AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll come in while you look, but you can forget about the coffee.”
Alex tutted and turned back into the house, waving his arm to signal she should follow. The hallway was as immaculate as ever, the deep green walls, crisp white skirting boards and polished parquet floor showing no hint of the furious row that had unfolded there the day she left. The mirror’s glass had been replaced, and a new vase filled with fresh lilies stood in place of the one Kate had smashed.
So far, the only sign of a new female inhabitant was a pair of expensive running trainers on the oak shoe rack. It was no surprise Jess was a runner. You’d have to be a proper exercise freak to keep a curvy figure as trim as Jess’s, although Kate wouldn’t have put it past her to have a bit of surgical help on the side. Alex was keen his women kept themselves in shape. Kate thought of all the wasted hours she spent with him in the gym while secretly longing to be out on her bike or hiking through the Somerset countryside. Alex didn’t count walking or cycling as proper exercise. Kate resolved to do as much walking and cycling as she could once settled in Bodmin.
“Give me a sec. I’ll have a look upstairs. Make yourself comfortable.”
Kate watched his back retreating up the staircase, then wandered into the living room. She’d forgotten how beautiful the room was. Large moss and mould-free windows looked out onto the street, covered with dust free shutters to maintain privacy whilst letting in the light. The deep blue sofa housed expensive cushions, faced by a green velvet over-sized armchair. The walls were white, each filled with an enormous abstract painting in colours complementing the furniture. Tall, lush plants stood in expensive pots and a polished silver lamp hung languidly from its stand.
When they first met at university, Kate assumed Alex was gay. It turned out he was just a well-dressed metro-sexual with an eye for interior design. Nothing had changed in the room since Kate’s departure, and Kate was wondering if Jess even lived there when she noticed a banal romance novel tucked neatly under the coffee table. Kate moved back through to the hallway.
“How are you getting on up there?”
“Fine, be down in a minute.”
Kate sighed and checked her watch. It was lucky she arrived early, as this was taking far too long. The door to the kitchen diner was open. Kate peeked her head round. Nothing had changed here, either. The clean white lines of the kitchen fed through to a glass dining table that could seat eight. Kate remembered the laborious dinner parties Alex held regularly, always coming up with some reason or other why her own friends couldn’t be invited.
Kate strode through the kitchen to the French doors at the back, flinging them open and welcoming the fresh air on her face. She loved this garden once. It had been her sanctuary when the clean lines and exacting standards of inside became too much. The garden was still beautiful, lovingly tended by an old chap who lived on the same street. He was expertly green fingered, and Alex gave him free rein. He had no interest in outdoor spaces as long as they complimented his Insta-ready interior.
Kate sat down on the garden step to wait. This garden was the thing she missed most about the house, but she had her own garden now. It might not be up to much yet, but it was bigger than Alex’s and would be even more magnificent, given time.
“Found it,” said Alex, wandering in to the kitchen with the jumper held aloft. “Ah, your favourite spot. I miss coming home and finding you sat there.”
Kate shrugged and let the comment wash over her. She stood up, locked the patio doors, and moved to take the jumper from Alex’s hands. He twisted his arm back and Kate was left scrabbling in mid-air.
“Stop being a dick. Give it to me.”
“I miss the fun we used to have.”
“Yeah, well, you’ve got a new playmate now. Give me it Alex, or I’ll leave right now and you can put it in the post.”
“Fine,” he said, handing her the jumper without letting go. Kate tugged at it, but Alex kept hold, pulling her closer till she could smell the scent of mint on his breath. Had he been up there cleaning his teeth for her? Alex moved forward in an attempt at a kiss, but Kate moved her head round and his lips caught the edge of her nose.
“Don’t contact me again.”
Kate stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her, hopefully with enough force to knock the new vase from its stand. How dare he? Hadn’t he hurt her enough already without playing stupid games? The worst part of their encounter was how much she wanted to kiss him back. He was so familiar. He was all the family she had. Kate shook her head to push the thoughts away. She strode off along the road, pummelling her sadness and frustration out on the pavement beneath her.
*
“He did what?” Maddie’s cup was halfway to her lips, her mouth open wide with shock.
“Tried to kiss me. He kept me waiting ages too, all part of his game, though what game he’s playing is anyone’s guess.”
“Tell me you didn’t kiss him back.” Maddie’s forehead was creased, her cup still poised in mid-air.
“Of course I didn’t kiss him back… Though part of me wanted to.” Kate looked down at the flowery table cloth, refusing to meet Maddie’s eyes.
“Katherine Trenain, don’t you even think of going back there. It’s taken months for you to start putting yourself back together again. Suddenly, you leaving seems a better idea than I first thought.”
“I’m not as stupid as you think, Maddie. Of course I won’t go back to him. But, you know, it’s hard. He was all I had when Mum died, then all that mess with uni. He supported me through it all.”
“But think of all the ways he hurt you. There was always something in it for him. It suited him to have you meek, feeble, and eternally grateful.”
“I think you’re being a bit harsh.”
Maddie raised her eyebrows. Kate changed the subject, and they drank the remainder of their coffee amid more comfortable topics, like what colour Kate would paint the walls of her new home.
“Oh, I nearly forgot. Look what I found.” Kate pulled Moira’s letter from her bag and passed it to Maddie.
