A Time of Peace (33 page)

‘Aren't you supposed to be in Berlin?'

Jon turned at the sound of Andrew Stevenson's voice behind him.' I'm just on a flying visit to see the exhibition. What are you doing here?'

Andrew dragged him over to a wall where the
World Explorer
was mounted with a circle of photographs round it.

‘Good, don't you think?'

‘Very impressive.' And it was. No wonder the Chief was smiling. It was marvellous publicity for the paper and highlighted the intelligent coverage it had given to
the crisis. ‘I'm surprised she let you through the door after the way you've treated her.'

Andrew looked smug. ‘That's all behind us now. That girl knows what she's doing with a camera.'

‘Pity you didn't recognize that sooner,' Joel Perkins said over his shoulder.

Andrew groaned. ‘The boss never misses a chance to rub my nose in it. I admit I did make a mistake, but I managed to get her to work exclusively for us this time, and I'm sure she will in the future.'

‘So you did,' Joel conceded, taking hold of Jon's arm. ‘Come and have a drink and then you can tell me how things are in Berlin.'

They made their way over to the table, and Jon couldn't help noticing the smile Kate was bestowing on Gerhard. His friend hadn't wasted any time getting close to her, and by the way she was leaning towards him as he spoke, she obviously didn't mind one little bit. Of course you had to be near someone to hear what they were saying above the constant chatter, but that was of little consolation to him in this mood – he was jealous! He called himself a stupid bloody idiot and turned away from the sight. It didn't help when he saw the way Robert Sinclair was sticking to her side. This was only a temporary aberration; he would soon get over it.

Annie and Reid were serving at the makeshift bar and smiled when they saw him.

‘It's good to see you again.' Reid shook his hand. ‘What are you going to have?'

Jon eyed the bottles on the table. ‘Something strong?'

Annie was apologetic. ‘We've only got red or white wine.'

Reid winked at him, dived under the table and came up with a double whisky in a wine glass. ‘Sacrilege, I know, but we've only got wine glasses. Bill smuggled in the whisky.'

‘This will do just fine.' Jon took the drink and noticed that Reid, James and Bill had the same. He lifted his glass in a salute and grinned. The men in the family were quite clearly not wine drinkers.

He spent the next fifteen minutes or so telling Joel Perkins the unedited story of the Berlin crisis.

‘I'm pleased you looked after Kate. I would hate anything to happen to one of Rose's children.'

He looked sharply at his boss. ‘Do you know Rose, then?'

‘Yes. I was only around six when she swept into our life. I remember it as if it was only yesterday. Our street was a slum and was being knocked down, but my father was refusing to move. The bailiffs were at the door ready to burst their way in and throw us out. We were all terrified. It was then Rose Webster strode in, got the bailiffs to hold off while she persuaded my father to move to the new house. She was successful and my family never looked back after that. Without her help I don't know what would have happened to us. And it wasn't just us she helped: she was tireless in her efforts to get rid of the slums.' Joel gazed across at Rose with obvious affection. ‘Decent living conditions, education and rights under the law for women were her goals in life, and I know she has never stopped working for the underprivileged.'

Jon listened in fascination. The more he learnt of Rose and her family, the more he loved and respected them.

‘What she did that day opened the way for a better life for all of us, and I'm so grateful.'

Things were becoming clear to Jon now. ‘Is that why you gave Kate the job on the paper?'

‘When I saw her application I knew who she was and checked up on her credentials. When I found that she was a good photographer, I ordered Andrew to take her on. We had the most almighty row about it, but in the end he knew he didn't have a choice.' Joel's sigh was sad. ‘That was a big mistake because you know how Andrew hates women around the workplace.'

Jon emptied his glass, Reid quickly refilled it, and he nodded his thanks. ‘I bet he made her life difficult.'

‘No doubt, and she was right to leave, but it's all turned out for the best.' Joel chuckled. ‘She's got her own back by pinching Terry. He's working for her now.'

‘What?' Jon burst out laughing. ‘Good for her.'

His boss helped himself to another glass of red wine. ‘Andrew has found out the hard way that you don't mess with a member of that family and get away with it. Not even the quietest and most docile one. There's something in them that makes them rebel against injustice of any kind.'

‘I saw that in Berlin,' Jon agreed. ‘When I first spotted Kate, she was furious and trying to beat down the barrier.'

‘Separation from family and any kind of imprisonment would be two of the most heinous crimes to Kate.' Joel sipped his drink. ‘I'm relieved you were there at the time.'

Jon glanced across at the woman they were discussing, seeing her surrounded by family and friends. They were very important to her, and so must freedom be after her
kidnapping. He was glad he'd had this talk with his boss; he felt as if he understood Kate better now.

