Chapter 128: Fatale, Part 8

Michael

The pair blow in through the door, in theory, together.

James stalks in, face reddened. Charlotte follows and, without a word or a smile, disappears into the kitchen.

I watch her scuttle away, then catch James by the arm. "What's going on?"

James swipes a hand through his hair, blows air through puffed cheeks. "Georgie." Then spinning, face set, he strides out again. The door slams closed behind him.

This has gone on long enough...

I hover by the window, listening for the crunch of footsteps on gravel to fade, then head for the kitchen where Charlotte is taking one of Cara's feed bottles from the fridge.

Her eyes flick to mine and then back to the bottle. "Hi."

"Don't Hi me. What d'you think you're up to, Charlotte?"

"Up to?" The innocence in her voice sounds fake and as she puts the bottle into the microwave, she keeps her face turned away. Even side-on, the flush on her cheeks is visible.