Maybe shecould.
But how was she going to make it happen?
* * *
Bella had checked twice that the oven was on.
Not that it was really necessary because she could smell the meat cooking. Kate was going to be so impressed with this. A rack of lamb and little baby potatoes. She’d even remembered to buy some mint sauce.
When the phone rang, Bella wiped her hands on her jeans and went to answer it.
‘Is that Kate Graham’s house?’ a male voice asked.
‘Yup.’ It wasn’t Connor, Bella realised. Shame. ‘But she’s not home at the moment. Can I take a message?’
There was a short silence. ‘Maybe you could tell her… that her father called.’
Bella gave an audible gasp. ‘You’re Kate’sfather?’
‘Yeah. I’m Kevin. Kevin Graham.’
‘I’m Bella. Annabelle Graham. David’s daughter. And…’ Bella had to take a deep breath. ‘And you’re my grandfather.’
‘Yeah.’ There was a chuckle on the other end of the line. ‘Surprise, huh?’
‘Um…’ Suddenly Bella didn’t know what to say.
‘I’ve been away,’ Kevin said.
That was a euphemism and a half. But maybe he was ashamed of the fact he’d been in prison. Bella had the sudden urge to end the call. Kate wouldn’t be happy about this, she could be absolutely sure of that.
What she’d never been sure of was why. This man, no matter what he’d done, was still a part of her family, wasn’t he? Didn’t people deserve a second chance?
‘I just wanted to tell Kate I’m sorry,’ Kevin said. ‘I don’t know what you got told, kid, but it was all my fault. Because of the drink, you know? And I’m clean now. Been off the stuff for years. It’s part of the programme, to tell the people you’ve hurt that you’re sorry.’
Bella had heard of that. She found herself nodding.
But what, exactly, had been all his fault? And would it make a difference if Kate knew how sorry her father was?
Maybe it would. What if the things that had happened so long ago were still affecting Kate now? If they were part of whatever it was that was keeping her and Connor from being more than just friends?
‘She won’t want to talk to me,’ Kevin told Bella. ‘But maybe she’ll listen if you told her. I really mean it. It would mean a lot to be able to see her again and tell her for myself.’
If Kate could get past whatever it was, she might be able to move on with her life. It could be that Bella was being handed the opportunity to do something very important.
‘Have you got a phone number?’ she asked her grandfather. ‘I need to think about this but I’ll see what I can do.’
8
Kate knew exactly what she was going to do.
And she was going to do it on the weekend that Bella was going home to visit her parents and younger brother and sisters.
‘I wish you’d come, too,’ Bella said the night before she was due to leave. ‘There’s probably still time to grab a ticket.’
‘I’ve got other things I want to do.’
‘Like what?’
