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Chapter 68: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 8
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Master's Child Chapter 69: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 9
Christmas EveMichael strides in, muffled up in a thick roll-neck sweater and a scarf, loaded with firewood. Stacking it by the hearth, he swipes off flakes of snow, which promptly thaw and puddle onto the tiles. "I reckon that's a good two feet of snow that dropped overnight."Beside me, Ryan inhales. "Are we snowed in?""Right now, probably, yes..." Michael nudges with the toe of his boot at the heap of dogs lolling in front of the flames. "Budge up you lot." Grumbling, they shift to make room for him. Scruffy yaps protest. Michael grins, bending down to rub his face then, blowing into his palms, holds them over the fire. "... But the snowplough will be along in a while. And in any case, when James stocked up the kitchen, I think he was planning for the arrival of the Mongol hordes. There's enough in the house to see us through to the New Year. No-one's going to go hungry."Close by, Charlotte and Mitch sit next to each other at the table, happily making Christmas tree orname
The Master's Child Chapter 70: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 10
All of us laden with holly, we return to the house. Klempner looks Michael up and down. "A change of clothes maybe?""No maybe about it. I'm fucking frozen." But the big, handsome blond man is laughing.We pass the vegetable garden again. "Sprouts?" I say."Ah, thanks for the reminder." He scans the snow-capped stalks, chooses one and tugs it up whole, by the roots. Then another. This one resists, its feet rooted in the frozen ground. Michael tries again, but when it doesn't come free, produces his pruning saw. He brandishes the cut stalk. "That's one part of Christmas dinner sorted out."*****We return to find Richard stapling sheets together, several copies of the same document. James pushes a mug of hot wine into my hands, steaming and spicy. Another into Ryan's. I suck at it and a warm glow shimmers down through my stomach to fingers and toes.Richard hands me a document; another copy to Ryan. "Here you are. All done. Your purchase contract for the Mill. Read it at
The Master's Child Chapter 71: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 11
Klempner sucks at his cheeks. "You work for Haswell? Do I have that right? And he's arranging the purchase for this Mill you want to buy?""Yes, that's right.""And your Ryan, what does he do?""He owns his own company. They make heating and ventilation systems. He's doing a lot of contract work right now for James and Richard.""He's the company director?""He is, yes.""So... his files are a matter of public record. Haswell probably has a very good idea of what he's worth too. And he knows what size of orders Ryan's company is likely to pull in over the next few years?""I suppose so."Klempner huffs. "There's no suppose about it. You don't get into Haswell's position without having a knack for putting a value on people." He levels a finger at me. "If he thinks you can afford it, you can afford it. And he's the one offering you the sale and setting the price."Still I hesitate.He lets out air. "Kirstie, you do realise that Haswell's selling it to you under value?
The Master's Child Chapter 72: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 12
Back indoors, energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a heap and peace reigns.Mac, having claimed prize place in front of the fire, lies eyes closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best 'Dead Bluebottle' impression. Archie nudges up beside him trying, unsuccessfully, to ease him to one side.Richard regards the pair, expression neutral. "Is that a natural position for a dog?""It's his favourite," I say. "When he's chilled out." Mac's tail twitches and his lips pull back in an up-side-down canine grin."Will he stay in that position long?""Just until someone offers him food or another..." I mouth the word silently... "... Walk..."I sit beside Ryan, kiss him on the cheek. Subdued, he returns the kiss, but his voice is slow. "Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with..." He jerks his head towards Klempner, returned to his seat at the back of the room."It's fine. We were just talking...""Damn!" Michael, on
The Master's Child Chapter 73: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 13
Heads swivel as we walk in.James, Michael and Richard exchange looks. "I'm almost certain..." says Richard... "... that you left here with five dogs.""And I've come back with six. Yes, I know. I couldn't leave him. Someone's dumped him."Michael looks him over. "He's a good-looking animal. You think he's been abandoned?""Happens all the time. He looks about a year old to me. He's big, but he's still a bit gangly. Not grown into his paws yet. He was probably thrown out to make way for the Christmas puppy."Charlotte's voice hisses from the lounge door. "Bastards!""Yup," I reply. "There's a special place in Hell for them. I hope they rot.""Where d'you want this lot?" asks Larry, wincing away from where a holly branch prickles at his chin.James thumbs him through to the dining room. "In there."He marches through then without ceremony, dumps his load of holly on the tiles. Standing with his back to the fire, "Is there anything hot to drink? I'm fucking freezing."
