Chapter 57: Chapter 57

*****

I’d never realised that the Threesome have a sauna, a wet-room and a hot-tub….

More of Michael’s work?

As I lower myself to the chest in warm foaming water….

Oh, yes….

…. I consider where in our own home, Elizabeth and I might have something similar.

“Beer? Wine? Champagne? Coffee?” Michael hovers, gesturing towards a kitchenette-cum-bar that holds a comprehensive set of drinks and liqueurs, along with a kettle, a small fridge and a coffee machine.

“Is there any of that Bucks Fizz left?”

“Coming up.”

All five of us in the tub, the drink of choice in hand or parked on the tile edging….

Does it get any better than this?

We sit in a circle, facing inwards; Elizabeth between me and Michael, Charlotte to my other side, James opposite.

It feels…. natural….

Michael and Elizabeth are both quiet, sipping their drinks, passive, but there’s something going on between James and Charlotte.

“Master…” His head tilts... “… Thank you.”

James rolls across the tub to kneel before her, cups her cheek with his palm, then kisses her. It's long and soft, and unhurried. Next to me, Elizabeth sighs and her fingers weave into mine.

Certainly seeing a different side to him…

He pulls back, looking into her eyes, his focus all on her. “Happy First Real Christmas, Jade-Eyes.”

Jade-Eyes?

Wonderful name….

Then abruptly, both seem to notice the attention on them. Charlotte blushes and even James looks unsettled.

“It was certainly an improvement on last Christmas day,” I comment.

“I know what's missing,” says Elizabeth, splashing up a bubble-covered hand. “We've not had any Christmas Carols.”

Michael looks askance. “In the bath?”

“Why not?” says James. “Bathrooms are noted for good acoustics. What’s your favourite carol, Beth?”

She thinks for a moment. “Good King Wenceslas.”

“A fine choice.” James takes a swallow of his Rioja then, in a singing voice I never knew he had….

“Good King Wenceslas looked out…. On the feast of Stephen….”

What a fantastic bass tone….

Beth’s jaw drops. So does Michael’s, until James gives him a ‘get on with it’ wave of the hand and he joins in….

“…. Where the snow lay round about….”

I lean sideward, lifting Elizabeth’s chin to close her mouth. “Come on then. You started this.”

“… Deep and crisp and even…” she sings, as I join in, and then Charlotte.

And through it all, Charlotte watches James, her eyes shining…

*****

“…. And a partridge in a pear treeee…”

Michael conducting, singing by rounds, we finish singing The Twelve Days of Christmas. “Don’t know about you,” says James, “but I’m pruning up. What’s say we get out and dressed and settle by the fire again?”

Sounds good to me….

Michael jumps out of the tub, grabbing a robe. “I’ll dash ahead and give the fire a boost.”

The rest of us return to the lounge to find the hearth burning brightly and Michael stacking a fresh supply of logs to the side.

Charlotte passes me a paper hat from the crackers. I feel a bit of a fool, but James’ gaze and mine meet. Wordlessly….

Fools together….

…. we each put one on.

Who cares?

It’s worth it to see her smile…

Charlotte has that ‘faraway’ look as she stares into the fire, her mouth curving.

“So how is your first real Christmas going so far, Charlotte?” I ask.

She says nothing, simply flashing white teeth to me then turning away….

Going teary?

Elizabeth tugs at Michael’s robe. “What have you given Charlotte for Christmas? I’ve not seen whatever-it-is.”

“That’s because I haven’t given it to her yet.”

He fetches a package from a cupboard, prettily wrapped and very obviously a book. As she pulls at ribbons and bows, it falls open to reveal a collector’s edition of ‘The Complete Sherlock Holmes’.

Beaming, she retreats to an armchair, flicking through the colour plates…

Still…

I know she’s sensitive about accepting large gifts, but….

It’s none of my business. It’s their marriage, but I want to growl at Michael, feeling resentful on Charlotte’s behalf….

Michael catches my eye, his chin tilting up, but he’s not looking worried or aggressive. Instead, his eyes carry a gleam of humour.

“Actually,” he says, “that’s just part of your Christmas present.” Charlotte looks up from her book. “I just wanted to give you something you could unwrap.”

With a dog-in-the-sausage-shop smile, “Oh? There’s more?”

He fishes in a pocket, pulling out an envelope. “Here....” He passes it to her, then glances to me. “It’s appropriate perhaps, that Richard and Beth were here today.”

?

Elizabeth cocks a brow at me, but I shrug.

“Family,” says Michael. There’s the faintest touch of smugness there.

Charlotte shakes her head. “I don’t understand?”

James drums fingers on his armchair. “Well, open it, then perhaps we all will.”

Michael’s surprise then… Not James…

“You don’t know what it is?” asks Charlotte.

“Not a clue. Someone kept me in the dark.” He scowls at Michael who looks unrepentant.

Charlotte looks between them, her eyes wide, then with a rustle of paper, opens the envelope, extracting a sheet of paper. Her brows furrow. “An address?”

Michael sits next to her and takes her hand in his. “It’s the last known address of one Michelle Conners, née Michelle Kimberley….”

Charlotte inhales, her breath juddering…

“…. It’s a few years old,” continues Michael. “The police lost track of her, but it gives us somewhere to start. I thought we might go in the New Year; visit the area, see what we can find.”

Those emerald eyes turn brilliant with tears. “Oh, Michael….”

James cracks a short, delighted laugh, snatching his paper hat off and tossing it into the flames.

Opportunity seized?

“Well, that trumped my card.” His previous irritation has vanished. “Congratulations, Michael. Very nicely done. How on earth did you find the information for Charlotte’s mother?”

Michael stands with his back to the fire, toasting his rear. “I’ve been working with Will Stanton on it. His men weren’t having too much success and given the funding situation, I think he was running out of excuses to keep them on the task. So, I volunteered to put in the hours and, well, I think he bent a few rules letting me into the old records, but that’s what I found.”

I run this scenario through my head…

Those files have been well searched already….

…. Surely?

“Why wasn’t it located before? And how come you found it now?”

Michael’s lids lower. So does his voice. “It was misfiled. But I just kept working through the old records until I found something.”

Hmmm…

“Deliberately misfiled, would you say?”

He scratches a brow, his voice flat. “At this stage, who can tell?”

There’s a cough from Charlotte, a choked sound. She’s gripping the sheet of paper, quaking….

Trying not to cry?

Perhaps she should let go….

Elizabeth hugs her. “Come on, cheer up. It’s reason to celebrate, surely? Not to get upset?”

Charlotte’s voice is shaky. “I’m not upset…. just… just…”

James strides over, pulling her up into his embrace. “Just suffering from overwhelm.” But he smiles down at Michael who tilts his glass at him.

Time to give them privacy…

I drop a hand to Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Time for us to be going, my Love. We have other people to visit.”

She gives me a startled glance but then nods understanding.

I offer my hand to James. “Thank you for inviting us. It’s been… memorable.”

His lips quirk but he shakes my hand. “It has. And thank you for coming. Both of you. I think I can say that it wouldn’t have been the same without you both.”

Michael snorts then stands. “Can’t argue with that.” He hugs Elizabeth. “Thank you, Beth. You’re always lovely.”

*****