just in case. They're also going to search further downstream”
Charlie slumped into my arms and sobbed whilst I held my tears back. When her tears ran dry she left my arms and ambled back upstairs to her room, Julia followed.
In bed with James later there were no words spoken between us, our touches and kisses soothed our souls. The next few days passed in much the same manner. James went out each day and traversed further reaches of the river and its banks. Julia stayed with Charlotte and I went to work. Pam and Peter came home from their friends and tried to keep busy and cheerful for us all. Five days later they found his leathers, torn apart and ragged. Rob cancelled any further searches, the body of Mitchell might never be found but he felt certain that he would not have survived what looked like a bike collision with the bridge in the snow of Christmas Eve.
“I think we should have some sort of service for him” Pam suggested one evening as we all sat in silence around another barely eaten meal.
“No” Charlotte declared “that will mean we are giving up hope, he might still be alive” she ran from the table and up to her room.
“I agree” I said “It might be the only way she will face up to Mitchell being gone”
James nodded but I saw the same pain in his eyes coupled with a glint of the same blind hope that he might have survived.
Charlotte returned to college and her slightly strained friendship with Shelley. Everything seemed to remind her of Mitchell that her studies and dancing started to suffer. In her room the wardrobe and drawers were still filled with his clothes and each night she slept in his t-shirt which now hung very loose on her. When she couldn't sleep she danced only to their songs. Each day bled into the next as her heart ached for him.
“Charlotte , it’ s time to leave” I called upstairs, on the day of the memorial service.
“I don't want to come”
“Please Charlie, you need to do this. We all need to try and move on”
“I'll go up and see her” Sarah said. I smiled and watched my best friend ascend the stairs. After a short wait Sarah appeared.
“We'll be down in ten minutes”
I turned to James and he held out his hand for mine.
Sitting in the pews of the church I shivered at the cool air surrounding us. It was filled with college friends, fellow dancers and taking up the very front row was Felicity and Daniel. She turned to look at our party and despite the sombre occasion her expression seemed more of triumph than sorrow. She dabbed at her eyes but I saw no tears. Charlie stood between me an d Sarah , she stared straight ahead but seemed to see nothing. However I noticed her fingers were tight together in fists.
Simon stood up and spoke, followed by James.
“Mitchell was m y son , he wasn't always good and didn't always listen to me. But I hope that I taught him to be true to his feelings and beliefs. I will.... . Miss.....him” his last few words stuck in his throat as h e choke d back sobs at the same time. I held my arms open to him as he stumbled back up the aisle of the church. Filing out into the bright winter sunshine I lost Charlotte in the throng of people wanting to share a few words with James. Finding a clear space I saw Sarah and Chris walking towards me.
“Have you seen Charlotte” I asked
“No. Perhaps she's with some of Mitchell's college friends” Sarah said.
“We'll go and look for her” Chris suggested, as he took Sarah's hand and they mingled between the crowds.
“Please I'm worried about her”
I turned back to locate James and saw him talking to Simon. I just caught the last part of their conversation.
“He asked me to find someone to open an encrypted computer file, then said he was going back home to you and Charlotte” Simon said.
“That' s interesting , I don't suppose you know this person and whether he still has the file?”
“I'll ask him, just so long as the police aren't
Charlie slumped into my arms and sobbed whilst I held my tears back. When her tears ran dry she left my arms and ambled back upstairs to her room, Julia followed.
In bed with James later there were no words spoken between us, our touches and kisses soothed our souls. The next few days passed in much the same manner. James went out each day and traversed further reaches of the river and its banks. Julia stayed with Charlotte and I went to work. Pam and Peter came home from their friends and tried to keep busy and cheerful for us all. Five days later they found his leathers, torn apart and ragged. Rob cancelled any further searches, the body of Mitchell might never be found but he felt certain that he would not have survived what looked like a bike collision with the bridge in the snow of Christmas Eve.
“I think we should have some sort of service for him” Pam suggested one evening as we all sat in silence around another barely eaten meal.
“No” Charlotte declared “that will mean we are giving up hope, he might still be alive” she ran from the table and up to her room.
“I agree” I said “It might be the only way she will face up to Mitchell being gone”
James nodded but I saw the same pain in his eyes coupled with a glint of the same blind hope that he might have survived.
Charlotte returned to college and her slightly strained friendship with Shelley. Everything seemed to remind her of Mitchell that her studies and dancing started to suffer. In her room the wardrobe and drawers were still filled with his clothes and each night she slept in his t-shirt which now hung very loose on her. When she couldn't sleep she danced only to their songs. Each day bled into the next as her heart ached for him.
“Charlotte , it’ s time to leave” I called upstairs, on the day of the memorial service.
“I don't want to come”
“Please Charlie, you need to do this. We all need to try and move on”
“I'll go up and see her” Sarah said. I smiled and watched my best friend ascend the stairs. After a short wait Sarah appeared.
“We'll be down in ten minutes”
I turned to James and he held out his hand for mine.
Sitting in the pews of the church I shivered at the cool air surrounding us. It was filled with college friends, fellow dancers and taking up the very front row was Felicity and Daniel. She turned to look at our party and despite the sombre occasion her expression seemed more of triumph than sorrow. She dabbed at her eyes but I saw no tears. Charlie stood between me an d Sarah , she stared straight ahead but seemed to see nothing. However I noticed her fingers were tight together in fists.
Simon stood up and spoke, followed by James.
“Mitchell was m y son , he wasn't always good and didn't always listen to me. But I hope that I taught him to be true to his feelings and beliefs. I will.... . Miss.....him” his last few words stuck in his throat as h e choke d back sobs at the same time. I held my arms open to him as he stumbled back up the aisle of the church. Filing out into the bright winter sunshine I lost Charlotte in the throng of people wanting to share a few words with James. Finding a clear space I saw Sarah and Chris walking towards me.
“Have you seen Charlotte” I asked
“No. Perhaps she's with some of Mitchell's college friends” Sarah said.
“We'll go and look for her” Chris suggested, as he took Sarah's hand and they mingled between the crowds.
“Please I'm worried about her”
I turned back to locate James and saw him talking to Simon. I just caught the last part of their conversation.
“He asked me to find someone to open an encrypted computer file, then said he was going back home to you and Charlotte” Simon said.
“That' s interesting , I don't suppose you know this person and whether he still has the file?”
“I'll ask him, just so long as the police aren't
Similar Books
![Celeste Bradley - [Heiress Brides 02]](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/616522/thumbs/152x264/celeste-bradley-heiress-brides-02.jpg)
![Lakeshore Chronicles [10] Candlelight Christmas](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/572035/thumbs/152x264/lakeshore-chronicles-10-candlelight-christmas.jpg)
