by Kris Pearson
They coasted on beside the ocean. Traffic was light until they reached the line of houses again, and he glanced sideways, appreciating how the family’s house sat amongst its neighbors. Obviously new, but designed to blend in. Finished in subtle beachy colors, which certainly hadn’t been a concern for long-time next door neighbor Essie and her husband, George. Their window frames were painted brilliant red – maybe a nod to the blossoms of the big pohutukawa trees that fringed Scarlet Bay and gave it its name. He smiled to himself, remembering how shocked Essie had been by the fake stud in his nose the previous Christmas. Once she got an eyeful of his tattoo she’d be turning flips.
Essie had been part of his life every holiday for as long as he could remember – a constant soft touch for home-made cookies when he was eight or ten… and someone to sound off to about the unfairness of life when his parents and aunts and uncles refused to treat him as the adult he felt he was by his teens. She was nosy as all creation, and if anybody discovered Meifeng Chan was at the house, it would be Essie.
They chugged through to the end of the little township and he felt Mei press closer as they rode past the old house she’d shared with Kieran. What sort of memories was she really hiding? How much and how often had he lost his temper and hurt her? Ollie’s gut churned as he worried at the thought of it.
Maybe bloody Kieran would be out on his ear soon, anyway, because Scarlet Bay was quietly changing. Some new houses. Renovations to the old ones. Extensions and improvements to the campground. How long before someone offered Bill Denton more than he could resist for the houses he owned?
But as they drew level with the takeaway store, Ollie saw the opposite. Its once-cheerful red and jade green paint now looked dull. The strings of tiny lightbulbs along the shop front no longer flashed, and some of the letters on the menu-board were faded and hard to read.
“Shop looks sad,” Meifeng yelled, and because they were still travelling slowly, Ollie pushed up his visor.
“Brothers not interested?”
She pinched his waist. “One lawyer, one accountant, no cook. My father should sell it to Kentucky Fried or someone like that.”
Ollie nodded, but he doubted any of the big franchises would be interested. Scarlet Bay was off the main highway, and trade was surely pretty seasonal here? Still, as more people moved in, built houses, and turned old beach cottages into higher-end dwellings to retire to, who knew? Maybe the campground store would soon have more than just a coffee cart? Perhaps the new campground owners would expand into food – or the tavern might make an offer for Zhang Wei Chan’s business and want to upgrade it. It sat in a prime position, slightly elevated, and with the best views in the bay.
From Mei’s earlier remarks about her parents arriving in New Zealand after they were thirty, and knowing she had older brothers, he concluded her dad must be at least in his mid-seventies now. He deserved to wind down to some degree, although Ollie knew Chinese people didn’t see things that way. Zhang Wei would expect to work on, even with a sick wife and no heirs interested in taking over his business. What pressure would he put on his unmarried daughter to help?
Hell, no, he thought, slamming his visor down again, and accelerating.
Chapter 5 – A Visit to Wildwood
Mei grabbed him more tightly, but the pleasure was short lived because only a few minutes later they drew level with the classy Wildwood sign swinging from its tall column in front of the big border of trees. Ollie turned the bike in between the hefty timber gateposts and drew to a halt by the beautifully restored old house. Well, most of it was beautifully restored. Enough that Cam had persuaded Jossy to move in with him. Ollie wondered what further progress had been made inside since he’d last seen it. He assumed most of the recent work would have gone into the wedding venue they planned to open as soon as possible on the old plant sales area.
He scanned the grounds. No tradesmen’s vans or trucks, and they’d already seen Jason on his way home. “Do you want me to go in and check there’s no-one else here? I can’t see any stray vehicles.”
Mei popped her visor up and scrambled off the bike. He instantly missed the warm press of her thighs behind his. Seemed like she was happy enough to come inside though. He pulled his helmet off and reached for hers, laughing as her hair tumbled down in a tangled curtain.
“How can you stand having bad hair all the time?” she demanded, trying to comb hers through with her fingers.
