The Lover's Children novel Chapter 75

JAMES

Michael jolts but doesn’t speak, working his magic on Cara. But he radiates silent attention.

The question is mine to answer. “Charlotte, you’re a wonderful mother. Why on earth would you ask something like that?”

She blinks hard and rapidly. “There was a time... I thought Mom had abandoned me...” She swallows and gulps… “I wondered… Does something like that pass down the generations?”

Jeez…

Reaching down, I draw her into my arms, then guide her onto the settee beside me. “In the first place, whatever you once believed, we now know that your mother never abandoned you. In any case, those events are long behind us…”

“In the second place, you’re still not yourself after the miscarriage. Which is, I’m quite sure, the only reason you would question yourself this way. Finally, there is no one I would have chosen above you to be mother to Cara. And I know without asking, that Michael feels the same.”

“Ah-ha.” Michael teases a tangle out of Cara’s bird’s-nest. “And I’ll be proving that to you, very soon, I hope. There…” He sleeks a palm over smooth, dark locks. “Done. Charlotte, why don’t you take Cara to your Mom. You know she loves playing Granny.”

*****

Once we’re alone, Michael speaks quietly, glancing toward the door. “What do you make of Charlotte’s mood? Is she really over the miscarriage?”

“I think she’s putting a brave face on it. She’s going through daily life, making all the right moves, doing the right things. But every so often, when she thinks no one’s looking…”

“I’ve seen it too. That faraway look. James, I can't keep telling her it's not her fault. I'd say she's sinking into depression."

"You may be right.”

“So… what do we do about it?”

“We make life as normal as possible. You work on getting her pregnant again, ASAP. I’m sure that won’t be any great trial for you. I’ll be along for the ride and doing my best to keep a smile on her face.”

*****

KLEMPNER

Jenny stirs a bit of steak around the plate.

“Charlotte.” James stares at her from across the table.

She doesn’t reply. Doesn’t seem even to notice that he’s spoken.

“Charlotte? I expect you to answer me when I address you.”

She jolts to attention. “Sorry, I was miles away. What was that?”

He nods down to the plate. “Is there something wrong with the meal I cooked for you?”

She prods at a bit of potato. “It's fine. I'm just not very hungry.”

Mitch touches her hand. “Jenny, why don't you have a soak in the bath? Perhaps in that lovely Jacuzzi. Take your time. I'll look after Cara.”

She shrugs.

“Charlotte!” James tone has knives in it. His palm slaps to the tabletop. “You will show your mother some respect...”

Her head ducks. “Sorry, Mom.”

“… And she's right. When did you last have a bath?”

She shrugs again. James' eyes slit.

Is this getting out of hand?

I shift in my seat, but James flicks a glance my way. His fingers, still flat to the table, wriggle all but imperceptibly.

Is he really angry?

Or is it a show?

Mitch nudges me. “Larry, we have things to do.”

“Do we?”

“Yes,” she hisses, “I need your help to move Vicky’s cot.”

“Do you?” Mitch’s eyes shoot arrows. “Oh, right. Yes, I forgot.”

*****

Strolling back with Mitch to our shared apartment, “What was going on back there?”

She sighs. “I’ll repeat myself. for an intelligent man, you can be dense.”

“Did you really want me to move Vicky’s cot?”

“No, it’s fine where it is.”

“So…?”

“Larry…” She flicks invisible dust from my jacket… “Jenny’s not herself. They need their privacy over there. Tomorrow, we’re going out for the day. We'll take Cara with us. And Adam.”

“With Vicky as well? We'll be...”

“It's one day, Larry. We'll cope.”

“Maybe Jenny doesn't want...”

“I'll clear it with James and Michael. Make sure they know they have a few clear hours.”

“What the hell is going on?”

She chuckles, low and deep. “I don't think you want to know.”

What am I missing?

“Mitch…”

She slips her hand into mine. “You know, for an intelligent man, you can be quite dense. And to say you have such a fearsome reputation, you're very vanilla in some ways.”

?

“Vanilla? You don't like our lovemaking?”

“Did I say that?” Her chuckle is throaty and warm. “We’ve been through this before. As I’ve said before, our lovemaking is sheer heaven. You're a wonderful lover, if undemanding.”

What the hell do I make of that?

“Where are we going?”