‘I heard from someone who said they were working on their behalf. A lawyer, or community worker I believe.’
’And what did that person want exactly?’
Kate had done it, and Augi hadn’t even seen it coming. She guessed that’s what happened when someone kind and perceptive was your friend.
‘Because, Augi, to be honest,’ Kate continued, ‘there’s one thing I don’t understand.’
Augi nodded and looked down at her fisted hands which she realised were betraying her distress. She looked up again. ‘About the relative?’
‘No. I don’t understand why this has upset you so much. I know you’re a caring person, but I get the feeling that this is more than being upset on behalf of someone else. I think it’s got to you personally somehow. Is it something to do with Daniel?’
Augi huffed a relieved sigh. ‘No.’
‘And is it personal?’
Augi couldn’t go there. She jumped up. ‘Kate, I’m sorry, it’s late, I’d best go. I’ve interrupted your bath, but I just needed you to know where I was with the research.’ She indicated the papers she’d put on the table. ‘You have everything you need to know right there. You… and Daniel.’ She looked around, needing to leave. ‘But I have to go now.’
‘Augi!’ called Kate, but Augi didn’t stop. She couldn’t. But when she heard her name called again, this time by Dan from the open front door, as she was halfway up the path, she had to stop. Kate walked up behind him.
‘Daniel.’ Augi gave a small wave. ‘I have to go. I’m late.’
‘I’ll walk with you,’ he said.
She turned away from him, anxious to be by herself. She didn’t know how she could withhold the truth from Dan. ‘No! I mean,’ she added in a quieter voice, but still insistent. ‘I’m busy. Sorry, Daniel. Not now. I can’t do it now.’
‘Do what? I’m just suggesting I walk with you. Keep you company.’
‘Daniel,’ said Kate. They both turned around. ‘I think Augi wants to be alone. Is that right?’
Augi nodded, feeling the tears rise again. She felt she was about to break open in front of them. And she felt ashamed at letting down someone like Kate who’d always been so kind to her.
‘Oh,’ said Dan, his face as crestfallen as Kate’s had been. Another gut-wrenching twist for Augi. ‘OK then.’
She pressed her trembling lips together and walked quickly away, only slowing her pace when she was hidden behind the trees which lined the garden. She stopped then, held onto the next-door neighbour’s fence for support and gasped as if she’d been struck in the stomach. She sucked in a deep breath, swiped away the tears, and carried on. It was only when she’d reached the corner and glanced around that she saw Dan had been standing at the garden gate. He must have seen her pause. He raised his hand to her but she kept walking.
She couldn’t tell him what he wanted to know. Because how could you tell someone that you couldn’t help his family, because it risked revealing what she’d been hiding from for so long — her own family?
Chapter Twenty
Instead of going about her usual business — swimming, delivering books out of hours, and the many other things which went to make up her life — Augi stayed inside all day. She’d replied briefly to Dan’s text messages, asking him to give her a little time and saying she had something personal to deal with. It was as close to the truth as she could get.
She’d half-expected him to turn up at her door but he didn’t. And she appreciated that. He was doing as she asked, not trying to force the truth out of her and fix it. Because there was no way to fix this. All she could do was hope the threat to her sanity would disappear as quickly as it came.
Unfortunately when the phone call from Lucy came, she realised it wasn’t going to go away of its own accord.
‘There’s someone here asking after you. She’s Greek, Augi. Sofia something.’
Augi went cold, and in that moment knew that she couldn’t hide any longer. Her past had caught up with her.
‘I’ll be right there.’
Lucy’s café was almost empty when Augi stepped inside, the air warm with the smell of coffee and baking, the low hum of conversation replaced by the gentle clink of cups being stacked away for closing. Afternoon light slanted through the front windows, catching dust motes in its path and turning the polished wood of the counter to amber.
Normally the place soothed her. Today it didn’t.
‘Augi,’ greeted Lucy. ‘Come out the back. I’m afraid I have an admission to make. I’ve also asked Dan to come along. I thought, from the little this woman has said, that you might like something more than just moral support.’
Augi opened her mouth to remonstrate but the truth was, she felt profoundly glad.