He bowed his head so his own was practically in her face. “What’s bad about this?” he asked, shooting her a glance and a grin, and daring her to tidy his as well. No such luck.
“Easier short,” she said, and then ignored him to look sideways at the big lawn and newly planted garden borders. “Someone’s done lots of work. It’s ages since I was here. They were still selling plants last time, and everything was overgrown.”
Ollie stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep them off her. “I think Becca must have had a hand in this. Anna and Jossy’s younger sister. She does some landscaping work.” He regarded the mulched plots with their new shrubs all bordered with small white pom-pom blooms and other things he knew were called impatiens because his mother grew those in pots. “Not Cam’s sort of stuff, is it? Too pretty, and not edible.”
They walked up onto the steps to the big veranda, and the door swung open. “Ollie!” Jossy exclaimed, launching herself at him for a hug. “I heard the bike. Anna said you were with Meifeng when she called by earlier.”
“Good bacon and egg pie,” Ollie said, arm still around her. “And damn good muffins. The furniture team thanks you.”
“He’s not ‘with’ Meifeng,” Mei quietly insisted. “I’m just keeping out of sight, thanks to Anna.”
“And Anna’s sweatshirt,” Ollie added as Jossy released him and turned to Mei.
“So it is,” Jossy said, raising an eyebrow. “I bet it doesn’t go around her now.”
He watched her smile fade, and steered his next comment away from babies – or lack of them. “It’s looking very classy out here. Is this Becca’s work?”
“Yes – we finally pinned her down. She insisted on an all-white garden to go with the house and the weddings, and by the time we’re ready to open it should look fantastic.”
Mei pulled the red top off as she inspected the lacy fretwork between all the veranda pillars. “Just like the house is classy, too.”
“Come and see,” Jossy said. She took a deep breath but didn’t move. “Cam did a huge job while I was away in France. Very sneaky. He didn’t let on at all. When he drove me out here I thought he was bringing me to visit a friend. Then he gave me the key and told me to unlock the door.” She squeezed her eyes shut and groped to cover her face. “I’m such a mess,” she confessed, wiping tears away with the heels of her hands. “I hope Anna warned you I blub at the least little thing?” She sniffed, and searched the pocket of her skirt for a paper tissue. “Never without one these days,” she said as she withdrew it.
Mei put a tentative arm around her. “She told us enough that we don’t have to talk about it. You’re taking on a whole heap of stuff all at the same time though. The house, and setting up your own business, and I guess wedding plans, and trying for a baby as well. My mother would say you’re overdoing it.”
“Mine too,” Jossy agreed, dabbing her eyes. “But I really want a baby for Cam, to replace the one I stole.”
“Bullshit!” Ollie exclaimed.
Jossy gave her head a sharp shake and raised her chin. “I feel so darn guilty. I was the one who made it difficult for him. And the little boy is way up in Hamilton, so getting Cam to meet him now – if the Court will discharge the protection order and I can persuade his mother to allow it – is a very long day’s drive each way, plus visiting time.”
“And currently you already have too much on without trying for that as well,” he said.
She pushed the tissue back into her skirt pocket. “Yes, but Cam’s sister Poppy is keen to be our surrogate, and we’ve done the c
ounselling, and it was all okayed, and it was too good an offer not to proceed with… Even though I’m feeling soooooo lousy now.”
“Geez, Joss, stop beating yourself up,” he said, sliding an arm around her so he held Meifeng’s arm in place around Jossy, too. “Come on – group hug. It used to be the answer to everything.”
“According to Grandma Esther.” Jossy agreed, relaxing enough to lay her head briefly on his shoulder.
He caught Mei’s surprised expression. “No bossy grandmother for you? Back in China, I guess.”
“Never met any grandparents,” Mei agreed, looking uneasy about their physical closeness. “Small family.”
“Dozens of us,” Jossy murmured. “Especially during holidays.”
Ollie realized what he’d done and relaxed his grip on Mei’s arm. She rolled her eyes at him and edged away.
