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

from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from the paper. “Chad and I were

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

flowers around here to

given them to her any

chair and sits beside her. “Jenny,

you, Chad, so much, for bringing these. For keeping them so long.” She’s smiling,

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

What’s coming…?

voice is gentle. “These aren’t the only things of yours I have.” He reaches for an

stares at the

she going to

she drops into the

but it never reached you. I was trying to find you. I

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 I could give it

going to take it?” I say.

turning her back to

meet eyes with Michael, then with Chad.

Then another, echoing around the

flushing, backs away again, gesturing Michael

down her face, “I went back to the farm once, that first Christmas. But no one would talk to me. They just said you'd

came looking for you. He told everyone

never did

And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles, places his hand over hers. “He was so proud of you, you know. Tell

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

I changed to

What brought that

the letter… From your old friend… Does it say the things you

me a startled glance, then smiles, nods and offers it

My Dearest Jenny,

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