Charlotte sucks at her lips, blinks. "He's my father."
Natalie's chest heaves. "So you said." She looks down, then brushes dust from her lap. "And you bring him here?" she hisses. "You have the nerve to come back here? To call yourself my friend?"
Charlotte's eyes gloss. Her voice is small. "Natalie... It's different. He's changed. He's trying to put things right."
Klempner rises, making for the door. "Jenny, Natalie is right. I shouldn't have come here. Natalie, my apologies. I don't wish to damage your friendship with my daughter. None of what I was responsible for was your fault or hers. I'll leave now. Jenny, I'll wait back in that cafe. Come when you've finished here." The door clicks shut behind him.
Charlotte gulps then turns to me and James. "Would you mind? I need to talk to Natalie. There's things I need to tell her, and it will be easier if it's just the two of us."