In the Shadow of the Eye by Kathy Lavelle

Author:Kathy Lavelle
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub
Tags: Shadow of the Eye, Kathy Lavelle, London, London Eye, Homeless, Shelter, Depression, Disaffection, Dependency, Racism, Human Trafficking, Murder, Mystery
ISBN: 9781783339471
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2014-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

It was a sweltering hot day in June and Sr. Gabriel had installed two large cooling fans in the dining room. She passed cold drinks and sandwiches around the tables. There didn’t seem to be much demand for hot food. I sat next to Len and he seemed to have a new grievance with the world.

“There are disputes every day. Hot weather seems to bring out the worst in people, particularly in relation to their neighbours” he said. “People are never satisfied. One minute they are moaning about the cold and now it’s the heat eating into them. Children playing too noisily, loud music through open windows, barbecue smoke in gardens next door. Occasionally neighbour disputes build up into court cases. Sometimes next door neighbours are not very neighbourly,” he gave a sort of chuckle.

“Particularly over property boundaries. Yes... and often over abuse and violence. But you know sometimes a direct friendly approach can usually sort things out without police being called round or an ASBO being served. People should talk to each other, taking the initiate themselves. No need to shift responsibilities to the police. They have enough to do.”

We talked on for a while and when the volunteers started clearing the tables, we went on our separate ways. I walked along the cooling water of the Thames. Walking over the bridge I gazed down at the river below. Then I carried out my daily routine, my running, my reading and busking. In the evenings Kate, to my great delight, usually turned up to listen to my music but sometimes she had a sad expression on her face. When I had finished we began going to one of the coffee bars along the river. I was beginning to see the reason, or hoped it was the reason, why she had left the Shelter. Now that she had left, she wasn’t breaking any rules so there was no need for me to feel guilty. Before I knew it I was having long conversations with Kate, about the weather, about events in the newspaper and I started to talk about my concerns over Monika’s disappearance.

“Don’t worry. She wasn’t my girlfriend.” I wanted Kate to be sure of that.

“I was supposed to be protecting her. Keeping any eye out for her,” I said and Kate saw the sadness in my eyes. She squeezed my shoulder. She knew I needed to talk. I had bottled up my emotions for too long. There were too many strangulated memories. I needed to grieve and Kate was a good listener.

She took my hand, “Go on you need to let it out.” She was starting to mean the world to me. Whatever I was doing, whether eating or brushing my teeth, I was dreaming about her all the time. I looked up at her and couldn’t believe how strong she was, rushing to see me every day after work, not having eaten and still with a smile on her face. My life was much richer for having her by my side.

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