I wait anxiously for Katie, and on the dot of one, she appears looking a little tired. She drops into the chair opposite me, and I’m surprised to see she’s just helped herself to a yoghurt and bowl of soup instead of the amazing salad that we all usually enjoy.
“Aren’t you hungry?” I nod towards her plate, and she shakes her head. “I’m not feeling so good. To be honest, I think I’m coming down with something.”
I feel relieved, hoping it’s just a cold or similar, and she sighs, pushing her plate to the side and plastering a fake smile on her face. “So, how are things going with Nate? You look happy.”
“It’s fine and going well as it happens.”
“I’m glad.”
“How about you and Sven?”
I watch her closely and a little of the light dims in her eyes, making me say quickly, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just…”
“What?”
I’m determined to get her to open up to me and am surprised to see the tears building in her eyes as she whispers, “I feel so bad, Katrina.”
“Why?”
She looks as if she’s carrying a huge burden on her shoulders, and I’m alarmed when a tear splashes onto the table that she brushes angrily away. “I’m such a fool.” She looks so upset, I lean in and whisper, “Do you want to go somewhere more private and talk about it?”
It’s as if I’ve given her a lifeline and she nods miserably, “Can we?”
“Of course, we can go to my room if you like.”
The relief on her face tells me this is the right thing to do, and we quickly leave the canteen and head the short distance to my room, where we can talk without fear of being overheard.
It doesn’t take long and as soon as we head inside, she bursts into tears, making me even more alarmed than before. Guiding her to sit on the bed, I place my arm around her shoulders and say with concern, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m such a fool.” Her words are laced with regret, and she sobs. “I thought I was special.”
“You are. What makes you think any different?”
“I just know.”
Wondering if she’s fallen out with Sven, I say softly, “Did you and Sven have an argument?”
“Kind of.”
“It can’t be that bad.” I smile reassuringly. “What was it about?”
A fresh burst of tears follows, and her shoulders shake as I try to comfort her and then she shocks me by saying, “Please don’t hate me, Katrina?”
Now I’m feeling lightheaded because why would she say that unless…
My thoughts immediately turn to Nate and an icy feeling grips me. Does this have anything to do with him? My heart thumps as I try to get it under control and I say nervously, “Why would I hate you?”
“Because of your relationship with Nate.”
I say tersely, “Does this involve him? Has he done something?”
“No.” She looks up in surprise. “Of course not. I would never…”
Then she sobs again and says in a broken voice, “Who am I kidding? I am exactly that person.”
“Please, Katie, just tell me what’s happened?”
My mind is running away with all the possibilities, and I just need to know for my own sanity, and her voice cracks as she sobs, “I was having an affair with his father.”
“Chester!” I look at her in horror and she nods. “I thought he really liked me. He flattered me, paid me compliments and flirted with me and I loved the attention. It was like a drug. He may be older, but he’s still an attractive man and not a boy. It started the day he came to me for a massage. We were flirting - a lot and started fooling around a little. Well, it led to other things and soon the massages turned into something more intimate.”
“Oh, Katie.” I feel so sad for her, and she sniffs. “He made me think I was special. That he really wanted me. We used to meet during the day in the spa when the place was empty. It was so easy to lock ourselves in the room and if anyone came in and saw him, they wouldn’t think anything of it because everyone knows he loves a massage. I suppose I got carried away and soon Sven noticed I was a little cooler around him.”
“Does he know?” I can’t begin to imagine the trouble that would cause, and she shakes her head. “No, he knows something’s not right, but he’s just trying a little harder. He’s being so sweet it just makes me feel even worse and now Madelaine’s back, Chester doesn’t want to know me again.”
“Do you think she suspects?”
“No. I mean, Madelaine is always so sweet and kind, which makes it worse. She’s so lovely to me, and Chester obviously adores her. As soon as she returns, he’s all over her like a rash. Then she leaves, and he picks up the next toy in line when the favourite one isn’t around.”
“Do you feel second best?”
“I am second best.” She appears angry. “I asked him if he would ever leave Madelaine and he laughed. He told me he loved her, but it didn’t mean he didn’t care for me.” She drags in a harsh breath. “I was such a fool because I believed him. I still do, to be honest, which is why it’s so hard watching him with her.”
