Everything We Keep by Di Walker (inspirational books .TXT) 📕

Agatha looked at Katherine, who shrugged and said, ‘It’s your decision. Lawson and I will support you whatever you decide.’

Agatha’s hands twisted in her lap. ‘Okay. I’ll go.’

Katherine lent forward and placed her hand on Agatha’s arm. ‘Good decision,’ she whispered. They both looked at Nell.

‘Right, well I’ll head back to the office and start things rolling. I’m also going to go back to your house and talk to your mum and dad. I want them to know what’s going on and that you’re okay.’ She looked down at her watch. ‘I don’t think there’ll be any decision today and because tomorrow is the weekend, I doubt I’ll have an answer for you until Monday. Sorry about that.’ But Nell’s smile told Agatha that she wasn’t really sorry.

Katherine and Agatha stood together and watched Nell leave. Once her car was out of sight Katherine turned to Agatha. ‘Well, I didn’t plan all this happening when I got up this morning, but I’m really glad it did.’

‘I’m really tired.’

‘Then why don’t we find a movie to watch and put out feet up? Oh, feet! Let’s go and check on Rita first. I’d nearly forgotten all about her. Not such a great neighbour, am I?’

‘I think you are, Katherine.’

17

Agatha was awake before the zero six hundred alarm sounded. She sprang out of bed and found her walking clothes and runners in the wardrobe. She had deliberately left them behind when Nell had taken her home. She hadn’t wanted them to disappear into a pile.

A small whining noise at her door told her that Chief was up which meant that Katherine was probably getting ready too. Tying her laces quickly, Agatha opened her door. Chief bounced in, ran around her then out again. She followed him down the hallway and found Katherine in the kitchen, finishing a cup of tea.

‘Ready?’ Katherine asked.

‘Sure.’

‘Here, I have something for you,’ Katherine handed Agatha a cap. ‘I had a spare and thought you might like it. I should have given it to you ages ago.’

Agatha held the cap in her hand and ran her fingers along the rim. It was dark blue with NAVY written in a bright white and a gold Royal Australian Navy emblem on the front. Agatha immediately recognised it.

‘One like Lawson’s. The one he wears sailing on the bay,’ she said, pulling her long hair into a ponytail and threading it through the back as she pulled the cap on. She had never met Lawson but felt like she knew him from all of the photos she had seen, and the stories Katherine had told her. His slightly faded sailing cap hung on a hook near the back door.

‘Fits perfectly. Like mine,’ Katherine said as she tapped the top of her cap and smiled.

‘Thanks Katherine.’

Katherine stepped closer and made a slight adjustment to the positioning of the cap. ‘My pleasure.’

From the side table in the hall, Katherine picked up Chief’s lead put the spare key in her pocket and the trio headed off, into the cool morning air.

They weren’t the only ones.

Saturday mornings in Sandy Vale were busy. The near empty path that Agatha had walked the day before was now busy with early morning joggers and walkers, all getting their exercise done while it was still cool. Chief wasn’t the only dog out for a walk. He scurried along, but unlike other dogs, didn’t pull on his lead when another dog approached. He walked with an air of command, yet his tail gave away his excitement. Occasionally a bike rider approached, swerved around them and kept going.

Agatha recognised quite a few dogs, and sometimes their owners. Katherine set a brisk pace. She had told Agatha that there are two types of walks; a stroll to enjoy some fresh air and the view and a real walk to get some exercise. This was definitely the latter.

They went past the tree with the bench, around several bends and kept on going. The path got wider and busier.

‘Let’s go down to the sand, over there,’ Katherine said, pointing to steps up ahead, that lead down to the sandy beach. Once at the bottom, Katherine let Chief free to chase the seagulls that were standing on the wet sand left by the small lapping waves while she and Agatha took of their runners and socks and headed for the water.

‘This is my favourite part,’ Katherine said, as she moved her feet around in the bay water. ‘We should come for a morning swim one time. What do you think?’

Agatha shrugged. Katherine knew what her different shrugs meant. This one said maybe.

Agatha turned to look at Chief, also getting his feet wet, but not venturing in to where they were. Katherine stood looking out at the bay. She let out a long soft sigh. ‘Let’s walk back along the beach, a slower pace.’

‘Sure.’

The morning light was strengthening and the breeze from the bay kept them cool. Katherine walked along the water’s edge whilst Agatha gently kicked her way through the ankle-deep water. She watched her feet take every step, the salty water splashing onto her legs. She let out a laugh and then caught it, not sure if she should be happy.

‘Look Agatha,’ Katherine said, pointing further ahead.

Chief had raced ahead and met another two dogs, about his size and the three were running in circles, so fast the they occasionally slipped in the soft sand.

Katherine picked up her walking pace and soon caught up to him. The other owner was laughing at her dogs and Chief’s game.

‘Morning,’ Agatha heard Katherine say. She hesitated to join the conversation, swirling her foot in the small waves that were lapping along the shore. By the time she reached Katherine, the brief conversation with the other owner was over and they continued on.

‘I like watching Chief run on the beach,’ Katherine said. ‘It’s like pure joy.’

‘He’ll sleep all day after that, won’t he?’

‘He sure will. Come on. Home for breakfast. And we better