CHAPTER 10
If her family and friends had thought the memorial would give some closure to Kate and help her move on they were sorely mistaken. Over the weeks that followed Kate’s moods became darker and more erratic and they became increasingly concerned. All any of them could do was call, try and talk to her and let her know they were there for her. Despite protestations from Rose in particular, she refused to see a professional to try and help her deal with everything she was feeling and everyone was finding it increasingly difficult to understand the mood fluctuations.
Kate still spent most of her time in her room, venturing out once or twice a week on the good weeks. Dan’s clothes still held pride of place in their walk in closet and Alexs room was untouched from the day he had last been there.
Jack and Kate were having dinner in the Trocadero nearly two months after the memorial. Christmas was closing in fast and the winter nights were cold and dark. Kate felt they suited her mood just fine.
‘I thought you might like to see what Jeremy and I have been doing and talk about the investigation a little.’
‘Unless you can tell me they’ve arrested the bastards that killed my family then I really don’t think I need to know anything else.’
Kate’s anger was once again bubbling over.
‘Now Kate, please. I want to have a nice dinner with you.’
‘Then why did you bring it up?’ she asked abruptly.
‘Because I think it’s important for you to get involved in this. And quite frankly I thought you’d appreciate the amount of work Jeremy and I have been doing.’ Jack was indignant now.
Taken aback at her Dads tone Kate backed down.
‘I’m sorry. I guess it’s not easy to hear all the details and it’s just a constant reminder that they’re gone and nobody will be punished for it.’
‘That’s only true love if you and others like you don’t get involved. The more group pressure we can put on our Government as well as the Spanish authorities the more chance we have to get these terrorists. That’s all the ECF are, no matter what they say about fighting for the freedom of their people.’
‘What can I do though Dad? With all due respect the Spanish investigators are not interested in listening to little old me. They have bigger fish to fry. I’m not someone of importance to them.’
‘That’s not true love and it’s unfair. I’ve met some of the guys working on this. They are dedicated men, many have families of their own. They want to see these guys brought to justice just as much as you or I and in some cases more so. Some of their comrades in the Policia were killed. That doesn’t sit well with them. Neither does the amount of children killed. One hundred and seventy eight kids that day love. That’s one hundred and seventy eight families just like ours, devastated because they lost their own Alex. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
Kate lowered her head lost in her sadness.
‘The committee are discussing an appropriate memorial. Don’t you think you should be involved in that process?’
‘I don’t know Dad, I don’t want to remember them there. Sometimes I think if I concentrate hard enough I can wipe away the thought that it even happened. I hate thinking that they may have felt an ounce of pain.’
Jack placed his hand over Kate's, 'I understand love.'
The waiter approached their table.
‘Lamb Shank with colcannon, red wine and shallot jus?’
‘That’s mine thanks.’ The waiter placed the food in front of Kate.
‘The ultimate comfort food’ she thought.
Jacks lamb chops with rosemary home fries and broccoli rabe was placed in front of him.
‘Thank you,’ Jack said as the waiter retreated.
‘Looks great, doesn’t it? Jack enquired of Kate.
‘Yes, in fact you may be right, it’s probably just what I needed. I can’t seem to do what’s good for me at the moment so thanks dad’.
‘My pleasure love. I won’t go on about this, but promise me you will at least think about getting involved?’
‘I will, I’ll think about it, I promise.’
‘That’s all I ask’ said Jack. He lifted his red wine and toasted.
‘To Justice.’
‘To Justice.’
Kate still spent most of her time in her room, venturing out once or twice a week on the good weeks. Dan’s clothes still held pride of place in their walk in closet and Alexs room was untouched from the day he had last been there.
Jack and Kate were having dinner in the Trocadero nearly two months after the memorial. Christmas was closing in fast and the winter nights were cold and dark. Kate felt they suited her mood just fine.
‘I thought you might like to see what Jeremy and I have been doing and talk about the investigation a little.’
‘Unless you can tell me they’ve arrested the bastards that killed my family then I really don’t think I need to know anything else.’
Kate’s anger was once again bubbling over.
‘Now Kate, please. I want to have a nice dinner with you.’
‘Then why did you bring it up?’ she asked abruptly.
‘Because I think it’s important for you to get involved in this. And quite frankly I thought you’d appreciate the amount of work Jeremy and I have been doing.’ Jack was indignant now.
Taken aback at her Dads tone Kate backed down.
‘I’m sorry. I guess it’s not easy to hear all the details and it’s just a constant reminder that they’re gone and nobody will be punished for it.’
‘That’s only true love if you and others like you don’t get involved. The more group pressure we can put on our Government as well as the Spanish authorities the more chance we have to get these terrorists. That’s all the ECF are, no matter what they say about fighting for the freedom of their people.’
‘What can I do though Dad? With all due respect the Spanish investigators are not interested in listening to little old me. They have bigger fish to fry. I’m not someone of importance to them.’
‘That’s not true love and it’s unfair. I’ve met some of the guys working on this. They are dedicated men, many have families of their own. They want to see these guys brought to justice just as much as you or I and in some cases more so. Some of their comrades in the Policia were killed. That doesn’t sit well with them. Neither does the amount of children killed. One hundred and seventy eight kids that day love. That’s one hundred and seventy eight families just like ours, devastated because they lost their own Alex. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’
Kate lowered her head lost in her sadness.
‘The committee are discussing an appropriate memorial. Don’t you think you should be involved in that process?’
‘I don’t know Dad, I don’t want to remember them there. Sometimes I think if I concentrate hard enough I can wipe away the thought that it even happened. I hate thinking that they may have felt an ounce of pain.’
Jack placed his hand over Kate's, 'I understand love.'
The waiter approached their table.
‘Lamb Shank with colcannon, red wine and shallot jus?’
‘That’s mine thanks.’ The waiter placed the food in front of Kate.
‘The ultimate comfort food’ she thought.
Jacks lamb chops with rosemary home fries and broccoli rabe was placed in front of him.
‘Thank you,’ Jack said as the waiter retreated.
‘Looks great, doesn’t it? Jack enquired of Kate.
‘Yes, in fact you may be right, it’s probably just what I needed. I can’t seem to do what’s good for me at the moment so thanks dad’.
‘My pleasure love. I won’t go on about this, but promise me you will at least think about getting involved?’
‘I will, I’ll think about it, I promise.’
‘That’s all I ask’ said Jack. He lifted his red wine and toasted.
‘To Justice.’
‘To Justice.’
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