She didn’t want to think about it. Not on a personal level. Because if she did, she would remember the pain of losing a tiny person that she could have loved so much. That could have loved her.
She didn’t have to think about it. She was heading towards her sanctuary. Her beautiful home where she could play the music she loved and cook the food that she was so good at creating, and she could even have a glass of wine tonight because she’d certainly earned it. She could soak in the peace and comfort of the world she’d created and it would heal her soul because she would be able to tap into the strength she knew she had.
Kate turned down the long driveway, overhung by the huge oak trees that made a leafy tunnel in summer. Her lovely old house nestled at the end of the driveway with its antique lion’s head knocker on the heavy wooden front door. There were brick steps leading from the crushed shell pathway and …
And on the top of the steps something large and human that launched itself towards Kate as she rounded the corner of the house from the garage.
‘Kate! Oh … thank God … I’ve been waiting for you for ever.’
CHAPTER TWO
‘BELLA. What on earth are you doing here?’ Kate’s initial shock gave way to a mix of joy and dread. She knew her niece so well and she had just spotted the suitcase near her door. What was Bella running away from?
‘I tried to ring but you didn’t pick up and then I thought, Why don’t I just surprise you?’ Sheer happiness bubbled from Bella in the form of a giggle. ‘Are you surprised?’
‘Oh … yeah …’ The tight hug Kate had been locked in was loosened enough for her to step back a little. Good grief … Bella had become even more gorgeous in the months since she’d last seen her. Her hair was much longer. A tumble of shiny blonde waves. Legs that looked like they went on for ever, thanks to the super-short mini-skirt and the high, high heels. It was impossible not to smile back. ‘It’s been way too long, Bells. We’ve got some catching up to do.’
‘Well, we’ve got all the time in the world.’ Bella laughed and lunged for her suitcase. ‘Let’s go inside. Aren’t you going to ask me what I’m doing here?’
‘I already did.’ Kate fished for her key, shaking her head. It was spinning now. The plan to banish any lingering aftermath of her day’s work in peaceful solitude was blown away.
The world was a different place when Annabelle Graham was around.
Kate’s front door opened into an elegant, panelled hallway with a Persian runner adding warm crimson tones to all the dark woodwork. Like the rest of her home, the hallway was furnished with carefully chosen, beautiful antique furniture and ornaments, everything in exactly the right place and without a speck of dust to mar gleaming surfaces.
Bella’s case was missing a wheel. It bumped and swayed along the runner, bunching up the worn areas on the priceless carpet. Bella was just as out of synch with her surroundings but it didn’t bother her in the slightest.
‘Oh … look … you’ve still got that collection of old keys! Aren’t they gorgeous? D’you remember when you found the first one? In that junk shop you were hiding in when you ran away?’
‘I didn’t run away. I’d just gone for a walk.’
Bella gave her the same smile she had when she’d discovered Kate in that junk shop all those years ago. The one that said she understood and it was OK. Kate had never forgotten it. How could she? The bond between these two women had been forged right then, even though Bella had only been six years old at the time.
And maybe that smile was exactly what Kate needed right now. How could solitude and tapping into an inner strength, even in perfect surroundings, compete with that kind of acceptance and unconditional love? Even if Bella had never known, and hopefully never would know, the whole story, this feeling of not being so alone in the world was a precious thing.
So Kate simply smiled back. ‘I’ve missed you, Bells.’
‘Oh … me, too.’ Bella abandoned her overstuffed bag in favour of giving her aunt another tight hug. ‘And I’ve got so much to tell you.’ She swung away again, as light on her feet as a dancer. ‘Am I in this room again?’
The light was flicked on in a butter-yellow room that had a bay window and an antique brass bedstead with a patchwork quilt.
‘Of course. It’s the only guest room with an en suite. How long are you staying?’
But Bella had opened her case and the contents seemed to explode in relief.
‘I’ve got something in here for you. Oh … where is it?’
Scraps of lacy underwear like nothing Kate had ever worn were tossed aside. Long black boots with heels that could double as lethal weapons followed. A battered teddy bear was snatched up, cuddled and then deposited tenderly on the bed to nestle between snowy-white, frilled pillowcases.
‘Good grief … you still have that bear?’
‘Are you kidding? You gave him to me. I couldn’t sleep without Red Ted.’
Within the space of sixty seconds the room looked like a bomb site, with clothing, cosmetics and even books strewn about. And then Bella triumphantly held up a small package, exquisitely wrapped in primrose-yellow tissue paper, with a ribbon that matched the tiny bouquet of dried wild flowers it held in place.
Kate’s chest felt tight as she accepted the gift. This was pure Bella. Disorganised, irresponsible and unbelievably messy, but amongst the chaos were moments that were simply perfect. The kind you stored in your memory bank for when you needed to remember that life was worth living.
‘Go on, open it, Kate.’ Bella was hugging herself with excitement.
Inside the lovingly wrapped package was a photograph in a beaten, silver frame. A small girl and a young woman sitting together on a swing seat, their arms around each other. They weren’t looking at the camera because they were smiling at each other.
‘D’you remember this? I found it in an old album and Dad said I could have it copied and framed.’
‘Oh …’ The tight feeling in Kate’s chest was making it difficult to draw in a breath. Her smile felt wobbly. ‘How old were you then?’
‘Dunno. Eight or nine? That tree blew down in a storm last year, did Dad tell you?’
‘No. That’s sad.’
Bella shrugged. ‘It was getting too big, anyway. It blocked half our sun. What is it with you and Dad and trees? You’re practically buried in a forest here. Doesn’t it feel like you’re walled off from the world or something?’
Kate mirrored the shrug. Maybe the world was walled off from her and that was the way she liked it.
‘It’s a gorgeous photo. Thank you. You shouldn’t be spending your money on me, though. I thought you were saving up to go overseas.’
‘I am. That’s why I’m here. Nurses get paid better in the big smoke.’ Bella did a little twirl. ‘I’ve got a job at St Pat’s. How cool is that?’
Kate’s jaw dropped. ‘A job?’
‘Yep. Not where I want to be to start with, mind you. I have to do a three-month rotation in Theatre and then in Geriatrics.’ Bella grimaced. ‘But if I can stand it, I get to be in my favourite place after that. With all the babies in Paeds.’
‘So this is a permanent position?’
Bella laughed. ‘Permanent? Me? Are you kidding?