Page 20 of Trust in Truth
“Bye,” Margaret replied with a flat smile.
Anna left the visitor centre with a wide grin on her face, pleased to have put Margaret on the back foot.
The traffic in town was horrendous. Everyone, it seemed, was doing last-minute Christmas shopping. A diversion to the printers before they shut for the Christmas period hadn’t helped, but she needed to get her hands on the leaflets. She didn’t want to leave them to the peril of a courier between Christmas and New Year. She was exhausted and irritable by the time her tyres hit the gravel outside Abbey House.
“How was Harry today?” Katherine asked as Anna collapsed at the kitchen island.
“Asleep again. They said I should wake him as he was asking for me; I just can’t bring myself to when he looks so peaceful. Can you pass me some scissors please? I need to check these leaflets.”
Katherine pulled some scissors from the drawer and handed them to Anna, watching as she nervously opened the box.
Anna took two leaflets out and passed one to Katherine. If they weren’t right, there was nothing to be done about it now.
“They look perfect, well done.”
“Thanks,” Anna replied, pleased that someone had acknowledged the work that had gone into it. “You knowshehasn’t said anything to me about the leaflet.”
“Who?”
“Margaret.”
“Well, she’s not directly your boss anymore; we agreed I would take marketing and events under my wing.”
“It’s not just the leaflet; she barely speaks to me at all unless I address her directly. It’s like she’s pretending I don’t exist.”
“I think you’re reading too much into it.”
Anna raised her eyebrows. “She's always touching you.”
“She's a touchy person,” Katherine replied casually as she wiped the work surface.
“No, she isn’t! She literally isn’t.” Anna could feel her anger rising at Katherine’s naivety. Was it even naivety? If Katherine and Margaret did have something between them, wouldn’t she be saying the exact same things to throw her off the scent? “Have you never noticed she touches you and only you? She was practically thrusting her breasts in your face earlier.”
Katherine laughed. “You are being ridiculous, and jealousy is not an attractive quality. I know it’s likely coming from insecurity, but I’m with you. I love you. What are you not understanding? Margaret is just a friend. Please give this notion up.”
Anna shook her head. “I can’t believe you don’t see it.”
“Anna! She is not a threat to our relationship. In fact, I’d say the only threat at this moment is you, not her.” Katherine’s tone had changed from sympathetic to angry and she glared at Anna from across the island.
Anna blinked in disbelief that Katherine was now twisting it back onto her, as if she were responsible for this disagreement. Feeling under attack, Anna decided to attack back.
“Whilst we're airing things, something struck me: Lucy isn't a doctor, but you are. You knew that morning that he’d had a choking episode and what it could mean. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Anna knew instantly she’d hit a chord with Katherine from the silence that followed.
“I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily. I insisted the doctor visit as soon as I knew,” Katherine finally replied, calmly.
“He’s my dad, Katherine, not yours. I had a right to know. I don’t need protecting, for pity’s sake; I need facts so I can ensuremydad receives the right care.”
Katherine inhaled sharply. “I’m sorry.” She rubbed her hand along Anna’s upper arm. She shrugged it off.
Her heart pounded in her chest. Had she gone too far? She couldn’t take it back now, and she had meant every word of it. Not having been there for her mum when she had needed her, Anna had become determined to do everything she could for her dad. The very person who was supposed to be supporting her do that had been standing in her way preventing it.
The guilt she had felt when her mum had died was something she didn’t intend to feel again. It had overwhelmed her. She’d always taken for granted that her parents were okay, going happily about their lives in Nunswick. By the time she had realised that wasn’t true, it was too late. In all the times she thought back to why she hadn’t visited more regularly, she could think of no-good reason. Life with Jessica had simply taken over. Now there was no Jessica and no mum, and no going back.
Not one for confrontation, Anna felt the need to get away from the situation before it escalated further.
“I’m going to bed.”
