Chapter 8


    As we return carrying trays and pots and mugs, the two barely notice us. They’re sitting across the


    table from each other, arms outstretched, their fingertips touching. Michael glowers.


    Oh, c’mon…


    They’re old friends…


    “When you said, I''m here and safe,” Charlotte is saying, “what did you mean?”


    His mouth works….


    Choosing his words?


    “After you left the farm, a man came looking for you, a police officer, or he imed to be...”


    “Yes, Tom told me that.”


    “Tom? You''ve seen Tom?”


    “Yes, it turns out he was spying for the people who sent me there.”


    Chad’s head jerks back. “Was he indeed? The Blessingmoors people?” She nods, her face falling.


    “Jenny…” He slides his hand over hers. “It''s alright. When the news broke about that ce, all the


    pieces suddenly fit together…” He stops speaking suddenly, looking at me and Michael, then back to


    Charlotte.


    “It’s alright,” she says. “They know it all. Both of them.”


    Chad gazes at us, nodding slowly, thoughtfully, then continues. "I always knew there was something


    you were frightened of. When it came out about Blessingmoors, it suddenly made sense but.... Tom


    was spying on you for them? I can hardly believe..."


    “He confessed to it. He did it because they were ckmailing him. They had his little sister…”


    I nudge Michael with an elbow. “I think we should give them some privacy,” I murmur. He grunts, as


    sour-faced as I’ve ever seen him, but follows me out of the room. “Are you going to grow up?” I hiss,


    once we are out in the hall.


    “And you’re happy about it, I suppose?”


    “Yes. I’m happy. In fact, I’m delighted for her. Don’t you think she’s entitled to have friends other than


    just you and me?”


    “I suppose…”


    *****


    When we return half an hourter, Charlotte and Chad areughing and joking. As we enter, he grins,


    waving casually in Michel’s direction. “I didn''t make the connection. Michael here mentioned he was


    married, but he called you Charlotte.” He slips a sly look her way. “Charlotte, eh?”


    She blushes. “Alright, alright. So I named myself after a horse. I''ve been through that one with Tom.


    Don’t you start bending my ear about it…”


    He turns away to hide his grin. "Still get to ride at all?"


    “No, it''s not something I''ve had a chance to do since I left the farm.”


    “Really? That''s a shame. That''s how I fell in love with you, you know.” He nces Michael’s way, then


    back to Charlotte. “Until then, I thought we were just friends, but that day I saw you, riding Charlie, I


    thought I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”


    She sniffs and rubs her nose. “Given what followed,” she says, her voice tight, “what am I supposed to


    do with that information?”


    He leans back in his seat. “I don''t me you. And you''ll always be Jenny to me.” His gaze shifts to


    Michael. “Don''t read anything into this. Marrying Jenny was both the best and the worst thing I ever did.


    And she was not responsible for anything that followed from it. I was.” He sucks in his cheeks. “I’m


    assuming you do know what happened between us?”


    “That your marriage didn’t work out? Yes, I know.”


    “Then hopefully you understand that I am so happy to find that she is safe and well. And that she has a


    home and a husband. We’re old friends and I’m hoping that can continue.”


    Michael, arms across his chest, nods, but the gesture is short and grudging.


    Chad considers him for a long moment. “So, what about this trainer’s position? Am I out of a job?”


    “I think that would be most unfair,” I say. Michael jerks a look at me, but I continue. “It can only be a


    good thing for Charlotte to be reunited with her old friends.”


    “I’m pleased to hear it.” Chad watches Michael spectively, then turns back to Charlotte. “So you''ve


    kept it up? The boxing? Or have you letfort and safety move to that spreading ass of yours?”


    Her eyes narrow. “Want to find out?”


    “I think I do.”


    Michael stirs…


    Trouble brewing?


    “Let''s head for the gym,” I suggest. “The whole point of the meeting today was for old and new trainers


    to settle in together…”


    As we head back to the hotel, Charlotte twists, trying to look over her own shoulder, then leans close.


    “Am I getting a fat bottom?”


    “Only in a good way.”


    *****


    In the gym, in joggers and vests, the pair circle each other.


    He’s taller than her by several inches, muscr, broad-shouldered and with not an ounce of spare on


    him…


    How long since shest saw him?


    Six or seven years?


    He would have been almost a boy then…


    But for all Chad’s size, he’s light on his feet, graceful.


    Easy to see what she saw in him…


    And he strikes, his arm sweeping forward to snatch at her. But she blocks it, then swings with a foot to


    hook around his ankle. He spins, throwing her, but she rolls and in a single smooth movement is once


    more on her feet, feinting with her right hand then punching with her left…


    “She certainly has her own style,” Iment, watching Michael side-long. He rumbles. I can’t pick out


    the words, but a blue whale somewhere across the ocean probably heard him.


    … Chad has her down, his weight bearing on her, but she locks her arms up against his chest then,


    twisting, gets first one foot, then the other under him, kicking hard. He jerks away and back, and my


    groin flinches in sympathy…


    … and she’s up and punching. He’s blocking, parrying then jabbing back…


    Are either of them pulling their punches?


    Not sure…


    Jammed into my back pocket, my phone vibes. It''s Richard.


    Just arrived. Where r u?


    Gym. Move ur ass. U gotta c this


    As I turn my attention back to the mats, he has her down again. This time, she tries to lock, but he


    nudges her elbows open and his weight drops over her…


    He’s got her…


    If it were real…


    A hand drops onto Chad’s shoulder. Michael pulls him upright, his voice mild. “Shall we see how you


    handle yourself with someone nearer your own size?”


