Page 75 of Forgive Not Forget
Anna let out a small chuckle. “I might have done, but only for a fraction of a second.”
“I’m sorry if what I said made you feel that could ever be a possibility. I just felt overwhelmed. I still do, to be honest. I think I need to work on not letting things overwhelm me. Focus on the things I can change and not those I can’t. The abbey is currently out of my hands. I can’t even set foot in my house, but I’m in bed cuddled up with you. Harry won’t get better, so we have to spend as much time with him as we can and ensure he has some great memories to forget.”
Anna spat out a laugh and covered her mouth with the duvet to deaden the sound.
“That wasn’t meant to be funny, Miss Walker.”
“Then why am I laughing?” Anna asked, poking her eyes over the hem of the duvet.
“Because you have a warped sense of humour, like your father.”
“True.”
“I’m going to call Becks tomorrow and apologise too.”
“No doubt she’s been awaiting your call.”
Katherine tutted. “Most likely. Now turn that light out, we’ve no idea what tomorrow will bring. It could literally be anything at this rate.”
“One thing first,” Anna said, placing her hand on Katherine’s cheek and drawing her towards her. Their lips joined, folding into one another. Anna had missed this. Being physically and emotionally distant from Katherine had been exhausting. She’d felt like a pining puppy. The problem with Katherine was she was an exceptional woman. A woman that stimulated Anna physically and, more importantly, mentally. She could never be without her.
CHAPTER29
Katherine opened one eye and then the other. The room was unfamiliar, yet the face in front of her was a welcome sight, one she had missed the last few nights. Virginia was no match for Anna, though she snored a little less. She slipped from the bed, ensuring she didn’t disturb Anna, a technique she’d learned when she’d worked early and late shifts at the urgent treatment centre. She had prided herself back then on never waking Helena.
Dressing felt a little lighter this morning. A weight had been lifted overnight when Anna had reassured her that she was enough. She had felt emotional the previous night when she’d passed Abigail’s room and seen Anna reading to the girl. She seemed a natural at it.
A message indicating a voicemail had been left on her phone popped up. She perched on the dressing table stool and listened to it. Staring at Anna, she listened to Major Terry’s authoritative, booming voice say things were moving along rapidly this morning. He asked if she could get to the site as soon as possible. She had habitually put her phone on silent overnight and had missed the message when it came in an hour ago. She was going to have to wake Anna.
She leaned over her and stroked the soft skin of her arm that dangled out of the bed. Anna was what she called a messy sleeper; an arm or a leg was always hanging out. Anna turned on to her back, eyes still closed, so Katherine lowered herself over her lips and kissed them. Her eyes finally blinked open, and her lips widened into a smile against her own. Resisting the urge to lower herself on top of Anna and never stop kissing her, she pulled away.
“We’re needed on-site now. Things are happening.”
Anna leapt from the bed like a rocket and stripped her pyjamas off. It was amazing to Katherine how quickly she could wake up from a deep sleep. “Any idea what?”
“No, the major left a message to say to get to the abbey as soon as possible.”
“Give me five minutes.”
“I’ll wait downstairs,” Katherine replied.
She made her way to the kitchen to find Tom and Abigail immaculately dressed in their school uniforms and eating breakfast.
“Morning, you two. Your mum not up yet?”
“I took her a cup of tea earlier,” Tom said. “I’ve packed our lunchboxes, and the bus will be here in five minutes.”
“You are organised this morning, well done. I’m sure your mum will appreciate staying in bed.”
Tom’s eyes sparkled.
“We’ve been called to the site. Things are happening apparently.”
“I wish we could stay and watch,” Abigail remarked, placing her spoon into her empty bowl.
“I wish I could go to school and not have to deal with any of it. You must make the most of your youth, children. Never wish it away. Adulthood will come soon enough, along with the full weight of its responsibilities.” Katherine let out a sigh.
“I’d love to have your job one day,” Abigail said as she packed her bowl into the dishwasher.
