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

table, trying to remember when she would have seen her own parents display such as tender moment.

She closed her eyes. They were in a car; her mother was in the driver’s seat. Agatha was in the back with Nora next to her. Where were they going? He father was walking towards the car, waving and smiling. He had something in his hand. Her mother lowered the back window and his arm reached in, handing Agatha some coins. ‘Here you go Aggie, some money for a treat.’

‘Karl, you spoil your girls,’ her mother said, her voice sounding light and happy. Then she saw her father move towards her mother, lean in and give her a kiss on the cheek. He smiled and walked back towards the house.

‘Agatha?’ Katherine’s voice brought her back. ‘You are a thousand miles away. I asked if you wanted to do French or Science first?’

‘I think Science. It’s due on Tuesday but I have to have my part finished for Tully, so she can combine the two. I was going to email it to her today, if I can type it up and use the computer.’

‘Of course, you can. We might have to think about getting you a laptop or something. I remember Mrs Sloane said you will need one next year, but it would be handy for this year.’

‘Next year?’ Agatha said. ‘Katherine, we don’t know about next term yet. I mean, Lawson might not . . . ’

Katherine put her hand on Agatha’s arm. ‘I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t want to get your hopes up, or mine for that matter. I want you to stay, Agatha and so does Lawson. This is your home, if you want it to be. But, you’re right, we don’t know even about the remainder of this year. I wish we could just have it all worked out and then we could make plans.’ Katherine let out a long sigh and picked up her cup of tea.

Agatha ran her fingers along the table. ‘I want to stay but I don’t want to hurt my parents,’ she paused. ‘You wouldn’t understand.’

‘I know what it is to leave people behind. But I see your situation differently. I don’t think you have to leave your parents completely, it’s not a one or the other situation. We just have to work out how to balance the two.’

They sat in silence, Agatha wondering how it could be possible to have both. It had always been one or the other. She had been either removed, suddenly and without notice, or returned in the same way. She either lived with her parents in the house that was gradually swallowing them alive or be with strangers in bland room that was not hers to keep. There had never been the option for both.

Katherine patted her arm. ‘Now, we better get this schoolwork done before the Commander and Chief get back. When Lawson is home on a Sunday we always go out for dinner, it’s a tradition.’

‘Can I come?’

‘Absolument! First things first,’ Katherine said, looking down at the suitcase.

‘I know. Habit.’

‘Well how about we unpack it and this time, put it way up in the top cupboard. You won’t be needing it for a while.’

Agatha nodded. Hopefully for a long while, she said to herself.

35

With Lawson on their early morning walk, Agatha found herself running ahead with Chief, while Lawson and Katherine walked side by side. Agatha had been on this path so many times now, that she recognised many of the weekday regulars, many of whom gave her a small wave of acknowledgement or a nod.

This morning was no different. Joggers, dog walkers, parents with prams, all out before the heat of the day or before work.

‘How far do you think we can go and still get to school on time?’ Lawson said to Agatha as they paused at the top of some steps.

‘Katherine and I usually go up and down these steps at least ten times while Chief runs on the beach. But we don’t have to.’

‘Ten times? Okay. Let’s go.’

Katherine stood at the top and watched her husband and Agatha step down, turn around and head back up. When they got to the top she said, ‘One.’ They headed down again and back up. ‘Two.’

By the third one Katherine could see that the pace was getting faster. ‘Hmmm,’ she said. ‘Both a bit competitive? Three.’

By the tenth lap of the steps both Agatha and Lawson were breathing harder. ‘How about when I get back, we see how many we can get to,’ he said to Agatha.

‘Sure. I could easily do more.’

‘So, could I. Easily.’

Katherine rolled her eyes. ‘Come on you two. Along the beach then home. It’s a school day.’

Hearing that sent a shiver up Agatha’s spine. School. She had been dreading it. She had told Tully to be honest with her parents, but she didn’t know who they would tell. One thing she did know was that schools were notoriously bad at keeping secrets. If one person found out, then everyone would find out.

As they walked along the beach, then up the path towards home, Agatha fell further behind, her pace slowing down. Lawson dropped back from Katherine and Chief and waited for her to catch up.

‘Anything I can help you with?’ he asked. Agatha shook her head. They walked side by side. ‘That cap you’re wearing, it’s a naval cap.’

Agatha continued to watch her feet take each step. She wondered if she should give it back to him, now that he had returned. Was that what he was leading to? Maybe he wants it back in his collection. ‘Katherine gave it to me. I didn’t take it.’

‘I didn’t think you did – we want you to keep it. I was just going to say that in the Navy we have values. Do you know what a value is?’

Agatha nodded.

‘Well, there’s five of them; one is Courage.’ Lawson continued. ‘Today is a Courage sort of day, don’t you think?’

Agatha shot a