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? I'm free tomorrow afternoon

I mean right now, Michael. Right now. Can you come? I’m upstairs with James.” She pauses and her voice

a glance, but Charlotte’s occupied with something on her

her. Just come up

on my way.” I tap off my phone then, “Um, Beth’s got something she wants me to look at. I think

Course I can. Give me a buzz when you’re done, and I’ll come

her forehead, squeeze her arm,

*****

are both there, wearing identical expressions. Arms folded, eyes narrowed,

sitting by Beth, is David, the

Charlotte’s uncle…

they wouldn’t

registered

Because of her mother…

cheerfully punched the pair of them, and it must

Summerford… Michael… May

on why you’re

nods, equally awkwardly, and seats himself again. “First,” he says, “please don't tell anyone else in the family I'm here. Especially Stephen. My life wouldn't be

don’t sit. I see no reason to welcome this man who rejected my wife for events that had nothing to do with her. So, still standing, “As you wish. Why are you here? Is there something you would like to

I couldn’t speak with Stephen

me any time since then.

has been. And he’s gotten more so with age… He wants to control everything. The first thing he did was

have you come

“Shelley called me.”

mother…” I look around the room. Beth and Richard sit in rigid silence. James’ eyes, all but black, bore into

back home. She said she was frightened by something. Stephen wouldn’t even consider her returning. But she still rang from time

“And the last time?”

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