Page 2

Sitting back in her chair, she stared pasthis shoulder.The memories were starting to invade once again.“Ihad nothing to do with what happened to you.If you remember I wentaway because of work with my boss.I had to go to England.When Icame back a month later, you were awaiting a date for the trial,and they wouldn’t give you bail.”By the time the trial would havehappened, she wouldn’t have been considered a reliable source asshe already had a permanent place in a mental ward.
“I’m about to ask you aquestion, and I want you to answer me clearly.Did my lawyer get intouch with you?”Gash asked.
“Your lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“No.I wasn’t contacted byany lawyer.”
“I fucking knewit.”
It had been strange to her at the time aswell.No lawyer had been in touch with her, and she’d only heardabout it on the news as she was coming out of the airport.Shedidn’t have time to tell her story.There had been a date for thetrial, and she’d tried to get in touch with Gash’s lawyer withoutsuccess, and then it was too late.Jeff grabbed her, tore her worldapart, and dumped her.After trying to take her own life, she’dbeen sent to a psychiatric hospital where she’d spent the next fiveyears.Since getting out she had tried to find Rebecca and Jeff,losing lots of money in her own search to find the people who’druined her life.She didn’t have the right resources to find thetwo people who had ruined her life.Charlotte had to finally stoptrying to hunt for ghosts.
Gash rubbed his temple.“I’vespent a great deal of timethinking about this.”
“When you first got sentenced, Iwas out of the country.I’d gotten a promotion, and I was on my wayback.When I got back home, before your trial, I, erm, I got sick,and I couldn’t help you, no matter what.”Charlotte wasn’t about totell him what happened when she got back.She wasn’t ready to delveinto that shit again.
“I get that.”
She shook her head and stood.“If youdon’t mind, I want a drink.”She stormed into her kitchen, and asshe filled the kettle, she noticed that her hands were shaking.Taking a deep breath, she moved from the kitchen sink, to thecounter, and turned on the kettle.She had to keep control over heremotions.The last thing she needed right now was to lose herselfagain.She’d been doing so well right now.
I can do this.
Can you dothis?
The father of your child issitting at your pathetic excuse for a table.
You didn’t have achild.
They destroyedthat.
The very thoughts made her eyes fillwith tears, and she tried to wipe them away.
It’s in the past.I can’tchange the past.
Breathe in, breatheout.
It’s good tolive.
She kept speaking the words hertherapist advised her to do.She wasn’t about to waste years oftherapy.
“Are you okay?”Gash asked,startling her.He stood right behind her.He gripped her waist, andshe tensed up, jerking out of his hold.
“Don’t.”
“I don’t recall you beingthis jumpy.”
“How do you rememberanything about me?”she asked.
“We spent a great deal oftime together, Charlotte.Don’t try to pretend that it didn’t meananything.”
Slamming the cup down on the counter, shespun around to face him.This guy was giving her whiplash, and shewas so damn tired of him, and tired of the past invading herpresent.“How can you say that?How can you say that we spent timetogether, and yet, you come in here, threatening me?”She shook herhead.“I don’t know anything about Rebecca and Jeff.I’ve been onmy own for a long time.”
“What happened to you?”heasked.
“What?”
“You’re different.Iremember a time when you had an easy smile, and were more thanhappy to talk with me.Now, you’re treating me like you don’t knowme.”