Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 10

James

Books.

What’s new?

She’s consistent…

‘Principles of Geology’ by Charles Lyell - well-thumbed, ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Marvels of Pond Life’ by Henry Slack - very dog-eared… The list goes on and the only thing any of the texts have in common is that they all look well-used. A second-hand bookstore would describe them as slightly foxed, but it looks as though the bears, the boars and the badgers have been at them too.

She stacks them in a neat pile, then rummages…

Some odds and ends of jewellery; cheap stuff, yellowed with age but seeming little-handled…

A rock. “Oh!” She smiles as it weighs in her hands.

Michael gives me a ‘wtf?’ look and I shrug.

Chad sees our expressions and smiles, then moves to stand close by Michael. He murmurs, “You’d better be ready. She’ll probably get pretty emotional soon.”

Michael shoots him a glance, then nods.

The rock seems to be just that; a rock, prettily striped in green and red, polished to a smooth round..

Curiosity gets the better of me. “Charlotte?”

She almost caresses the pebble and when she looks up, her eyes are full…

“Tell me later,” I say.

She separates out a book, a heavy volume, leather-bound, old looking. Her eyes lift to Michael, then me, and she chews at her lips. Sliding a finger to the pages, she lifts, and the book falls open on…

Flowers?

Yes, pressed flowers; dainty, delicate their colours faded, but recognisable as violets.

“Are those what I think they

“Yes, they’re the ones you gave me, that first day.” She lifts them free from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

of flowers around here to

could have given them to

chair and sits beside her.

these. For keeping them so long.” She’s smiling, radiating almost, as she combs

Michael, then to me, eye-pointing chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates.

What’s coming…?

I have.” He reaches for an inside pocket, plucking out

stares at the letter,

she going

she drops

you. I was trying to find you. I picked it up from your

seat closer. “Jenny, I was with him at the end, in the hospital. Almost his last words were for me to give you his love when I found you again. I didn't tell him you'd not received his letter, but I kept it so

going to take

stands, retreating to a corner, turning her back to all of us. The envelope rips, and

eyes with Michael, then with Chad.

low, there's a sob. Then another, echoing around the otherwise

three of us stride forward, then Chad, flushing, backs away again, gesturing Michael to her.

But no one would talk to me. They just

the one who said he was a policeman, he came looking for you. He told everyone you were

did

you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I

brought

Is the letter… From your old friend… Does it

startled glance, then smiles, nods and offers it to me. I read it then pass it

My Dearest Jenny,

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