One Hundred Names

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

‘This better be good, Archie. I have an article to write, remember?’ Kitty said, as she met him outside the Brick Alley Café on Sunday morning. He had called her late the previous night after they’d all eventually got home and had a day to think about all that they’d seen, done and achieved. Steve had finally left Kitty’s flat to give her time to settle down to write her article, when Archie had called her and requested they meet urgently. She had no idea what to expect but she was ready for anything now.

‘It’s good, trust me,’ he said, smiling.

‘Where’s Regina?’

‘It’s Sunday morning, where do you think?’

‘Ah, church,’ she guessed. ‘And you don’t want to be there?’

He shook his head.

‘Changed your mind about helping people?’

‘Not really,’ he replied. ‘I’ve decided to help some people. Which is why I called you here.’

‘Me? I don’t pray,’ she laughed nervously.

‘I’m not too sure about that, Kitty,’ he said softly. ‘There was one thing coming through loud and clear to me.’

Kitty swallowed, completely uncertain as to where this was going.

‘There’s someone in there who wants to talk to you,’ Archie said, turning to face the café.

‘Who?’ Her heart drummed maniacally in her chest.

‘Take a look.’

She looked through the glass and there, sitting on the stool facing the wall with the blackboard saying ‘Every table has a story to tell’, was a man whose back was turned. Instinctively, as if he knew they were looking at him, he looked around and Kitty gasped.

Colin Maguire.

‘Archie,’ she whispered, suddenly terrified. ‘What have you done?’

‘All you want is for him to forgive you, am I right?’ he asked gently.

She swallowed and nodded.

‘I contacted him yesterday. He was happy to hear from me, said he’d wanted to see you too.’

‘He did, so he can kill me,’ she said, voice shaking.

‘No. I think he wants closure too, Kitty. Go on in. You’ve nothing to lose.’

Kitty looked at Archie, unsure whether to hit him or thank him, but knew that what he’d done had been from the goodness of his heart.

She pushed open the door and stepped into the café. Colin Maguire turned round and stood up from his stool.

And she walked towards him, hoping, and above all, praying, for his forgiveness.