The Lover's Children novel Chapter 60

JAMES

At length, Borje says “James, my thanks for telling me this.”

“I’d prefer that you don’t tell Georgie I told you.”

“No, of course not.” His voice is still unsteady… “… If she’d wanted me to know, she’d tell me herself.”

“She may not want to tell you at all. Women often don’t with something like that. But for what it’s worth, it has not seemed to me that she came out of the experience traumatised.”

“No?” He sips. Breathes. Straightens up. “Would you know? Please, tell me what happened.”

“This remains between us.”

“Of course. You think I don't know how to be discreet? Was it a random attack? Or was it personal?”

“It was personal, yes, but not against Georgie. She was a means to an end.”

His brows rise. “A grudge against you? Revenge?”

“Only indirectly against me. It doesn’t matter. The point is, Georgie was rescued before any real damage was done. She wasn’t hurt. Only badly scared. Once she was safe again, I… believe she was okay.”

“How badly scared? What did they do to her?”

“Tied her to the bed by her wrists. Made it clear what was coming. But we arrived in time.”

“We?”

“Me. Michael. Larry.”

“Larry? Larry Waterman?”

“Yes, him. I stayed with Georgie. He and Michael went after her captors.”

He gulps at his drink, digesting my words. His throat ripples. “So, who was the target for this attack then? If it wasn’t Georgie or you? And where are the assailants now?”

“Larry was the target…” Borje goes very still. “…Someone… from his past… was targeting him through his friends. But the criminals involved are all dead or imprisoned.”

“So, the actual threat is over?”

“That’s right.”

“Larry…” he muses. “Who’s all but accused me of being a serial killer… And he has a Past?”

“That’s not for me to comment on. And don’t read anything into his behaviour with you. He’s taken a liking to Georgie. He is perhaps over-protective of her.”

Borje sniffs. “At least now, I understand why. They have a few things in common.”

“Such as?”

“Such as being generally socially inept.”

In the confines of my skull, I beat down indignation with a big stick.

Borje keeps talking, but a smile lurks… “Women need to be socially ept. Men can cover it with gruffness. Or as in your case, by being a Dom and general grouchy bastard…” His smile cracks out, but then fades again… “Women have it harder. They're supposed to be socially talented. James, has Georgie seen anyone else since this happened? Other relationships before me?”

“I believe she’s had a few dates, but I’m not aware they led to anything.”

He draws in air, knocks back his drink. “Okay, I think I know what I need to. Thanks for your time, James. Now…” He checks his wrist… “…if you’ll excuse me…” He raises a palm. “Don’t get up for me. I can see myself out.”

*****

The days pass and although it’s still early in Charlotte’s pregnancy, it’s looking good. She’s said nothing about any morning sickness and the only face looking happier than hers right now is Michael’s. Some things never change though.

Charlotte enters the lounge carrying a tray with coffee pot and a teetering plate of rolls. “I felt like a snack. Then, I thought everyone else might be peckish, so I made some sandwiches.”

Richard’s newspaper drops. He surveys the tray over his spectacles, huffs a laugh, and the paper rises again.

I eye the humongous offering. “What’s in them? You could knock out a rhino at fifty paces with any one of those.”

She sets the tray down. “Erm… Cheese. Ham. Pickled onions. A bit of roast beef I found in the fridge. There were a couple of tomatoes and half a cucumber. A hard-boiled egg too. And there were a few gherkins left in a jar. And…”

A rat-tat at the front door. Richard shifts in his armchair, but Charlotte revolves. “I’ll go.” A minute later, she reappears. “A visitor for you, Richard.” Will Stanton follows her in.

“Will…" Richard folds his paper away, starts to rise. "… Was I supposed to be expecting you?"