“I’ve told you, it’s no bother. I’m happy to help,” he said, smiling at Kate.
Having made his coffee, he headed over to Joe who was sat on the floor looking through a picture book of sea animals.
“You did well there, Joe,” said Ryan, squatting down so he was level with him. “Mum didn’t suspect a thing! See how easy it is? Sometimes mum doesn’t need to know everything, does she?”
“No, I guess not,” said Joe, not really sure what he was supposed to say. He hadn’t actually lied to his mum, had he? He just didn’t tell her so that was OK he thought. And he knew Ryan wouldn’t say anything or he’d get into trouble too for not holding Joe’s hand when he was supposed to.
13
Leeds 1997
“C’mon Kate, it’s just for a couple of days till I think of somewhere better.”
“Throw it in the canal for all I care Ryan. I do not want that in my house.”
“It’s not loaded, I just don’t want Sean to find it in the flat.”
“Oh, it’s alright if Daz finds it, is it?”
“He won’t, c’mon, just while the heat dies down.”
“Ryan, it’s been used in an armed robbery. Why the fuck would I even consider it?”
“For old times’ sake?”
“Oh, fuck off, that was over when you went to Sheffield.” Kate emptied the washing machine into the laundry basket. She couldn’t believe that Ryan had just turned up out of the blue expecting favours.
“Yeah but it was good though wasn’t it?”
Kate blushed at the memory, “Stop it Ryan.”
“Aww you know it was the best sex you’ve ever had,” said Ryan, grabbing Kate round the waist as she bent over to pull the last bits out of the machine and grinding against her. Kate shot up, almost knocking Ryan over.
“For God’s sake Ryan, no!”
“All right, sorry. I wonder what Darren would say if he knew about us.” Ryan leaned back against the kitchen table, grinning.
“Ha that’s a laugh, blackmail? He’s your best mate, you wouldn’t dare say a word. He’d floor you with one punch, probably worse. As for me, I’ve taken my share of punches over the years, what’s one more.” Kate heaved the heavy basket and opened the back door. Stepping into the back garden, she headed for the washing line. Ryan followed her out, slamming the door shut behind him, not willing to give up just yet.
“Come on, I’m desperate, and I swear it will only be for a few days.” Ryan held the handgun in front of him and proffered it to Kate. She pushed it back towards him and bent down to take a t-shirt from the laundry basket.
“No Ryan, for the last time...” She heard the back door slam, and Ryan threw the gun into the basket just as Darren came out into the garden. Without thinking she bundled the gun inside the damp t-shirt she was holding and buried it under the pile of the remaining laundry.
“What’s going on here then?” asked Darren.
“Alright mate, just popped in for a brew,” replied Ryan, turning his back on Kate.
Kate was seething, what was she supposed to do now. She watched them go back into the kitchen. Her heart was all over the place, and she felt herself break out into a sweat. She scoured the garden, looking for somewhere to put the weapon, at least for now. She could hardly go back into the house with a gun wrapped up in a t-shirt. She didn’t care if Darren knew about the fling she’d had with Ryan, but she did care about losing custody of Joe and she had no doubt in her mind that Darren would use it against her. She stepped onto the patio and heard one of the flags make its familiar ‘thunk’ as she walked over it. She stopped and lifted it up. The sand underneath had all but worn away. She retrieved the offending bundle, lifted the loose flag, and stuffed it underneath. It wasn’t brilliant but it would do for now. She hung the rest of the washing out and headed back into the house with every intention of telling Ryan to get it back later that night.
“Where’s Ryan?” she asked Daz as she walked into the kitchen.
“Dunno, was just about to put the kettle on and he said he had to be somewhere and fucked off. What was all that about outside?”
“All what about?” replied Kate, turning her back to Darren and reaching to grab a mug from the cupboard.
“That, out there in the garden –- with him?”
“Don’t know what you mean. I was hanging the washing out.”
“Seemed to me something was going on. You both looked as guilty as chuff.” Darren slammed his hand on the worktop, stopping Kate in her tracks. She looked up at him hoping the guilt didn’t show on her face.
