‘It will.’
Strangely, Kim was disappointed in the response.
‘So you think I should go and see her and offer forgiveness?’
‘Maybe and no.’
‘Good answer.’
‘I think you should go and see her if you need to, but I don’t think you should offer forgiveness because the time limit on the option is about to expire. The supermarkets mark down food at the end of the day, but I don’t go and buy shit I don’t like just cos it’s about to go in the bin.’
‘Jesus, you and Bryant with your weird analogies.’
‘I mean, forgiveness might be healing for you but not until you actually feel it in your heart. Until then it’s just words, purely for the benefit of someone else.’
‘I can’t give her that comfort,’ Kim said honestly.
‘Then don’t. Only go to see her if there’s something you want to say, something you need her to hear. Go because you’ll regret not doing so when it’s too late, but don’t go because other people think they know what’s right for you.’
Kim felt a small weight lift from her shoulders. She realised that was the reason she hadn’t shared the news with anyone. Everyone would have an opinion with good intentions. They would want her to do something she wasn’t ready to do. Ted would urge her to go. The counsellor had seen her at just about every stage of her life. He had tried everything he could to help her heal. Bryant would offer to drive her, but any forgiveness would be a lie. She wasn’t there yet, and she wasn’t sure she ever would be.
Kim surveyed the mess on her dining table. She didn’t know how to put it back together and she was the one who had taken it apart.
‘Okay, Leanne, it’s all ready.’
Leanne stood and turned, surveying the mess.
‘Jeez, Stone, I didn’t think you’d actually do it. Great chat but I’m tired now so I’ll do a final check and then I’m off to bed.’
Kim’s mouth fell open as the woman headed for the garden.
She’d been punked by Leanne fucking King.
FIFTY-FOUR
‘Pull off without her, Bryant. She stole my food and broke my toaster,’ Kim said, getting into Bryant’s car.
‘You drive while I call the feds,’ he quipped as Leanne got in the back. ‘Not bothered about the food but I am intrigued about the toaster.’
‘We’ll give her the slip later and I’ll tell you all about it.’
‘Can’t wait,’ he said, pulling out of the street. ‘Any issues last night?’
Kim was surprised at the question and then realised her team knew nothing about the events that had taken place once Bryant had dropped them off the night before.
‘Seems Symes was under our noses the whole time. Well, four doors down to be exact.’
‘What the hell? Good job, Leanne,’ Bryant offered.
‘Can’t see through walls,’ she retorted.
Kim told him in detail about the night before and just finished as Bryant pulled into the car park.
‘Wanna do a quick visual before she gets out, Leanne?’ Bryant asked when Kim’s hand rested on the door handle.
Kim turned to her colleague. It wasn’t something he’d suggested before.
‘Err…not sure.’