Masters And Lovers 1-4

Chapter 22

Michael

Ben rejoins me. “She seems a lovely woman, that Mitch. A bit withdrawn, but I suppose that’s

understandable.”

“It’s very soon for her. I think she’d lost a lost of confidence, with her husband being as he was.”

Condemnation creeps back into Ben’s voice, “What was that all about? She left him?”

I cut him short. “He was knocking her around, Ben. When we got her out of there, the bastard had her

on the floor. He’d have beaten the shit out of her if I’d not kicked the door in to stop it.”

His eyes widen. “Really? You don’t think of people really behaving like that, do you?” Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Oh, get real…

“Whether you do or you don’t, just bear it in mind when you’re talking to her. She’s had a lot to cope

with over the years and it’ll take her a while to readjust.”

Ben blinks rapidly, licks his lips. “You’re right. I jump to conclusions, don’t I?”

“Yes, you do. So make a few allowances, eh. Just try to be happy for people.”

Ben drops into silence, downs half his drink. “Did I catch it right, there are two brothers? But the other

wouldn’t come?”

“That’s right. Stephen's a pig-headed bastard. Sees the world through blinkers.”

“What did they quarrel over?”

“As I understand it, he saw himself as head of the family. He was very controlling when Mitch was

young. She ran away from home. He never forgave her.”

“That’s sad. What did she do after that?”

My throat tightens. Abruptly, my beer’s not so good.

What do I say?

Ben stalls. “Hey, was she pregnant with Charlotte? Is that why he wouldn’t have her back? How they

became separated?”

“No, Charlotte came later.”

But Ben, narrow-eyed with suspicion, continues. “How old was she when she ran away?”

“Fifteen, I believe.” I’m thoroughly uncomfortable now, looking around for an excuse to end the

conversation.

“Jeez… that’s young to be away from home. What did she do?”

Ben, you’ll have to excuse me. I have an announcement to make.”

*****

Richard

The small stage area grows quickly brighter; a spotlight over Michael.

“Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention.” A hush falls, the last couple of chatterers lagging

until they realise they are talking over the quiet and also lapse into silence.

Michael speaks. “As you know, my wife Charlotte, or Jenny as some of you know her, didn’t have a

great start in life. It doesn’t get much worse than being orphaned so young...” Beside me, Charlotte’s

head drops. Mitch’s hand creeps into hers.

Michael continues. “But all through the years, Charlotte always hoped and believed she wasn’t alone in

the world. After a lot of searching, we learned that was true when we found her; Mitch, Charlotte’s long-

lost mother...”

He gestures across… “Mitch, come and join me here…”

The lovely woman exchanges a look with her daughter. Charlotte gives her a smile and a shove. “Go

on.”

Mitch moves across to join Michael, her walk a smooth undulation, but however graceful her

movement, her expression is awkward, embarrassed. As she stands beside Michael, he lays a hand on

her shoulder, then addresses the room again.

He grins. “… And I don’t think anyone looking at the two of them could ever doubt we have mother and

daughter here. Two generations of the same family. And when we throw in Beth as well, we’d all better

look twice to be sure of who we’re talking to…”

A general low rumble of laughter ripples across the room, heads nodding, fingers pointing…

“… And so it is honour of Michelle… Shelley… Mitch… that we held this party. Michelle Kimberley.

Charlotte’s mother.”

Applause begins, hands clapping, but Michael raises his hands and silence falls again.

He continues. “However, since we decided to have this party and invited you all here, events have

overtaken us. I have another announcement to make…” Voices murmur. Heads nod. “… because in

fact, although it’s not yet obvious, we have here tonight not two, but three generations from this family

of remarkable women.” He curls fingers to Charlotte in a Come Hither gesture… She drops her face…

Shy?

Not used to being the center of attention in a crowd…

… but then gathers herself again and walks across where he curls an arm around her waist, gathering

her in. She lowers her gaze again.

Michael’s words to her are clear and loud, “Come on, look at everyone when I’m showing you off.”

Fiddling with her top button, Charlotte looks up.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” Michael breaks into the broadest of smiles… “I’d like to announce to you all

that our Charlotte here is expecting her first child. A toast, please.” He turns, raises his glass. “To

Charlotte and Mitch and to three generations of Kimberleys.”

A cheer goes up from somewhere, followed by another. “Congratulations!” A nearby gaggle of grannies

and aunts whoop and call. Hands slap onto Michael’s shoulders. His hand is seized and shaken.

I make my way to the back of the room where James stands silently watching the excitement. “You

alright?”

“Yes.” He flashes a brief…

Sincere?

… smile at me. “Oh, yes,” he repeats. “I’m fine. Never better.”

“Really fine? I wondered if… Michael in the limelight… if…”

“Yes, really fine.” And this time there is no mistaking the joy in his eyes. “I got past that on the wedding

night. Michael and I agreed long ago that if and when it came to it, any child our Triad produced would

have him as the official father.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “It doesn’t matter. The gift those two have given

me in this is… beyond words.” He looks away.

James filling up?

James?

But the smile lingers around his eyes. He’s a bit red in the face, his skin shiny.

How much has he drunk?

Still, how often does he really relax like this?

Is his usual severity his natural personality?

Or was it shell-shock from his marriage?

Michael calls out. “Photo time! Beth, come over here. I want the three of you together."

The ‘Triplets’ gather; one sultry, one submissive, one snarking; three supposedly similar women who,

despite all the physical similarities, are very little alike.

Michael stands between them; his arm around Charlotte’s waist and Elizabeth’s shoulder. He waves

out into the crowd. “James, come here. Richard too. Family photo. You should be in this too.”

Cameras flash, but on the edge of the crowd, Ben stands, arms folded, looking down at the floor.

*****

Michael

My family is going nuts, showering congratulations and good wishes on Charlotte. An assortment of the

old biddies are already grouping, discussing baby showers, knitting patterns and exchanging blood-

curdling stories of their time in labor…

Time for a sharp exit…

I catch James’ eye across the room…

Is he okay?

But he gives me a thumbs-up and a wide, white smile.

Yup… Okay…

Where’s Ben?

Charlotte’s hand linked with mine, I cast around the room, searching for my brother. I don’t see him.

Depositing my lovely wife in the arms of her laughing-crying-smiling-weeping mother, “I’ll not be long…”

Where is he?

And I scent trouble in the air…

*****