The Master's Child Chapter 74: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 14
Christmas DayThe heap of gifts stacked under the tree is bright with coloured wrap and ribbons. James waves an arm down at the stack. "You're closest, Michael. You're in charge."Michael takes a small gilt-wrapped package from the top, checks the label then offers it out to Beth. "For you."Beth peels off foil and ribbons to reveal what is very obviously, a perfume bottle. She opens it, then smiles brightly at Richard. "It's lovely, thank you. The old one has almost run out."Michael is already reading the label on another gaudy parcel, bulky and soft, in the kind of economy wrapping paper you might find in a supermarket or newsagent. "This one's for you, James."He accepts it, raising brows and looking to Charlotte, but she shakes her head. "It's not from me."He turns over the tag, jagged-edged, perhaps pinked from an old birthday card or similar. His head inclines. "Why, Mitch, thank you. You shouldn't have. You're only just getting back on your financial feet..."Kle
The Master's Child Chapter 75: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 15
I poke my head around the kitchen door. James is there ahead of me at his workspace, be-aproned, sleeves rolled up on the Christmas sweater, trimming the rind from bacon.At the table, Charlotte sits peeling carrots. Beside her, Mitch wraps bacon around sausages. Between them on a thick furry blanket, Cara burbles and blows bubbles."Can I help?" I say.James looks up, smiling. "Absolutely you can help. You can peel the chestnuts for the stuffing."I eye the contents of a bowl close by, already containing onions, breadcrumbs and judging by the smell, garlic. "Isn't that the stuffing?""Yes, it is, but since this is a special occasion and we have plenty of people here to eat the results, I thought we would have more than one kind. This is going to be sage and onion. Those are for the chestnut and cranberry." He waves across to a cupboard. "Aprons in there. Find something that fits."As I tie the bow on my apron, "I see you have another helper already?"James looks blank fo
The Master's Child Chapter 76: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 16
I sit with Charlotte and Cara in the nursery, taking in the mass of murals, colourful and bright, occupying the walls. Mobiles hang from the ceiling, dangling birds and horses and little bells which sway and tinkle with the slightest movement.From outside comes the slam of a car door.More visitors?Charlotte, feeding Cara, is still pale but a touch of pink blushes over her cheeks.Recovering a day at a time...Uncertain as to how I approach the subject, I speak carefully. "How are you feeling now?"But she simply smiles slightly. "I'm getting better. I'm not coughing much now." She strokes Cara's face, very gently, not disturbing her daughter from her meal. "The important thing is that Cara is healthy. When they had me prisoner in there, yes, it was awful, but the main thing I was thinking about all the time was whether they'd damaged her by drugging me. Or whether it was doing her any harm because I wasn't well..."She seems set to keep talking but is interrupted by a
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The Master's Child Chapter 193: Natale, Part 31
It's cold outside, but Klempner sits on the low terrace wall wearing no more than a thin pullover."Want one of these?" I proffer a coffee, heavily laced with whiskey, topped with thick cream.He startles, but then, "Thank you, James." He doesn't smile. His eyes are soft with melancholy as he stares down, watching October mist curling over the lake."Will you visit the grave?""Yes." The single word isn't followed by any others."When will you go?""Sooner rather than later." He breathes steam and fragrant alcohol. "I'm making arrangements now. The Canadian winter arrives early and in force. It'll be under six feet of snow there very soon, and for the next several months.""Would you mind some company?"He twists to face me. "You want to come?""I'd like to pay my respects to the brave woman for whom my daughter is named."He blinks, nodding as he casts his gaze down. "Thank you, James. I appreciate that.""Charlotte wants to go as well."And now he smiles. I