“So anyway, come and see,” Jossy said, recovering her equilibrium enough to play hostess again. She led them into the grand entrance hall and waved a hand at open doorways. “Take your time. It’s all reception rooms down here. Nothing private. I’ll be out the back when you’re ready. There’s something I’m busy with for just a few minutes longer.”
Ollie grinned at Mei and made an ‘after you’ gesture. “This is such a contrast to her apartment in town. Ever been there?”
She shook her head as she gazed around the beautiful restoration.
“Totally modern. Mostly black and white. Nothing like this.” He looked down at the gleaming hardwood floor of the entrance hall and motioned Mei sideways into the vast sitting room. Big bay windows showed off the green countryside, and a soft-toned rug added warmth and informality. “I reckon this is more ‘her’ than the apartment. I wonder if she agrees? Cam took a hell of a risk, doing it without even asking her.”
Mei ran a finger along the polished timber mantelpiece above the marble fire surround and then gazed around the rest of the room. “I’d have been furious, but totally impressed. It’s hard not to love it. I hope they manage to have a family to live in it and enjoy it.”
“One way or another,” Ollie agreed, taking her hand to lead her into an equally spectacular dining room. He recognized the table and chairs from Jossy’s city apartment and looked forward to delicious dinners in their new setting. Mei tried to pull away, and he cursed under his breath, letting go of her and flicking a glance across at her impassive face. He prayed she’d send him back a glimmer of encouragement, but there was nothing.
They walked on and inspected a well-appointed study, a luxurious bathroom, a generous storeroom that held unpacked boxes, suitcases, crates of tile, and what looked like other plumbing supplies.
“Bedrooms up there, I guess,” Mei said, glancing at the sumptuous curving staircase and stroking the lowest piece of the smooth banister rail as they walked past it.
Ollie led her through to the back of the ground floor. Here the ambience was quite different. There was a semi-finished kitchen, and the big plain walls were only partly painted. Tall bi-fold doors opened to a view of a courtyard currently cluttered with building supplies. The sound of intermittent banging broke through the ever-present birdsong floating on the warm air.
Jossy turned and looked over her shoulder, her body obscuring what she was working on. “Welcome to my temporary workplace,” she said. “How do you like the house so far?”
“What’s not to like?” Mei said, stepping further away from Ollie. “It’s beautiful. I can only dream of living somewhere like this.”
“A hundred and fourteen years old. Cam’s brought it back to life.”
“Quite a contrast to your apartment in town,” Ollie said. “But I see you brought some of the furniture with you.” He glanced across at the long black leather sofas.
“Much more contemporary space back here,” Jossy agreed. “This piece was built on a lot later, and now Cam’s had Jason extending it further. We’ll get it finished sometime. I brought all my clothes out here and then somehow the furniture followed…” She shook her head. “And look at me now. Gone from being a lawyer to a farmer’s wife. And a baker of wedding cakes.”
“Still got your apartment?” Ollie asked, noticing Mei’s sharply attentive expression.
“No, sold it to help create my new empire out here. Seemed only fair. So – what do you think?” She moved aside to reveal three tall tiers of exquisite sugar-work – a cake that would surely set any bride dreaming.
Mei drew closer and Ollie watched her avid inspection.
“You somehow made all the icing look like fabric,” she said. “Like silky ruffles all around it. I’ve seen pictures on Pinterest, but the real thing is amazing.”
Jossy glowed. “The white tier is red velvet cake. The soft pink tier is chocolate, and the deeper pink is lemon. Do you think it needs flowers?” She slid a tray of exquisite hand-made roses and lilies across for Mei to inspect. “All edible,” she added. “I’m glad you came early so you could see it because I need to get this to the reception place. The wedding’s in a couple of hours.”
Ollie watched as Mei cautiously lifted a snowy lily and held it close to the cake. “Yes, too good not to have, but maybe just a few at the base. Not dripping all over it. I like that it’s so plain and sophisticated.”
Jossy’s smile widened.
“I thought they were like Christmas cakes and had a bride and groom on top?” Ollie hazarded.
