‘All right. Have you got the number of the garage? I’ll give them a call and see where they are.’
* * *
A little of the colour had returned to her cheeks. Ethan swallowed the temptation to ask Kate why on earth she hadn’t called and asked him to pick her up, and concentrated on the practicalities. Getting her out of the car and making sure she was all right.
The tow truck was out on another call, and he’d agreed that they’d leave the car and drop the keys in at the garage. Kate sat silently as he drove back into town and delivered her car keys to the mechanic.
‘I’ll take you home.’ He got back into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
‘No—thank you, but I have to go to the surgery. And you need to pick up Sam. He’ll be wanting to see his puppy.’
Her reaction was entirely expected. Ethan had his answer ready. ‘He can see it another time. I called my parents to let them know, when I went to talk to the mechanic.’
‘But he’ll be disappointed.’
‘Yes, he will. But it’s not the end of the world, and he knows that he’ll see the puppy soon. It’s more important that you go home.’
‘I can’t, I have things to do. I just had a bit of a moment. It was stupid and I’m okay now.’
Ethan sighed. He’d expected that Kate would object, and she hadn’t disappointed him. A garage forecourt probably wasn’t the best place to do this, but at least the car afforded them some privacy.
‘Look, I don’t want to interfere—’
‘Then don’t.’ She flashed a warning glare in his direction.
‘All right, then, I do want to interfere. You’re very clearly trying to pretend that nothing’s wrong, and most of the time when you’re with people, that’s working pretty well. But for some of the time, probably when you’re alone, I think you’re suffering from symptoms of stress. Panic attacks...nightmares, maybe.’
The look in her eyes told him that his gamble had just paid off and that he was right. ‘Some of the time isn’t so bad, is it?’
‘It’s not so good, either. Did the police put you in touch with a victim support officer?’
‘I’m not a victim!’ The words were said with such vehemence that Ethan knew he’d touched a nerve. He pushed a little more.
‘You’re not afraid of allowing me a bit of time to process things, Kate. Why are you so afraid of doing the same for yourself? You’ll heal if you just let yourself.’
That was it. She was suddenly white-faced and trembling. It was the healing, not the attack itself, that had the power to frighten her. And from what he knew of her, Kate didn’t frighten easily.
‘What happened—the last time you were attacked?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘Yes, I’m pretty sure that it does. Can you tell me?’
She stared at him, pressing her lips together as if she were trying to stop the words coming from her mouth.
‘Kate, you’re a strong woman. That’s why I’m asking you to tell me.’
One tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek. ‘There were two of them. They grabbed me and took my bag. Searched me for jewellery.’
Ethan shivered. That small detail seemed like the worst thing—unable to escape and being searched, none too gently he imagined. ‘And then?’
‘I was at the top of the steps which led down to the underground—it happened in London.’
Ethan nodded her on, almost afraid to hear what came next.
‘They pushed me down the steps. I fell all the way.’
‘And you were hurt badly?’ The last time he’d asked that question she’d refused to answer. Ethan suspected she’d been hurt very badly, both physically and mentally.