Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 21

Michael

It’s dark, a frigid winter’s evening. James hasn’t come home from work yet and I can’t find Charlotte.

Where is she?

Having a bath maybe?

But the bathroom stands cold and empty.

Reading somewhere?

I try her study, the lounge and the dining room, still with no sign of her.

And then as I stop to flick the curtains closed in the lounge, there she is. Outside on the terrace, without so much as a jacket or a cushion, she hugs her knees as she sits on bare stone paving, staring into the dark.

She must be bloody freezing…

What’s this about?

Don’t rush it…

I make a couple of hot drinks, then venture outside.

She turns as I approach. I offer her a mug. “Hi. Mind if I join you?”

“Course not.” She sniffs. “That’s lovely. Thank you.”

“Hot nutmeg milk and dash of brandy. I thought if you were determined to freeze your butt, you’d better have something inside to help thaw it out.”

She nods then turns to stare into the dark again.

After a minute or so, I say, “Come on, spit it out. Whatever it is.”

“I was thinking about my mother.”

“What about her?”

“I might never find her.”

“Perhaps not, but we'll keep looking.”

She blows on the milk, takes a slow mouthful. “What I'm meaning is, it's about continuity, isn't it. As long as I'm here, there's a bit of her too. And my father. It's not all gone. And if...”

"If what?"

She chokes up. “He’s so unhappy. He’s usually so full of life; so full of… of take-it-in-big-bites… He’s… It’s just not him.”

“He? Who? James? I thought we were talking about you?”

“Yes… No… Yes…”

“Charlotte, you’re not making a lot of sense.”

Looking away, she drinks more of the milk, but moonlight reflects from the tears trailing down her cheeks.

I lay an arm over shoulders, kiss her face. She’s chilled, tasting salty. “You want to find your mother. He wants his daughter back.” I rub at my forehead. “I hate seeing him like this too. I wish there was something I could do to help him, but he’ll get over it.”

at me. “You

not have been pleasant for him, but it is a kind of closure.” But doubt crawls through my

“I'm not so sure.”

be right. It was a low blow on her part. But

her mug, setting it to one side. “There's one thing I can do.” There’s a tremor in

never make

looking and deliberately, she disentangles the knot of hair then folds her hands around her

me, Charlotte. What is this really

to talk to you about it before I did anything.” She’s

?

Tread carefully…

I

“He wants his daughter.”

can't have her. You can’t give her back to him.

could have

you telling me you want

“Yes,” she whispers.

Ahhh…

sure that's what you want to do…?” I speak slowly, carefully. “… What with your college

want. You too, nearly as much. But he... he doesn't have so much time and...

Her fingers knot together,

I kiss cold fingers then hold them between my warm palms. She

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you trowelling on the makeup, trying to pretend

you or him. And that would have been fine. I know it would. But this way, you’d

I feel about

the right thing to

that will stand

… and last…

… and work…

at once. I'm going to make a couple more hot drinks, but don't go away. I'm coming back. I just need to think.” I turn,

make the coffee from scratch, grinding beans to give my hands something to do.

always loved

Is that true?

No…

always loved him

but she

…

asked her,

her

have kept her

…

the

… Helluva wedding present…

…

do I ever

?

This would do it…

…

sure

?

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