CHAPTER 27
A few days later she was in Kates’ house after work.
‘Kate said she wouldn’t know where to start,’ thought Rachel. So she decided it was time to take a different approach.
‘Why don’t we go away for a weekend. We could get a few of the girls together and do whatever you want. Something rejuvenating maybe?’ Rachel tested the waters.
‘Where?’ Kate looked disinterested.
‘We could do a spa weekend or an adventure one, whatever takes your fancy.’
‘Marge suggested I should do a retreat!’
‘That’s not quite what I had in mind!’ Rachel and Kate laughed.
‘Why don’t we go to a nice spa, somewhere with fabulous food and pamper ourselves all weekend? Sue and Kelly would come at the drop of a hat.’
‘Yeh, that sounds like fun. I’d love to.’
This is a good sign she thought.
‘Why don’t we go online and choose somewhere now. We can call the girls and get it sorted. I’m free next weekend’ Rachel said hopefully. She wanted to make sure Kate didn’t have any chance of changing her mind.
‘I heard Brooklodge in Wicklow is fantastic. I’m sure they have a spa.’
‘Super’ said Rachel, let’s go do this girlfriend.’ She smiled at Kate as they went into the home office and got online.
‘I’ll buzz the girls you start looking it up.’
Half an hour later everything was booked and paid for. Susan and Kelly were thrilled to be asked to go and delighted that Kate was making an effort. They agreed with Rachel that this could be just what she needed to see that life goes on outside of her world and remind her what she was missing out on. It was time.
‘Kate said she wouldn’t know where to start,’ thought Rachel. So she decided it was time to take a different approach.
‘Why don’t we go away for a weekend. We could get a few of the girls together and do whatever you want. Something rejuvenating maybe?’ Rachel tested the waters.
‘Where?’ Kate looked disinterested.
‘We could do a spa weekend or an adventure one, whatever takes your fancy.’
‘Marge suggested I should do a retreat!’
‘That’s not quite what I had in mind!’ Rachel and Kate laughed.
‘Why don’t we go to a nice spa, somewhere with fabulous food and pamper ourselves all weekend? Sue and Kelly would come at the drop of a hat.’
‘Yeh, that sounds like fun. I’d love to.’
This is a good sign she thought.
‘Why don’t we go online and choose somewhere now. We can call the girls and get it sorted. I’m free next weekend’ Rachel said hopefully. She wanted to make sure Kate didn’t have any chance of changing her mind.
‘I heard Brooklodge in Wicklow is fantastic. I’m sure they have a spa.’
‘Super’ said Rachel, let’s go do this girlfriend.’ She smiled at Kate as they went into the home office and got online.
‘I’ll buzz the girls you start looking it up.’
Half an hour later everything was booked and paid for. Susan and Kelly were thrilled to be asked to go and delighted that Kate was making an effort. They agreed with Rachel that this could be just what she needed to see that life goes on outside of her world and remind her what she was missing out on. It was time.
***
They arrived in Brooklodge early Friday afternoon. They had taken half days in work to miss the commuter traffic to Wicklow, and had arrived ready for plenty of relaxing. Unpacking in their room Rachel nonchantly brought up the subject of Dan and Alex.
‘You know whenever you want to talk about them I’m here Kate.’
‘What?’
‘Dan and Alex, you haven’t spoken about them in a while. So I’m just saying if you want to talk don’t feel that you can’t.’
‘Thanks Rach.’ Kate was silent for a few moments as she hung her clothes for the weekend in the wardrobe and put her toiletries in the bathroom. She returned to the bedroom and sat at the edge of the bed with her back to Rachel. In a soft whisper she said.
‘I don’t know how to move on. I thought when I put the pictures away it would be the start and things would just happen. It’s as if I’m stuck in this space, a kind of limbo, I can’t go back to our lives before they were killed but I can’t seem to move on.’ Tears were falling softly down her cheeks, her head was bowed and her arms lay lifeless at her sides.
Rachel looked tenderly at her friend, sat beside her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
‘Kate, the only way you can move on with your life is by taking baby steps. Don’t try and think of this as a big giant thing that you have to do because you will never be able to do it. Think baby steps, small things that eventually add up to creating your new life.’
Kate turned her head and her sad eyes looked into Rachel’s.
‘I don’t even know what the first small step should be.’
‘Yes you do,’ Rachel said softly, ‘it’s inside you. Making a decision which makes you feel good and doesn’t jar against who you are is the first step. You did it by sorting out the photos, tidying away things in your room and also by coming here with us this weekend.’
‘Do you think so?’ Kate ask hopefully.
Rachel gently wiped the tears from her friends cheeks and drew her into a hug.
‘Yes I really do.’
‘Have you thought about what you are going to do about James?’
‘No, not yet. That’s another day’s work.’
‘Sure,’ said Rachel, not wishing to rock the boat.
They went for dinner that evening in Actons on the hotel grounds. It had been so long since they had gotten away they each had so much to fill the other in on that the time flew by. Rachel stealed a glance at Kate at one point through the evening and was thrilled to see her laughing at a joke Sue had just cracked.
