Chapter 15
29th December
Queenstown, NZ
Kat
The hospital room is white and sterile, the walls lined with machines and monitors with blinking lights. The sharp edges of medical equipment glint under the fluorescent lights, casting a cold, clinical glow.
Inhale, exhale. Stay strong for mum. I can only fake cheerfulness so long. My cheeks hurt from the forced smiles.
My face droops, but I readjust it to at least half a smile. My mum caresses my dad's forehead, as he lays on the hospital bed. One of the very few tender moments I've ever witnessed between them.
“Will helped me, darling.” My dad sounds fatigued but impressed.
“Shhh, yes,” my mom says. “Good they found you. Now rest, darling. The doctor said it's not a heart attack, just angina. You need to go on a diet and take it easy. Now close your eyes, I'll be close by.”
“Is Kat okay?”
I step closer. “I'm right here, Dad. I'll go home soon though now that I know you're better.”
My dad nods and closes his eyes.
I glance at my mum and sigh. “I'd packed my bags to head over to Will's place. Do you want me to stay a while longer with you?”
My mum looks down. “No, you can go.” I hug her, and then head towards the exit, but before I can leave, she says, “This doesn't change anything with his family.”
I shiver and enter the corridor, my mind a jumble of thoughts. My heart knows exactly what it wants, though. I need to see Will.
He's outside my parents’ house, just as we decided, leaning against his car, checking his phone and frowning. He notices me arriving, runs his fingers through his hair and puts his phone in his pocket.
Without a word, he wraps his arms around me and squeezes tightly. No words are needed. He can sense how I feel. His steady heartbeat rumbles through his chest.
With regret I detach myself from the hug, and sigh. “Let's get my stuff. We’ll go in two cars.”
Will nods and follows me in. “How is your dad?”
“He's okay, resting. It was an angina attack, not a heart attack. Small mercies. He'll need to diet and take it easy. Maybe he should retire, put the flour mill on the market.”
“Oh.”
We reach my room on the first floor. “Thank you again for being there for him.” I turn around and kiss him.
“It's nothing. Any decent human would do it.” Will shrugs.
I have my doubts. My phone rings. It's my aunt again. She just doesn't seem to understand that I have a life outside of the vintage shop.
“Who was that?” Will is puzzled by the speed with which I ignored the call and put the phone back in the pocket of my shorts.
“My aunt. She's really intrusive.”
Will mumbles something.
“Okay, I've got two suitcases, a sewing machine and an overlocker, and that box over there. My life in New Zealand.” I wave with a flourish.
Will smiles and nods. “Let's get cracking. I'll take the suitcases and the box, and you can bring the sewing machines one by one. May need two trips.” He takes a suitcase in each hand and makes his way downstairs.
I look back at my parents’ house. It's the end of an era. I'm moving in with Will. I look back at him. He seems preoccupied. Is he… having second thoughts? I frown but I bat away the negative thoughts.
“Let's get this show on the road. I'll follow you.” I walk past Will, hesitating long enough at his side to kiss his shoulder.
Will smiles and gives me a small kiss, then we get on the road. I’m on my way, making a decision without my parents’ approval, living my life on my own terms. Maybe if I have the courage for this, I’ll have the courage to face my aunt.
The sun outside Will’s house, my house, seems brighter than it did at my parents. Impossible, I know, but I swear even their birds’ chirping is happier. So am I. I’m moving in with the man I love.
Will props open the front door and I wheelie in the first suitcase while he balances another suitcase and the box.
“Where would you like these?” he asks.
I raise my eyebrows. “Bedroom. I need some wardrobe space.”
Will chuckles. “Of course.”
I follow him and leave my suitcase in a corner. My home for the next week.
Will heads out again and brings the sewing machines under each arm. “I'm thinking we can make you an office or work room from one of these spare rooms, what do you think?”
I love that he thinks of me and my needs. I nod. “How about this room across the hallway?”
Will makes his way there and places the sewing machines carefully on the desk.
“Hi-5!” We clap hands and he embraces me and nuzzles my neck.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “You've been acting a bit strangely today.”
Will sighs.
“Have you never lived with a girl before, is that it?”
He sighs again. “No, I haven't but…”
“It'll be fine, you'll see. Some teething problems in the beginning, but…”
“It's not that at all, Kat, I'm very excited you're here. I don't know how to start.” He seems serious.
I narrow my eyes. This sounds serious. Is this about my father, sick in hospital? Or Monaco and any life together? “Ok, maybe let's sit down.”