Page 19 of Fast Track to Forever
“I'll just quickly get this meat off the grill,” I say. “Kat, could you please start plating the food?”
My mum comes to help first. “Oh, you don't have to do that Kat, you're a guest. Let me…”
Kat smiles her charming smile. “Oh you've done so much already, Mrs de Jong. Sit down, sip your drink and enjoy a much needed rest.”
My mum, mollified, sits back down.
“Smells yum!” Daryl and John come back out. Daryl's ridiculously shiny shirt is crumpled. I shake my head but don't say anything.
When Kat finishes serving everyone, she hands me my plate and grabs her plate, and we sit down. Crisis averted. I gaze around and everyone is eating in silence.
“So how is this lodge going, Nina? Still lots of business?” Kat's mum is making conversation, but my mum is on edge.
“It's going well, Claire. We're about 70% occupancy year round. Busier in winter, less busy in summer. There's also the restaurant 3 days a week. We get by.” She shrugs, and my nails dig in my palm. If only they would take my help. I clear my throat.
Kat notices I'm unsettled. “Are you ok, darling?”
I pat the top of her leg covered by the skirt. “Yes. Just choked on some crumbs.”
She nods and doesn't press. No doubt she'll ask me later about it. Kat turns to my mom instead. “That was exquisite. Thank you.” Then to everyone, she says, “Who'd like dessert?”
My mum springs to her feet. “I'll help you serve this time. Can't wait to try your lamington.”
Kat nods and takes off inside with my mum, leaving me in the lions’ den.
“I won't beat about the bush, Will. I don't think you and my daughter are a good match.” Kat's dad’s words slice me in two.
Kat's mum tries to intervene, but he stops her. “Let me finish, my sweet.” He turns to me again. “You have tons of money, fancy cars and whatever else”—he makes a dismissive gesture with his hand—“but Kat has a future here, with us, growing the flour mill business.”
My dad explodes. I've never seen him this red in the face. “I will not tolerate you disrespecting my son, or this house. Please leave!”
“Fritz, you've got to be reasonable.” Claire, Kat's mum intervenes.
It's like watching a tennis match, but I’m no passive observer. I’m the ball.
“With all due respect, Mr and Mrs Featherstone,” I say, “Kat and I are both adults.”
At that point, Kat and my mum walk outside of the kitchen with the cut Lamington portions.
“Kat, we're all going home now.” The icy glint in her dad’s eyes tells a thousand stories. Her mum is picking up her handbag and nodding goodbye. Kat places the plate on the table and mouths a question to me. “What happened?”
I blink to let her know we'll talk later.
“I'm sorry the evening's been cut short. I'll see you all later.” Kat smiles and waves at everyone; she blows me a kiss. It's not enough. I follow her out the gate, envelop her in my arms and kiss her like my life depends on it. She sighs and whispers, “Talk later.”
I walk back into the broken shards of what could have been the perfect evening.
“What the fuckdid I just witness?” Daryl is stuffing lamington in his mouth.
My dad has his head in his hands. “You know this means we'll have to sever the business relationship. I'll need to start buying flour from somewhere else.” He shakes his head in disgust.
Daryl licks his spoon. “It's like Romeo and Juliet. But withbaking.”
“Shut up Daryl”. My dad and I speak at the same time.
Mum leans against me. “I'm sorry, Will. We tried our best.”
“Mum, Dad, Kat and I are adults. With all due respect, I'm not going to stop seeing her because of some ridiculous reason. I love her.”
