him outside, on the terrace. The fog is clearing and leaning with both hands on the wall, he stares out over the valley, watching wreaths of silver mist twine over the lake.

I take a place beside him. “You okay?”

He turns. “Yes,” he smiles, “I'm extraordinarily okay.”

He looks away, then looks back, meeting my eye. “But we both know I fit in there like a giraffe in a wet suit. However, my thanks for the invitation. I appreciate it. I really do...” He picks at a bit of lichen growing on the stonework.

“But you're not ready to settle down with the carpet slippers and the chocolate Labrador by the hearth?”

“No. And as you said, there are things I need to do, dealing with Baxter being the priority.” He blows air. “Do you think Mitch will handle that? For some fairly obvious reasons, I can't stay here long. But even if I could stay, it wouldn’t work. Not long term.”

“I think you should ask her yourself…”

“But…”

“… But… I suspect that for both of you, simply knowing that the other is there will count for a lot. And besides, if you're careful, you can visit from time to time. See your daughter, your grand-daughter.”

He looks at his feet, scuffing at the ground. “I suppose.”

“Does it occur to you that for Mitch, a… um… part-time relationship, might appeal?”

His forehead furrows. “Run that by me again.”

“Mitch has had men controlling her all her life. Or trying to. She’s enjoying her freedom, especially now she’s earning money… Real money… in her own right. Living a life of her own but having a partner… you… there occasionally might just work, for both of you. The two of you would simply spend quality time together.”

He rubs the back of his neck. “Would that work?”

“It might. It wouldn’t be for everyone. But for Mitch… And for you… Who knows? Wouldn’t it be worth a try?”

His head sways, slowly, up and down. “Do you think Jenny will want to see me?”

“I think so, yes. It might be a bit of a rocky road for a while, but it will be good for her.”

“And you? Will I be welcome here?”

“For me, yes, you’ll be welcome. But for now, will you stay for Christmas? I’m sure Mitch would like that.”

“Yes…” He scuffs at the ground. “I think I will. In any case, there are things I need to do here too.”

“And after that? Back to Thailand?”

He flashes me a startled glance, then his smile twists into humour. “Um... Nooo… Not Thailand. It's not a very healthy environment for me just now. No, it’s South America for me next.”

“Will you keep me informed on that? Anything you learn.”

“Of course. I’ll set something up so we can stay in contact this time… without you having to rig up my old wiretap again.”

*****

Klempner

At the door, standing ajar, I hesitate, my stomach suddenly dropping away.

Have I done enough?

With muscles oddly reluctant to move, I tap on the door, very quietly.

“It’s open.”

I push, and too slowly, the door swings wider.

Jenny’s sitting in a rocking chair by the window. Her hair, so like her mother’s spills over a thick shawl pulled around her shoulders. A warm blanket covers her lap. And her face, while pale, has lost that sheen she had when Michael and I found her.

And held in her arms, wrapped in layers of knitted woollens…

Cara…

Your daughter.

My granddaughter.

I want to say something. Something appropriate, but I’m not sure what it should be.

I abused you…

Mistreated you…

Took my revenge on you…

you had

as your gaze rises to

did I ever think to see

“May I come in?”

“Of course you can.”

of

Oh, God…

She’s feeding her…

know where to look. “My apologies. I didn’t intend to interrupt

Jenny giving birth to the

Breast-feeding?

Too personal…

I spin,

Anywhere else…

my

walls in a multicoloured herd accompanied by a kind of

easing one way then the

It moves…

see someone let your mother

recognise it? Her

still using that trick I see.

the loveliest smile I’ve ever seen. “You've

shift again watching the thing nod in agreement with the mermaid. “It was a butterfly the first

don’t know how she

how they were intended to be

mouth opens a little. “Will you tell me more like

“Like what?”

you met. How you got to

“You’re sure you

“I think so, yes.”

talk has never been my strong suit, and

pace the room. She watches me, calm,

I could

But you can change the future…” She tilts her chin. “You’ve

to say. Inside I’m tight, cold, but heat rises up my chest

Long seconds pass.

to and fro. Absently, I notice that the chair also has received the

a step or two towards me, the baby still in

inside me

hold her. She’s your granddaughter. Don’t

and the heat in my

me the

and I turn to see

He raises brows,

but Michael steps forward, a hand under her arm. “Take it easy,

offering her

My granddaughter…

as though protesting the indignity of the world. The features are soft and unformed. A drop of milk dribbles from her mouth… She smells milky

what do

What’s expected?

a finger

touch, another hand, smaller than the end of my

Such tiny fingernails.

me. “You want to. I can see that. Take

I’ve never done this before,

fuck’s sake

cradle her in my

moves close. “Like this.” She takes my hand, slipping it under the head. “Her neck

Then she steps away.

and, I think not quite focussed on me. A wisp

Dark-haired like her father?

touch

…

What to say?

“Hello, Cara.”

says, “It’s

Crap…

times can I fucking

get

“It’s not? I thought…”

close, a hand on her arm “Charlotte? I thought…” There’s hurt in his voice. And confusion. “I thought it was decided? She was going

Even James is frowning.