AT EIGHT THIRTY Kat left the cottage. It was only a five-minute walk to Flight, and her first session wasn’t for another hour, but she liked to get to the school in plenty of time. She walked slowly, taking in the glorious view and thinking about the young couple the night before, setting off in their dinghy, basking in each other’s love. Again came the pang of loneliness and she increased her stride.
Today was her last session with Millie before she went back home for a trial period. Instead of the short visits Kat had proposed, after a discussion between Mike, Kat and Millie’s social worker, it had been decided that the best way forward was for Millie to go back to her mum for a trial period under constant assessment. It was going to be a huge step, so Kat had spent yesterday afternoon deciding how to approach this meeting so she could boost the little girl’s confidence. As she walked, Kat went through the little talk she’d prepared, about having enough self-belief to make anything happen, and about staying true to one’s self. It sounded a bit pompous when she recited it to herself; maybe she’d follow Millie’s lead and say what felt right in the moment. She would make sure Millie knew there was always a way back if things didn’t work out.
It was hot already, Kat noted, glad that she’d chosen to wear a lightweight summer dress in her favorite shade of blue. She scraped her long dark hair back as she walked, tying it up high on her head. Today was going to be a scorcher.
She saw Luke as she walked around the back of the main building to the room where she held her therapy sessions. He was by the fence at the very end of the garden, swinging a hammer to knock in one of the fence posts. She wondered if he’d ever tried to get Ben involved with such a physical activity. Perhaps she’d suggest it—not that he’d take any notice of any of her ideas.
The morning flew by so fast once she’d started her sessions that Kat didn’t realize she’d missed lunch until she’d finished writing up her notes. Glancing at the clock, she hurriedly filed her papers, hoping she’d still be able to get something to eat in the kitchen. As she walked toward the door, she heard a gentle knock. When it came again, more urgently, she opened the door. “Can I help you?” she asked.
To her surprise, it was Ben. He was stepping from foot to foot, looking nervous. “Are you coming with us to get my bike?” he asked gruffly.
“To get your bike?” she repeated, trying not to show her bewilderment. For Ben to come looking for her was a real step forward, and she didn’t want to risk saying the wrong thing. “Well...when were you thinking of going?”
He shrugged, staring at the floor. “I said I’d only go if you came along.”
Bet that went down well, thought Kat. “Then I wouldn’t miss it,” she assured him. “You just find out when and we’ll sort something out.”
“He’s taking me.”
She smiled at him. “You mean Luke?”
“You’ll have to talk to him.”
Suddenly feeling for Luke, whose efforts with Ben seemed to be getting nowhere, Kat took hold of the boy’s hands, encouraging him to look up at her. “Well, if he wants to buy you a bike, perhaps you should be the one to talk to him about it.”
“He’s not really my dad, you know,” he insisted.
Kat shrugged. “That’s between you and Luke, but if you’d really rather I talk to him, I’ll give it a go...just this once.”
“And he’ll buy me a bike?”
Sadness filled her heart. Luke was clearly trying to make amends to his son, but bribery, although probably a step up from the discipline he’d been trying to enforce, was not the answer, either. “That will depend on how well you behave, I guess,” she said.
“And you’ll talk to him today?”
“I’ll try. If I see him then I’ll tell him what you said.”
Ben turned and walked away, his shoulders rounded, and Kat thought about the way he’d been on that first sea-therapy course, when he’d pushed the boundaries by swimming out too far, so full of mischief. That was the Ben she wanted to see again.
* * *
HAVING PUT AWAY all his tools and the spare wood in the shed, Luke headed for his apartment. Sweat ran in rivulets down his back and his T-shirt was soaked. Even his hair was damp and curly with sweat. He glanced right and left and increased his stride, keeping his head down.
“Excuse me...”
Freezing in his tracks, he looked up to see Kat, bright, clean and shiny with a high-swinging ponytail and wearing a blue cotton dress. “Excuse me,” she repeated. “Ben asked me if I’d mention him going to choose a bike.”
“He couldn’t manage to ask me himself?”
“It’s a start,” she remarked. “You either take the chance, or start all over again and wait for another opportunity...not that I really think buying him presents is the answer.”
Luke ran his hand through his hair, very aware of his unkempt appearance. “Every boy should have a bike,” he insisted, stepping back in case a whiff of sweat blew her way.
“To be honest, I agree...about every boy needing a bike, I mean. In theory. But what about the other children here? Wouldn’t that be unfair?”
“I spoke to Mike about it. He said it would be fine as long as it was a belated birthday present. Some of the other children have their own bikes here and there’s plenty of space for them to safely ride around the grounds in their free time.”
“The exercise will be good for him, I guess,” Kat said. “And speaking of exercise, have you thought about asking Ben to help you when you’re working...like today, for instance? I’m sure he’d enjoy it and maybe he’d start to admire your skills.”
“Meaning he doesn’t admire me now.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You have to earn admiration, you know.”
He chose to ignore that. “I suppose, since he asked you to speak to me, that he told you he wants you to come along when we go to get the bike.”
“If you don’t want me to—”
“Frankly, I don’t, but if it’s what Ben wants...”
Kat’s eyes flashed, but instead of shooting him one of her biting remarks, she burst out laughing. “You’re so touchy,” she told him. “Let me know if you do want me to come with you. You’ll have to talk to Ben about it yourself, though. I’ve already interfered more than I wanted to.”
Once she’d walked away Luke headed off immediately, eager to get showered and changed before he bumped into anyone else. It had made him feel awkward and out of his depth, standing there all hot and disheveled while she looked so cool and calm.
When Kat had mentioned him gaining Ben’s admiration it had made him realize just how much he longed for it. If he had to bring her along on this outing as a first step toward that, then it would be worth putting up with her company for a few hours. He’d try to talk to Ben about it tonight, he decided, at Wayne’s party.
