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.

hear a pin drop, but the silence could be

Klempner speaks first. “Jenny…”

as personal as it gets. But…” He

to Michael.

Scarlet-faced, he nods.

“You never told me.”

shrugs, seeming

“But I married you.”

her by the hand, pulling her up from her seat into his arms. “That came some time later.” He plants a

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

he didn’t. Now, can we agree, whatever is in the past, it is behind us? I made mistakes too. We have all made

gaze, eye-pointing Klempner. Michael nods, presses his lips to Charlotte’s, then

a touch of steel in his voice. “All of

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

of a heartbeat… two…

arms around Charlotte and kisses the top of her head.

his shoulder for a long moment, then pulls free and jabs a finger at his

“I was planning on wearing

gabbles. “And I was going to wear that new shirt and pants. The

“Mom went to all that trouble to knit them. They’re presents. You have to wear them.” She pins

despair flits over Klempner’s face. “All

havers. “Well… For Christmas

*****

an egg-nog, and another for Ryan, then ambling through to the lounge with me to

are there ahead of us. Michael, Beth and Richard are playing a board game. Ryan sits behind Michael, apparently in

Cara in her arms. Eyes closed, the baby

bit startled by the sight,

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

Michael tosses dice to one