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.

close. “Are those what

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

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

of flowers around

could have given them to her any

pulls up a chair and sits beside

Thank you, Chad, so much, for bringing 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. Her

What’s coming…?

only things of yours I have.” He reaches for an

at the letter,

going to

she drops into

never reached you. I was trying to find you. I picked

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,

to take

corner, turning her back to all of us. The envelope rips, and she stands head bowed, soundless, as she

eyes with Michael, then with

low, there's a sob. Then another,

then Chad, flushing, backs away again, gesturing Michael to her. He tries to take her in his arms but

“I went back to the farm once, that first Christmas. But no one would talk to me. They just said you'd left and Mr Kalkowski had

he was a policeman, he came looking for you. He told everyone you were wanted for theft

did

against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles, places his hand over hers. “He was so proud of you, you know. Tell me, did you

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I changed

brought

old friend… Does it say the things you would

then smiles, nods and offers

My Dearest Jenny,

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