Page 40 of Fast Track to Forever
“Are you okay?” I ask. “You've been acting a bit strangely today.”
Will sighs.
“Have you never lived with a girl before, is that it?”
He sighs again. “No, I haven't but…”
“It'll be fine, you'll see. Some teething problems in the beginning, but…”
“It's not that at all, Kat, I'm very excited you're here. I don't know how to start.” He seems serious.
I narrow my eyes. This sounds serious. Is this about my father, sick in hospital? Or Monaco and any life together? “Ok, maybe let's sit down.”
Chapter 16
Will
Kat leans backon the sofa and tucks her leg under her, a smile playing on her lips. Here she is in my house, our house now, and we’ve already been through so much in such a short period of time. Her father’s in the hospital, she’s facing her fears to find what she wants to do with her life. I don’t want to add anything else to the pile of worries she’s carrying on her strong shoulders. I want to carry her worries for her. But I can’t keep this from her.
I lean forward. “So this morning, John, Nikos and I went to play golf in Glenorchy. Daryl didn't want to join. It was Nikos’s idea to go.”
Kat nods. “That's how you saw Dad on the way back.”
“Yes. But that's not really what I wanted to talk about.” I wipe my face, giving myself a moment to collect my thoughts.
“Did something happen at the golf course?”
“Not exactly. But something did happen on the way… There's no easy way of saying this, so I'll just come out and say it. Basically Nikos confessed to having planted the mouse at your parents’ flour mill. He’s the one who called pest control.”
Kat's mouth forms anOin surprise. “What? How? Why?”
I shuffle uncomfortably. “He's also behind the one-star reviews for the lodge.”
Kat gasps. “What? This is just unbelievable. Why would he do such a thing?”
I lie back on the sofa. “He says he was paid handsomely to do all of this. Which explains his new found luxury.”
Kat’s eyebrows lower and she starts picking at a loose thread on the sofa throw. “Someone paid him? But why? I just don't understand.”
I swallow. Here comes the really nasty part. “He says it was… your Aunt Gem, Kat.”
Her jaw drops. “What? That's absurd. My aunt would never do such a thing. Never!”
I purse my lips. “Look, I don't know what to believe, liefie. I think you need to have a conversation with her. About this, about the future.”
Kat narrows her eyes. “You know what, I will. She cannot have anything to do with Nikos’s nefarious schemes.”
“It's 7am there, let me try and get her on FaceTime while she has breakfast.”
Kat picks up her phone and dials her aunt's number, holding the camera up. I leave the sofa and move by the window to give her space.
“Auntie! Good evening! I mean good morning. Where you are. It’s evening here. I’m rambling. Sorry. It’s just that I'm a bit nervous. But I’m glad I caught you. You have someone I want you to meet.” Kat jumps off the sofa and rushes to the window by me. She has to tilt the phone up so I fit in the frame. I smile and wave.
“I'm not sure if you remember Will from when you used to visit.”
“A little bit. My, he's certainly grown.” Kat's aunt’s voice sounds disapproving. Tough. I put my arm around Kat's shoulders.
Kat looks up at me but doesn't question my gesture.
