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

horizon, and its heat was beginning to make itself felt. They walked on, around the bend and further than usual. Katherine pointed to a water fountain that had a tap and bowl on its side for dogs to drink from and she guided Chief towards it. Agatha stood, her hands on her hips looking out to the bay. She readjusted her navy cap and then bent down to retie a shoelace that had loosened.

‘Ready to go back?’ Katherine asked. ‘It’s already feeling a bit too hot for Chief to go much further.’

‘Sure.’

As she stood up, Agatha could hear the tinkling of bike bells in the distance. She turned to see a pink helmet getting closer to her, ‘Tully.’ Katherine looked along the path.

‘Agatha! Hi!’ Tully waved one hand high in the air so enthusiastically that her bike made a slight wobble, as if it was about to go off course.

Agatha could see Tully’s dad on the bike behind her. She inhaled deeply. Katherine moved beside her and placed her hand on her back. ‘Don’t worry, stay calm.’

Tully and her dad stopped right in front of them. Chief took up his position between Agatha and Katherine’s feet.

‘Remember my dad, Ed?’ Tully said, still breathing heavily from having ridden so far.

Agatha nodded. Katherine stepped forward, extending her hand. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Katherine.’

To Agatha’s surprise Ed took Katherine’s hand, shook it and smiled. ‘Likewise. The girls had a bit of an adventure yesterday,’ he said, with a small grin on his face.

‘Yes, no harm done,’ said Katherine.

‘I agree,’ Ed winked at Tully as he said it.

‘We’ve ridden all the way to Black Rock. We got up really early,’ said Tully

‘That’s a long way,’ Katherine commented.

‘No rain this time, though. That made it easier,’ Ed said and smiled. ‘We better keep going. Homework to do, isn’t that right Tully? You’d have some too Agatha.’

Agatha nodded.

‘I think we’ll get started on some French this afternoon,’ Katherine said.

‘All right then. Seems everyone will be busy. Let’s go Tully. See you later,’ Ed said, and pushed off on his bike. Tully watched her father ride ahead and leaned over to Agatha.

‘Mum is still cranky, but Dad is cool about it, but I’ll tell you tomorrow at school.’

‘Tully!’ Her dad had stopped further along and was beckoning her to catch up.

‘Bye Agatha. Bye Katherine.’

‘There you go – seems like Ed isn’t too bothered by it all,’ said Katherine as they both stood and watched the pink helmet until it was out of sight. ‘Come on, I’ll race you.’

Agatha continued to watch, even though she could no longer see Tully then quick stepped to catch up to Katherine and Chief.

Along the path, over the street and between the houses, Katherine and Agatha picked up the pace for the last little bit home. When they finally made it to their street it was Katherine who stopped suddenly. Agatha followed her gaze and could see what had brought her to a stop. Parked in the driveway of Katherine’s house was a black car. A tall man was leaning back on the driver’s door, his arms folded across his chest, his head angled back as if he was sleeping standing up.

Agatha looked at Katherine, who had a smile so wide on her face that she seemed to have forgotten that she was puffed from their mini sprint up the path. She flung one arm around Agatha, hugging her tightly. ‘It’s Lawson. He’s home.’ She dropped her arm from Agatha and jogged across the street, Chief already way ahead of her. Within a few moments she was in the driveway, hugging her husband, Chief, jumping excitedly around them.

As she stepped cautiously onto the street to cross, Agatha felt her heart sink. Agatha had heard so much about Lawson, seen photos of him, heard Katherine talk to him on the phone, but for some reason it hadn’t crossed her mind that he would actually appear. No longer would she have Katherine and Chief to herself. Nothing was working out the way she had hoped. Nothing.

The trio sat at the table on the back veranda, each with a glass of cool water to drink while they waited for the kettle to boil. Lawson was as tall as Agatha had pictured from the photos she had seen. She tried to look at him without him noticing, using her long hair to hide her curiosity behind. Chief sat on his lap, his eyes trained on Lawson’s every move, as if waiting for to receive an order from the Commander.

‘So, what have you three been up to while I’ve been away?’ he said.

Agatha shot a quick glance to Katherine.

‘Well, mainly looking after Rita. She had a fall and couldn’t walk for a few days. She’s fine now,’ Katherine added quickly. ‘Did you notice that I planted out the garden bed along the driveway?’

‘I did! Looks great sweetheart. You have waved your magic wand over this garden. I hope you have left a few projects for me when I finally retire. And Chief? How have you been old boy?’ Chief responded with a bold attempt to lick Lawson’s face, but was quickly held back down and had to be satisfied with a scruff of his ears.

‘I wasn’t expecting you for another two weeks. I’m so pleased that you came home early.’ Katherine was still beaming from the surprise.

‘It is only a weekend pass, I’m afraid. I’m off again on Tuesday, sixteen hundred, just to Fleet Base East, finish up a few things and then I will be home, permanently. Two weeks.’

Agatha caught the disappointment on Katherine’s face, although it wasn’t there for long. ‘A short visit and then two weeks?’

Lawson nodded. ‘How about we take the boat out tomorrow?’

‘Great idea. I can take Agatha to school and then we can go out.’

Agatha wanted to remind Katherine of her promise only half an hour ago, at the beach. She wanted to tell Lawson that he couldn’t go sailing with Katherine tomorrow because she had to be here, at