Both women turned to him with amused expressions. “How long since you actually looked at a wedding cake?” Jossy asked. “The day of the heavy, spicy ones is long gone. No more bride and groom on top. No more all-white icing and plastic flowers. Wedding cakes are so much more interesting now.”
He nodded slowly. “And this is your new life? It’s a hell of a change from being a lawyer.”
Her smile was serene. “I always wanted to work with food, Ollie. That accident when I was seventeen totally derailed me, but I think you arrive back full circle to where you need to be. Come upstairs for a quick look and then go out and see what Cam’s working on – I really do have to get this delivered.”
She led them back to the gleaming staircase and along to the master bedroom. “He copied the colors from my apartment for this one,” she said, pushing the door further open and wiping at a corner of her eye. “And there are four more, so we’d better get some kids from somewhere.”
Ollie saw her swallow and she reached for the paper tissue again, but this time kept her emotions under control.
“You got beds in them all?” Mei asked, and Ollie felt a knife pierce his gut. She still wasn’t happy about sharing the house and the bed with him, and would desert him if she could.
“Nothing yet. Cam got rid of all his furniture to raise funds for this place, and I traded my new spare queen size to Becca in return for the planting out the front.”
“Huh…”
He grinned to himself. Nice idea, Mei, but you’re not getting away from me so easily.
“Anyway, have a quick look around and I’ll go and deliver the cake. There’s a great en suite over there, but you’ll die laughing when you see the state of the original bathroom along the hall. It’s nowhere near finished yet.” She gave a small wave and headed away.
Silence fell. Mei had folded her arms – no doubt in an effort to stop him from holding her hand. He escorted her through the other rooms. All beautifully painted but empty – apart from the aforementioned bathroom, which looked as though a bomb had hit it. By the time they returned downstairs, Jossy and the cake had gone.
They walked through the partly open bi-fold doors into the sounds of the country – the chug of a tractor not too far away, and faint bleating that probably signaled the presence of Cam’s angora goats or Ma’s alpacas. He’d heard about Ma from Jason. Magdalena – the Italian housekeeper who’d become a replacement mother to Cam and his brother and sister, although never a wife to Cam’s dad.
This time he did capture Mei’s hand, and although she tried to pull away he didn’t release her. “It’
s a total mess out here, China-girl. You’ve still got those high heels on. There’s a ton of stuff to trip over. In fact –” He bent and swung her up before she could object – “I’m going to make sure you’re safe until we’re there.”
“Oliver! Put me down!” She wriggled like a puppy, and thumped his shoulder, but Ollie kept her in a tight grip as he strode past stacks of rocks, and stepped over lengths of timber and piles of rubble in his big safe motor cycle boots. There was no way he was having her toppling over and ending up more hurt, even though she was objecting so thoroughly. When he reached the flight of steps at the end of the courtyard area, he set her down.
Mei glared at him, flushed and furious. “Oliver, I do not need helping!”
Where had he heard that before? Oh yeah, when she’d tried to lift the heavy box of dinner plates and cups that must have weighed about as much as she did.
Trying hard to keep a straight face, he said, “Just saving your boots from getting wrecked. You okay going down these steps?”
“Of course I’m okay. I’m used to walking in airplane turbulence. Up and down the aisles when it’s bumpy.” Her bottom lip pushed out in a sulky pout.
Ollie couldn’t resist adding, “Not in heels like those.”
The pout grew fiercer. “Maybe not, but it’s something women learn.”
He held out his hand in case she’d consider taking it. Nope – just a toss of her head which sent her long hair bouncing – and a definite sniff of displeasure. A little doll in a feisty mood – what could be more delicious?
He descended the steps right behind her, ready to grab her in case she really did lose her balance.
“I know what you’re doing, Oliver.”
“I’m walking down the stairs.”
“You’re walking close enough to catch me if I fall. I can feel you right there. Your hot breath is on my neck.”
He grinned to himself. “Surely not through all that hair?”
“Which is horribly messed up from your motorcycle helmet.” She turned to him with accusing eyes as she reached the flat area at the bottom of the steps.