Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 18

*****

Ten minutes later, up to our chests in warm water and foam, I fill the flutes, passing them across.

“’Scuse me a mo,” says Charlotte, then slides under the surface. She rises again a few seconds later, snorting bubbles.

“How do you feel now?” I ask.

James tips his glass to me, smiling, but he doesn’t speak. Then, his lids drooping, he looks away.

*****

 

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

I step out, feeling bright. Everything is going perfectly.

Bech’s done well…

Nothing like a little competition to get the prices up

Another shipment like that and I can open the east wing at Blessingmoors…

So Yakovlevski wants a mix...

A couple of leggy Russian types ought to fit in well…

Back to Helsinki…

But first I want to see the apartment. Keys jingling in my pocket, I head out.

Will she like it?

But as the lock turns smoothly and the door clicks open, my doubts settle.

What's not to like?

The space is bright and airy, morning sunshine spilling through panes and onto, as I requested, new flooring and walls painted in cool neutral colours.

Much better than what she has…

And she can soon put her own stamp on it…

The carpets are deep and thick. Nonetheless, my footsteps echo in the empty rooms.

To furnish or not to furnish…?

Let her choose from the start?

Or furnish first then she can change it to suit herself?

the style she already

Not easy…

No.

then hover in the larger of the bedrooms. The window overlooks the harbour, the better part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and bars that play host

She’ll like that…

like

Sell her own

She’s artistic…

and talented… Easily

Don’t get distracted.

the rest of the apartment,

How to play this…?

Bookshelves…

Definitely.

Double bed...?

occurs to me that I have never seen her

doesn’t take

she has a

head out for one

*****

Her phone rings.

“Hello?”

wondering, are

Meet you at the

not today. I want to show you something.

“That’s great. What time?”

“About two?”

“I’ll see you then.”

*****

hums and I cease from where my pacing is wearing a track in the carpet. I turn down the music a trifle,

I bought her in Finland, enfolded in a huge woollen shawl and with a scarf covering half her face. Poking

freezing. Come into the warm.

it,” she says. “It’s nothing like so cold as Helsinki if you read the thermometer, but that damp breeze…” She shivers. “Hope you don’t mind…” She looks sheepish as she slips off the boots and fishes low-heeled court shoes from her bag. In a shade of teal-green which

wrap, she

the fire. What would you like

“Lovely.”

she perches on a stool

the owner’s stamp on it. On which subject, let's

and bulky, enveloped in a towel and even before

falls away, I see it

… extraordinary…

I recognise your style

moves around to look at

yes. Very

at sunset. I painted it to give it back to

the hell does she do

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