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?

in the style she already

Not easy…

No.

the bedrooms. The window overlooks the harbour, the better part with the marina, small shops selling souvenirs and knick-knacks and

She’ll like that…

if she’d like to

Sell her own

She’s artistic…

talented…

Don’t get distracted.

the rest of the apartment, the room is yet

How to play this…?

Bookshelves…

Definitely.

Double bed...?

I have never seen

take her

has a

a decision and head out for one of the

*****

Her phone rings.

“Hello?”

it’s Larry. I was wondering, are you free

you

I want to show you

“That’s great. What time?”

“About two?”

“I’ll see you then.”

*****

pacing is wearing a track in

fur-lined boots and gloves I bought her in Finland, enfolded in a huge woollen shawl and with a scarf covering half her face. Poking out from under the shawl is one of the designer carrier bags she always

must be freezing. Come into the warm. Here, let

“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

her wrap, she offers the bag. “Housewarming

would you like to drink? Something hot first?

“Lovely.”

on a stool by the flames,

prevaricate. “It’s all new. Waiting to have the owner’s stamp on it. On

and even before I unwrap it, fairly

falls away, I see it

… extraordinary…

I recognise

to

yes.

Helsinki Harbour at sunset. I painted it to give it back to

does she do

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

Comments ()

0/255