‘Oh, here we go again,’ she thought, bracing herself. Darren moved forward and grabbed Kate’s wrist.
“So what’s with the guilty look?” Darren twisted her wrist tighter.
Kate flinched and tried to pull away from his grasp. “Nothing. He came looking for you.”
“So why were you outside?”
“I was hanging the washing out, I’ve told you.” She looked Darren dead in the eye, holding his glare. Eventually he backed down and threw her wrist away from him. It clashed with the freshly boiled kettle which fleetingly caught Kate’s hand. She winced out loud and thrust her hand under the cold water tap. “What was that for?” She was fighting back tears.
“Just watch your fucking step, I’m getting tired of your shit.” Darren made his way out of the kitchen.
“My shit? That’s rich.” Kate thought she had said it quietly enough not to be heard by him but he had walked back in.
“What does that mean?”
“At least I’m working.”
“What the fuck has that got to do with anything?” raged Darren.
“Maybe if you had a job you wouldn’t be hanging around here all the time and having to put up with ‘my shit’.”
“Someone has to be around here to take care of my son. God knows, you’re a shit mother.”
Nothing could be further from the truth but at the mention of their son Joe, Kate backed down. She knew where this argument would end. Darren would take Joe and leave him with his mum again, stopping Kate having access.
“Anyway, I’ve got some work so that should stop your constant whining,” retorted Darren when it was clear that Kate wasn’t going to react.
“Really? Running drugs again? Look where that got you last time.”
“Oh fuck off.” Darren had had enough of her smart mouth and left the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.
Part 2 – Summer 2000
14
Len took a look around the pub, making sure everything was as it should be before he departed for the hospital. He’d left instructions with Janice to keep an eye on Ryan, not that it would do much good he thought, that lad was a law unto himself.
“Where are ye?” he shouted down the stairs.
“Alright, I’m here for God’s sake,” answered Ryan, already impatient. “I was just checking there was enough petrol in the car.”
“Well hurry up, I’ve to be there for 9am.”
Ryan would be glad to see the back of his old man. The last couple of weeks had been fraught and with so much still to do, getting him out of the way would make life easier. Every time Ryan set foot in the pub or showed his face behind the bar there was Len; interfering, asking questions, challenging him on everything from where he’d been to how many fags he’d smoked. Still, ‘just one more hour,’ thought Ryan. Len came downstairs into the bar.
“Don’t forget the brewery deliver on a Monday. You need to put the order in on a Sunday.”
“Yeah dad, I know. You’ve said.” Ryan sighed and snatched the overnight case from Len’s hand. He made his way across the rear car park and opened the battered Vauxhall Vectra that was on its last legs. Len followed slowly behind, shouting instructions to Janice as he climbed into the passenger seat. Ryan started the engine on the third try and reversed out, Len already complaining about the speed and gear changes.
‘Not much longer,’ thought Ryan. ‘Not much longer at all.’
Over in Harbour Café the day had started on a very different note. Kate was trying to get ready to open the café but a very excited Joe was skipping and jumping around the flat, a bundle of excitement.
“Do you think I’ll need my binoculars?” he asked, stuffing them into his backpack without waiting for an answer.
Kate laughed. “Probably but if you don’t hurry up then you’ll miss the coach.” She grabbed his coat and tugged the backpack from his hands. “Finish your breakfast while I go put everything in the car.”
It was finally the day for the school trip to Applecross. It was only across the way but anyone would think Joe was going on a week’s holiday with the amount of stuff he’d shoved into his bag. As she turned the lights on in the café she took the chance to go through his bag and removed anything that he didn’t need. It felt incredibly heavy and she didn’t want him lugging it around. She unfastened the drawstrings at the top, and saw that he’d packed all his nature books, from bird watching to sea mammals. Smiling at his enthusiasm, she took the heavier books out and left them on the table. Joe came hurtling down the stairs and wasn’t too pleased to see his mum had removed his things. He started to complain when Kate reminded him that he still needed to add a drink and his packed lunch. Placated by the thought of taking food Joe shrugged his backpack on to his shoulder and fidgeted, willing his mum to get a move on.