‘That’s it’ thought Rachel. We are on the right road.
The following morning they went horse riding in the hills behind the hotel. The sun was shining and the crisp breeze helped wake them all after they had overdone it on cocktails the night before. Kelly was the more accomplished of the four of them and galloped on ahead. Sue, Kate and Rachel felt more comfortable trotting along the dirt track taking in the scenery.
‘It really is a wonderful feeling of freedom being up here isn’t it?’ Susan looked back at the two girls.
‘Ye it feels great.’ Replied Rachel. ‘How are you getting on Kate?’ Rachel looked behind her.
‘Super, in fact I haven’t felt this relaxed and happy in a long time. Thank you so much.’
‘Nothing to thank us for. Were just thrilled you agreed to come. We want you to know we are here for you pet no matter what way you are feeling and even if it’s just a few days away then you can count on us. Now if you were to also show you’re deep appreciation with a couple of free massages and facials we wouldn’t have any qualms about accepting them!’ laughed Rachel.
‘Rachel’ exclaimed Susan. ‘Don’t mind her Kate. You know we love you and we will pay for our own treatments! Although a free dinner wouldn’t go amiss!’ Kate found herself laughing with her friends and decided she liked how it felt.
‘This trip has been a blessing in disguise,’ she thought.
The rest of the weekend was everything Rachel hoped it would be. Kate continued to join in when they went swimming and drank champagne in the Jacuzzi. They got massages to help ease the aches after their horse riding and had to be asked to leave the tranquility room because their laughter was affecting other guests. They enjoyed a sumptuous meal in the hotels Strawberry Tree Organic restaurant and on the last day they took a long walk through the Wicklow countryside. By the end of the weekend Rachel could have sworn she saw a flicker of light return behind Kate’s eyes.
‘That’s good enough for now,’ she thought.
‘You know whenever you want to talk about them I’m here Kate.’
‘What?’
‘Dan and Alex, you haven’t spoken about them in a while. So I’m just saying if you want to talk don’t feel that you can’t.’
‘Thanks Rach.’ Kate was silent for a few moments as she hung her clothes for the weekend in the wardrobe and put her toiletries in the bathroom. She returned to the bedroom and sat at the edge of the bed with her back to Rachel. In a soft whisper she said.
‘I don’t know how to move on. I thought when I put the pictures away it would be the start and things would just happen. It’s as if I’m stuck in this space, a kind of limbo, I can’t go back to our lives before they were killed but I can’t seem to move on.’ Tears were falling softly down her cheeks, her head was bowed and her arms lay lifeless at her sides.
Rachel looked tenderly at her friend, sat beside her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
‘Kate, the only way you can move on with your life is by taking baby steps. Don’t try and think of this as a big giant thing that you have to do because you will never be able to do it. Think baby steps, small things that eventually add up to creating your new life.’
Kate turned her head and her sad eyes looked into Rachel’s.
‘I don’t even know what the first small step should be.’
‘Yes you do,’ Rachel said softly, ‘it’s inside you. Making a decision which makes you feel good and doesn’t jar against who you are is the first step. You did it by sorting out the photos, tidying away things in your room and also by coming here with us this weekend.’
‘Do you think so?’ Kate ask hopefully.
Rachel gently wiped the tears from her friends cheeks and drew her into a hug.
‘Yes I really do.’
‘Have you thought about what you are going to do about James?’
‘No, not yet. That’s another day’s work.’
‘Sure,’ said Rachel, not wishing to rock the boat.
They went for dinner that evening in Actons on the hotel grounds. It had been so long since they had gotten away they each had so much to fill the other in on that the time flew by. Rachel stealed a glance at Kate at one point through the evening and was thrilled to see her laughing at a joke Sue had just cracked.
‘That’s it’ thought Rachel. We are on the right road.
The following morning they went horse riding in the hills behind the hotel. The sun was shining and the crisp breeze helped wake them all after they had overdone it on cocktails the night before. Kelly was the more accomplished of the four of them and galloped on ahead. Sue, Kate and Rachel felt more comfortable trotting along the dirt track taking in the scenery.
‘It really is a wonderful feeling of freedom being up here isn’t it?’ Susan looked back at the two girls.
‘Ye it feels great.’ Replied Rachel. ‘How are you getting on Kate?’ Rachel looked behind her.
‘Super, in fact I haven’t felt this relaxed and happy in a long time. Thank you so much.’
‘Nothing to thank us for. Were just thrilled you agreed to come. We want you to know we are here for you pet no matter what way you are feeling and even if it’s just a few days away then you can count on us. Now if you were to also show you’re deep appreciation with a couple of free massages and facials we wouldn’t have any qualms about accepting them!’ laughed Rachel.
‘Rachel’ exclaimed Susan. ‘Don’t mind her Kate. You know we love you and we will pay for our own treatments! Although a free dinner wouldn’t go amiss!’ Kate found herself laughing with her friends and decided she liked how it felt.
‘This trip has been a blessing in disguise,’ she thought.
