Page 21 of Trust in Truth
“What about dinner?”
“I’m not hungry.” That was a lie; she was starving. She’d just lost her appetite.
“Anna.”
She retreated from the kitchen, ignoring Katherine’s pleas, and made her way to the shower. She couldn’t turn around because Katherine would see the tears in her eyes, and that wouldn’t help the situation. Continuing to talk whilst she was angry was something she had learnt not to do from previous experience.
An early night was in order anyway; tomorrow was going to be a long day. The hospital had requested visitors come before twelve so they could have a Christmas party in the ward with lunch. Anna thought it might also be to do with not wanting drunk relatives turning up late in the afternoon on Christmas Day.
With Rebecca at the house all day and overnight, it was going to be exhausting. Although Anna and Rebecca had become closer during the occasional weekend visits she made to Abbey House, Anna still didn’t feel like one of the “gang”.
She had hoped to spend some quality time watching movies with Harry whilst Katherine and Rebecca nattered in the kitchen. She loved watching Harry’s face light up during his favourite part of a movie and listening to his narration over a part he thought could be improved upon. Now she was going to be part of the gang whether she liked it or not. No doubt Katherine had filled Rebecca in on Anna’s thoughts on Margaret and convinced her Anna was being ridiculous, as she’d put it.
If Katherine didn’t see Margaret’s behaviour as a problem, then Anna would have to deal with her on her own. She knew this would mean confronting her and it was not something she was looking forward to — it might mean risking her job. She just couldn’t sit back any longer and watch Margaret making her moves on Katherine. If Margaret was a man making moves like that, he wouldn’t have a job. It was morally right to address it directly and sensible to wait until the new year.
Chapter 10
Katherine woke the next morning to find Anna was already up. Another one of her hopes for Christmas Day dashed — waking up beside Anna. Realising the time and that she’d forgotten to set her alarm, she wrapped her dressing gown around her. Anna’s was still on the back of the bedroom door; she must have dressed already.
She found Anna sitting at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee, engrossed in her laptop. Resisting the urge to make a dig about working on Christmas morning, she opted for a simpler greeting. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Anna replied as she continued to stare at her laptop.
Katherine reheated the kettle and turned the oven on.
“Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
She felt foolish for hoping that normality would be restored after Anna had slept on it. She was clearly still angry.
“The weather is forecasting heavy rain. You’ll drive safely, won’t you?”
Anna closed her laptop and looked up at Katherine as if sensing her concern. “Of course. I’m going to head off. Becks will be here soon, won’t she?”
“Yes.”
Anna nodded and gave her a weak smile before leaving the kitchen.
Katherine made herself a cup of peppermint tea to curb the stress she could feel building in the pit of her stomach. The kitchen was eerily silent; being alone on Christmas morning was another thing she hadn’t planned.
Her phone vibrated; it was Rebecca. Noting the time on her phone, Katherine hoped she was ringing to say she’d be a little bit late. It would give her time to have a bath and hopefully reset herself.
“Hey,” Katherine greeted her, unable to muster much more enthusiasm.
“You okay?” Rebecca asked with a tone of concern.
“Not really. I’m having a crap Christmas.”
“It’s hardly begun. I fear I’m about to make it worse; I’m not coming. I’m so sorry. I’ve been up all night with a very unhappy stomach. That will teach me to go on a blind date to a seafood restaurant on Christmas Eve.”
Katherine clamped her eyelids together to control the overwhelming urge to cry. It was no use; nothing could hold them back, and tears erupted.
“Shit, please tell me you’re crying because of your crap Christmas and not me.”
Rebecca waited patiently for Katherine to calm herself.
“It’s everything — and you.”
