Read Online The Family Tree by Isla Evans - Free Book Online Page B

Without yelling.’
    Kate was washed by a wave of relief, which gave her the momentum to push Hector off her lap and get up. She crossed over to the chair while the dog followed, settling himself underneath the table. Kate sat down, watching Sam. ‘I thought you weren’t speaking to me.’
    â€˜I wasn’t. Then I thought we can’t just leave it like that.’ He looked at her expressionlessly for a moment. ‘You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜So let me get it straight. You want to rent Angie’s room and move in for six months to write a book. Then you’ll move back and everything’ll be the way it was.’
    â€˜Except then I’ll have done it. Or not done it. But at least I’ll know.’
    â€˜Maybe.’ Sam stared over her shoulder for a few moments, and then sighed. ‘Look, I won’t pretend to understand why you can’t write here. If you can do your editing here, I don’t see why you can’t write as well.’
    â€˜There’s too many . . . distractions.’ Kate stared into her glass, the red wine glimmering like liquid rubies. She tried to be honest. ‘Or maybe I’m just using them as an excuse. I don’t know.’
    â€˜But you want to find out.’
    Kate looked up, nodding. ‘Yes! That’s exactly it!’ She felt washed by a wave of relief that he might understand. ‘And about the bungalow –’
    â€˜I know.’
    â€˜I didn’t have a choice, did I? I mean, Shelley needed us. But I thought you knew how much I appreciated it. And I really did. Enormously.’
    â€˜I know,’ repeated Sam, glancing towards the building in question. ‘And I also know you
had
to give it over to Shell. But that doesn’t help things here, does it?’
    â€˜No, not really.’
    â€˜Listen, I have to ask. Has this got anything to do with your father? I don’t mean the units, I mean like a . . . you know, a sort of reaction to his –’
    â€˜No,’ replied Kate shortly. ‘Certainly not.’
    Sam held her gaze. ‘Look, I’m not trying to belittle the fact you’ve always wanted to write. I
know
that. But it just seems to me it only started becoming . . . well, an
obsession
last year. Which makes me wonder if –’
    â€˜Nothing to do with it. Totally separate.’
    â€˜Oh. Okay.’ Sam gave a slight shrug. ‘Well then, I’m pretty well stuffed either way, aren’t I?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’ Kate injected a questioning tone into her voice but really, she knew exactly what he meant. And she sympathised, just not enough to show it.
    â€˜Well, I either agree and go along with all this, or I don’t – which means I force you to make a choice.’ Sam paused, looking at Kate searchingly. When she didn’t respond, he smiled grimly and nodded, as if confirming something to himself.
    The silence lengthened uncomfortably as Kate searched for something reassuring to say. Something that would let him know that her feelings for him were unrelated to this. Absolutely divorced. But she couldn’t find the right words, and the only ones that came to mind rang with meaninglessness, even before they were spoken.
    â€˜So go for it.’ Sam spoke offhand, but with an edge of bitterness that made Kate flinch. He turned back to her. ‘But I want one promise in return. If you’re still unhappy after the six months are up, whether or not you’ve written a bloody book, then I want your word you’ll go and see someone. Okay?’
    Kate felt a flare of irritation but forced herself to nod. ‘It
is
the writing though, Sam. And I
have
to know. Do you see that?’
    â€˜Oh, I don’t doubt the writing’s important. It’s just I still –’ Sam broke off abruptly as the sliding door rattled open again and Caleb came through with a can of