Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 24 Broken

Anthony pounded on the door to Katy's apartment, she opened it looking not her best having just heaved herself out of bed and still feeling hazy after being shocked awake, she could see that Anthony was in some distress and had been crying, he just fell into her arms and began weeping again.

"Tony my darling whatever is wrong?" Kate asked whilst holding him tight and stroking his head soothingly "come in babe come in, its three Am what the hell's been going on" she asked as sympathetically as she could, given that Anthony's behavior was so not what she was used to seeing and quite distressing, she guided the gibbering wreck of Anthony, into the sitting room and set him down on one of the sofas. From the oak sideboard she produced a glass and poured a generous measure of Dalwhinne single malt and handed it to him "here my darling, you drink this and try to calm yourself" she said compassionately he took the glass in his shaking hands "thanks...sniff....its Thomas...sniff ...he's...sniff..."Anthony paused drank down the whisky in one go "sniff...he's...sniff...dead!" Anthony concluded and then broke down again in floods of tears.

Kate gasped and leant in to give Anthony a consoling hug, she was visibly shocked at the news Anthony had just delivered, she took his glass and went over to the sideboard taking out another glass and poring herself a stiff shot before returning to Anthony with both glasses filled again with healthy whisky tots, she sat next to him handed him his drink "NO, SAY it isn't so,DEAD? BUT HOW?"as all she could manage to say before she too began to cry. Katy had known Thomas for as long as she had known Anthony and she was very aware how close Anthony was to Thomas and his family, of how Anthony and Thomas's dad had been good friends and in turn they too had become the best of friends.

We had a falling out and Thomas was chasing after me to apologize, when he was knocked over outside Debenhams and killed" said Anthony through tears, coughs and whimpers "but weren't you two at the Yvonne Arnaud?" she asked "well we were but then we went over to the Star inn, and fell out, and he was knocked over" he sniffed " but what the hell did you fight over, I mean for god sake you two were like brothers?" Katy asked exasperated. At this point Anthony felt the need to lie again, he had no intention of trying to explain the real reason for the argument or for that matter how Tom really died. "It was a stupid disagreement about the play, do you know I can't even remember the specifics" Anthony sputtered through tears and sniffs, these acting as a good shield to cover his lies.

"Well it's far too late for you to go home, you should stay here, with me" Kate said giving him another hug. "do you mind..."he sniffed "no silly I wouldn't have offered" Kate smiled and then added "BUT NO FUNNY STUFF OK." Trying in vain to look sternly at Anthony through her own tear soaked eyes, she helped him up and led him through to the main bedroom, this like the living room had cream colored walls, and at the centre of the fairly big room stood a very imposing solid oak four poster bed, and aside from a double wardrobe and two bedside tables also in oak the room was empty save for the two touch lamps in chrome, a digital clock and a wall mounted print of a red rose. The following morning Anthony woke looking like he'd spent the night in a tumble dryer. Kate was sat on the side of the bed with a damp hand towel, she had been using to mop his brow with. "Good morning my little Zanussi" she chuckled warmly, leaning forward to kiss him "it's a good job this is a super king, or I wouldn't have gotten back to sleep" said Kate with humor in her voice and compassion all over her face. Anthony groaned "oh, I am sorry my love I was having some really vivid dreams" he said apologetically "more like nightmares I'd say" she retorted laughing "what about?" she asked "you were growling in your sleep, at one point I could have sworn there was a dog in the flat" Kate giggled. "Well that's just it" replied Anthony looking perplexed "I can't really remember, the only thing, was me as a farmer" he concluded "I mean I know I live in a farmhouse & generations ago my ancestors were farming but me, a farmer really he added shrugging his shoulders, "mmm" Kate started thoughtfully. "Well if you are up for it farmer tony, I'm making eggs for breakfast" she laughed putting on a Cornish accent, at this Anthony was up and out of bed and stood in his underwear "any coffee with them eggs me dear, be there drekly" he laughed closing one eye and tipping his head to one side "oh, ah" he mimicked as she  headed off in the direction of the kitchen.