Chapter 36: Chapter 36

James She sits by me, pushing a coffee mug my way.

“Thanks.” Then I take a good look at her….

Something’s changed….

…. She’s happier….

Ah…. Yes….

I drink my coffee and wait for her to volunteer what I think…. what I am almost sure…. is coming.

“Um….”

“Ah-ha?”

“I thought I should tell you. I’m not pregnant.”

As I thought….

I take her hand, kiss the fingers. “Good. I’m glad. I know it was worrying you.”

She nods into her coffee. “I do feel better now.”

I rub my thumb over the fingers, noticing the roughness of the skin. Charlotte has ‘working hands’ and I’m conscious that it embarrasses her sometimes.

When this is all over, I’ll ask Beth to take her to a spa or beauty centre. Get her to pamper herself a bit.

I’m less sanguine about her nails. She doesn’t normally bite them, but right now, they’re chewed to the quick.

Nerves?

Upset about her fall-out with Michael….?

Change the subject….

…. Happy futures….

“Perhaps, one day?” I ask. “When this is all over?”

She looks at me blankly for a moment, then realises what I am asking her. She swallows her coffee. “Is that what you would like, Master?”

“If I were sure that it is what you want, yes, I would like that.”

She has a far-away look, her breathing slow. “Yes…. one day.” She sips. “One day….”

“When you’re ready.”

Family….

“Had you considered what you would like?” I ask.

She blinks. “Um, no, I’d er, not given it any thought.” She considers the inside of her mug. “Something for everyone I suppose.” She flashes a smile. “One girl. One boy. One blond. One dark. How does that sound?”

“Sounds perfect to me…. when you’re ready. And when you are ready….” I take her hand and kiss her fingers again… “I’ll do my best to make sure that’s what you get.”

Her eyes rise to mine, and for the first time in some while, I see real joy there.

The door clicks open. “James, I was just….” Michael stops. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t realise you were here, Charlotte.”

And the two won’t meet each other’s eyes.

Michael backs out. “I’ll catch you later James.” And the door snicks shut behind him.

I could happily punch something.

One minute she’s talking about starting a family eventually, The next she won’t talk to him…

How can two people who love each other so much, not be able to make it up after a quarrel?

I want to tear my hair out in frustration.

What the fuck do I do about this?

*****

Klempner Bech treads water, conscious of dangerous currents.

“So, I set you to finding what you could about the Haswell woman. What do you have for me?”

Klempner’s captain smiles, knowing he is on safer ground. “It’s very interesting, sir. In fact, her path almost crossed with ours on a previous occasion.”

Klempner raises brows. “Really? How so?”

“About two years ago, I was offered a woman for sale, via convoluted channels, by a man called Mack Kane. I didn’t make the connection at first because she was, at that time, unmarried. However, after sifting through the files, both ours and the official records, it turns out that woman was Elizabeth Kimberley, now known as Elizabeth Haswell.”

Klempner tugs at his chin with thumb and forefinger. “Do I understand you correctly? We were offered the Haswell woman for sale?”

“That is correct, sir.”

“So, why didn’t we get her?”

“Kane fumbled the transfer. He ended up dead and his associates were convicted on various charges.

All are serving long sentences. It was shortly after that that Haswell married her.”

“Quite the coincidence.”

“Not such a coincidence. Given that Haswell has the kinds of enemies who bear grudges of that sort, and given that you, um…. cleared your competition…. from the City, she was almost certain to be offered to us. Kane didn’t want her ending up anywhere local where she might start blabbing. He wanted her a continent or two distant.”

Klempner absorbs that but sees no reason to disagree. “Anything else yet? Where she came from in the first place?”

“I’m working on that. The name Elizabeth Kimberley is not so uncommon, and I am trying to find which is our Elizabeth Kimberley. However,” Bech stumbles over his words….

“However?”

“However, I am restrained for time right now…. For the research. Extensive calls are being made on my time after….”

“After the police response to the fucking mess you made?”

“Yes sir.”

*****

James I’m at my wits’ end with Charlotte and Michael. They don’t talk, won’t meet. If they see each other, both turn away, finding some excuse to be somewhere else, anywhere else.

She hurt him….

He hurt her….

Everything I’ve worked for these last eighteen months, building this relationship, our Triad, I can see it spiralling away….

Michael has shadows under his eyes. I see his gaze follow her, then slide away as she turns to look at him. When his back is turned she watches him, her soul naked on her face.

At night, I share the bed with Charlotte, arms tightly around my mermaid, but Michael doesn’t join us.

He doesn’t sleep in another bedroom, but instead simply stays where he lies, on the couch, not coming to bed. During the day, he disappears for long periods, hours at a time. I’m not sure where he goes, and he won’t tell me what he’s doing….

Just some excuse to stay away from her?

I try to corner him. “This can’t go on. You can’t make up with each other if you don’t actually meet. All that’s happening is that the damage is festering.”

His eyes are turbulent. “Christ, James. I don’t know what to do. I want to make it up with her, but she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“I’m sure she does, but you can’t talk if you’re not in the same room.”

And all I get is silence and hangdog looks.

I try to address the problem from the other end.

“Charlotte, are you joining us for a meal?”

She responds lethargically, and with that habit of hers I recognise as stress. Winding her hair around a finger, she says, “’Us’? You mean you and Michael?”

“Of course, me and Michael. Who else?”

“I thought you might mean Beth and Richard would be there.”

“I’ve not asked them, but I can if you like?”

But her gaze slides away from me. “No, it’s alright. I’ll work on some of my college stuff. I’ll have a sandwich later.”

I could pound my fists….

As if that would do any good….

“Wouldn’t you like to spend some time with Michael? He’s missing you.”

She screws up her face and her words are tight, articulated. “No, I don’t think he is.”

Ah… sweet Jesus…. What the fuck does it take?

*****