Everything We Keep, Di Walker [best pdf reader for ebooks txt] 📗

on here and I don’t want Tully getting into something that could hurt her or whatever.’

‘Did something happen at school that I’m unaware of?’ Katherine asked, having shifted forward in her chair, her hands folded on her lap, her voice calm and steady.

‘No. But as you are aware, I did find her at the train station, all alone, you weren’t here, and then she disappeared in the middle of the night. I would say that’s enough to suggest that I need to keep her away from Tully.’

‘I see. Well I must say that’s very disappointing.’

An awkward silence hung between them. Celeste stood up. ‘I have already spoken to the school. I’ve asked that Agatha be placed in another class.’

Katherine stood too. ‘I wish you hadn’t done that. They seemed so happy today, when I saw them.’

‘You’re an aunty, not a parent. I imagine it’s difficult to put yourself in my position.’

Katherine didn’t respond. She didn’t know where Agatha had gone but she was sure she would be listening.

Tully’s mother moved towards the front door. Without another word spoken between then, she left. Katherine leaned back against the closed front door and let out a deep sigh. For a moment she dropped her head down, as if thinking about what she should do next.

‘Agatha,’ she said softly to herself and stepped back into the sitting room. Katherine walked across it and to the kitchen. With no sign of Agatha, she headed down the hall to Agatha’s closed bedroom door. She put her ear to it and could hear movement. She tapped lightly and opened the door.

The orange suitcase was open on the bed. Agatha had changed out of her school uniform, which now lay in a heap on the floor at the foot of the bed and was moving swiftly from the wardrobe to the bed. Katherine watched for a moment then stepped forward.

‘Agatha,’ she said, gently. Agatha didn’t’ stop, she didn’t reply. ‘Agatha,’ Katherine repeated.

‘I can’t stay. I have to go back. I can’t stay. Call Nell. Call Nell.’ With each word, with each step, Agatha’s packing became more frantic, her voice wavered.

‘Agatha, just stop for a minute.’ But Agatha didn’t, she couldn’t. Having grabbed everything from the wardrobe and thrown it in to the case, Agatha upended it, spilling the contents on the bed. With one sweep of her arm, she moved it to the side and put the case back down. Again, she tried to pack, smoothing things out, trying to fold, but her panicked state was working against her. When she couldn’t get it right, she would throw it back on the pile and pick up something else.

Katherine stepped forward and put her hand on her shoulder. It was quickly nudged away. Katherine didn’t give in. She moved herself between Agatha and the bed and took a firm hold on both of her shoulder. ‘Agatha. Stop.’ Her voice was louder and firm. Agatha’s face was covered in tears making the wisps of hair stick to her face. Katherine could feel Agatha’s body shaking, watched her eyes darting.

In one swift move she embraced Agatha, pulling her closer in and held her. ‘Just breathe, sweetheart. Breathe. I’m not letting you go. Just breathe.’

For what seemed like hours but was only several minutes, Katherine held Agatha and waited while she ever so slowly began to calm down. ‘Breathe,’ Katherine would say, slowly and with a soft, low tone.

When she felt Agatha’s body stop shaking, and the sobs subside, Katherine lowered her arms and took hold of Agatha’s hands. ‘That’s better,’ she said looking directly at Agatha, whose eyes were lowered to the floor. ‘Just keep breathing, nice and steady.’ Katherine dropped one of Agatha’s hands and gently moved the hair back from her face, then stepped to her side and rub her back, just between her shoulder, releasing the last bit of tension Agatha was holding onto.

‘Let’s just leave this for now,’ Katherine said and then as if anticipating Agatha’s response added, ‘we’ll fix everything up later. We’ll do it together. Let’s just go to the sitting room and talk this through.’ Not waiting for Agatha to object, Katherine lead her by the hand, down the hall and back to the sitting room, followed closely by Chief, who had stayed in the bedroom doorway the whole time.

Katherine sat down on the sofa, with Agatha beside her. ‘Wait here,’ she said, standing up and quickly moving to the kitchen, returning with a box of tissues and Agatha’s glass of lemon water. ‘Here,’ Katherine said, handing the glass to Agatha and placing the tissues beside her.

‘I’m assuming you heard everything Tully’s mum said,’ Katherine began. Agatha nodded. ‘Well, I think she’s wrong and eventually she’ll see that.’ Agatha shrugged. Katherine took in a deep breath. ‘I think we’re both in a bit of a spot. I’m not sure what to do but that’s not to say we give in.’

‘Please take me home, Katherine,’ Agatha said, in barely a whisper. ‘I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere but there.’

‘Is that what you want?’

‘No. But it doesn’t matter what I want. It never matters what I want.’

‘I think we need some help to sort this through, before you just leave. Can you give it one more chance? If you still want to go home, I won’t stop you, I’ll drive you myself. But I want you to think about it first.’

Agatha shrugged, and this time Katherine knew what that one meant.

‘Good. One more chance. I know exactly who to call on to help us work this through.’

‘Nell?’ Agatha said, sitting up a bit taller, pulling her hair back into a twisted ponytail before letting it go.

‘No. We need someone with experience in handling school mums,’ Katherine smiled, as if pleased with her idea. ‘Come on.’ She held out her hand to Agatha, who took it and stood. ‘You too Chief. Let’s go.’ And the three left the coolness of the house and stepped out into the heat of the late afternoon.

23

Rita