Page 72 of Forgive Not Forget
“Okay, I’ll see what I can rustle up,” she replied.
“What have you two done to my kids?” Laura asked with a grin.
Anna and Katherine looked at each other and shrugged.
“I’ll have to go away more often, though somewhere more glamorous than the hospital next time. Barbados. Can I book you two for a fortnight in July, please?” She giggled to herself as she followed the children into the sitting room. “Help yourself to the kitchen.”
“I’ll get the kettle on,” Katherine called back.
“I think we’re going to need something stronger,” Anna said, following Katherine into the kitchen. “It’s a shame we don’t have any champagne.”
“There’s at least six bottles in the suitcase.”
Anna gawped at her.
“What?” Katherine grinned. “I may have been panic packing, but I wasn’t going to forget that.”
“Six bottles!”
Katherine shrugged. “I didn’t know how long we’d be away. Pop one on ice, won’t you? I need to call the trustees.”
“Yes, boss,” Anna replied on her way up the stairs. “It’s no wonder I struggled to get the suitcase up the stairs.”
Having only just called all the trustees to relay the news about the graffiti artist being identified, Katherine didn’t relish calling them again to tell them about a bomb on the abbey grounds. The only certain thing about the future was that it was unpredictable.
CHAPTER28
Atray laden with popcorn, biscuits, crisps, and juice was lowered onto the sitting room table by Anna. Tom and Abigail were barely noticeable, sunken into their beanbags in front of the television.
“Keep an eye on the local news, won’t you? They said we would be on tonight.”
She was immediately bombarded with questions asked through mouthfuls of popcorn.
“You’ll have to wait and see,” Anna laughed as she tried to extricate herself from the room.
Laura caught her arm and whispered, “Have you two sorted things out yet?”
“No, we haven’t had a moment to talk,” Anna replied, the laughter falling from her face as quickly as it had risen moments before.
“Well, she’s here and she’s sharing your bed. That has to be a good sign.”
Anna nodded, a smile breaking through. “I’m taking it as one.”
Abigail leaned backwards on her beanbag so she was upside down. “Are you both staying here tonight?”
“Yes, we aren’t allowed home.”
“Is Virginia staying too?”
“No, she has to stay at home and indoors, where she’ll have the bed to herself and an all-she-can-eat buffet. Don’t worry, she’ll be safe there.”
Abigail pouted, and then pulling her lips to one side turned her attention back to the television. Anna was about as convinced as she was that Virginia was safe at Abbey House.
Returning to the kitchen, she placed herself opposite Katherine at the table. A welcome cup of tea was waiting for her. Her cold hands reached for it, and she sipped it whilst her laptop woke up. Katherine was already tapping away furiously on her own computer, her tongue clenched between her teeth, a sign of her concentration mode. The tapping stopped briefly, and Katherine picked up her tea. Their eyes met.
“I’m pleased you’re here,” Anna said. “Well, I’m not, obviously. I’d rather neither of us were here. I’m happy you’re here with me, I mean.”
A smile twitched on Katherine’s lips. She lowered her gaze down to her laptop and then back to Anna over the rim of her glasses. “Me too.”