‘Beautiful, isn't she?' Joel said affectionately. ‘But you should have seen Rose as a young woman. She was something to behold, even to a snotty-nosed kid.'

Joel Perkins wandered off then to talk to someone else, and Jon caught sight of Terry, busy taking photos with Pete. He beckoned Terry over. ‘I hear you've jumped ship.'

‘Couldn't get out quick enough.' Terry took a picture of him, and then shook his hand vigorously. ‘Glad you could come tonight. Your friend seems to be staking his claim to Kate, but he's wasting his time.'

‘What makes you say that?'

Terry looked at him in amazement. ‘She almost died at the hands of Derek Howard. If you were a woman, would you trust a man again?'

Jon merely shook his head. That was so sad. Kate was a person who should love and be loved, with a family of her own around her. He only had to picture her with Eddie to know that. He spent too much time in dangerous situations not to understand what violence would do to a young woman like her. She would have been very badly shaken by the experience. He wasn't usually a religious man, but he prayed now that the damage would not be permanent.

But his fears soon passed when she looked him straight in the face. Her eyes were shining with happiness, without a shadow of the trauma or sadness he'd seen in them before. Clearly everyone was worrying unnecessarily. She was fine. He acknowledged her with a nod of his head and began talking to James, who had just joined him.

Kate was surrounded by people, so he decided not to fight his way over to her. His chance to see her would come later, he hoped.

‘Someone wants to buy one of your pictures.' Beth touched Kate's arm to gain her attention. ‘They'd like you to sign the back for them.'

‘Oh, right.' The two friends walked over to the alcove where the other photographs were on show.

When the transaction was completed, Beth looked up at her. ‘This is a great success. I wish I had a more exciting job.'

Kate laughed at her friend's disgusted expression. ‘I've already told you to leave and find something else.'

‘I'm sticking it out because I don't want to be out of work.' Beth waved her left hand in front of Kate's face. ‘I'm saving up.'

‘You're engaged!' She hugged Beth in delight. ‘When did this happen?'

‘Only yesterday.'

‘Why didn't you bring Steve along? We could have turned this into a celebration.'

‘He's got a rotten cold and didn't want to spread it around.'

‘What a shame. Never mind, when he's better we'll open a bottle of champagne.'

‘I'll keep you to that,' Beth laughed as she looked across the room. ‘Jon Devlin's a stunning man, isn't he? It's time you got yourself a steady boyfriend.'

‘He'd be anything but steady!' Kate snorted inelegantly. ‘And don't you start. I've already had Dad and Aunt Dora on at me.'

Beth giggled. ‘I'll go and talk to James. It's about time he got married as well.'

Kate groaned theatrically. ‘Have you been talking to my Aunt Dora?'

‘Of course.' Beth waved and disappeared into the crowd.

On Monday, Kate, Pete and Terry were back in the shop, elated with the success of the exhibition. Not only had it served to highlight the fate of Berlin, but they had all sold a few of their personal photographs. And it hadn't done their business any harm: bookings were flooding in. They were in good spirits and planning their next shop. Things couldn't be better, but underneath her happiness Kate could feel a knot of disappointment.

Gerhard had come straight over to see her, but Jon hadn't even bothered to talk to her. Apart from a quick acknowledgement from across the room, he'd spent the entire evening with other people. In Berlin she had believed they'd come to understand each other a little. It would have been lovely to discuss the pictures with him, and ask what he thought of the exhibition. She would have valued his opinion. Though why she should let his offhand conduct upset her was a mystery. He was obviously unsociable as well as unreliable.

‘Where shall we start looking for a new shop?'

Pete's question cut through her musing. They were sitting around the table in the back room with mugs of tea in front of them. Pete had joked that this was their first board meeting. ‘Have you any ideas, Terry? You're the one who'll be running it.'

‘Well, I live in Putney, so what about there?'

‘What do you think, Pete?' she asked.

‘Sounds good. We'll have a look and see what's available.'

‘You'll need a good assistant like Susan.' Kate gazed into space thoughtfully. ‘My friend Beth is looking for a new job.'

‘Oh, ask her if she's interested, then,' Terry said.

She grinned. ‘She's just got engaged, so I'm not sure how long she'll stay, but she's just the cheery sort you need in a shop.'

‘She sounds perfect.' Pete rubbed his hands in excitement. ‘You see your friend and we'll start on this right away.'

Kate finished her tea and put the mug down, grinning at the men. ‘We can afford really good premises with the money Andrew Stevenson paid me.'

