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.

leans forward, looking close. “Are those what I

under to ease them from the paper. “Chad and I were still at school. He picked them for me, from

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

of flowers around here

them

up a chair and sits beside her. “Jenny,

them so

chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates. Her smile fades. Michael and I sit, he

What’s coming…?

“These aren’t the only things of yours I have.” He reaches for an inside pocket, plucking out an envelope, offering it to her. “It's from

at the letter, eyes

going

she drops

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

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 to you if

to take it?” I

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

Michael,

still low, there's a sob. Then

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

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 died. They wouldn't even let me

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

did that.

him, or wanted to. And she poisoned everyone against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles, places his

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I

What brought

Is the letter… From your old friend… Does it say the things you would have hoped it would

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

My Dearest Jenny,

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