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 I think they

from the page, sliding a fingernail under to ease them from the paper.

Michael shifts by me…

Trouble brewing?

flowers around

have given them to

a chair and sits beside her.

bringing these. For keeping them so

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

What’s coming…?

Chad’s voice is gentle. “These aren’t the only things of yours I have.” He reaches for an inside pocket, plucking out an

at the letter,

she going to

drops into

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

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

you going to take it?” I say.

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

with Michael, then with

Then another, echoing

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

one would talk to me. They just said you'd left and Mr Kalkowski had died. They wouldn't even let

policeman, he came looking for

did that.

everyone against you. Except for Mrs Collier. And Mr Kalkowski of course.” He smiles,

“I did, yes.”

“Geology? Astronomy?”

I changed to

What brought

old friend… Does it say the things you

offers it to me. I

My Dearest Jenny,

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