Terry held up his mug in a mock salute. ‘I never thought I'd say this: good old Andrew.'

Kate and Pete roared at his comical expression. At that moment the shop bell tinkled, and Kate, knowing Susan was busy, stood up.

‘I'll get it.' She walked into the shop, and when she saw who it was didn't know if she felt pleased or angry. ‘Can I help you?' she asked politely.

Jon's gaze swept over her in a strictly masculine appraisal.

‘I've come to congratulate you on the exhibition.'

‘Really?' Her eyebrows rose in query. ‘And you couldn't have told me that on Friday evening?'

He frowned at her sarcastic tone. ‘I would have, if I could have got anywhere near you.'

‘Gerhard didn't have any trouble.' She still couldn't understand why his silly behaviour rankled so much.

‘Ah, well, he wouldn't have done.'

‘And what does that mean?' She was irritated now by his attitude.

He sighed and held his hands up in surrender. ‘I don't know what I've done. Can we start again? When I arrived I could hear you laughing, but one look at me, and you're spitting like a feral cat. I'll just go outside the door and come in again, eh?'

She watched him go out, close the door, wait for a couple of seconds, turn around twice and then come back in.

‘Hello, Kate,' he said with a cheerful smile. ‘I just came to congratulate you on that marvellous exhibition.'

This was ridiculous! Laughter bubbled inside her; the man was a fool. She had the grace to be ashamed of her sharp tongue; it wasn't like her to snap at people. But then, she was doing a lot of things she'd never done before.

‘That's very kind of you,' she replied, fighting to keep a straight face.

‘Go on, smile, it won't hurt you,' he teased.

Her mouth turned up at the corners. ‘Sorry I was so waspish, but I was disappointed that we didn't walk around and discuss the pictures. Most of them were taken while I was with you and I wanted to know what you thought of them. By the time the crowd had thinned out, you'd gone.'

‘I looked at them. They were excellent. You get so much feeling into your photographs. You have a lot of emotional sensitivity when you're taking photos, and it comes out in the finished pictures.'

‘Thank you.' She was pleased with the compliment, for she knew he didn't say anything he didn't mean.

‘Now that's settled and we can talk politely, will you have lunch with me?'

When she didn't answer, he raised an eyebrow in query. ‘Does that smile mean yes?'

‘I'll get my bag.'

As they walked up the road to the restaurant, she asked, ‘Is Gerhard joining us?'

‘No, he's had to return to Berlin. He's still looking for some way to rescue his parents, so he doesn't want to be away too long.'

‘It must be dreadful for him.' Kate could understand his worry. ‘It was good to see him again anyway.'

‘Hmm,' was the only reply.

‘Are you returning there soon, or going on somewhere else?' she asked.

‘I expect I'll go back to Berlin eventually, but I've decided to take a couple of weeks off now I'm back. I've earned a rest.'

It was an enjoyable meal. They talked about the children, Berlin, his job, her work, and a wide variety of subjects. By the time he walked her back to the shop she was completely relaxed in his company.

‘Thank you for lunch,' she told him when they reached the door.

‘It was my pleasure.' Keeping his hands to his sides, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers in a brief kiss.

It was an intoxicating feeling and she closed her eyes for a moment. The kiss had been so soft and fleeting, but it had also been warm and sensual – and completely
non-threatening. Her heart seemed to swell inside her. With the right man, there wouldn't be anything to fear.

After giving her a searching look, as if trying to gauge her reaction, he smiled and walked away.

Kate watched him stride towards the high street. He walked straight, with his head up, and even from here she could sense his strength, not only in body but also in character. This was a man you could rely on, but not one to fall in love with. If she did eventually marry, she would want a man who was around most of the time, not one who kept chasing wars.

He turned the corner and disappeared from sight, but she still stood in the same spot, deep in thought. It would be foolhardy to love him, because he was as transitory as the wind, moving from place to place all the time. Touching the lives of others briefly, and then off again.

The next week flew by. Beth had jumped at the chance to work at the new shop; Terry had interviewed her and was quite happy. And to make things even better, Terry had just told them that as there was a new shop for him to run, he was going to stay with them. There was no sign of Jon, so Kate assumed he'd gone back to Berlin. After their lunch together, followed by a sleepless night, she had to acknowledge that she was attracted to him. Her feelings for him had begun to change in Berlin, so slowly that she hadn't realized it was happening. It was hopeless, of course – he wouldn't stay in one place long enough to put down roots. His work was the most important thing to him, and whoever fell in love with him would have to accept that. She wasn't sure she could. Anyway, she told herself firmly, he was not the settling-down
kind, and, although he was showing some liking for her, she doubted if he would ever love a woman enough to make him change direction. He was obviously used to walking alone, and that was the way he seemed to like it. She smiled when she remembered how he'd looked after her in Berlin. What a nuisance she must have been to him.

