Page 48 of Lost in Love
“Not at all.” Katherine took her place behind the wheelchair.
Anna walked a little ahead and stretched.
“Hold on, Harry,” Katherine shouted and ducked down to put her full weight behind the wheelchair.
Anna turned to see Katherine and Harry charging after her in the wheelchair. She took off along the path.
“Faster,” Harry shouted.
Anna ran out of breath and collapsed onto a bench. “You always caught me.”
“Now we’re both here to catch you.” Katherine winked at Anna.
Anna felt warmth rush to her face.
Katherine parked Harry beside Anna. “I’ll run back to the car and collect the picnic. You two wait here.”
“I’m not going anywhere, doc.” He waited until Katherine was far enough away and then nudged Anna. “Reckon you’ve got yourself a good one there.” Harry nodded after Katherine.
Anna watched her as she strolled towards the car park. “I know, Dad. I know.”
Katherine reappeared a few minutes later, a walking cliche with her large straw hat, summer dress blowing lightly in the wind, sunglasses, and wicker picnic basket. She looked like a movie star walking on to set. For someone with so much tragedy to bear, she owned her space, or at least did a good job of looking like she did.
They found a shady spot under a tree near the lake and parked Harry beside the picnic basket. Katherine and Anna lay on either side of the spread Katherine had put together. She’d kept it traditional with sausage rolls, scotch eggs, pork pies, sandwiches, and of course ginger beer, all of which was enthusiastically consumed by everyone.
Anna admired Katherine as she arched back into the afternoon sun. She’d organised everything so perfectly to ensure they would have the best day out. Part of her felt she was falling madly in love with her, Jessica now a distant memory. The two women were at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Katherine was classy, educated, wealthy. Jessica was a party girl; she could dance and drink but do little else.
“Shall we feed the ducks before we fall asleep?” Katherine suggested as she stretched.
“I think we’ve eaten everything.”
“Not these.” Katherine pulled out a bag of pellets from the picnic basket.
“You have special duck food?”
“Of course. You shouldn’t feed bread to ducks. There’s no nutrition in it.” Katherine got to her feet and offered a hand to Anna.
“You young’uns go. I’ll watch from here.”
Katherine pulled Anna up. “Your daughter may be a young’un, Harry, but I’m forty-nine!”
“I’m hardly far behind you!”
Anna realised they were still holding hands. She squeezed it and Katherine reciprocated.
As they made their way to the lake, Anna couldn’t think of a time when she’d felt happier. Physically and mentally she felt calmer and more rested than she had done in months. Everything was going fantastically at work, her guidebook was coming along slowly, and she had an exceedingly beautiful woman in the palm of her hand. Literally.
Children paddled in the shallow part at the far end of the lake by the playground, forcing all the wildlife to their end. They were soon surrounded by ducks, all fighting over the pellets.
“Rebecca is coming tomorrow for Sunday lunch. Would you and Harry come? I’d like you to meet her properly.”
“No fainting then?” Anna grinned as she threw a handful of pellets in.
“No fainting.”
“I’d love to, and I’m sure Dad won’t say no as long as he can watch the Formula One on your television.”
“I’m sure we can arrange that.”
Anna looked around and spotted a brightly coloured cart in the distance. “Fancy an ice cream? My treat this time?”
“I won’t say no.”