The Master's Child Chapter 192: Natale, Part 30
JamesFamily...All gathered together around the breakfast table: Michael to the left of Charlotte, I'm to her right, bouncing Cara on my knee while Charlotte takes a break to get some food down her throat. Beyond Michael, Beth feeds Adam, Richard flanking them.Klempner and Mitch sit side by side. She's turned discreetly away, feeding Vicky. Larry watches, still wearing that slightly spaced-out expression...Man-in-shock?For all the right reasons...Charlotte is very quiet. She eats, but her gaze sweeps the table and back again.Once she had nothing...Briefly, her eyes lock with her father's. He cocks his head, eyes full of question, but then her gaze moves on.What's he thinking?It's not hard to figure. Right from the time Klempner arrived back with us, although he's clearly content to be here, he's had an air of... waiting...The Rat-Tat! of the front door rattles down the hall.Michael pushes his chair back. "I'll go." A half-eaten slice of toast in one h
The Master's Child Chapter 191: Natale, Part 29
RichardMy intercom buzzes. "Yes, Francis?""I have the police commissioner on for you, Mr Haswell. He... doesn't sound very happy."I can guess what this is going to be about. I've been waiting for it. "Thanks for the warning, Francis. Put him through please..." The line clicks and reconnects. "Richard?""Good morning, Will. What can I do for you?""I think you can guess why I'm calling you. I'm hearing rumours I don't like. Disturbing rumours.""I believe, Will, that I know which rumours you mean. I've been wanting to discuss them with you. Perhaps you would like to meet for lunch to discuss the matter? Somewhere quiet? ""And away from the office? Yes, I think so."*****The waiter sets a plate in front of each of us, steak in pepper sauce for Will, a prawn souffle for me. He tops up the glasses of Cabernet. "Is there anything else, sir?""No, thank you. That's perfect." I wait until he is out of earshot before I speak. "So, Will...These disturbing rumours?
The Master's Child Chapter 190: Natale, Part 28
KlempnerThe view is restful. Living in Mitch's small apartment, hidden away from the world, does...... I suppose...... constitute 'domestic bliss'. But that's at night. For much of the day, we spend our time in the main family home of Jenny's Triad. The women chatter and gossip. The men alternate between business and banter. One or other of the babies always needs attention...It's exhausting.But when it comes to it, that's not the root of my problem.Retreating from noise and activity and 'family-fun' to the sanctuary of the terrace, I let the view wash away the anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind.It's always the waiting...Give me action and some lunatic with a gun every time...Stay calm...Mist curls over the lake far below. On the slopes close by, every blade of grass is etched with a rime of frost that will thaw to dew when the sun crests the mountain. Further down, the individual blades meld into a smooth sheet of silver that merge into haze and wa
The Master's Child Chapter 189: Natale, Part 27
Two coffeepots later, we've run out of croissants and moved onto toasted muffins. James slices one in two, dropping the halves into the toaster. He pauses, "Another one, Beth?"She's sitting up against the headboard, next to Charlotte, the two propped up against each other, eating from a shared plate. Beth slathers butter and blackberry jam onto what she has. "Thanks, but I'm fine with this, James. I'll not eat again 'til suppertime.""Charlotte?""Mmmm..." She nods, mumbling through a mouthful, wiping a smear of melted butter from the corner of her mouth. She swallows, then holds up half a muffin - minus two bites. "What is it about muffins and bad weather? I always want more of them."James rolls a look at her, then to me, shaking his head...A wise man says nothing...Richard sucks jam from his fingers, lips smacking. "On a complete change of subject... Elizabeth and I were talking..." Beth falls still, her shoulders slumping... "... Please don't take this the wrong way,
