Page 79 of Forgive Not Forget
“Oh! Yes,” Katherine replied, her voice suddenly full of excitement.
Anna took a stool beside her.
“I’ve been so busy looking out for the older generation in the village, what with the exercise classes and walking routes, that I’ve neglected the younger. They’re just as bored and more troublesome, as we found out.”
Anna tried to hold in the smirk that was crossing her face. Was there any problem Katherine wasn’t trying to solve?
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just, haven’t you got enough on your plate already without trying to solve youth boredom?”
Katherine steamrollered ahead, too excited to rebut Anna’s legitimate concern. “You know that piece of land by the playground, where the village hall once stood?”
Anna nodded; she knew it well. It was a piece of ugly wasteland between Laura’s cottage and the churchyard.
“I did a bit of digging over the weekend and discovered it’s owned by one of the trustees who used to live in the village. After a lot of persuading, they’ve agreed I can get a covenant drawn up so they can donate it to the parish council. They only bought it to prevent it being developed into housing, and the plan I have for it will only enhance the village.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to get Andy, you know, the tall, lanky one of the gardeners, to build a BMX track for all the children in the village, and Tom’s going to help. I assume he’ll jump at the chance; I haven’t mentioned it to him yet.”
“I’m sure he will. I’m not sure the likes of Gloria will see it as an enhancement.”
“Tough. If she doesn’t want them riding on the road and outside her tearoom, she’ll have to accept they need somewhere purpose-built. It’s at the bottom of the village and slightly set back. We can even landscape it to hide it if there is that much dislike for it. We’ll set some restricted hours like from eight a.m. to eight p.m. for it. That way the old folks won’t be disturbed.”
Anna shook her head at Katherine. “You’re just like Nunswick’s fairy godmother. You swoop in, wave your magic wand, and make everything better.”
Katherine smirked. “I like to think so.”
“I might just have the perfect name for it,” Anna said, stretching her arms out and making the shape of a rectangle with her fingers.
“This is going to involve a sign and a trip to the printers, isn’t it?”
“I couldn’t possibly comment,” Anna replied, leaning forward, and planting a kiss on Katherine’s lips.
CHAPTER31
Katherine lay back against the headrest and closed her eyes. She was not normally one to feel car sick as a passenger, but she was certainly feeling it today. It was unlikely a result of the car’s movements, more likely where the car was taking her. The prison’s restorative justice programme’s facilitator, Sheila, had called a week ago to confirm she was happy to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Katherine and Jeremy.
If she could just get through today, everything else on her agenda was improving. Sophie was finishing her on-site work in a matter of days, having confirmed the location of further buildings in the grounds, including what would have once been an impressive cloister. Mark had pulled out all the stops on the visitor centre and was about to start the final internal fittings. Some impressive merchandise was pouring in for the shop, and Daniel, their restaurant manager, was making a delicious start, having already produced a very welcome afternoon tea for herself, Anna, and Carrie as guinea pigs. Everything was finally coming together at the abbey. It was just her personal life that continued to plague her.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” Anna asked as she pulled the car up outside the prison.
“Anna, for the umpteenth time, yes, I’m sure. It’s something I need to do alone. I appreciate that you feel you need to be with me, but I don’t need to be thinking about you in there, how you’re reacting to what you hear.”
Anna nodded and reached across the centre console. The warmth of her hand against her leg was welcomed by Katherine. It was a cool morning, and the nerves for what lay ahead were physically affecting her.
“You’re shaking.”
It was typical of Anna to notice. She thought she’d been hiding it so well.
Katherine rubbed at her arms. “I’m fine, just cold.”
Anna raised her eyebrows at her.
“Okay, I’m cold and fucking petrified,” Katherine snapped.
Anna turned to face her. “I’m not going to say don’t go in there. I’m going to say get in there, get it done, and get out. Say everything you need to. Scream it if you like.”
