Saving Katie by HollyS (books for 9th graders txt) 📖

filled with plans, trips into town and walking along the beach. Karl was offered a job with Rosie and Albert, although Rosie told him it wouldn't be a top paid job it would be enough to make sure him and Katie were looked after. Karl and Albert had cleared the garage round the back of the house into the garden and between the four of them they picked out furniture for the flat. Katie filled in spare time when Karl was busy by helping Rosie around the guest house, doing small tasks of cleaning or a little cooking.

Tuesday arrived and the pair headed to meet Roger at the estate agents, they were eager and praying that they would have the keys that day. As they entered the shop Roger rose from his desk to greet them.
"Good morning"
In unison they returned the greeting.
"Right" Roger started. "I have the contract drawn up for you, the only down fall is I can't let you move into the flat til Monday coming, I hope this wont be too much of a issue to you both".
"It should be fine" Karl gave the answer trying not to sound as disappointed as he felt.
It took less then half an hour to sign the contract, had over money, and arrange a time to collect the keys from the office on Monday.
Returning to the guest house, they were surprised to find Rosie pacing around the hall waiting for them, Katie told her about the situation with the keys.
"Not to worry loves, your welcome here for as long as you like, you should both know that" Rosie patted Katie on the arm.
"Karl, Albert is looking for a hand out back moving some heavy boxes about could you give him a hand, me and Katie will go put the kettle on".
Karl nodded and made his way off to find Albert struggling out back. Rosie and Katie headed to the kitchen, working together they organised the cups and put the coffee and tea in. Katie's tummy rumbled loudly and Rosie chuckled and pulled out a fresh loaf of bread from the bread bin and started cutting it in to slices.
"Go to the fridge Katie, get the cheese out for me".
Katie did as she was asked and handed the huge chunk of cheese to Rosie and watched while Rosie cut it into thick slices and placed it on the bred she had cut so they could all have sandwiches. Once it was ready Rosie sent Katie to the garden with the men's and told her to come back and sit with her in the dining room.

The two ladies sat and chatted idly as they ate they discussed the weather and other things.
"Stacey has left this morning" it was an out of the blue announcement from Rosie,"In her usual snobby manner she said she was off up north to do some work. She's left a not for Karl, was tempting to read it mind, but its all sealed up".
Katie had already confined in Rosie the whole episode they had had with Stacey herself, Rosie was already to go and give the girl something to moan about but Katie asked her not to mention it. It had felt good for Katie to have someone she could talk to, obviously she talked to Karl but she felt mentioning Stacey to him would upset him, Rosie with her motherly ways made it so easy to open up to.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"Albert has it love he figured he'd be better to give to Karl, apparently he's no a nosy old bag like myself".
This made Katie smile, she loved the way Albert and Rosie would tease each other. Albert was usually the one to instigate it, Rosie would always be ready for it, most of the time sending him off with a flea in his ear for it. Katie discovered the pair were in their late 50's and they had married when they were both still in their early twenties. Rosie had told her also of their two grown up boys, one was in the royal marines and the other was studying at Oxford University, Katie couldn't remember their names now or what the one studying was actually studying but she knew she had been told. It hit her like a ton of bricks as she thought about her grown up boys and how she couldn't remember their names, something so simple. Sitting listening to Rosie talking about the note from Stacey, her mind whirled as she struggled to remember other things. Thinking of her daddy she could picture him clearly,that had never been a problem, but where was he now? Obviously the people around her she knew, she knew Stacey had been here could remember what Stacey had said, but she couldn't figure out where her daddy was.
Rosie glanced over the table at Katie, she was frowning. "You OK love? try not to worry about the note I'm sure its nothing remember your not to get upset, she's only jealous".
"No no I'm fine Rosie I'm sure Karl will tell me won't he?"
"Of course he will, that young man would walk on hot coals if it kept you happy" stated in a matter of fact manor Rosie hoped it was enough to convince the young girl.
"I'm tired Rosie, can you tell Karl I've gone for a lay down?".
"As soon as he's finished with Albert, I'll send him up to you Katie".
Katie rose from the table and went to Rosie's side and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, "Thank you Rosie", she made her way out the room and up the stairs to their room laying her self on the bed.

