Chapter 56
I heard you quit?! Is it true?
Message from Rose to Kate
Kate
I stared at the illuminated sign of The Meridian, trying to convince myself I was doing the right thing. The rucksack that once again held my entire life weighed heavily on my shoulders. After my fight with Henry, I had made the heartbreaking decision to leave The Darlington.
Henry had hidden his pill addiction from me, even though he should have known exactly how I would feel about it.
I couldn’t be with him under those circumstances, no matter how much I loved him.
I couldn’t bear the thought of one day finding him dead—just like my mum.
Which is why I couldn’t stay at the hotel.
I was already dreading the day I might see the headline “Henry Darlington Dies of Overdose.”
Cold fear crept up my neck, and tears welled in my eyes again.
I blinked them away, surprised I had any left to cry.
I had been sobbing nonstop since packing my rucksack and leaving the hotel.
I had wandered aimlessly around the city, my red eyes and puffy face drawing stares, questioning my decision to leave Henry at least a hundred times.
I already missed him, and the pain of losing him was almost unbearable. But I had to do this.
I had to!
Determined, I stepped into Logan’s restaurant. It was cosy and warm inside—a welcome contrast to the frosty evening air.
“Welcome to The Meridian. Do you have a reservation?” asked the woman stationed at the entrance. She wasn’t the same employee who had greeted Henry and me last time. Her gaze swept over me sceptically from head to toe, lingering on my tear-streaked face.
“No, I don’t.”
She smiled tightly. “I’m sorry, but we’re fully booked.”
“I don’t need a table. I have to talk to Logan. Is he here?”
“He is. But as the chef, he’s very busy. There’s a lot going on tonight.”
“It’s important. Could you please let him know I’m here?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
My throat tightened. “It’s an emergency.”
She didn’t budge. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
“Please!” I pressed.
“Is there a problem?” a deep voice asked.
I looked up to see a tall man with curly, dark-brown hair and deep-set eyes. He was dressed entirely in black, but instead of the smart elegance of a suit that was expected in this kind of restaurant, he wore jeans and a T-shirt. Silver rings gleamed on his fingers, and he also had a nose ring.
“No, Maxton, everything’s fine,” the receptionist replied, finally forcing a polite smile. “This young woman was asking for Logan. I was just explaining that the chef is busy and doesn’t have time for private conversations.”
Maxton studied me, frowning slightly, and I noticed that his ears were also studded with silver rings. He didn’t look like the owner of a fancy restaurant, but then again, neither did Logan with his tattoos.
“You’re Henry’s girlfriend. Kaitlynn, right?” he said.
“Kate,” I corrected.
“I’m Maxton, Logan’s business partner.” He gestured for me to follow.
“Come with me. I’ll let Logan know you’re here.
” Relief washed over me as I followed Maxton through the crowded restaurant.
Every table was occupied, and I wondered whether Logan would even have time to talk to me.
We headed towards the kitchen, where I could hear the clatter of pots and the harried voices of the kitchen staff.
But instead of entering, we walked past to a door marked “Staff Only.” Maxton held it open and led me into a break room.
“Take a seat,” he said, motioning towards a chair.
He smiled at me, and two dimples appeared in his cheeks.
He seemed kind, and I could see why he and Logan were friends—though it was probably my tear-streaked face that prompted him to be so nice to me.
“I’ll let Logan know you’re waiting here for him.
He’ll come as soon as he can. There are drinks in the fridge if you’re thirsty. ”
“Thank you,” I replied weakly, drained by the events of the last few hours.
I just had to get through this one last conversation, and then I could find somewhere to sleep and nurse my wounds.
The problem was, I had no idea where to go.
My every thought was consumed by Henry, and even though I had spent almost a year living on the streets, I still felt just as lost and helpless as the day Randell had thrown me out.
How was it possible that this was happening to me a second time?
Lost in thought, I stared into space as I waited for Logan. I couldn’t be there and stay strong for Henry, but I still didn’t want to leave him alone with his addiction. He needed someone by his side, someone in his corner to fight for him—and it certainly wasn’t going to be Richard or Amanda.
Several minutes passed before the door to the break room swung open and Logan stepped in. A weight lifted off my chest. He was wearing the same white uniform as during our last meeting, which made his colourful tattoos look even more vibrant.
“Hey,” Logan greeted me, his gaze attentive in a way that suggested Maxton had already filled him in on my state. Wordlessly, he pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down. “Is everything OK?”
I shook my head, choking back the tears that once again threatened to surface. But I couldn’t cry now. “No. I need to talk to you about something important.”
Logan’s concerned eyes locked onto mine. “What about?”
“Henry . . . he . . . he has a drug problem.”
Two hours later, Grace opened the door to her apartment in Shadwell.
The news that I was no longer working at The Darlington had spread like wildfire among the hotel employees.
I had barely finished my conversation with Logan when Grace had called to check on me.
I hadn’t been able to bring myself to explain over the phone, so I’d asked if we could meet in person instead.
She had invited me to her apartment without a moment’s hesitation.
Whatever she had heard, she clearly hadn’t expected the state I was in.
“Oh my god, Kate!” Grace gasped in shock when she saw me. I could only guess how terrible I looked after the day I’d had, but one thing was certain—I felt even worse.
Fresh tears turned Grace into a blurry silhouette.
I was exhausted and drained, and the only thing keeping me upright was a pain that refused to let me rest. It had settled deep in my chest, different from the grief I’d felt after my mum’s death.
This pain was more consuming, because my heart was torn—by my love and worry for Henry and the overwhelming, unshakeable sense of his betrayal.
“What happened?” Grace asked, her voice soft and compassionate.
I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a whimper that barely sounded human, as if I were a wounded animal.
And like a wounded animal, I fell. Grace caught me, pulling me into a firm embrace.
My arms hung limply at my sides—I didn’t have the strength to lift them and hug her back.
I buried my face in her shoulder and gave in to my tears once again.