She felt as if she were drowning, disappearing into the abyss of pain from which she’d strived to protect herself. She stepped away, turning from his concerned face and swiped away a stray tear, blinking furiously as she looked up at the ceiling, willing the tears to disappear. She tried to hide them by rummaging in her bag for a tissue and blowing her nose.
‘I must be getting a cold, or something.’ She shook her head, her hair escaping from the scarf with which she’d tied it back. ‘Sorry to worry you Daniel, really, it’s nothing. I just wanted to tell Kate…’ She trailed off.
‘Tell Kate what?’
Dan and Augi both turned to see Kate standing in the doorway, belting up a dressing gown, her hair still wet.
‘Kate…’
This wasn’t turning out at all how Augi had imagined it.
‘Augi, why don’t you come into the kitchen and I’ll make us a cup of tea. Or coffee in your case. I think you’d prefer that?’ she asked with a smile, and a quiet calm which Augi needed.
Augi nodded. ‘Thank you.’
When Dan tried to follow, Kate stopped him. ‘Daniel, why don’t you continue your work.’
‘No, I’d like to?—’
But whatever Dan would like to do was cut off by an unusually severe look from Kate.
Dan grimaced and glanced once more at Augi before nodding his head. ‘I’ll be finished in five minutes,’ he said to his mother.
As Dan withdrew into the other room, Kate ushered Augi inside the warmth of the kitchen where she made small talk as she brewed some coffee.
But Kate’s consideration didn’t succeed in quieting Augi’s agitation. She simply felt her love for the older woman more acutely, and her anxiety over what would happen if her secrets were revealed only increased.
Eventually Kate stopped talking and turned to Augi. ‘So, what’s the matter? I don’t like to see you like this.’
‘I haven’t come here to talk about me, Kate. I’ve come here to tell you that I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I can do for you.’
‘Do for me? About what?’
It was a shock to realise that Kate couldn’t read her mind. Augi felt like all her emotions were there for everyone to see. She dragged in a deep breath.
‘About researching your relatives.’
‘Oh, that,’ said Kate, turning to pour out two mugs of coffee which she placed on the table. ‘Why don’t you take a seat,’ she said, returning to the kitchen and opening a couple of tins before she found what she was looking for. She held it aloft and waved it. ‘Lucy’s homemade shortbread biscuits. Very buttery’ — she said, bringing the tin over to the table — ‘and very necessary when one is talking about one’s relatives.’
Augi exhaled with a puff and sat down.
Kate also sat down and folded her arms on the table.
‘So, I take it that you’ve found something which has spooked you.’
Augi met Kate’s gaze. She didn’t want to admit that Kate’s guess was correct. That wasn’t why she’d come here.
‘I found the person who I believe is John Kowalski’s closest relative. And I’ll pass that information onto Daniel to follow up. I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do.’
‘Can or don’t want to do?’ Kate asked with a tilt of the head. ‘Not that I mind either way. I’m just concerned that you seem so… unlike yourself.’
Augi sat in silence.
‘Does it seem likely that this person will want to take ownership of the house? Is that it?’ asked Kate.
‘I’m afraid I don’t know that much.’
‘But you said you’ve heard from them?’