    Chad’s reply iszy. “I think we might.”


    Charlotte scrambles upright, about to protest, but I jab a finger at her… “Charlotte!”… and point to the


    spot next to me. She demurs but I stab at the spot and this time she obeys, scowling as she moves to


    me.


    “Master…” she hisses. “We''ve got to stop them. They''ll hurt each other.”


    I cut her off. “If you think I''m getting between those two, you are much mistaken. Let them get it out of


    their systems. You’ll have no peace until they settle it.”


    “But it’s stupid…”


    “Yes, it is. Nheless…”


    Two faces appear at the ss panel, peer in and then the doors swing open. Richard enters, Beth right


    behind him. He shes brows at me then frowns, nodding across to where Chad and Michael are


    squaring up.


    “What''s going on?”


    “They’re setting up for a practice spar.”


    Beth sucks a lip, wide-eyed, visibly gauging Chad. “Oh, my. He’s something, isn’t he…”


    Richard gives her an amused nce. “Who is he?”


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “That is Chad, Charlotte''s first husband.”


    Beth’s jaw drops and Richard’s head swings to look at Chad as though it’s on ball-bearings. “What the


    hell’s he doing here?”


    “Michael employed him as the self-defence instructor.”


    A grin like a rising sun washes over his face. “You’re kidding.”


    “Nope. It’s alle out in thest hour or so when he and Charlotte set eyes on each other.”


    “And Michael…?”


    “…. doesn''t like it one bit.”


    Across the floor, the two, fists raised, circle each other. Michael tries an experimental jab. Chad jerks


    back then retaliates, grazing past his opponent’s cheekbone.


    Richard is adding up the pieces. “So, that’s the man who taught Charlotte to fight?”


    “That’s right.”


    “I hope Michael knows what he’s doing.”


    “Not so sure about that…”


    Michaelnds a punch, catching Chad on the shoulder, then jolts back as Chad nts his knuckles


    squarely on his chin.


    “Shouldn’t they be wearing gloves?” asks Beth.


    “Yes, they should,” hisses Charlotte. “They’ll hurt themselves and each other like that.” She moves


    closer, her body reacting as fists swing and blowsnd.


    They''re well matched. Around the same height, both heavily built, Michael perhaps more so, but then


    Chad is younger.


    Richard sidles close, his lips barely moving as he speaks. “Do you think they see it, either of them? Or


    Charlotte?”


    I speak equally quietly. “I don’t think so.”


    Beth creases a brow. “See what?”


    Richard slides me a look, lips twitching, then says, “Elizabeth, look at them.”


    She turns, nk-faced, watching. Richard and I watch her…


    Then she spots it. “Ooohhh…”


    “I wouldn''t have missed this for my own funeral,” chuckles Richard.


    “You got it, Beth?” I ask.


    She raises a knuckle to her mouth, biting back theughter.


    “So, when Charlotte’s first marriage didn’t work out because he was gay,” murmurs Richard, “… the


    man she married second time around was a straight clone of the first…” He presses fingers to his


    forehead, shaking with suppressedughter.


    Charlotte turns. “What’s funny?”


    We both wipe the smiles from our faces.


    “Nothing.”


    “Nothing.”


    She’s not fooled. Giving us a suspicious look, she turns away again.


    “You going to say anything?” says Richard from the corner of his mouth.


    “Not if my life depended on it.”


    But Beth looks askance at us, then sashays across to Charlotte, saying something quiet. After a


    moment, Charlotte raises a hand to her mouth, turns and stares at where Chad isnding a blow that


    would fell a rhino. We must have missed Michael’s punch on him because blood is flowing freely down


    his face, leaving a trail of droplets on the mats. Both men are running with sweat, red-faced and


    heaving.


    The doors swing open again and a stranger enters. Slim and with Latino good looks, he says, “Excuse


    me, but I’m looking for Charles. Is he…?” Then his eye follows our pointing fingers and his mouth falls


    open. “What the hell is he doing?”


    “I’m sorry,” I say, “but you are…?”


    “I’m Sebastian.” He thumbs towards the blood-streaked Chad. “Charles’ husband.”


    Richard bends over double, shaking and hugging his ribs with one arm, the free hand waving


    helplessly. Sebastian stares at him then, “What the fuck’s going on here?” he demands. “He told me


    this was the introduction to a new job. Not a beat-the-shit-out-of-each-other session.”


    “Ah…” I let out a breath. “It’splicated. You could start by asking who that is...” I level a finger


    towards Charlotte.


    He shoots a nce at her. “Alright, who is she?”


    “She was Chad’s first…” My words stumble… “… partner…”


    He zes. “That’s Jenny? The girl he married?”


    “Yes.”


    He thumbs at Michael. “And he is…?”


    “Jenny’s second husband.”


    “Ah…” He throws the look that spoke a thousand words to thebatants. “I think I detect a pattern


    here.” He inclines a little to me. “Thank you for your assistance. Please excuse me…”


    “… My pleasure…”


    …. And he bee-lines Charlotte, who turns to him with a puzzled expression. After a muttered


    conversation, the light of understanding radiates over her face. They exchange a few more words, nod


    and then, as one, march across to the battling pair.


    “That is enough!”


    “What the fuck do you think you’re ying at?”


    Richard reappears at my side, wiping streaming eyes. “Oh, God. If it wasn’t free, I’d have paid to see


    it.”


    Michael and Chad turn to face the oing storm. Michael staggers. Chad weaves uncertainly.


    Beth taps a toe. “You think that’ll have washed the scent of battle from the air?”


    *****