New Du Rose Matriarch

by Bowes, K T

  “Let’s go with the plan,” Tama said, looking sideways at her oddly, “we’ll try the walk and see what happens.” He squeezed Hana’s shoulder and laid his head against hers. “You trashed your phone, didn’t you?”

  “No,” Hana lied sulkily. “Yes. Sort of.”

  She heard Tama snuff and was grateful for his company, remembering how they avoided each other the previous year. “I never thought we’d be friends,” she murmured and felt his head nod against hers.

  “Neither,” he said. “Not after the Anka thing. Circumstance keeps throwing us together. When you shared about your first husband’s affair, it changed everything. I saw how vulnerable you were, but before that you seemed a bit hard ass. Being with you when you went into labour with Phoenix was incredible.” He touched the fluffy head and the child’s eyes flicked up at him. “She feels like my sister,” he said. “I never had a sister.”

  “Yeah, we’re certainly a family,” Hana said. She patted his thigh and asked him to pass the cup of tea. “Let’s see if your drinks pass muster.” She pretended to sample a mouthful, rolling the liquid round her tongue and swallowing. “Not bad,” she agreed. “You can stay.”

  Tama laughed, taking the baby and putting her over his shoulder to bring up the wind. Hana drank, settling back against the pillows. “How are you feeling about things,” she asked and he looked at her in confusion.

  “What - Anka?”

  “Not just that,” Hana said. “Miriam and Reuben’s death, all the stuff with your dad...I mean Michael, now having a relationship with your mother. Kane being thrown out of the hotel, not to mention starting college. It seems like heaps for one person to deal with.”

  “It sounds a lot when you put it like that,” Tama said, his brows knitting in thought. “You know, Grandpa Reuben was always good to me. I knew he loved me. It sort of made up for how Kane behaved towards me. When I found out Michael was my father it made sense; all the beatings from Kane and how much he hated me. But when Michael wasn’t interested, it hurt so much.” He scratched at a spot on his upper arm, worrying at the scab as he tried to process his buried emotions. Then he smiled, looking like the stunning young man he really was. His white teeth contrasted with his olive skinned face and he looked so much like Michael, it was uncanny.

  “I always had Uncle Logan though; through everything. He was a constant for me. I let him down last year and when he told me not to use the Du Rose name, I walked for five kilometres bawling like a baby.”

  “I didn’t know he’d said that to you,” Hana bit her lip at her husband’s black and white world, which didn’t tolerate disloyalty. “Was it because you worked for Laval Senior?”

  Tama nodded. “Yeah. My bad.”

  Phoenix let out an enormous burp and grunt, followed by a happy sigh. Hana laughed. Tama gave the baby back to her and got off the bed, his long legs clad in ripped blue jeans. He reached the bedroom door and stopped, a look of confusion on his face as he turned towards Hana. “I don’t know if you’ve realised, but you keep saying Laval Senior.”

  Hana’s face showed bemusement as she failed to understand. Tama continued, “Don’t you get it?”

  Hana shook her head and screwed up her face. “What are you talking about?”

  “Come on Hana! You’d only call him Laval Senior if you knew there was another kind of Laval, like a Junior!”

  Hana’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, no! I didn’t realise.” She tried to work out if she might have given herself away, but the whole thing became a blur. “I think I’m ok,” she said finally, “I haven’t said it to anyone else, but I’ll watch out from now on.”

  Tama nodded and left. His suspicious nature worked overtime at the moment and he couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of the loop, both with Logan and then tonight with Bodie. He knew Hana’s son didn’t like him, but the conversation had been tense in an entirely different way, especially when Jas dropped his bombshell about Hana on the bridge. Tama felt sure Bodie would want to delve into it after his mother’s odd reaction, but he hadn’t even tried. It was strange behaviour for an inquisitive cop, Tama concluded, whistling to himself.

  Hana settled in the bed with the baby after changing her nappy. She missed Logan and let the child stay with her, enjoying the closeness of her small body as she lay awake in the darkness. Tama moved around in the lounge and kitchen, finally settling down late. Phoenix snuffed and moved about in her sleep and Hana stroked the soft cheeks. She worked to push the image of Pete out of her mind, trying not to dislike him for being the same idle man he always was. She decided instead to have faith in her strong husband. He possessed mana and leadership qualities handed down to him through generations of French noblemen and Māori chiefs. If he couldn’t inspire Peter North to behave, nobody could.

  Chapter 21

  The little household slept late the next morning. Hana woke, hearing the bell for first period sounding in the distance. The rest of the house was silent apart from Phoenix, who lay on her back in the double bed and worked hard to pull the sleep suit over her feet. She had lost one leg entirely and the empty material hung sideways, looking odd. As Hana watched, Phoenix turned her face towards her mother and made little ‘pah, pah’ noises with her rosy lips before opening her mouth in a happy beam. Hana laughed, her eyes crinkling with love.