The Master's Child Chapter 188: Natale, Part 26
MichaelIt's dark...What woke me?Somewhere down and beside me, the sound of whining. "Scruffy? You need to go out, boy?"At this hour?What the hell time is it?I'm snug and comfortable, draped with a thick duvet. Charlotte, warm and fragrant, sleeps tucked in beside me. Through the curtains, it's pitch-black.Scruffy whines again, this time scratching at the bed.Wonder if he's eaten something he shouldn't?Stretching an arm blindly out beyond the cosy comfort of the blankets, I pat across the side-table, hunting for the light switch. When I find it, as it turns out, it's not Scruffy's habit of eating every bit of rubbish he comes across that is at fault. The clock tells me it's half past seven and my rag-tag mongrel is making a perfectly reasonable request to be let out to relieve the pressures of the night.But outside, there's no sign of daylight and, joys of joys, rain lashes against the window.Goodbye to summer...Scruffy's whining ups by half an octave
The Master's Child Chapter 187: Natale, Part 25
JamesAn orderly tries to block the way, arms outstretched in front of the door. "Sir, you can't..."Klempner simply brushes by him.From beyond, Mitch's voice. "Let him in..."The orderly spins, mouth open. "What? All of them?""Yes!!!! Ah... Fuccckkkk...."The monk's feet skid uselessly over the polished floor as he tries to resist his inexorable forward journey into the delivery room. His voice rises to a wail. "But I'm not a priest. I can't do this." Klempner growls, "I don't care if you're a priest, a rabbi, an imam, or if you ran the Bring-and-Buy at the church garden party. The lady here wants our child born in wedlock. You're going to marry us."Klempner turns his attention to Mitch, lying on her back on the delivery table, yelling her way through another contraction. She flings out an arm, grabbing at his wrist. He winces, but lays his other hand on top. "We'll just let this one pass..."The midwife, checking a bleeping monitor, flashes a look at Mitch. "Yo
The Master's Child Chapter 186: Natale, Part 24
RichardMy mobile bleeps: James.Landed. at airport now. home approx 90 mins. Tell Mitch he's keenElizabeth grins at me as I tap in the reply.don't go home. come city hospital. Mitch in labourThere's a short pause...Elizabeth holds up her hand, counting down silent fingers: Five... Four... Three... Two...... and my mobile bleeps again.When M go into labour?3 hrs doc and midwife say early but all normal all goodWith you ASAP K got taxi flying on wings of fire*****The corridor is painted the required institutional off-white, scraped black in long stripes at trolley-bed height. The lighting is the compulsory harsh fluorescent white. One strip blinks on and off. Signs point off down apparently identical corridors: Intensive Care... Reception... A & E... Chapel and Prayer Room... Radiology... Cardiology... Breast Screening...How many ways is it possible to be sick?Footsteps echo along the corridor; marching footsteps, almost stampeding footsteps.A
The Master's Child Chapter 185: Natale, Part 23
KlempnerAt last, I get some privacy with her. James ushers out Jenny, protesting all the way. Michael leaves too, turning as he exits to give me a kind of approving nod.Haswell poured glasses of champagne, passing them around at their side of the screen, although I did notice that he poured for Mitch from a different bottle. The top of the flute is just in view, spitting the odd bubble over the rim."Are you alone now?"She looks sidelong, off-screen. "Yes, they've gone.""What's Kirstie doing there?""I'm fitting her for her wedding dress. They've set the date for Christmas, remember.""I didn't know that.""Oh... no... Of course you wouldn't." She takes a sip of her bubbly, looking away. "It's been so long. They said you were dead. The police said there was a body.""There was, but not mine."She peers into the screen, searching my face. "How are you? What happened?""I'll tell you sometime, but not now. What's important, is how you are and..." I nod down, bel
