Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Michael

James rolls the razor over the line of jaw to neck, angling in the mirror to see the result.

“You’ve got it all,” I say. “Bloody nuisance for you having to shave as often as you do.”

He harrumphs, then, “Maybe I should grow a beard.” He looks himself left then right in the mirror. “What do you think?”

“It’s not my opinion you should ask.” I cock my head towards the door.

“Mmmm.” He runs a finger from chin to ear, sucking in his cheeks. “How is she?”

“Pretty hyper. I’m beginning to wish I’d not told her about the address; checked it out first myself. I could easily have found a different Christmas gift if I tried… If we get there and don’t find anything. If her mother’s moved or died…”

“Worst scenario…” says James, “No-one’s heard of her at all. No-one knows anything. Anything else is at least a step forward.”

“Yes, but that’s really why I wanted you to come along too. If it’s bad news, I can’t drive and hold her hand too…”

Charlotte bounces into the room. “I’m ready when you are.”

I look her up and down. “Have you just changed your clothes?”

“Er… yes. First, I thought I should go dressed in my best. Then I thought it might look a bit odd, wandering around a strange neighbourhood like that. So I changed into jeans, then I thought, if we find my mother, I should look nice and then…”

I step forward, tug her to me by the waist. “Charlotte, you would look ‘nice’ if you dressed in an old carpet. If we find your mother, how you’re dressed is the least of what will be happening.”

Her eyes fall. “If…”

“Yes, it’s still ‘if’. The address was old. Even the police file made it clear that they didn’t know what had happened or where she might have gone from there.”

“I know.” Her words are tight, constricted. “But I’m just hoping that…”

I tilt up her chin. “I know what you’re hoping, but with the best will in the world, this is almost certainly just a fact-finding mission. I did a lot of searching through old files just to get as far as I did.”

She nods against the pressure of my finger then, “Michael?”

“Mmmm?”

“Whatever happens, whatever we find, thank you.”

I press my lips to hers. “My pleasure.”

*****

“My car?”

“If that’s alright with you.” James pats his thigh. “Given the distance, it would be easier if you were driving.”

“Fine.” I turn to check Charlotte’s not in earshot. “The pair of you sit in the back seat. I don’t need a navigator and I’d rather her be close by you.”

They sit together, he with an arm wrapped around her while she just stares out of the window. Occasionally our eyes meet in the mirror.

*****

“This is it?” Charlotte stands, staring around, looking lost.

To one side; a car park, huge, able to take hundreds, perhaps thousands of cars. To the other; a hypermarket, DIY and white goods stores, acres of sheet glass displaying computers, TVs, household goods, clothes…

The acreage is vast. The retail park perhaps ten years old. No trace remains of what it replaced.

James stands beside her, a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Charlotte,” I say. “But we won’t give up. We’ll keep looking.”

She nods, her face screwing up with suppressed tears, then she gets back in the car.

*****

ourselves on a couple of old tree-stumps. Despite James’

Order…?

own agreement, that Ben not be permitted to visit our home any more after charging in and ruining Charlotte’s birthday, since he chose to apologise, I’ve stretched a

I need the

bonfire, vibrating in the slight breeze. So early in the year, the light wind bites

noses go red and fingers

mug. As ever, the soup is excellent. My chef really knows how to turn out the right meal for

it is. Sally knows her

inches clear of the ground.

But the old out-buildings on the far side…” I wave across the stubbled earth… “… Some need demolishing. Some I want to

dilapidated sheds, shacks and ramshackle stables by eye. “Any thoughts on what you’ll be doing

younger. I know she was

hanging by a single hinge, then twists to look up. “Stonework’s sound, but the roof timbers have had it. And the shingles.” He digs a thumbnail into the door-frame. “Woodworm have had most of

“It reminds me of that old place at McAlister’s. You know, where we use to play when we

in wait to rob apples from his

we. Hey… you remember that day when he spotted us and he was

It was me he threw the

to Mom why I’d brought you home covered in white-wash.” He laughs, shaking

you

I was the older one. I’d taken you out and I was supposed to bring you back in

air gusts over me and I down another mouthful of soup. “Wonder what that place is like

thumb at the sheds. “I went back there one day a few months ago. Even the house is falling apart. The old man died. The kids had moved on and none of them wanted to take it on being the size it

for a hotel maybe? Like this place. Convert the outbuilding to

left it in the will that it can’t be sold out of the family. So it’s just standing there, falling to pieces a brick at a

Shame…

did you

“Somewhere new to walk Scruffy.” He sucks down more soup. I do likewise. Then, “And…

What’s going on?

dodge as Scruffy’s earth-moving changes direction and a shower of mud, pebbles and old roots splatters over

making good progress. His head down, ass up, his stub of a tail wags furiously as earth scatters behind him. “What d’you reckon

maybe. Could easily be

Mmmm….

we should have a dog

the breeze. He trots over, sits

*sigh*

attached to the top, at Ben’s mug. He turns soft eyes on his junk-heap mutt, squatting down to offer

with my bother.

Family…

to say thank you for apologising to Charlotte and James. It means a lot. She’s… she’s going through a tough time right now. I appreciate what you

hang on to my brother? Since

“She's my wife, Ben.”

Change the subject…

it going with

words, his tone is gloomy. “… at least I thought so.” And there’s an edge

Now what…?

it too far, too fast,

empty mug. “I won't, and I'm not sure I want

Here it comes…

Needy. Always wants to ask me

failed

had the feeling you wanted the kind of girl who’d put you in

I thought

you thought you wanted, suddenly you don't want

mug

Am I being dense?

Missing the sub-text…?

“So, what’s going wrong?”

... this time...

tightens, lips pressed