  “For such a little person, that is a very big smell!” Hana exclaimed after changing her daughter’s nappy. She pushed the window open on its security runner and waved fresh air into the room. “Pooh, stinky!”

  Hana sat in bed, propped up against pillows feeding the baby and enjoying the luxury of reading a novel she was struggling to finish. Phoenix fed greedily and fell asleep, her little tummy looking bloated. Hana studied her proudly. It was a satisfying feeling, having the nurse weigh her child and knowing any growth was entirely attributable to her efforts. “Maybe I’m not as rubbish as I thought,” Hana whispered to the sleeping child.

  She wrapped her daughter up and laid her in her cot. Then she wandered to the kitchen feeling thirsty.

  Tama sprawled on the floor in his sleeping bag. He’d propped himself up against the front of the sofa with pillows behind him, watching cartoons on the television. Hana walked past, realising her mistake as he reached out and caught hold of her leg. She wore a shirt of Logan’s and although she had knickers on, the ensemble showed off her slender legs. Tama looked at her seductively and pulled the sleeping bag back with his other hand. “Fancy coming in for a cuddle?” he asked, winking.

  Hana kicked out with her leg, detaching his grasp. “Don’t even think about it!” she replied, shocked. “I’m old enough to be your mother!”

  Tama smiled at her naughtily. “I’m not complaining.”

  “Ok then,” retorted Hana after a moment’s thought and Tama looked surprised. “I’ll ring Logan and check he doesn’t mind.”

  “No! Don’t!” The lascivious smile slipped from Tama’s face and his voice rose an octave, “Please don’t Hana. I’m sorry! He’ll kill me!”

  “Be quiet!” Hana chastised. “I just put the baby in her cot.”

  Tama wriggled out of his sleeping bag and stood up in his boxer shorts looking ashen. He pleaded with his eyes, knowing he’d gone too far. Hana flicked the kettle on and left the room, cursing her stupidity in being immodest in front of a mixed up, horny teenager, whose moral compass was skewed and disrupted by his bizarre upbringing. Logan tried to warn her and she regretted dismissing his carefully given advice. Tama was right. If she breathed a word of his lewd suggestion to her husband, he would dismember his nephew and bury his body under the rugby pitch.

  Hana showered and dressed before going back to the kitchen. Tama had rolled up his sleeping bag and put the room back together. He was on his best behaviour, nervously scratching at a spot on his neck. Hana ignored him and made a pot of tea, dumping it on the breakfast bar. Tama’s grey eyes were huge in his face and he looked scared. “I was just kidding around,” he protested and Hana raised her eyebr
ows.

  “You liar!” she said, smirking in disbelief. “You meant it and if that’s your best pick up line, I’m not surprised you’re out of luck.”

  “That one’s been quite successful with the older ladies,” Tama said with sincerity. “They like a cuddle first.”

  Hana raised her hand in front of his face. “Not this older lady, thanks. I’m very happy with my husband’s ministrations and doubt you could improve on them.”

  “Bet I could,” Tama protested. “There’s this thing I can do with my...”

  “No!” Hana put her hands over her ears. “Stop!” She waited until his lips stopped moving. “Look, I won’t tell Logan, but only this time.”

  Tama let out such a big breath his body seemed to collapse inwards. He leant on the breakfast bar but before he could gush his thanks or enjoy the sense of freedom, Hana capitalised on his change in attitude. “But if you ever make a pass at me or are inappropriate e in any way, I will tell him! I’m not Caroline and I’m definitely not Anka, so don’t confuse me with them, please. I love my husband and that’s the way it’s going to stay.”

  Tama’s face flushed with sick relief. Hana pointed her index finger at him. “I’m not doing this because I can’t be bothered to pick your blood off the ceiling, but because your relationship with Logan is far more important than you pretend.”

  The young man nodded somberly. Hana lowered her head and studied him. “Do not mess this up!”

  “Ok, but can you make me scrambled eggs please?” he begged and Hana sighed.

  Later, she picked at a piece of toast and worried about luring Laval out of hiding. Tama inhaled his breakfast and watched her become eerily quiet. “Come on, Hana. Get real! This is way too big for us to handle on our own. We need Logan’s help,” he pressed.

  Hana refused. “No! I’m keeping your secrets, so you keep mine.”

  “That’s blackmail!” Tama complained, rewarded by Hana’s coy smile.

  Just before lunch there was a knock on the front door. Tama opened it to admit Amanda and her baby. Hana’s new friend came into the lounge; her confidence dented by the sight of the handsome young man. “Hi,” Tama said, his grey eyes studying Amanda’s bonny face and clear complexion. He shook her hand, holding it longer than necessary and causing Hana to roll her eyes as his thumb caressed her hand.

