Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 49

Klempner - Twenty-Six Years Ago

She’s gone.

What now?

I stare out of the window of the apartment I bought for her, overlooking the harbour with its yachts and pleasure boats, ice-cream kiosks and artsy-craftsy shops. Sunshine glints outside on the water, gleams on fresh paint, blue and white, and on polished timber decks, then spills into the room. But there’s no warmth in it. Tugging my jacket around me, I hiss as pain stabs through my hand. Gashed flesh swollen and heated, seeps blood.

I should dress it…

…

Later…

I thought I had it.

I thought I had her.

I really did.

…

…

It’s so cold.

Walking through to the kitchen, I limp a little where my ankle twisted as I fell…

Would he really have run me down?

… then clumsily, working with one hand, I make coffee, splashing in a hefty measure of whiskey, then more until the cup teeters on overflowing.

You had me fooled, Larry. You really had me going. When you left, I was coming to see you… and then I saw them…

Returning with the drink to stand in the scant heat of the sunshine, I watch holidaymakers and tourists going about their moronic activities. Hot alcohol and caffeine sear a trail down my throat but still, there’s no warmth inside me.

She was coming to see me…

Coming to say she’d be with me…

Shivering, I drain the dregs.

Bitter as bile, churning and toxic, regret wells up inside me…

Enfolds me in its harsh embrace…

Overwhelms me…

There’s not enough air. Pain draws a band around my chest, tighter; ever tighter.

Dropping to my knees, I cover my face.

Hide from the world…

Is this all there is?

Hide from myself…

She ran to him…

and to

Conners...

something flickers; a flame fanning up to burn hot and bright and

… Lighting the darkness.

deep lungful after another, sucking at the air until my head clears and I'm able to stand. Using the window ledge to support myself, I pull myself upright again, plunging hands white

something brushes against them;

?

stiff and swollen, I pull out the strange object. A butterfly dangles from its chain, twinkling silver

How…?

?

?

which strains and

fingers and palm. Digging

She was wearing it.

His gift…

inside me. Fists clenching, the pain lances through me, waking me, making me feel

Conners.

*****

 

James

leaves. Michael considers the slip of paper in his hand. Richard and Beth

what do we tell Charlotte?” I

area looks like. I don’t want a repeat of last time; going all the way there to find nothing but a car park and a supermarket. It would

on knocking on the

I want to check at least that there’s a door to knock

“Fair enough.”

*****

 

Michael

A classic city edge…

address. Written in a careful hand, printed capitals, it is quite clear. This is

No lights are on and there is no sign of movement, but paintwork

I can bring her

*****

 

Charlotte

out of the car with me. Michael leans back against the vehicle, arms folded, legs

a light on at a downstairs window; movement inside,

the will to move. My feet drag. My heart flutters and my lungs

Enough already…

smartly on the door. It rat-tats,

What if she answers?

Will I recognise her?

know who

shuffle, the click of a turning lock, the clunk

a man’s face. A young man, perhaps thirty. He’s good-looking in an unremarkable way, but

I was looking for

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