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 think they

day.” She lifts them free from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from the paper. “Chad and I were still at school. He picked them for me, from the hedgerow. Mrs

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

flowers around here

given them to her

and sits beside her. “Jenny, sit down

them so long.” She’s smiling, radiating almost, as she

sit. Please.” Chad tilts his chin to Michael, then to me, eye-pointing chairs close by. Something in his tone penetrates. Her smile fades. Michael and I sit, he

What’s coming…?

for an inside pocket,

the letter,

going to

she drops into the

it never reached you. I was trying to find you. I picked it up from your old

words were for me to give you his love when I found you again.

to take it?” I

to a corner, turning her back

meet eyes with Michael,

Then another, echoing around the

gesturing Michael to her. He

But no one would talk to me. They just said you'd left and Mr Kalkowski had died. They wouldn't

came looking for you. He told everyone you were wanted for

never did that.

Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

but I changed

What brought

Is the letter… From your old friend… Does it say the

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

My Dearest Jenny,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255