“You were right,” says James. “I’ve surrendered my right to have any say in what you do now. But you can’t go anywhere until you are back to full health. After that….”

“After that?”

“…. after that, I ask that you remain here until we can sort out your situation. If you insist on leaving, it’s your choice, but neither of us wants to see you return to that place, that area, that job…. You’re better than that, and you deserve more.”

“My stuff…”

“All here. Michael and I cleared your room….”

“You broke in?”

“You had the key in your pocket. It’s about all you did have on you. Why did you go running out like that? In a place like that…”

I stare at the ceiling, not meeting his eye, but reply. “You know why.”

Michael returns. His eyes I notice, are shadowed, red. James looks drawn. I think he has lost weight.

He says, “Charlotte, or Jenny if you prefer. Please understand, this is a no-strings offer. Please don’t try to leave. You might have been able to walk thirty miles before, but you certainly can’t now. We just want you safe. We will ask nothing of you, make no assumptions about our relationship.”

Michael breaks in. “Please, Jenny, say yes.” His voice is shuddering. “Oh, God…. When you went down like that, I thought you were dead.”

“Charlotte,” I say.

“What?” asks James. Michael looks up.

“I’m Charlotte. Jenny became the fantasy. Charlotte is the real person.”

*****

I settle in. After a few days, I feel well enough to read and do a little work. The room is so pleasant. Lying in bed, looking out of the window, at the sky and the jade green sea, with no sound but the surf and the gulls…. I had forgotten how beautiful this place is.

A pile of textbooks on the bed, laptop to one side, I work my way through preparations for the next year.

There is a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

James enters with a tray. “Coffee?”

“I’d love some. Thank you.”

“May I sit with you for a while?”

“I’d like that.”

“Where’s Michael?”

“Not sure. He’ll not be far away.copy right hot novel pub