‘How the hell are you going to do that? I can’t believe she left you a forwarding address.’
‘I set up the tracking on her phone. She’s on a train to London so that’s where I’m headed.’
‘A tracker? Do you have any idea how mad that sounds? And what are you going to do when you reach London? Trail around the streets for hours following a dot on a map?’
‘I have to do something, Katrina. I can’t lose her!’
Kat took a deep breath. Them yelling at each other wasn’t getting her anywhere. ‘Dad, listen to me a minute, please. You can’t just abandon the coffee shop and go chasing around the country after her. You’re risking everything you’ve worked so hard for. Come home and we can talk about it.’
‘I have to find her.’
Kat closed her eyes. Nothing she was saying was going to get through when he was in this state. ‘What about the shop?’
‘I can’t worry about that now. You’ll just have to look after things until I get back.’
‘No, I’m not letting you do this to me again. You’ve screwed up my life too many times already, Dad. This is the end, do you hear me? Harry and I have got a meeting with some potential investors this afternoon and I can’t miss it. I won’t miss it.’
‘Your mother is missing and all you can think about is yourself!’
‘She’s not missing, Dad, she’s left you. Again. I’m sorry to be harsh but you have to face the truth. This is just another one of her stupid games. You can do what you want, but I’m not playing any more. Come home, don’t come home, I’m past caring about any of this.’
‘We’re your family, Kat! I can’t believe you’d turn your back on us and for a bloody Penrose at that!’
‘You only consider me as family when you need me to do something.’ She almost called him Gavin. Almost severed her connection with him completely, but a tiny part of her hoped they might still find a way back from this.
He was silent for so long Kat thought he’d hung up, then eventually there was a single, soft sigh. ‘What about the coffee shop?’
That little flicker of hope guttered and all but went out. ‘As soon as I can get everyone out I’m locking up. Whether it opens again tomorrow – well, that’s up to you, isn’t it?’ She ended the call because there was nothing left to say. Her father had made his choice and he would have to live with it. Kat had other priorities now.
Kat checked the time and swore. She’d run out of the house without so much as brushing her hair and there was no way she was going to the meeting looking like she’d been dragged through a hedge backwards. She dialled Harry’s number but it went to voicemail. Why wasn’t anyone answering their phones today? ‘Hey, it’s me. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I need a shower and to change my clothes so don’t wait for me, but I will be there.’ She paused then blurted out, ‘I love you, Harry,’ then hung up.
By the time they’d got everyone out of the coffee shop, Kat was ready to scream. While Debbie had done her best to encourage people to finish up, Kat had knocked up a sign for the front door stating they were closed for the afternoon due to staff shortages. Even with it stuck directly in their eyeline, someone rattled the door then knocked on the window. Kat shook her head and pointed at the sign before turning her attention back to Debbie. ‘Best get our stuff and get out of here before anyone else tries it.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? What if Mr Partridge shows up?’
‘I doubt he will,’ Kat assured her as they headed to the office and collected their things. ‘And if he does, well, I don’t want you here on your own to face any awkward questions. This mess is ofmy father’s making and he’ll have to deal with any fallout from it.’
Kat flipped off the lights, set the alarm and ushered the other woman out the door. Debbie hesitated. ‘What happens if he doesn’t come back tomorrow?’
Kat did her best not to grind her teeth. She understood why she was worried, but Kat didn’t have time to deal with it right then and there. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry, Debbie, I know how stressful this must be for you, but I have to draw the line somewhere.’
The other woman smiled and drew Kat into a comforting hug. ‘If I was in your shoes, love, I’d have drawn that line a long time ago.’ She pulled back and touched a finger to Kat’s cheek. ‘None of this is your fault. Now go on and get to your meeting.’
Kat watched Debbie walk away, trying to ignore the guilt twisting her insides. ‘Not your problem. Not your problem,’ she reminded herself under her breath.
She turned back to survey the familiar name decal above the door for a second then shoved her keys through the letter box. The past was done and it was time to embrace her future. Kat set off running, uncaring of the stares she drew as she dodged around people out and about doing their shopping.
I’m coming, Harry. I’m coming.
34
Harry stood outside the door to the restaurant, Liam at his side. He gave one last look up and down the street, hoping against hope for a glimpse of Kat. ‘She said she’ll be here,’ his brother said, clapping him on the shoulder.
‘I know.’ Harry was sure Kat was doing her best, but he was struggling to contain his disappointment. ‘Come on, we’d better go in.’ He knocked on the door and opened it.
Russ and Adam were sitting at one of the tables, chatting away as if they were old friends and it looked like they’d both been there for a while. There was tea and coffee already laid out, together with a plate of petits fours. ‘We okay to come in?’ Harry asked.
‘Of course!’ Russ rose and walked towards him with a smile, arms extended in welcome. ‘Liam, I didn’t know we were expecting you, but it’s always good to see you.’ Russ’s smile dimmed as he glanced past them towards the door. ‘No Kat?’