The rest of the weekend was everything Rachel hoped it would be. Kate continued to join in when they went swimming and drank champagne in the Jacuzzi. They got massages to help ease the aches after their horse riding and had to be asked to leave the tranquility room because their laughter was affecting other guests. They enjoyed a sumptuous meal in the hotels Strawberry Tree Organic restaurant and on the last day they took a long walk through the Wicklow countryside. By the end of the weekend Rachel could have sworn she saw a flicker of light return behind Kate’s eyes.
‘That’s good enough for now,’ she thought.
***
When she returned Jack and Rose noticed it to.
‘Jeremy I’m telling you it’s like our Katie has come home. Isn’t that right Rose?’
‘Yes, definitely.’ Said Rose excitedly as she placed the teapot on the table. ‘It’s a transformation the likes of which I’ve never seen before.’
‘No word of a lie. It’s like the girl that’s been there for the past year and a half has left and in her place they have put Katie. I have no idea what those girls did for the weekend but whatever it is they need to bottle it and sell it.’
‘Good stuff Jack. That’s great news. Do you think it will last?’
‘Let’s hope so, let’s just hope so.’
‘Jeremy I’m telling you it’s like our Katie has come home. Isn’t that right Rose?’
‘Yes, definitely.’ Said Rose excitedly as she placed the teapot on the table. ‘It’s a transformation the likes of which I’ve never seen before.’
‘No word of a lie. It’s like the girl that’s been there for the past year and a half has left and in her place they have put Katie. I have no idea what those girls did for the weekend but whatever it is they need to bottle it and sell it.’
‘Good stuff Jack. That’s great news. Do you think it will last?’
‘Let’s hope so, let’s just hope so.’
***
The following week in work Rachel and Kate went for lunch.
‘Rach, I don’t know what to say to you. I feel that thank you isn’t enough.’
‘For what?’
‘For giving me back myself.’ Kate’s words caught in her throat.
‘Oh, no way. I’m not taking any credit. It’s all you Kate MaGuire, all you. All I did was nag you until you decided enough was enough. But you pulled yourself up. Each step you take from here is as important as the last.’
‘I know. I just feel so grateful. I’m afraid to get too excited because I think I may go backwards and I don’t want to. I really don’t. I want to keep moving in this direction.’
‘Well then that’s what will happen. Kate you just need to accept it and let it happen. Don’t fight the happiness. You deserve to get your life back and you are making the right decisions to make that happen.’
‘But I’m not sure what I did, so what if I go back to feeling the way I was?’ Kate looked scared.
‘That’s just it Kate. It’s not one thing in particular. It’s like we said in Wicklow, it’s all the small things. It’s taking care about how you look, and by the way, I’m a tad jealous about the knockout body in that dress!’ Kate laughed as Rachel continued. ‘It’s spending time with family and friends. It’s being able to hang out with friends with kids and not fall apart completely, although I think a little cry would be allowable. You know Tim and Christine have been calling me non stop to see how you are doing.’ Rachel watched Kates face for any signs of retreat. When she saw none she continued.
‘It’s doing everything you are doing right now just more of it.’
‘Ye, you’re right, gosh, when did you get so wise?’
‘Well one of us has to be!..’
With a look of misbelief coming from Kate, Rachel smiled.
’….Okay, okay you’ve got me it’s all Maura O’Brien, sure the woman is more intelligent than Freud, Einstein and Jung thrown together.’
Laughing, both women sat and continued their lunch grateful to be in each others’ company.
‘Rach, I don’t know what to say to you. I feel that thank you isn’t enough.’
‘For what?’
‘For giving me back myself.’ Kate’s words caught in her throat.
‘Oh, no way. I’m not taking any credit. It’s all you Kate MaGuire, all you. All I did was nag you until you decided enough was enough. But you pulled yourself up. Each step you take from here is as important as the last.’
‘I know. I just feel so grateful. I’m afraid to get too excited because I think I may go backwards and I don’t want to. I really don’t. I want to keep moving in this direction.’
‘Well then that’s what will happen. Kate you just need to accept it and let it happen. Don’t fight the happiness. You deserve to get your life back and you are making the right decisions to make that happen.’
‘But I’m not sure what I did, so what if I go back to feeling the way I was?’ Kate looked scared.
‘That’s just it Kate. It’s not one thing in particular. It’s like we said in Wicklow, it’s all the small things. It’s taking care about how you look, and by the way, I’m a tad jealous about the knockout body in that dress!’ Kate laughed as Rachel continued. ‘It’s spending time with family and friends. It’s being able to hang out with friends with kids and not fall apart completely, although I think a little cry would be allowable. You know Tim and Christine have been calling me non stop to see how you are doing.’ Rachel watched Kates face for any signs of retreat. When she saw none she continued.
‘It’s doing everything you are doing right now just more of it.’
‘Ye, you’re right, gosh, when did you get so wise?’
‘Well one of us has to be!..’
With a look of misbelief coming from Kate, Rachel smiled.
’….Okay, okay you’ve got me it’s all Maura O’Brien, sure the woman is more intelligent than Freud, Einstein and Jung thrown together.’
Laughing, both women sat and continued their lunch grateful to be in each others’ company.
No comments:
Post a Comment