“But they are a couple and maybe you should respect that and concentrate on Sven.”
I’m not sure what madness is filling her brain right now and feel a little angry if I’m honest. Then she shocks me by saying in a dull voice, devoid of emotion. “I’m pregnant.”
The words hang in the air while I process them, and I look at her in shock as she smiles bitterly. “Chester’s baby.”
“It could be Sven’s.” I certainly hope it is for her sake, and she shakes her head dolefully. “We always use protection. That’s how stupid I am, Katrina, because I’m so careful with Sven, but let the madness in with Chester.”
Thinking about Darcey and how similar this is, I’m worried for Katie and her lip trembles as she whispers, “I told Chester, just before Madelaine returned.”
“What did he say?”
“That he would sort everything and not to worry.”
I feel a little relieved about that and smile. “He’ll do the right thing, but what about you? What do you want?”
“I want him, I suppose. To raise our child together and be happy. I told you I was a fool.”
“You’re not a fool.” I smile kindly. “Just in love.”
“That’s why I’m a fool.”
“Love makes fools of the lot of us, and I’m starting to believe that we’ll do anything for it.”
“He wants to send me away to have the baby.” Her words drop into the conversation like a cluster bomb.
“Where?” I’m shocked and look at her in horror as she brushes the fresh tears away. “He told me Madelaine knows of a place I can go where I can have the baby and no questions will be asked. Then I can return here and carry on, or I can start again somewhere new, and he would help me.”
“What did you say?” I feel bad for her because from the sounds of it, Chester has no intention of doing anything but covering up his mistake and she shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s all so scary. I want to stay here, be with him, and have his support and love. But there’s Madelaine.”
“She obviously knows then.” I look at her in horror and she nods. “Chester told her. It was awful, Katrina. I went to their house yesterday and felt like such a fool. Madelaine and Chester faced me together and told me how unfortunate this was, and they were sorry it happened to me. Madelaine was so good about the whole thing and tried to make me feel better, which made it worse because of what I did to her. Chester didn’t even seem guilty and just dealt with the facts.”
“Where are you going?”
“To some friends of Madelaine’s who are happy to take me in and help me through my pregnancy.”
Sighing, I take her hand. “I feel bad for you, Katie. Maybe you should discuss this with Sven.”
She pulls back and looks scared. “He can never know. Please promise me you’ll tell no one about this, not even Nate.”
“Of course. You can trust me.”
She looks anxious. “I have a lot to think about and the priority is making sure this baby doesn’t suffer. I’m prepared to do what I must to assure its future before I can even think of my own. I must trust Madelaine and Chester. They know what to do and I am just a silly, infatuated girl who let her heart run away with her.”
She sighs heavily and stands, looking out across the ocean with a thoughtful look on her face.
“I think I’m going to take Madelaine’s friends up on their offer. Take some time out and re-evaluate my life plans. It’s the right thing to do. They have money, a lot of money, and Madelaine said I would be treated like their own daughter?”
I’m not sure what I’m thinking right now and yet Katie needs a friend, not someone judging her, so I smile reassuringly. “At least it will give you time to think away from here and the problems that bring. What will you tell Sven?”
“That I’m leaving. That I’m keen to take a job on the mainland and need some space. I must leave soon before the baby starts showing, and he suspects because I can’t keep a thing down right now and he’s not stupid. He’ll put two and two together and make a baby, and then there will be trouble in paradise.”
She sighs heavily. “I should be getting back, but thanks, you’ve really helped.”
“Have I? it doesn’t feel like that.”
She nods with a small, sad smile on her face. “I was a fool, Katrina. Just don’t hate me for that.”
“I don’t hate you, Katie.”
She nods and turns to leave with a soft, “Thank you. It means a lot, and thanks for listening.”
As the door closes behind her, I’m left with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. The same story from the one I heard before, but with a different victim this time. It appears that Chester Monroe has a huge problem. An addiction that results in children dotted all over the place and in the middle of that is Madelaine, who appears to stand by and support him through the pain. The trouble is, when will it end and what will happen to my friend because this could destroy her, and I feel so worried about that.