Everything We Keep by Di Walker (good story books to read txt) 📗

ordered an x-ray and told Rita she was to stay off it for at least the next couple of days. ‘Thank goodness for that ghastly coloured suitcase,’ she continued, easing herself down into the chair and placing the crutches beside her.

Katherine was already in the kitchen, making Rita a cup of tea, Agatha standing right by her side. She had listened to the bits and pieces of Agatha’s story of the past twenty-four hours while they were waiting for Rita to have her x-ray. ‘We have so much to talk about,’ she said to Agatha, in a hushed tone. ‘Let’s get Rita set up and then we’ll go home. Chief will be beside himself when he sees you!’

‘I can’t wait,’ Agatha said, willing the kettle to boil faster.

They organised Rita’s small coffee table, beside her chair with everything she would need for now. Katherine insisted that the air conditioner go on to keep the house cool. ‘We’re a phone call away and I don’t want you to think about lunch. Agatha and I will make you a sandwich and bring it over.’

‘Take the spare key from the side table in the hall, Katherine, that way I won’t have to get up to let you in. And thank you again. I’m thrilled to see you back Agatha. It’s the one good thing to come out of this silly ankle injury.’

Agatha smiled. She was so happy to be only a few houses away from Katherine’s home and impatient to get there.

Katherine insisted on carrying the suitcase, and although hesitant at first, Agatha agreed. As they walked down Rita’s driveway Katherine held out her other hand and Agatha took it. ‘Now, how close do you think we will be able to get to the house before Chief sees us and goes mad!’ Katherine asked.

‘I think . . . right about . . . now.’ And right on cue, from his place on sofa with a clear view of the street, Chief starting to yap with excitement. Agatha laughed, for the first time since she had left.

Inside the front door, Chief could not be contained. He ran around and around Agatha, sniffing at her feet, jumping up and down, yapping until finally she bent down and picked him up.

‘No licking. You know the house rules, Chief,’ Katherine said.

‘I don’t mind. Really I don’t.’ Chief slowly stopped squirming in Agatha’s arms and settled in for a hug. She carried him down the hall, following Katherine who was taking the suitcase to the guest room, her room.

Katherine placed it on the floor at the foot of the bed. ‘Now, how about we make our own cup of tea and we can talk about what really happened. All of the details Agatha. And then I think you know what we have to do.’

Agatha nodded, ‘Nell.’

‘Yes. But not right away.’ Katherine stepped in and again hugged Agatha. ‘We’ll sort this out. I promise.’

Agatha wanted to tell Katherine that she couldn’t promise her that. She wanted to tell her that many people had promised her that it would all be sorted out and yet time after time she had been sent back. She wanted to tell Katherine that while they both wished she could stay forever, once Nell arrived, it wasn’t going to work out that way. She wanted to say all of that, but she didn’t.

The rain from yesterday’s storm and the heat of the morning, made outside muggy and uncomfortable. Instead of sitting outside on the veranda the pair, each with a cup of tea, settled onto the sofa in the cool sitting room, one at each end and Chief in the middle, not sure who to face.

Agatha told Katherine everything. The small clean up that had happened before her return, the dishwasher, finding her suitcase gone, and walking out the door. She told her about the lady on the bus, the rain at the station and finding her way through Flinders Street. In great detail, she told her about meeting Tully, on the train, and then how the suitcase had brought Tully back to her as she waited for a bus at the wrong stop. She explained how Tully’s mum had tried and tried to contact Katherine on the phone and how she stood at Katherine’s dark and quiet front door, confused why she wasn’t here to greet her. Finally, she told her about staying at Tully’s and leaving in the middle of the night.

Katherine listened to every detail without interrupting. Finally, she leant forward and placed her hand on Agatha’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Agatha, that I wasn’t here. When Rita slipped over it was just easier to stay there overnight and look after her. But I have to say, you are one brave girl. I can’t imagine what it was like for you to sleep on that veranda,’ Katherine paused. ‘I bet you could do with a shower and a change of clothes.’

‘That would be great. I feel like it’s taken me weeks to get here.’ Agatha turned the cup around and around in her hands. She looked out the window, to the sunny day that had unfolded, ‘Are you going to call Nell?’

‘Yes. But I’ll wait until you’ve showered. We’ll do it together.’

Agatha nodded. She got up and held out her hand to take Katherine’s cup too. She headed to the kitchen, placed the cups in the dishwasher and then went down the hall. Once inside her room she opened her suitcase and unpacked everything out onto the bed. For a moment she looked at the wardrobe. She knew there was plenty of space in there for her things. But she also knew better than to get her hopes up.

She took out some fresh clothes, smoothing them out with her hand and then went through the sliding door into her own small bathroom. Its white tiles gleamed when she turned on the light. Beside the sink was her glass, with her toothbrush and toothpaste standing at attention, waiting. When Agatha saw her reflection in