“Mum, we’re going to be late.”
“No we’re not, and I just need to do a couple of things then we’ll be off, I promise.”
The workmen were due that morning to replace a couple of kitchen units that were in desperate need of repair. Adam had convinced Jack to have them replaced instead of just fixed and Kate was delighted to be having cupboards that didn’t need to be held closed with tape. She unlocked the rear exit door so the workmen could let themselves in then turned to Joe.
“Right you, come on. Let’s go.” They left by the front entrance and headed to the car. Thirty minutes later, with Joe safely on his way, Kate returned to the cafe and found that the workmen had already arrived.
“Morning Kate. On your own this morning?”
“Gill’s off today but Jack should be in at lunchtime. Coffee all round?” she asked them. She received a round of grateful acknowledgement and fired up the coffee machine. She set about her usual routine of cleaning and making sure all the tables had the full set of condiments. The café was quite large, with twelve tables, each seating up to six people. She’d reconfigured the layout not long after she had first started working there so that more tables could be fitted in, increasing the number of seats and the result had been an increase in takings. She’d added high stools by the panoramic window that looked out over the loch so people could sit and sip their coffee whilst watching the ever-changing view. Adam had suggested a couple of additions to the place that Kate hadn’t thought of; a display cabinet to sell Gill’s amazing cakes, and he’d even suggested adding a computer for customers and holidaymakers to use. Jack had been resistant until Kate pointed out that the longer people stayed the more drinks and food they would have. There was no question that Kate had brought the café kicking and screaming into the 21st century. She was just about to grab her own coffee when the café telephone rang. It was Morag from Gairloch Museum reminding her about the event that day, and asking if the sandwich order was ready to collect or would Jack be delivering it? Kate was thrown. She didn’t know anything about an order for the museum. They didn’t take many outside catering orders but the museum occasionally held visitor days and today was one of those days.
“Sorry Morag, Jack’s not here at the minute. What was your order again?” Morag ran though it, Kate’s shoulders dropped and she knew that she definitely didn’t know anything about it. Rather than admit her ignorance, and risk losing the income, she promised Morag it would be ready for 12pm and she would drop it off for them.
“Shit!” she said out loud. “Why today and why didn’t I know anything about it?” She was furious with Jack. Morag had placed the order a week ago. Kate didn’t even know if they had all the stock they would need. In a blind panic she went into the kitchen and was confronted with cupboard doors and workbenches. Dodging around the workmen she went through what she would need to fulfil the order. She could feel her anxiety rising and just as she was about to make a start the little bell above the cafe entrance tinkled. Wiping her hands down the front of her apron she went through to the seating area.
“Morning Kate, how are you?” It was Mr Wheeler.
“I’m good thanks, a bit stressed but what can I do for you?”
“I was just wondering if our hiking group could have lunch here today? The Old Inn have let us down.”
Before she knew what she was doing she agreed to a party of 15 for lunch. “Why? Why?” she said to herself as she walked back into the building site that was supposed to be a kitchen. ‘It’s two cupboard doors, how can it take so long,’ she thought. She went outside to find the workmen who were taking another break. “Do you think it will be much longer? It’s just that the café is about to get busy and I’ve got orders to make up.”
“Nae, another 15 minutes or so and we’ll be out of your way.” Thankfully they had moved the work bench outside. Good job health and safety weren’t due to call in. They’d visited last month and the café had received glowing reviews.
“Good stuff, thank you.” She went back inside and took a moment to assess what she had to do. She really needed Jack to come in earlier but he’d worked so much recently and had been fighting off some kind of cold for the last couple of weeks which might explain his recent moods. She had positively encouraged him to take a day off, and now she was regretting it.
