Chapitre 271: Chapter 271: Family, Part 4

James

I’m so tired. Passively, I lie in the dark, unable to sleep, haunted by the waking nightmare of something that I can’t quite remember.

Charlotte lies next to me, I think asleep, but as the door clicks open and then closes again, she stirs.

Her voice is sleepy. “Hi.”

Michael’s voice is low, “Hi, how are you? Feeling better now?”

“I’m fine. I just needed some sleep.”

“How is he?”

“Asleep too I think. He seems okay. Certainly on the mend.”

“Good.” There is rustling and then movement as he gets into the bed beside her. Then the small sounds of intimacy, sighs, murmurs, a kiss.

“I'd like to hold you for a while. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. Michael, I wanted to say thank you and sorry.”

“Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?”

“For.... I've been so awful, and I couldn't have coped without you. I thought I'd lost him and I ignored you.”