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Chapter 76: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 16
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Master's Child Chapter 77: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 17
Sumptuous smells are drifting in from the kitchen. James refuses any more assistance from me, instead pouring me an egg-nog, and another for Ryan, then ambling through to the lounge with me to take his accustomed armchair by the fire.Most of the Christmas household are there ahead of us. Michael, Beth and Richard are playing a board game. Ryan sits behind Michael, apparently in the role of 'Chief Criticiser' of his moves.Mitch, sitting with Larry on the couch, has the bundled Cara in her arms. Eyes closed, the baby sucks contently at a bottle.A bit startled by the sight, "Where's Charlotte?""Getting changed for dinner. I said I'd finish Cara's feed." Mitch follows my eye to the bottle. "It's Jenny's milk, expressed. I told her early she'll have an easier time if Cara can be fed by anyone.""Damn!" Michael tosses dice to one side."Told you," says Ryan. "You should have put a hotel on the square while you still had the cash."Richard hums, sweeping up miniature plastic
The Master's Child Chapter 78: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 18
"Crackers!" Michael holds up his; red and green crepe paper wrapped with silver foil. He leans across the table, arm outstretched, flashing eyebrows. "Pull a cracker with me, Mitch."James picks up his from the side of his plate, sounding piqued. "They're nothing like the one we had last year, I'm afraid." Michael shrugs, unperturbed. "So there was no time to arrange your fancy hand-made affairs. They're just the first packet I could grab off the supermarket shelves. It's anyone's guess what's inside. It doesn't matter. It's Christmas. That's what it's about." "Oh, stop fussing, James." Mitch makes a grab for the cracker. "So long as they have a paper hat inside and a bad joke, they'll be fine." She tugs, and with a Snap! the cracker splits and multi-coloured shrapnel confetti's out.With a grin, she unrolls a vivid green elf-hat, slipping it atop her immaculate red up-do. Craning up to the mirror above the hearth, she checks her reflection.Mmmming, she takes off the hat,
The Master's Child Chapter 79: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 19
Beth shifts uneasily in her seat. Richard murmurs something quiet to her, and she nods, grimacing. Then, "Can you excuse me, please. I'll be back in a minute."Charlotte pipes up. "Bladder?"Beth blushes. "Um, yes, actually."Charlotte sets down her knife and fork. "I'll come with you if you like. Give you a hand. I know what it's like when you're that size and you're trying to manage with your dress and everything."Beth gives her a grateful smile as Richard stands, sliding her chair out as she heaves herself upright. But Charlotte is struggling herself to get up from her seat and Mitch rises too. "I think you both still need help in that area," she says.I could do with a comfort break myself, but with Ryan's finger working spirals between my pussy lips, I'm conscious of the dampness under me...Black dress, not red...Hmmm...As the three women exit, Ryan taps me on the shoulder. "Kirstie, why do women go to the toilet in groups?"I turn an austere expression on hi
The Master's Child Chapter 80: Kirstie's Christmas, Part 20
We make our way to the courtyard at the back of the house. A path cuts through, shovelled and cleared from the first fall of snow. Nonetheless, there is still a covering of a couple of inches over the ground and snowflakes fall around us, brushing my nose like iced feathers.Michael grumbles, "I'm going to have to bloody well do this again, aren't I...""Yes, you are," says James blithely. "But you opted for that instead of peeling vegetables, didn't you."Michael tugs his jacket around himself, scowling.We follow the path to an outbuilding. Mitch's 'apartment' is next door, but this is...Charlotte's face lights up. "The stable?" She spins on her two husbands, mittened palms raised to her cheeks. "Oh... You haven't..."Richard clicks his tongue. "Oh, yes, they have."From beyond the stable door comes a nicker. I've never had much to do with horses, but I know animals well enough to recognise the sound of welcome when I hear it. Charlotte dashes for the doorway, flinging
The Master's Child Chapter 81: Predator, Part 1
JamesAh, there he is...Out beyond the French doors, Klempner stands out on the snow-covered terrace. By his feet, Blackie nudges the hand of the strange, grim man, and he reaches into a pocket, producing some small thing which the dog accepts and swallows.Can't handle having people around him all the time?Let's give him some practice...*****KlempnerFrom my viewing-point at the front of the house, I look out, down and all around. The view is glorious. Open fields lead down the mountain to the frozen and snow-covered lake below. In the bright sunshine, the place is startlingly lovely.But I can't bring myself to relax and enjoy it.The mountain snowscape is beautiful, yes. Open, beautiful and vulnerable.The cold bites, penetrating my several layers of clothing and regardless of what I might think of Mitch's sense of humour, I've topped it all off with the hideous garment Mitch gave me for Christmas.I've not yet fathomed why she chose to inflict the hand-kni
The Master's Child Chapter 82: Predator, Part 2
The company of so many: I can only take it for so long. As the party mood develops, I retreat again, looking for looking for... I'm not sure what I'm looking for...Still, I enjoy the festivities, when I can choose to be on the fringes, rather than immersed in the whole jolly-holiday thing.Rolling out from the lounge comes the sound of mixed voices singing...Mitch's voice... I'd not realised she could sing well... "Fo-ur calling birds... Threee... French hens... Twoooo turtle doves..."Then many voices all together... "And a partri-idge in a pear tree...""Kirstie's voice, "What's next? What's five?"Michael, Mitch and Jenny, Haswell and his wife, all shouting... "Gold RINGS!"... Followed by gales of laughter.In the quiet of the hall, I stand, an ear cocked, listening to it all, then realise I'm smiling to myself.Should I join them again??They might expect me to sing...I wander, aimless but not unhappy, along the central hallway of the house, simply looking
The Master's Child Chapter 83: Predator, Part 3
JamesTo: James AlexandersFrom: W. Stanton. Commissioner of PoliceDear James,Firstly, may I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and extend my heartfelt hopes that Charlotte is recovering from her ordeal and that the baby is well. I trust that the New Year will bring you all the enjoyment it should of your newest family member.Secondly, and on the more serious matter in hand...Many thanks for returning Finchby's laptop so promptly. As I write this, I have our forensic team working on the contents of the hard drive.The most immediate concern, I am sure you will agree, is to establish the whereabouts of this 'Baxter' you encountered, Finchby's accomplice.There are several images attached to this email. Could you please examine them carefully and let me know if any of them is of the man you met.I would appreciate a prompt response to this query.Best Regards,Will*****To: W. Stanton. Commissioner of PoliceFrom: James AlexandersDear Will
The Master's Child Chapter 84: Predator, Part 4
James"So... Tell me." Klempner leans over my shoulder, peering in at my screen.Mitch has followed us in. She stands in the background, listening in silence. I rub at the top of my nose. "I can tell you for a start that the contents of Finchby's hard drive turn my stomach."He cocks a brow. "Really?""Really. He had some exotic vices and the image files to go with it." I eye-point back beyond his office door. "I don't want the women seeing any of this. It would give Charlotte nightmares."In the background, Mitch huffs. Klempner shakes his head. "You seem surprised, James."His tone nettles me. "Klempner, you don't have to talk to me as though I'm stupid, or a child."He jerks up again to look me in the face. "I don't believe you to be either stupid or a child, James. But I do believe I have a much better idea than you of what people are actually capable of doing to each other."His expression hardens. "What was done to Jenny was deliberate. It was intended to abuse
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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
