I drive. James stretches out his bad leg in the passenger seat. “Well, that was weird,” I comment.
James grunts.
In the rear mirror, Charlotte stares out of the window. “You okay?”
She keeps staring. Tonelessly, “The same thing happened to him as to me. He was scared. He stabbed someone. He ran.”
James swivels in his seat, stabbing a finger towards her. “It is not the same, Charlotte. All aside from the detail that he was responsible for you being in that position, however bad a start to life you both had, you both had choices afterwards. You made choices that turned you into a strong admirable woman. He made choices that took him down the path of slaver and multiple murderer. He could have turned from it at any point and he chose not to do so.”
*****
Michael
I tap on her office door. “Hi, it’s only me.”
Charlotte looks up from her desk. “Is it that time already?”
“Yup. Ready for home?”
“Sure. Let me just…”
My mobile buzzes. It’s Beth.
Not like her to call me out of the blue…
“Hi, Beth. What can I do for you?”
“Hi Michael. Um, could you spare me some time?”
Oh, God…
Not more bloody papers…
Beth. When did you have in mind?
now. Can you come? I’m upstairs with James.” She
Beth’s tone penetrates. I slip a glance, but Charlotte’s occupied with
say anything to her. Just come up
something she wants me to look at. I think it might be more of those damn papers from her uncle. Can you keep yourself
Course I can. Give me a buzz when
forehead, squeeze her arm,
*****
Richard are both there, wearing identical expressions.
is David, the younger
Charlotte’s uncle…
wouldn’t
registered
Because of her mother…
cheerfully punched the pair of them, and
awkwardly. “Mr Summerford… Michael… May I call you
depends on why you’re
seats himself again. “First,” he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the family I'm here. Especially Stephen. My life wouldn't
don’t sit. I see no reason to welcome this man who rejected my wife for events that had nothing to do with her.
eye. “Yes, I couldn’t speak with
time since then. I left
with age…
what have
“Shelley called me.”
look around the room. Beth and Richard sit in rigid silence. James’ eyes, all but black, bore into David. “…
over the years. At first when she wanted to come back home. She said she was frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she still rang from time to time. Stephen always
“And the last time?”
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