Love & The Goddess Read Online Free PDF

Kate.” He placed his palms together in his prayer-like manner and raised them to his lips. After what seemed like a considerable
time lapse, he asked, “How’s Julie?”
    “She’s in bits. I’m worried about her and worried that I will try to poison her against her father.”
    “At least you’re aware of that. The most important thing is to reassure her that it’s not her fault. Children regularly blame themselves when their parents split up. And try
for her sake to hold back on criticizing her dad. After all, he is half of her.”
    I nodded. He was right. I wasn’t sure if it helped to hear it out loud or not, but he’d given me a lot to think about.
    He said, “Call me if you feel you are getting worse, but between now and our next session I want you to think of all the things you wish you had done in life but haven’t been able to
because of your marriage.”
     
     
     

Chapter Four
    A fter four consecutive attempts to brown my toast, I turned the switch on the toaster up to maximum and went off to the bathroom. One of the
problems with a new kitchen was getting the hang of everything. I felt a pang for my Aga and my copper pans, for the huge granite work surfaces. I’d designed it to be a real cook’s
kitchen. As I was washing my hands, I was suddenly shaken by the sound of a deafening bleep … bleep … bleep.
    Heart thumping in my chest, I raced into the kitchen where I was enveloped by a cloud of thick black smoke. Wading through, I hastily unplugged the toaster. Flames were leaping from the slot
where my toast had been. I grabbed a fire blanket and threw it over the choking appliance. Then, like a maniac, I searched for the fire alarm, scanning up and down walls through the thick fog only
to discover it embedded in the high ceiling. No chair or counter high enough to reach it, I opened a window in the hope it would stop bleeping of its own accord. Just as the smoke was dying down
and the alarm stopped, the doorbell rang. I looked at the intercom screen. Surely it wasn’t the fire brigade? Relief flooded over me at the sight of Ella’s face peering into the camera.
I pressed the button, opening the front door, flapping my hands madly to clear the smoke as I ran down the hall to meet her.
    “God, Kate, have you set the place on fire already?” Ella was fighting a smile as she handed me a bottle of wine, her mane of dark hair framing her heart-shaped face and swinging
about her shoulders.
    “No, just burned some toast. How was your trip?” I hugged her close. “I’ve missed you.”
    “Good, conference was mad, did you get my messages? I must have tried to phone a hundred times, the reception is terrible out there and I kept missing you. How are you?”
    “Much better than I was – I can’t get used to living alone, and I think I might have ADHD, but I’m alive.”
    She hugged me hard. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me. I should have come.”
    I stepped back and looked at her aghast. “Ella, this is your biggest client, your biggest gig yet. You couldn’t just up and leave in the middle. You’ve spent too long building
your business.”
    “But…” A concerned look came over her face as she studied me up and down. She put her two hands on my upper arms, kind blue eyes focusing intently on mine. “Kate, love,
I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there and it’s terrible. I should have been here.”
    “Ssh, and let’s get this bottle open. I want to hear all about the conference and Greece.”
    She followed me into the living room. “Have you been eating? You’re no more than skin and bone.”
    “You know me. I always eat, but if I’m anxious my metabolism races and I lose weight. I spend most of the night tossing and turning, so that fairly burns the calories.”
    “Yes, divorce is a sure fire way to lose weight. Calories going up in smoke! But you need to mind yourself, Kate. Promise me you’ll mind yourself, lovey?”
    “I