Page 5 of Trust in Truth
“Thank you, Dad.” Anna got up from her chair and stretched. “Time we left you in peace, I think.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on Harry’s head.
Katherine took her cue, despite wanting to stay and listen to Harry’s tales.
“Go on then, be off with you. I’ve got plenty more stories to tell, doc, if you want to hear them sometime.” He reached up to Katherine and took her hand.
“I do, Harry.”
He squeezed her hand and pulled her towards him. “Good luck with it, doc,” he whispered.
Katherine squeezed back. “Thanks, Harry.”
The smell of Sunday lunch hit them as they made their way out.
Anna inhaled noisily. “I want to live here.”
Katherine laughed and linked her arm through Anna’s. “You are quite the convert to a care home, aren’t you? Come on, let’s go to the pub, and I’ll buy you lunch. I’ll drive!” She knew there would be no challenge as Anna did most of the driving now.
“Why was Dad wishing you luck?” Anna asked as she clicked in her seat belt.
Katherine smirked. “I don’t know, perhaps he was referring to me having to spend a whole weekend in Bath with you.”
Anna scowled. “Is Margaret all right with us having time off...together?”
“Of course. Why do you have to say it like that?”
“Like what?” Anna replied causally.
“Together,” Katherine replied in an identical tone to Anna.
Anna turned away and stared out of the window. “No reason.”
“For pity’s sake, Anna. You’re not still on about that, are you? There is no reason she would have reported me to the General Medical Council. I don’t even think she would have known we were together then, had you told her?”
“She saw me kiss you when you and dad visited the abbey,” Anna added with a tone of righteousness.
Katherine took a deep breath before responding. “Anna, she’s a friend, just a friend.”
Anna half rolled her eyes at her. “She is now; she wasn’t at the time.”
Katherine felt there was no reason in arguing her point further; it wouldn’t help. She blamed herself that Anna didn’t feel secure in their relationship. It had been important to her that they kept boundaries at the abbey; it was the professional thing to do. She had made sure Margaret had understood that she was in a relationship with Anna, which she said she did. She insisted that she hadn’t meant for the card and flowers she’d dropped off to be interpreted that way.
Anna had seemed light-hearted about it when she’d found them on the doorstep the day after they had got back together. When they all began working together in close proximity, Anna’s stance had shifted.
Katherine reached out and playfully squeezed Anna’s leg. “You know I only have eyes for you.” She was determined to try and lighten the mood before the subject could descend into a spat. “So shall I tell you about my plans for Bath?”
Anna smiled and twisted in her seat to face Katherine. “Only if they include a trip to the Jane Austen Centre.”
“Of course,” Katherine replied, pleased her plan had worked.
“A five-star hotel?”
Katherine looked to Anna and lifted one eyebrow.
“Yeah, okay, silly question. Romantic walks?”
“Guaranteed, we’re going to Prior Park.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh, can we snog on the Palladian Bridge? I’ve always dreamed of doing that.”
