no news from James out on the search.
“Look I'm here for you, whatever happens. I won't let you sink this time, just think of me as your life raft” Jack said, standing up he hugged me close .
“I'll be ready if you need me to cling too” he whispered. I stemmed the tears that wer e teeterin g on the edges of my vision and instead hugged him back fiercely.
“Thanks Jack”
“Anytime”
We parted in different directions outside and I drove home, in case James was back with any news and to check on my daughter.
Chapter 9
The house felt silent and eerie as I stepped through the door. Normally if Charlotte was home music would pervade the space along with her own brand of vibrancy. Today all was quiet and I hoped it wasn't an omen for the rest of this year. Pam and Peter were still away and I hoped that we would not need to ring them with any bad news.
“Charlotte....Julia, I'm home” I shouted, as Jester appeared in the hallway. I laid a hand on his soft fur and his tail wagged just that little bit faster.
“Hi Mum” Charlie appeared in the lounge doorway “Any news?”
I shook my head and walked into the kitchen, flicking the switch on the kettle.
Charlie followed me and stood forlornly looking at the door into the studio.
“No dancing today?......you never know it might make you feel better”
Her silence was perturbing and I shut the fridge door and crossed to wrap my arms around her. Hugging her tightly I wanted to say so much to comfort her, but I had no words.
“He will be alright, I need him to be alright so I can tell him how much I love him and how sorry I am that I upset him” her words struggled as she caught her breath between each sentence. Silent sobs simmered just below her skin, struggling to break free.
We were still locked together when Jester barked and the front door clicked shut. I turned to see James in the doorway, wet hair, muddy trousers and pain still etched in his face. Charlotte broke away from me and went back to Julia in the lounge carrying two cups of tea. My arms were ready for the second person who needed their comfort.
“Baby” I cooed, as his broad shoulders hunched down and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Did you find anything” I whispered to break the silence.
“His bike, but nothing else”
Christ, how was I going to break this news t o Charlotte.
“Bu t no bod y so there is still hope. Rob is sending enquiries to all the local hospitals in case they have any John Doe's bought in recently. With the helmet damaged he could be suffering amnesia” James said, his fingers tightening just that little bit more around my waist.
“Look, you're cold and shivering so why not go and shower. I'm going to rustle up some turkey curry to warm us all up on the inside” I said, reluctantly removing his embrace. He nodded and tried a weak smile before he went upstairs.
I looked round the door into the lounge and saw Dirty Dancing playing on the screen.
“Hope you're both hungry I'm doing curry for tea”
“Thanks Mrs E” Julia replied.
“I'm not really hungry” Charlie said “but I'll try”
The weak smile I had just seen on James' face mirrored on my daughters.
Keeping busy in the kitchen James returned and looked a little less pale as he got the bowls and plates ready. Opening a bottle of red he poured us both a glass and handed one to me.
“Sorry to be so down, I just need to know what's happened to Mitch. He may not be my biological son but he is one in my heart”
“I know , it’ s hard for me too. But I am here for you, always and forever”
“Till the end of time” James said, his lips finding mine. I kissed him back, wanting to try and dispel some of his sombre mood.
We kept the tone light over dinner but afterwards I pulled Charlotte aside.
“They found his bike a bit further downstream, lodged against a fallen tree”
“Nothing else”
“No, but the police are checking all the nearby hospitals,
“Look I'm here for you, whatever happens. I won't let you sink this time, just think of me as your life raft” Jack said, standing up he hugged me close .
“I'll be ready if you need me to cling too” he whispered. I stemmed the tears that wer e teeterin g on the edges of my vision and instead hugged him back fiercely.
“Thanks Jack”
“Anytime”
We parted in different directions outside and I drove home, in case James was back with any news and to check on my daughter.
Chapter 9
The house felt silent and eerie as I stepped through the door. Normally if Charlotte was home music would pervade the space along with her own brand of vibrancy. Today all was quiet and I hoped it wasn't an omen for the rest of this year. Pam and Peter were still away and I hoped that we would not need to ring them with any bad news.
“Charlotte....Julia, I'm home” I shouted, as Jester appeared in the hallway. I laid a hand on his soft fur and his tail wagged just that little bit faster.
“Hi Mum” Charlie appeared in the lounge doorway “Any news?”
I shook my head and walked into the kitchen, flicking the switch on the kettle.
Charlie followed me and stood forlornly looking at the door into the studio.
“No dancing today?......you never know it might make you feel better”
Her silence was perturbing and I shut the fridge door and crossed to wrap my arms around her. Hugging her tightly I wanted to say so much to comfort her, but I had no words.
“He will be alright, I need him to be alright so I can tell him how much I love him and how sorry I am that I upset him” her words struggled as she caught her breath between each sentence. Silent sobs simmered just below her skin, struggling to break free.
We were still locked together when Jester barked and the front door clicked shut. I turned to see James in the doorway, wet hair, muddy trousers and pain still etched in his face. Charlotte broke away from me and went back to Julia in the lounge carrying two cups of tea. My arms were ready for the second person who needed their comfort.
“Baby” I cooed, as his broad shoulders hunched down and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Did you find anything” I whispered to break the silence.
“His bike, but nothing else”
Christ, how was I going to break this news t o Charlotte.
“Bu t no bod y so there is still hope. Rob is sending enquiries to all the local hospitals in case they have any John Doe's bought in recently. With the helmet damaged he could be suffering amnesia” James said, his fingers tightening just that little bit more around my waist.
“Look, you're cold and shivering so why not go and shower. I'm going to rustle up some turkey curry to warm us all up on the inside” I said, reluctantly removing his embrace. He nodded and tried a weak smile before he went upstairs.
I looked round the door into the lounge and saw Dirty Dancing playing on the screen.
“Hope you're both hungry I'm doing curry for tea”
“Thanks Mrs E” Julia replied.
“I'm not really hungry” Charlie said “but I'll try”
The weak smile I had just seen on James' face mirrored on my daughters.
Keeping busy in the kitchen James returned and looked a little less pale as he got the bowls and plates ready. Opening a bottle of red he poured us both a glass and handed one to me.
“Sorry to be so down, I just need to know what's happened to Mitch. He may not be my biological son but he is one in my heart”
“I know , it’ s hard for me too. But I am here for you, always and forever”
“Till the end of time” James said, his lips finding mine. I kissed him back, wanting to try and dispel some of his sombre mood.
We kept the tone light over dinner but afterwards I pulled Charlotte aside.
“They found his bike a bit further downstream, lodged against a fallen tree”
“Nothing else”
“No, but the police are checking all the nearby hospitals,
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