Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Michael

“I’m pregnant.”

Charlotte’s mother chews at a lip as Beth holds her hand. “I… I thought I couldn’t… I thought I was too old. I’m forty-eight for God’s sake… When Larry was here, I didn’t… I mean… we didn’t…” She splutters to a halt and sits staring at her fingertips, picking at one thumbnail with the other. “You must think I’m stupid, letting something like this happen...” She slants eyes toward Charlotte… “… Again.”

“I see.” I glance over towards James, still framed in the doorway, now gazing up at the ceiling, grimacing as he rubs the back of his neck.

“Interesting news, James,” I say, twisting in my seat to face him. Out of Mitch’s line-of-sight, I eye-point her, waving palms downwards…

Cool it…

Moving as though the earth might just cave in under me, I pull up a chair, sit by my ‘mother-in-law’. “In the first place, Mitch, I don’t think you’re stupid. I can understand why…”

Choose your words…

“… why you might not have believed there was an issue. Secondly, for the avoidance of doubt, you are not old.”

Her mouth opens and closes but nothing comes out.

“So…” I glance down at the pregnancy tester, and its blue line. I prise her hand from Beth’s, sandwiching it between my own. “So…how do you feel about it, Mitch?”

She raises emerald eyes to me, so like those of her daughter’s. But they’re glossy and fluid.

James, apparently recovering his composure, joins us, snaking out a long arm to pull up a chair and sit with us. In soft tones, he says, “… Um… An… interesting situation… Are you… happy about this, Mitch?”

Her voice chokes. “I’ve not gotten that far. I only knew for certain half an hour ago. I still can’t believe it… Oh, God…” Shuddering, she tugs free of me, dropping her face into her hands. “What am I going to do?”

her chin. Peeling her right hand from her cheek, he squeezes the fingers between his own, then kisses them. “Mitch, you’re family.

breathing is rapid and short. Cheeks scalding red, her pupils are black pinpricks stabbed through jade.

I share a look, then he releases her

fourth finger… “… you’re wearing his ring. Unlikely as it might seem, Larry Klempner’s

plays with the ring, screwing it around the finger. “Do you think it

air. “Well, I’m blowed if I know what else it could be. Yes, he wants to marry

winds the ring in circles, around and

I continue… “… from what we know of him, over a period lasting decades, it’s the

James Hmmms agreement.

something that filled the gap inside him. Larry believed he was abandoned as a child. He believed you simply abandoned him for Conners. Sometimes when you get to the core of what went wrong with someone, you have the answer on to set it right. Not always. Some people are beyond redemption. But sometimes they can be rescued. When Larry understood that neither of those things was true, that he had not been abandoned by the two people who meant the most to him, he changed. Even more so when you accepted him back again. He’s a different

think,” she whispers, “that he expected parenthood

the sound. “Mitch, Larry’s already accepted parenthood. That first time we saw him, in prison still, after he realised he was Charlotte’s father, he was so proud. He is still proud. You can

and she bites her

“I’m sure.”

to James, who

slants eyes to Charlotte… “… Jenny’s twenty-six. She’ll have a baby brother or sister a full

her hand more tightly in mine. “Calm down. There is only one…” I press a forefinger to the back of the hand. “… important question here.

shudders, but she

James agrees…” James nods vigorously… “ … And I am happy to speak for Richard too… “ Now Beth nods… “… Everyone here will support you in whatever you decide. Larry… whenever we see him again… whatever he thinks… will have to take that

Mitch blinks hard…

Breathes…

Calms…

I want it.” She splutters… “Him… Her…