All her careful reasoning didn't change one fact, though: she was greatly attracted to him and would love to get to know him better. However, there was little chance of that.

Taking firm control of her thoughts and emotions, she sang to herself as she worked in the darkroom. They'd found a perfect shop in Putney, and it would be ready for Terry and Beth in a couple of weeks. Pete was in his element arranging everything, and it made Kate happy to see them all so enthusiastic.

But there was one thing above all else that made her buoyant with hope for the future. That kiss Jon had given her had been wonderfully liberating, for she now knew that she could fall in love. Jon had shown her that the past really was behind her.

Kate's sigh, although one of contentment, also carried a hint of sadness. She could love a man, need his touch, want his body close to hers, and long to hold his child in her arms, and that was cause for enormous relief. She could only be happy about that, but sad that it wouldn't be Jon. However, the events of this year had made her stronger, more able to cope with disappointment. Jon Devlin had been an angel in disguise, waking her from a nightmare, and she would always love him for that alone. It was a mystery when her feelings for him had changed
to love, for there was no denying that now. One minute she had been fighting with him, and the next she had wanted him near her.

She switched on the main light and went to put the kettle on for a cup of tea. It was a surprise when her brother came into the back room. She had never seen him so grim and upset.

‘What is it, James?' She touched his arm in concern, and he placed his hand over hers.

‘You have to come with me, Kate.' His voice was husky, as if he found it difficult to speak. ‘Dad's had a heart attack. They've taken him to St George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner.'

She could feel shock and disbelief surging through her, making her legs shake.

‘We must hurry,' James urged.

‘How bad?' She had found her voice at last.

The despairing shake of his head told her all she needed to know, and she was running out of the shop towards his car.

The journey was accomplished in silence, except for the muttered expletives from James every time they had slow traffic in front of them. They swept up to the main entrance and, leaving the car where it was, hurried into the hospital.

‘Where is he? Where is he?' Kate spun in a complete circle, her insides tight with panic. There were so many different ways to go!

James took her arm. ‘I know, come on.'

As they hurried along a seemingly endless corridor, Kate stopped as if she'd hit a solid wall, wrapped her arms around her middle and doubled over.

‘What's the matter?' her brother asked in alarm.

She wasn't sure. It wasn't a physical pain; it was as if something had left her, leaving an empty space inside her. She gave James a tortured look and shook her head in denial, not wanting to believe what her instinct was telling her. She had always been tuned in to her father, and it felt as if he had just touched her. She straightened up and ran the rest of the way. She had to get to him!

The first bed in the ward had the curtains pulled around it, and she knew that her father was there. She pulled aside the curtain. A doctor was bending over the bed and her mother was sitting there, head bowed and absolutely still. The doctor moved back and she saw her father. His eyes were closed, and there was such a look of peace on his face that it took her breath away. But the man she had loved so dearly all her life was not there. He had left them – and she hadn't been here. She should have been with him!

Her mother looked up as they came in, her face a mask of self-control. ‘He's gone.'

Kate went to the other side of the bed and sank to her knees, taking hold of her father's hand and cradling it to her cheek. ‘I'm so sorry I wasn't here,' she whispered, her voice husky. ‘If there's any way you can hear me, then know that I will always love you.'

James placed his arm around her shoulder. ‘Let me take you and Mum home. I'll see to everything.'

They walked out of the hospital, one on each side of their mother, and Kate was so numb she couldn't even shed a tear. Life without her father was something she couldn't grasp, and she suspected that her mother and James were struggling with the same disbelief.

When they arrived back home, Annie and Reid were waiting for them. James had phoned everyone as soon as he had heard, but he'd asked them not to come to the hospital until they knew how Bill was. One look at their faces as they walked in told them the bad news.

‘Oh, dear God.' Reid gathered Rose and Kate to him. ‘I'm so sorry.'

Annie then hugged them, obviously fighting to keep the tears at bay. Then Annie put the kettle on and Kate laid out the cups, her hands shaking from the shock, but she was glad of a feeling of numbness, because when she thawed out the pain would be intolerable. Her life had turned around just lately and she had been happy again, but even her worst nightmare could not be as devastating as this. There still weren't any tears, but they were just underneath the surface now and fighting to spill out. She looked around at the solemn faces of her family and hoped she could keep control until she was alone. Her mother was her usual stoic self. Kate knew her well enough to recognize that the protective front was firmly in place. She mustn't break down and put more strain on her mother.