Chapter 30
…
Andrea pulled up outside Red's apartment, Elizabeth waiting for her outside, Kate smiling at the younger woman from the passenger seat.
"Are you sure you don't mind me abandoning you for the day?" Andrea asked.
"Of course not dearie, it will be nice to spend the day with Rayond, not working for once."
"Go on then, and remember…take things easy."
Kate turned to her, smiling before she leaned across and kissed Andrea before getting out of the car, Elizabeth coming over to her.
"Hi Mr K…Kate."
"Elizabeth my dear, how are you?"
"Yeah I'm good, how are you holding up?"
"I'm doing okay, Andrea's seeing to that."
"Good, well listen Red's up stairs. He's offered to look after Agnes for the day so make sure he doesn't hurt himself. I think he forgets he's still recovering too."
"We're both made of tougher stuff dearie."
As Kate began to walk up the steps, Elizabeth caught her wrist, stopping her as she turned back.
"If something wrong dearie."
"He still blames himself."
Kate looked at her oddly, not fully understanding what she meant.
"The baby, you ending up in hospital."
"Oh…I see. Well that's ridiculous, it was my decision, I could have said no."
"I know but…you know what he's like, especially where you're concerned."
"Don't worry my dear, I'll set him straight."
"Are we going or what?" Andrea yelled.
"Yeah coming, I better go."
"Have fun you two, whatever it is you're up to."
"You'll find out soon enough, get some rest okay, I love you." Andrea smiled from her seat."
"I love you too."
Elizabeth got in to the car, Kate watching as they drove off before making her way in to the apartment.
…
Red was sitting on the floor with Agnes as she played with some building blocks that Elizabeth had brought over the night before, he heard the door, hearing the light footsteps as they got closer, finally looking up to see Kate standing in the doorway, watching him, a smile on her face.
"Kate."
"Hello Raymond, busy I see."
Red began to get to his feet, making a small groan as his side protested a little, Kate making her way over immediately, bending down to help him.
"It's okay Kate, I can manage."
"Raymond, let me help."
"I'm fine."
She stood back as he finally got to his feet, straightening his waistcoat before looking back at her, her eyebrows raised.
"What?" He asked
"Nothing dearie, you never were one to ask for help."
"Like someone else I could mention."
"Touché." She smiled.
Red watched as Kate removed her long coat, seeing for the first time how much the baby was growing.
"Oh my." He smiled.
"Is something wrong." She asked confused.
"Not at all, you look…wonderful."
"Thank you."
"Come and sit down."
Red took a seat on the sofa, Kate coming to join him as she looked down at Agnes, the young girl in a world of her own as she played with her toys.
"She's grown since the last time I saw her, such a beautiful child."
Red reached across, taking hold of Kate's hand in his.
"Raymond?"
He turned to face her, seriousness on his face as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I don't think there is anything I could say to you right now that would come close to telling you how sorry I am."
"Sorry, for what?"
"Everything, this life we chose to lead. The dangers I've put you in over the years and these recent events, that put you in this situation in the first place."
"Raymond I…"
"Salgado raped you because of me, because of the things I did to him. You ended up pregnant, and ever since then, you've been in and out of the hospital, the most recent again, because of me. I put you in so much danger and you came so close to losing a child you fought so hard to keep, despite how she was conceived."
"I've told you before and now I'm going to tell you again, I don't blame you, not for the rape, not for this baby and certainly not because I ended up in hospital. I could have said no to doing the jobs but I didn't. Please can we put all of this in the past and just focus on right now. I'm going to need you more than I ever have before, I want you here with me, for all of it."
"I want that too."
"I was talking with Andrea about Italy, I've not got long before I'll be unable to travel. We really should be making plans, sooner rather than later."
"The villa is ready to move in to when ever we are, I've also contacted a good friend of mine, Terrance. He moved to Italy about ten years ago, he's a doctor at the local hospital and he said there's a job waiting for Andrea if she wants it, they're short of medical staff and could use as much help as possible."
"That's wonderful, thank you."
"You know I'll always make sure you have all you need."
"I know dearie, what about Elizabeth, has she decided."
"She wants to come, of course but Tom's being difficult."
"Agnes is his child, she's asking a lot from him by asking to take Agnes out of the country."
"Surely he would want what's best for his daughter."
"Of course he would but Elizabeth would be leaving with you, and we all know how Tom feels about you. You're not one of his most favourite people.
"I don't want to lose her again Kate, I love her…so much, both of them."
"I know you do, and if it's meant to be then…it will work out."
"If Elizabeth can't leave right away, you and Andrea can go ahead of us, set the Villa up for us."
"Raymond, I need you there with us."
"And I will be, perhaps not right away but.."
"No Raymond."
Red heard the distress in her voice, watching as her other hand went to the baby.
"Kate, what is it."
"I need you there when she comes."
"The baby?"
"Yes, you're my family and I don't want to go through it without you there."
"I'll be there…I promise you, I will be there."
Red could see tears starting in Kate's eyes, moving closer to her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, allowing her to lean in to him.
"You won't be on your own, you have my word."
…
To Be Continued…