* * *
AS KAT WALKED AWAY, she couldn’t hold back her smile. He made her so angry most of the time, but there were occasions when she felt sorry for the guy. He’d looked pretty hot and stressed today, and embarrassed by his appearance. Mr. High and Mighty hadn’t been quite as sure of himself as usual. She felt a small surge of affection for this version of Luke. And maybe going with them to choose the bike would be a chance for her to help them bond...and a chance to get on Luke’s good side and persuade him that her animal therapy wasn’t such a bad idea.
She’d start making plans right away, she decided, about what animals to get and where to keep them. There was a small shed behind the cottage; maybe she could clean that out. After all, how much space did a few rabbit hutches take up?
Kat finished her day around four and hurried out the front door thinking about her plans for the shed, so deep in thought that she didn’t even notice Mike calling her name until he caught up with her.
“You’re in a rush,” he said. “Got a date?”
She slowed down and he fell in beside her.
“No, of course not.” Her tone was sharper than she’d intended.
Mike laughed. “Why ‘of course not’? Nothing wrong with a young, unattached woman like you having a date. Work isn’t everything, you know.”
“I love my work,” she said.
“I know you do, and all credit to you for that, but leisure’s important, too. Anyway...” He put a friendly hand on her shoulder. “It’s Wayne’s birthday party tonight, so you’ll have to take a break from thinking about work.”
“But I...” she began, trying to think up an excuse. Suddenly the party felt like too much too soon, and Mel hadn’t officially invited her, after all...
“No buts. This party isn’t optional. Everyone has to be there or else,” he said jovially. “I’m on my way over there right now, as a matter of fact. Mel’s persuaded Wayne to go to the races today with his brother, and when he gets back everyone will be there to surprise him. It’s not every day you turn fifty.”
Kat smiled. When he put it like that, what could she do? She didn’t want to become known as Flight’s recluse and a party would be fun.
“But I haven’t even got him a present,” she said.
“Wayne won’t be bothered,” Mike insisted. “And I think we have a spare card. I’ll ask Gwen to bring it with her when she comes with the children. In fact...” He stopped in his tracks. “You wouldn’t be able to give her a hand, would you? You need eyes in the back of your head to keep a check on that lot.”
“Of course.” Kat felt a whole lot happier about having a purpose; she’d imagined herself hanging around at the back of the room with no one to talk to. “I’d love to help—shall I give her a call?”
Mike shook his head, looking relieved. “No, I’ll let her know you’re coming. Six o’clock at school, okay? The party starts at seven and they’re walking down, so that should be about right.”
“Great,” Kat said. “Tell her I’ll be there, and if she does have a card then that would be perfect.”
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, having given the shed no more than a cursory glance, Kat was rifling through her meager wardrobe. She was sure Mike had mentioned it was a barbecue, so she assumed the dress was casual. Trouble was, everything she tried on just looked wrong. In the end she decided on blue skinny jeans and a T-shirt with Head Full of Dreams emblazoned across the front. She was still wondering if it looked ridiculous as she locked the door behind her and headed back to Flight.
Gwen and the children were in the hallway already. “You look nice,” Gwen said. “And thanks for helping. I really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure,” Kat replied, searching the gathered faces for Ben. “I was a bit worried about turning up on my own, anyway, and I’m not even sure where Wayne and Mel live.”
“Well, we’re all ready to go, I think. Oh, and here’s the card. Do you have a pen?”
Kat scrawled her name on the card and put it in her bag.
“Where’s Ben?” she asked.
Gwen looked puzzled. “I thought he’d gone with Luke.”
“No... He wouldn’t go with Luke. He’ll be hiding in his room. I’ll go and check.”
“Luke told me he was going to ask him, so I just presumed... I’d be mortified if we left him behind.”
Kat raced up the wide sweep of stairs. She heard Ben as soon as she reached the door and the sound made her heart ache. No child should be sitting all alone trying to hide their muffled sobs.
“Ben,” she called, pretending she hadn’t heard him. “I’ve come to get you. We’re going to the party, remember?”
For a moment, there was silence. Then she heard the sound of a chair being scraped back. “Ben,” she repeated. “Everyone’s waiting for you.”
The door opened just a crack and she saw his tear-streaked face peeping through the gap. “Come on,” she urged. “It’ll be fun—it’s a barbecue, you know.”
The door opened wider and with a warm smile she just took his hand and led him to the sink. “I’ll help you get cleaned up,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Five minutes later they both ran down the stairs to find Gwen and the other children still waiting patiently.
“Sorry, Ben,” called Gwen, “I thought you’d already left.”
“He came to ask me but I hid in my room,” Ben murmured for Kat’s ears only, and again she felt a rush of pity for the man who normally drove her mad. He should have told someone he wasn’t heading over with Ben, though; what if he’d been left alone all evening?
She said as much to Gwen, who nodded in agreement. “I’m just glad you realized,” she said. “I suppose Luke presumed that when Ben didn’t answer his knock, he wasn’t in his room and must have left already. It’s just a shame that Ben won’t even give him a chance.”
“Well, he did abandon him for nine years,” Kat pointed out.
“In my view, you should never judge a book by its cover,” Gwen said. “I mean, none of us know the circumstances, so perhaps we shouldn’t judge Luke too harshly. Until we find out more.”
Kat had the grace to blush. “I’m sorry if you think I’m too harsh. Luke and I haven’t had the best start, I’m afraid...as you’ve probably noticed.”
“Maybe you can make a fresh start tonight,” Gwen suggested. She raised her voice above the children’s chatter. “Now remember, kids, not a sound when we get there, not until Wayne comes in, and then you can shout as loud as you like.”