I curl my toes against the gravel but don’t move despite longing to. ‘What, Sofia not enough? Funny, she seemed pretty much at home on her knees.’
‘Katherine, for goodness’ sakes. Come inside this minute! What will the neighbours think?’ Mum joins the circus. There may as well be a big-top pitched in the front yard. Her fingers clutch the neck of a peony-coloured robe, her head swinging back and forth, the rollers in her hair doing a strange bobble dance. ‘Why is Shane leaving, Geoff? What’s happening?’
‘Listen to your elders for once, girly. That bloke came here to tell you he’s sorry, to beg for another chance. And, if you ask me, he deserves a fair go. A fair bloody crack of the whip.’
I burst into laughter, great big rib jarring guffaws. ‘Whip? D’you think that’d be something he’d be into, Geoff? I dunno, he never struck me as that type before.Struck—ha!’ My ribs ache under the effort as I curl into myself, borderline hysterical.
Geoff pushes past my mum, disappearing into the house amid a cloud of muttered disappointments. My laughter stops immediately, like a flipped switch as I turn to face her.
‘It’s not my fault you didn’t have more kids. Why does he blame me?’
This is the apathy of his parenthood. I’m not his, and I’ve had a lifetime of trying to fit the mould of his picture-perfect, mythical child. I’m done trying to be the pseudo-perfect daughter. The nice girl who always does as she’s told.
‘Katherine!’
‘Don’t, Mum. I love you, but I’ve had it. I’m not living like this anymore. Just go inside or... or... I’ll streak butt-naked down the street.’ I reach for the hem of my t-shirt and tug.
Craning her head out of the door, she does an uneasy sweep of the street before her eyes alight on mine. ‘Well... don’t you stay out here long,’ she admonishes, leaving the door ajar. ‘And put some shorts on.’
‘Alone at last.’ With a hesitant smile, Kai’s gaze returns to mine.
‘Apart from the twitching curtains.’
As a cool morning breeze pebbles my skin, I wrap my arms around myself for warmth and tighten them for restraint; hands shaking under the efforts of not holding them out to him.
‘You’re cold.’ Stepping towards me, he slides his jacket down his arms, but I step away, shaking my head. The last thing I need is to be surrounded by his scent.
The jacket hangs from his hands. He concentrates on it, not me. ‘We need to talk.’
‘Do we?’ Somehow, this sounds more likeget fucked.
‘You know we do. Faris had no right to—’
‘To tell me what you refused to?’ Please let it not be, please.
‘That’s neither fair nor true.’ He lifts his head and I can’t help but see the weariness around his eyes. ‘I’ve travelled half way around the world to tell you I didn’t want to hurt you, or involve you.’
‘It’s a bit late for that. Weeks too late.’
‘That’s not what I mean. I didn’t want this to hurt you. I wanted to sort it out before we talked. Please, Kate.’
‘Like I said, too late. And please what?’
‘You look like you’re ready to run again.’
‘Truthfully, I don’t have the energy. I’m just not sure where I belong.’
‘With me, sweetheart.’ He steps towards me and I step back, like this is some choreographed dance.
‘What, I belong shacked up with you while the missus waits at home in Riyadh?’
‘That’s not what I mean. I would never—that’s what I’m here to explain, if you’d just give me the chance. Can I come in? Or can we go somewhere? This isn’t really the place—’
‘I’m not going to your hotel.’ Harsh words; savage delivery. ‘Never again,’ I add vehemently.
‘I haven’t checked in anywhere,’ he replies with a frown. ‘I came straight from the airport.’ He steps towards me, hands hovering over my shoulders. ‘We need to talk.’
My head tells me I should send him on his way. My heart pleads that I hear him out. And my skin, well, it burns under his gaze, screaming for his touch.
‘Wait here.’
I turn to the house, my back stiff under the weight of his gaze. Ignoring my parent’s enquiries and incredulous looks, I grab my shorts from the bedroom floor. I’m unwashed and unkempt, but it’s all I’m prepared to do. But then I pause at the open bathroom door, deciding I’ll brush my teeth.Just in case?I can’t face myself in the mirror as I do.
‘You’ve got no shoes on.’ Mum’s words drift down the hall as I pass by the kitchen.
And Kai’s relief is clear as I open and step from the door.
