A Night With Consequences by Margaret Mayo Page B

I—’
    ‘Kara!’ Blake took her icy cold hands into his. ‘You mustn’t blame yourself. Everyone needs a break at some time. Perhaps you should get someone in to help with your mother? I’d be willing to—’
    ‘No!’ Kara almost shouted in her need to stop whathe was saying. Involving Blake in their family affairs was the last thing she wanted. Both she and her mother were too embarrassed by what they saw as their failings to want anyone to witness it—let alone the man who paid her wages!
    If they had stood up to her father all those years ago, been brave enough to walk out on him, then none of this would have happened. But they hadn’t, and now they were forced to face the consequences.
    And the man they owed money to was becoming more and more demanding, more frightening with every visit. Kara was giving him practically every penny of her salary and it still wasn’t enough. It was hard to believe that he had found out where her mother had gone.
    If she hadn’t thought her parent would be safe with Aunt Susan she would never have agreed to go to Italy in the first place. Even if it had cost her her job! The man had no conscience. He didn’t care who he frightened so long as he had enough cash to fund his extravagant lifestyle.
    During the flight Blake respected Kara’s wish to remain silent, even though he didn’t understand it. His attempts to talk to her had led to nothing, and he hated to see her so deeply troubled. He would be worried, too, if it was his mother, and he could understand her distress—but he did wish that she would let him in so that he could talk her fears through with her.
    Instead she sat bolt upright, her eyes staring into space, her mind on whatever lay ahead. He would be there for her, he determined. He would give her any help she needed. If her mother needed hospital treatment then he would arrange it—pay for it, even.
    Although he hadn’t wanted it to happen, Kara had got through to him like no other woman ever had. He hadn’t planned, didn’t even want a permanent relationship, but something had happened. She had opened a tiny crack in his heart. And her pain was now his pain.
    ‘Are you sure there is nothing I can do, Kara? I could phone ahead and arrange for—’
    ‘No!’
The word was immediate and loud, and then she said, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. But I’m used to my mother’s—attacks. She’ll be all right once I’m there.’
    ‘If you’re sure? Because—’
    ‘I’m sure,’ she reiterated, her eyes flashing a vivid blue.
    Blake felt sad at the loss of the beautiful woman he had found, the woman who had given herself so willingly. Who had transformed herself from someone plain and introverted into someone beautiful and outgoing. She had retreated back into her shell and he had no way of knowing what was going through her mind. ‘If there is anything I can do,’ he said again, ‘you know you have only to ask.’
    ‘I know.’ Her voice was quiet once more. ‘And, thank you, but we’ll be all right.’
    It was as though she didn’t trust him, as though she wanted to compartmentalise the two sides of her life, and he could not understand why. He would have expected her to welcome his help after the time they had spent together, the closeness they had shared and enjoyed.
    When the plane touched down he heard her on her phone, calling a taxi. ‘Kara, please—let me take you. It will be so much easier. I have a car waiting.’
    But she vehemently shook her head. ‘I need to cope with this on my own, Blake.’
    Kara saw the shock on his face but she had to do this. She did not want him knowing anything else about her private life. She refused even to think about the word
help,
as it brought with it feelings of both shame and hope.
    When she got to her aunt’s house and saw the state her mother was in she was glad that she had not let Blake bring her.
    Her aunt Susan was all for them going to the police, but her mother was adamant.