Page 14 of Trust in Truth
“How was he overnight?”
“He was coughing a lot and was restless, so I’ve insisted the doctor come to give him the once-over. They’ll update us after his visit.”
“I’ll ring him a bit later then.”
Katherine was relieved that Anna didn’t seem too concerned, although she was clearly distracted as she finished up her toast. Katherine thought a gift or two might lift her spirits, so she presented her with the smaller one.
“This is from Harry.”
Anna shook it and began unwrapping it. “It’s my favourite box of chocolates.”
“How did I not know you had a favourite box of chocolates?”
“You never asked.”
Katherine pulled the sides of her mouth down. Anna had a point. She passed her own present across the table and made a note of the cherry liqueurs as Anna placed them on the table.
Anna unwrapped it eagerly, and her mouth dropped open as it revealed itself — a framed watercolour of the abbey.
“It’s lovely, thank you. Oh, look! It’s a limited edition, and I have number one.”
It had been one of Katherine’s first ideas as a trustee to get an artist to paint the abbey. She knew it would go down well in the abbey shop.
“You’ve really spoilt me with this trip and a beautiful present. I’m not sure I deserve it.”
“You do, and more,” Katherine replied, running her foot up Anna’s bare leg.
“There’s more?”
“There might be, no promises.”
After a few hours of shopping, interspersed with selfies taken at every tourist attraction from Pulteney Bridge to the Roman Baths, they collapsed into the car.
“Can we go via the Royal Crescent?” Anna pleaded.
“Via! It’s on the opposite side of the city to the park.”
“Don’t make me say it’s my birthday.”
Katherine grinned. “Oh, all right. If I’d have known you were going to be this difficult, I would have left you at home.”
After what amounted to a thirty-minute detour, twenty minutes of which were spent sitting in traffic, trying to cross back to the other side of Bath, they hit the outskirts of the city and arrived at Prior Park. Katherine noted it may have been quicker to walk. She was glad they hadn’t, it was a steep climb out of the city, and she would have been too exhausted to have appreciated the park. They strapped their boots and coats on and headed to the tearoom.
Breakfast was now feeling a long time ago; either that or it was her nerves building up. It had only just crossed her mind that Anna might say no to her proposal. She pushed those thoughts down and tried instead to think positively. Anna might say no, but she didn’t believe she would.
Halfway through what turned out to be a rather delicious afternoon tea, Katherine took herself off to the ladies to have a quiet word with herself. She faced the mirror and took some deep, slow breaths. She hadn’t accounted for getting this nervous and hoped it didn’t show. Her hands were sweaty and shaky; she rinsed them under the tap to cool them down. Feeling calmer, she re-joined Anna who appeared to be bathing in her hot chocolate. Katherine reached over and wiped a smear of cream from her nose with a grin.
“This has to be up there with my top birthdays.”
“What was your best?” Katherine asked, already feeling nervous again just being with Anna.
“Hot air balloon over Luxor,” Anna replied immediately through a mouthful of miniature chocolate log.
Katherine blinked. She was a little jealous; travelling was something she very much hoped to do with Anna one day, once the abbey was self-sufficient.
“Wow, you could have told me I was competing with that. I don’t think I would have bothered trying.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you.” Anna winked. “Right, I’m stuffed. Shall we walk this off, slowly? I’m dying to get a selfie on the bridge.”
