Page 43 of Forgive Not Forget
Virginia caught her attention at the window as she filled the kettle. The outside window sill was another one of the cat’s favourite spots in which to sit and mew for the door to be opened. Katherine let the cat in and returned to her tea-making; it was definitely a peppermint morning. When she returned to the bedroom, she found Virginia curled up in a ball on her side of the bed. She shooed her to one side so she could get back in. Once she was settled, Virginia curled up on top of her stomach.
Anna lay so peacefully beside her that Katherine decided she wouldn’t wake her. She reached for a book instead. She had just finished one, and she hovered momentarily between rereading one of her favourites,The Price of Salt, and a new one that Anna had told her she should read. She opted for familiarity; she needed that now.
Half an hour later a soft voice came from beside her.
“Morning.”
Katherine popped her book down, forgetting Virginia was still on her lap. She was mewed at with disgust. “Sorry, Virginia.” She looked down at a bleary-eyed Anna. “Morning, beautiful. Becks has left.”
“Without saying goodbye?” Anna questioned, sitting up.
“I caught her sneaking out earlier. We’ve never fought like this before, ever. What did you two talk about when I came up?”
“Nothing, really. She just made a sandwich and took it to her room. I don’t think she was impressed by either of us.”
“Sounds like Becks. As much as I love her, she does tend to only see things her way.”
“Comes from being a barrister, I expect.”
“No, she’s always been that way. Compromise is for other people. I couldn’t have done without her these past years, though.”
“I’m glad she was there for you. But perhaps it’s time that she had a little less say in things,” Anna said, reaching for her phone.
Anna was right. Katherine had relied heavily on Rebecca for emotional support and guidance to navigate her way through the world following the loss of Helena. If she was going to move forward, then perhaps it was time to cut her tie to Rebecca’s support. She had Anna now, after all.
“Since Becks has gone, shall we camp out tonight? The weather looks mild according to the Met Office,” Anna said.
“Do you really think our graffiti artists will return?”
“Yes, I do. The first time it happened it was on a weekend.”
“I’m not keen, but I don’t want you out there by yourself.”
A hand slid across her stomach, under the duvet, as Anna turned towards her and snuggled into her. Virginia eyed the duvet, her paw striking at the ruffled fabric as it buckled and bowed.
“We can call it glamping if you prefer,” Anna said. “I’ve borrowed a blow-up bed from Gloria, and we’ll fill the tent with duvets and pillows. We’ll make a little love nest.”
Katherine had to admit a love nest sounded appealing, somewhere they could hide away from the world and all the problems it brought with it.
Anna continued with her plan. “We could have an early dinner and head over at seven o’clock and take some snacks for a midnight feast.”
“Midnight feast,” Katherine chuckled. “How old are you?”
Anna’s hand slid up to Katherine’s breast. “I’m as old as the woman I feel,” Anna replied, caressing it. “So, in this case, nearly fifty.”
“Thank you for the reminder.”
The last time Katherine had participated in a midnight feast was in the Girl Guides; it was the first and last time she went camping too. Five-star hotels had been built for a reason — for people like her — and it was rude not to use them.
They lay in silence for a while, listening to the light purrs from Virginia.
“Do you want to talk about last night?” Anna finally asked.
“Not particularly, do you?”
Anna’s phone rang before she could answer. A stifled ring came from somewhere in the duvet. A few moments of searching revealed it.
“It’s Lucy,” she said as she read the caller display. “I wonder if they have Dad’s results.”
