Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Michael kisses her forehead. “No hurry, Babe. Not until you’re ready. And that's not yet.”

James, forehead puckered, brandishes the CD. “Scheherazade? Will someone please tell me what the hell that’s all about? You used the word as some kind of code when Baxter and Finchby had you prisoner.”

Charlotte flushes, looking up at her father.

But Klempner’s voice is soft with regret. “It didn’t take much to work out who the Wicked King was. But I’ll admit, I’d like to know too what the story is behind it.”

Charlotte’s mouth works. She starts to speak, then grinds to a halt. “Michael, you tell them.”

And now he flushes. “It’s kind of embarrassing, Babe.”

“Is it?” Her gaze turns cloudy. “Alright…” She shrugs. “Fair enough.”

“No, it isn’t,” says James. “I want to know.”

Michael turns his face away, but I see him swear silently to himself. Then, “Alright, it’s like this. When James and I first got to know Charlotte…” He stops, rubbing fingers at his forehead, then starts again… “Charlotte fell for James first. I… I didn’t handle that well. I was jealous…” He nods to James. “You remember? That New Year’s Eve?”

James’ voice is dry. “How could I forget? I thought you were going to punch my lights out.”

Charlotte’s jaw drops. “You’ve never told me any of this. Either of you.”

Michael stares up at the ceiling. “It wasn’t one of my greater moments. Anyway, when we were alone, I asked Charlotte to tell me something personal. Something that no-one else knew. That would be just mine. She told me…” He hesitates, looking between Charlotte and her father…

“It’s alright,” she says. “You can say it.”

He takes in air, then, “Charlotte told me that when she was a little girl, she read the stories of the Thousand and One Nights. She fantasised about being Scheherazade, who told the tales. About being in the power of the wicked king...”

Klempner’s face drops…

“… And about being brave enough and clever enough to escape and be free. At the time I didn’t know what to make of it. It was only much later that I came to understand…” His words die away and he grinds to a halt.

say you can hear a pin drop,

Klempner speaks first. “Jenny…”

about as personal as it

turns to Michael. “You were

Scarlet-faced, he nods.

“You never told me.”

shrugs, seeming lost for

“But I married you.”

came some time later.” He plants a kiss on

were jealous. Awww… that’s so sweet.” Then she pulls back again, thumbing at James. “You were going to

whatever is in the past, it is behind us? I made mistakes

meets Michael’s gaze, eye-pointing Klempner. Michael nods, presses his lips to Charlotte’s, then turns her by the shoulders to

a touch of steel

sucking her lips, nods. Taking two steps towards Klempner, she says, “Happy Christmas, Father…” She

space of a heartbeat… two… three… time

his arms around Charlotte and kisses the top of her head.

jabs a finger at his chest. “But you have to wear the sweater today.” She

snatches at dignity. “I was planning on wearing my best suit for

I was going to wear that new shirt and pants. The ones you said

that trouble to knit them. They’re presents. You have

like despair flits over Klempner’s face. “All

“Well… For Christmas dinner

*****

the kitchen. James refuses any more assistance from me, instead pouring me an egg-nog, and another for

ahead of us. Michael, Beth and Richard are playing a board game. Ryan sits behind Michael, apparently in the role of ‘Chief

bundled Cara in her arms. Eyes closed, the baby sucks contently

bit startled by

dinner. I said I’d finish Cara’s feed.” Mitch follows my eye to the bottle. “It's Jenny’s milk, expressed. I told her early she'll have an easier time if Cara can be fed by

tosses dice