Chapter 18
Eighteen
Granny Viv almost had a heart attack when Kate ran back to the house and told her and Millie what had happened.
‘Don’t worry about Rufus,’ Granny Viv said once she had calmed down.
‘He’ll be fine here with me. I can feed him and pet him, and I’ll get Ula and Greg to take him for his walks.
He spent time with them when he was here over the holidays so it’s not as if they’re strangers.
And even if they were, Rufus soon makes friends with everybody.
We won’t mention this to Rose and Frank though.
There’s nothing they can do other than worry if we tell them now.
I’d rather they moan at us when they get back than spoil their holiday. ’
‘I agree,’ said Kate.
‘And I’ll pop in and out,’ said Millie. ‘So we’ll keep each other company.’
Avery called at that moment with all the travel details for Kate.
‘Do you have your passport?’ he asked. ‘If not, the driver will take you back to Chelmsford to get it but then it’ll be cutting things fine so I may need to … oh, I can see you smiling so you obviously have it with you.’
‘I do,’ said Kate. ‘Don’t ask me why, but I take it with me everywhere. Just in case. Millie is here, if you’d like to say a quick hello.’
‘Hello, darling boy,’ said Millie, waving at the screen when Kate turned it to her.’
‘Hello. You’re looking well. I was going to call you later and tell you what’s happening but I’ll tell you briefly now.
I won’t be able to get over to see you for a while.
Beth is fine, and with Kate coming here, I know she won’t need me twenty-four-seven, but I’d rather not leave her for the first few weeks, at least. I hope you don’t mind. ’
‘Of course I don’t, dearest. And I’d feel the same, so don’t give me a second thought. Viv and I will keep one another company, so we’ll all be fine here. You just concentrate on Beth and yourself.’
‘I knew you’d understand.’
They all said their various good byes and then Kate ran upstairs to pack.
For one moment she hesitated about whether or not to call Raff, or send him a text to let him know what had happened. But she thought better of it. They had parted in a reasonably friendly, if somewhat cool manner, and she didn’t want to stir up all sorts of emotions and feelings again.
But it turned out that she had been right. She had told him that their lives were complicated even though, at the time, she had no idea how much more complicated hers was about to become.
What a good thing she had said what she had. Otherwise their relationship would have got off to a very difficult start.
Although, when she had left him this morning, she had thought they might bump into one another again, as they were both expecting to be in Bluewater Bay for a week. Now that wouldn’t be happening.
Had he thought the same? She would never know. She wouldn’t see him again. At least not until he moved to Bluewater Bay in the summer. Then their paths might cross once more.
If their meeting had been Fate, wouldn’t that be precisely what would happen?
She couldn’t concern herself with Raff, or Fate or Destiny, or whatever people wanted to call it.
Her daughter needed her, and Beth was the only person who mattered to her right now.