Chapter 16
Will
Kat leans back on the sofa and tucks her leg under her, a smile playing on her lips. Here she is in my house, our house now, and we’ve already been through so much in such a short period of time. Her father’s in the hospital, she’s facing her fears to find what she wants to do with her life. I don’t want to add anything else to the pile of worries she’s carrying on her strong shoulders. I want to carry her worries for her. But I can’t keep this from her.
I lean forward. “So this morning, John, Nikos and I went to play golf in Glenorchy. Daryl didn't want to join. It was Nikos’s idea to go.”
Kat nods. “That's how you saw Dad on the way back.”
“Yes. But that's not really what I wanted to talk about.” I wipe my face, giving myself a moment to collect my thoughts.
“Did something happen at the golf course?”
“Not exactly. But something did happen on the way… There's no easy way of saying this, so I'll just come out and say it. Basically Nikos confessed to having planted the mouse at your parents’ flour mill. He’s the one who called pest control.”
Kat's mouth forms an O in surprise. “What? How? Why?”
I shuffle uncomfortably. “He's also behind the one-star reviews for the lodge.”
Kat gasps. “What? This is just unbelievable. Why would he do such a thing?”
I lie back on the sofa. “He says he was paid handsomely to do all of this. Which explains his new found luxury.”
Kat’s eyebrows lower and she starts picking at a loose thread on the sofa throw. “Someone paid him? But why? I just don't understand.”
I swallow. Here comes the really nasty part. “He says it was… your Aunt Gem, Kat.”
Her jaw drops. “What? That's absurd. My aunt would never do such a thing. Never!”
I purse my lips. “Look, I don't know what to believe, liefie. I think you need to have a conversation with her. About this, about the future.”
Kat narrows her eyes. “You know what, I will. She cannot have anything to do with Nikos’s nefarious schemes.”
“It's 7am there, let me try and get her on FaceTime while she has breakfast.”
Kat picks up her phone and dials her aunt's number, holding the camera up. I leave the sofa and move by the window to give her space.
“Auntie! Good evening! I mean good morning. Where you are. It’s evening here. I’m rambling. Sorry. It’s just that I'm a bit nervous. But I’m glad I caught you. You have someone I want you to meet.” Kat jumps off the sofa and rushes to the window by me. She has to tilt the phone up so I fit in the frame. I smile and wave.
“I'm not sure if you remember Will from when you used to visit.”
“A little bit. My, he's certainly grown.” Kat's aunt’s voice sounds disapproving. Tough. I put my arm around Kat's shoulders.
Kat looks up at me but doesn't question my gesture.
“Anyway auntie, Will and I are officially together now. I've moved in with him.”
“Oh?” The aunt is dripping with disdain. “Are you still planning to come back on the third of January?”
Kat looks up at me again. “Yes.”
“I'm coming as well,” I add. “I’ll help Kat pack up.”
“Pack up? What do you mean pack up?”
“She's going to move to Monaco with me for a while, before we decide where we want to live.”
Kat nods and leans into me.
“What about me? What about the shop, Kat? Are you going to abandon me after everything I've done for you?” Kat's aunt's voice is becoming shrill.
Kat leans into me, and her shoulders cave in. “Auntie, you know I’ll always be grateful. Perhaps when we're there we can take some photos of Will in the shop. People will flock to it. And I'll help you set up your online store.”
Kat is going back to people pleasing so I intervene. “Some concerning allegations have come to light. Kat's cousin and one of our oldest friends, Nikos, says you paid him to put a mouse in your sister's flour mill. And to review bomb my parents’ lodge.”
Kat's aunt shrugs, and wipes away large tears. “So? What good did that do? Kat is still not coming back to me.”
Kat drops the phone in shock, and I catch it, addressing her aunt. “You don't deny your involvement.”
Kat grabs the phone from me. “How could you? My dad is in hospital with angina, no doubt because of the stress you caused. Will's parents are lovely people who work hard. They don't deserve those fake bad reviews.”
Kat's aunt sniffs. “I'm sorry.”
Kat ends the call and tosses her phone on the sofa.
I wrap my arms around her. “Are you okay, liefie?”
She nods. “How could she be so unhinged? So duplicitous? How am I going to tell my mum that her sister is to blame? How are we going to tell your family that it was someone from my family?”
I squeeze her tightly. “Let’s do it now. No point in waiting.” I can’t protect her from the pain of her aunt’s betrayal, but I can stand strong by her side while she faces it head on. Together.