Karl came up to find Katie laying on her side staring at the window an hour later. Climbing onto the bed with her, he wrapped an arm over her waist.
"What's wrong, Rosie told me you seemed upset or ill, or something, she didn't know". He was filled with concern for her, usually she was buzzing with life it was unusual for her to retreat like this.
Rolling back over Katie faced him. "I'm confused Karl, I remember my daddy, his face and things but I don't remember how or why I got here, with you". She sounded as though tears would take over any moment, Karl stoked her face "Try and explain to me a little more love".
"I remember the cafe where we met, but I'm lost as to how we got here, I remember waking up here in the bed both fully clothed". Her face flushed as neither had worn clothes, in bed, after the first time she woke up clothed. "I remember everything after that morning but before I can't".
Karl's forehead wrinkled as concern set deeper, he had no reason to disbelieve what she was saying but it certainly didn't make sense. "Should we see a doctor Katie, do you feel the need to?".
"I shouldn't go bothering doctors, maybe its lack of sleep", she smiled up at him and he got what she meant.
"Go get yourself a nice hot shower, put your pj's on and get some rest" Karl climbed of the bed, "I'll let Rosie know where you are and that your ok, we'll see how you feel after you've had a good rest".
Karl blew a kiss from the door way and she caught it, once he'd gone she did as he said and placed herself back in bed in front of the TV, eventually she drifted off into a much needed deep sleep.

Karl returned back downstairs and sought out Rosie, he assured her all was fine, and that Katie would be back to herself once she'd had some good rest. Happy with the assurance from Karl, Rosie set about the kitchen and started to make a beef stew telling Karl he could take some up for Katie for dinner later, after checking he wasn't needed he excused himself saying he was nipping into town and headed for the door.
Karl sought out the phone box and tried Jack's mobile number again, it was off. Replacing the hand set, he dug in his pocket for more change. Lifting the handset again he rang Jack's home number, on the fifth ring there was an answer.
"Hello", the voice didn't sound like Jack's, it was male but Karl was unsure as to who it was.
"Jack is that you? its Karl".
"Hello son, are you OK?"
Relieved Karl assured him that both him and Katie were indeed OK. He filled him in a little on the flat and Rosie and Albert.
"I've tried calling every day Jack, your mobile the work number everything, and no one had seen you what happened?".
Jack sighed on the other end he knew he couldn't keep this from Karl as much as he wanted to.
"I don't want you to worry, I got into a bit of a fight, Katie's dad has sent the heavies he knows hunting you down so far they have ransacked every home that has ever had a connection to you, they showed up here went through the house. I came back in the middle of it all and they took it upon themselves to beat me, trying to get info. I'm OK though son sore, nothing a few days rest wont solve".
"Bastards!" Karl shouted down the phone "I'll come back, I'll hunt them down and give them the worst beating of their miserable lives".
"you'll do nothing but stay there with Katie, I've not said a word to them they still have no idea where either of you are, they aren't even sure if your together or not, then again the thugs don't have a brain cell between them to rub together".
"But Jack, they can't get away with it".
"No buts son, as long as you and your girl are safe that's the important thing here judging by the type of people her dad hangs around with she's better off with you then anywhere else. Now listen carefully, I'm going to transfer some more money into your account again its not much but will keep you going til i can put more in, i'll put some in whenever i get the chance Karl, it will help you and Katie keep the roof over your heads and food in your belly's".
"Jack you shouldn't" Karl attempted to argue but was aware it would get him no where as Jack cut him off half way through.
"Nonsense your my boy and don't forget it, now get off my phone and stop whining don't worry about me now, them men will leave me alone for the moment, just watch your own back now Karl".
Saying goodbye and promising he'd ring him again soon Karl hung up the hand set, he was angry, relieved and thankful all in one go, he headed to the nearest cash point and pulled out the money Jack had already transferred, reminding himself to check his account at least twice a week in case Jack had put more in.
Feeling lost he headed back to the guest house, deciding he'd be more useful helping Rosie and Albert then going on a rampage to hunt the men down who'd hurt Jack. Working at the odd jobs Rosie had given him, it helped calm his thoughts. Peeking in on Katie from time to time, she was always sleeping soundly, he would smile and close the door, deep down he wanted her to wake for someone to talk to about Jack, Albert and Rosie aren't aware of how Katie and Karl came to be under their roof and Karl figured it was probably best not to tell them, but it left no one to talk to til Katie was in the land