‘Think, think,’ she thought, ‘Who else can help out?’ The first name that sprang to mind was Ryan but she was loathe to lean on him again, no matter how much he protested that he was happy to help out. He’d been such a lifesaver recently; helping with Joe, serving coffee when they were busy. She was sure he wouldn’t mind. She looked at the time. It was now 9.30am. Steeling herself, she dialled his mobile.
“Hey.”
“Hey Ryan, are you busy?”
Ryan looked around the hospital car park, trying to remember where the clapped-out banger was. “Erm, why?” he asked absently.
“I could really do with a hand at the cafe. I hate to ask but do you think you could help?”
Ryan closed his eyes and swore under his breath. He had other plans for the day, something that would take him closer to his goal but he also knew that for it to succeed he needed Kate to trust him. He sighed. “Yeah sure. Be there as soon as I can.” He hung up, found his car, and battered the hell out of the steering wheel, cursing out loud.
15
It was over an hour before Ryan showed up at the café. Kate was frantically working her way through the outside catering order when Ryan popped his head around the kitchen door.
“Kate, there’s people waiting to be served,” he said. He looked at Kate and saw that her face was glowing from the heat of the ovens and her hair, which was always a mass of frizzy red curls, had fallen out of the headband she used. She had butter across one cheek and a smudge of God only knows what over her forehead. She looked frazzled and it took all of Ryan’s effort not to laugh. He saw her inhale deeply and knew that look on her face, he’d seen it once before.
“Yes Ryan, thank you. Any chance you could take their orders?” She was trying really hard to keep her anxiety – and temper – under control.
Ryan took his jacket off and grabbed an order pad. “Thank you for helping out Ryan. Hey, thanks for pulling me out of the shit Ryan.” Sarcasm rolling off his tongue. Kate stopped what she was doing and looked at him.
Kate sighed, instantly realising how ungrateful she must have sounded. “Oh God. I’m so sorry.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s just been such a stressful morning. The museum phoned and I didn’t even know there was an order for today. Then Mr Wheeler…”
Ryan stopped her mid-sentence with a kiss on the lips. “Hey, shush. It’s fine, I was only taking the piss.” He pulled her to him and squeezed. “I’ll sort the customers out, you crack on with whatever you were doing.” He released her and, as she turned back to her task, he smacked her on the bottom. Kate turned, blushing, and shooed him out of the door. The rest of the morning carried on in a similar vein, with Ryan serving and Kate doing the cooking and orders in the kitchen. At 12pm she finally emerged with several trays of sandwiches, sausage rolls and quiches. After loading her car, she stepped back into the café just as Mr Wheeler and his hiking group were arriving.
“I’m just headed out, but Ryan is running the café for the time being. He’s expecting you so just go in and find yourself tables,” she called as she slammed the boot shut.
“Sure thing Kate. Thank you.” The hiking group pushed tables together and rearranged chairs so that they were all sat together. Once they had all decided what to have they waited patiently for Ryan to take their order.
At the museum, Kate unloaded the food with the help of volunteers and was just about to leave when Morag called out to her.
“Thank you Kate. I wasn’t sure if he had passed the order onto you to be honest so I’m glad it was no bother.”
“No problem Morag, I think Jack must be getting forgetful in his old age,” laughed Kate.
“Jack? Oh no dear, I left the order with that young man of yours. Ryan is it? Len Albright’s wee boy. Well no so wee these days but you know what I mean.”
“With Ryan? You left the order with Ryan?”
“Aye, you’d gone to pick the wean up from school when I popped in.”
“Oh right. Well, no bother. It’s all sorted now.”
“Well thanks again anyway.” Morag waved Kate off as she drove back to the café.
‘Ryan had taken the order. Why hadn’t he told me about it,’ she thought. She wondered what day it had been. Maybe he’d just forgotten or been busy. It was an easy mistake to make she reconciled but it didn’t stop her from feeling guilty at railing at Jack about it in her head all morning.
The Lie She Told: All Kate wanted was a peaceful life, all Ryan wanted to do was destroy it. (Thornes series Book 1) Page 6