  “Tama! Behave!” Hana hissed and he gave the classic Du Rose lopsided grin. She marvelled at the boy’s hormones, likening it to trying to control a rampant bull.

  Amanda persuaded Hana to go for a walk with the babies and Tama grew nervous as Hana bundled Phoenix into the pram. “You can’t go; it’s not safe! For goodness sake, Hana, have you got rocks in your head?”

  “Shush!” Hana hissed as her guest watched Tama with curiosity.

  “What does he mean? Not safe?” Amanda became nervous.

  “Nothing, don’t worry,” Hana reassured her friend. “He’s overreacting.” She widened her eyes at Tama and he stood his ground and folded his arms in front of him.

  Amanda returned home to grab her pram and paraphernalia, while Tama frantically tried to change Hana’s mind. She resisted. “He won’t approach me with somebody else there,” Hana argued. “I’ll be safer. We’ll walk a different way today and then I’ll come home and we’ll do what we agreed tomorrow. It’ll be fine.”

  Tama wasn’t at happy. Amanda knocked on the door and Hana wrestled her pram down the steps. “Can we go a different way today?” she asked. “I fancy walking along River Road. I know it’s miles but it will burn off some calories.”

  “What about the river paths?” Amanda asked with enthusiasm and Tama looked like he might explode.

  “They’re too deserted during the day,” Hana said with regret. “My son’s a policeman and he wouldn’t be happy with me walking there.”

  “Your nephew could come,” Amanda said with a coy smile and Tama grinned at her, his hormones cranking up.

  “No, thanks,” Hana said with force. “He’s got things to do.”

  “Spoilsport,” he hissed as she flounced off up the road.

  They walked companionably in the sunshine, chatting away the kilometres. Amanda shared her difficulties being married to someone whose opinion of himself was higher than it should be. “He thinks he’s such a stud muffin with the ladies,” Amanda complained, “when really he’s a complete dick.”

  “I know someone like that,” Hana commented under her breath, thinking of her randy houseguest. “Having Caroline on my doorstep last year and knowing she wanted Logan, was horrid. I worried about his ability to refuse her and it took a real toll on our marriage.”

  “At least he never succumbed, not like my idiot,” Amanda mused. In an unrealistic fit of energy, the women walked as far as Day’s Landing and dropped into the reserve to look at the water. The area was populated with tourists and picnickers enjoying their lunch on benches near the water and Hana felt less vulnerable in their presence.

  “Could you hold Millie’s pram for a minute, please? I need the toilet,” Amanda asked, looking uncomfortable. It was an automated toilet and Hana eyed it nervously, deciding that she could wait until she got home. She stood outside rocking both prams in the sunshine and watching the ducks persuade the tourists to part with their lunch. Only Millie was awake, cooing and bashing the heck out of a rod full of colourful objects which dangled over her face.

  “Clever girl,” Hana praised her, righting a yellow plastic duck and watching the child bat it back into an upside down position.

  A familiar black Mercedes slunk into the car park, pulling into a space directly in front of her. Hana looked around but everyone was busy with their activities and nobody looked her way. She took deep breaths to calm herself as Laval unfolded himself from the vehicle. Another man rode shotgun. Laval’s blonde hair glinted in the sunshine and he walked straight over, pushing his rumpled shirt into the back of his trousers and straightening his tie. Hana bit her lip and pressed herself hard against the metal toilet wall.

  “Hey, Mrs Du Rose,” he said in his sexiest voice, putting his hands either side of her waist. Hana tried to wedge herself further between the prams, feeling guilty for using the babies as a shield. “You’re avoiding me,” he crooned.

  Hana couldn’t push him away, indulging a primeval urge to clutch hold of both pram handles simultaneously, rendering her defenceless a Laval reached in and kissed her on the mouth. He tasted of coffee and mint. “I can see you’re busy,” he said peering at the babies, one asleep and the other watching him, “but we need to meet up soon. If you answered your phone, you’d know how much I want that. But you don’t pick up my calls, do you beautiful? So, tomorrow it is, let’s say...here?” He held up three fingers. “Don’t be late and don’t piss me off anymore with your games!”

  Laval let go of Hana and slid back into his vehicle. Hana tried to allow the feeling to return to her extremities, willing herself to breathe as she heard the laboured breaths catching in her chest. She thanked the Good Lord inwardly that Amanda was still in the toilet and tried to get control of herself before the other woman emerged.

  As Amanda came out, Hana went in and was violently sick into the toilet bowl. She washed her mouth out with cold water and wiped her face with tissue paper. It was the texture of sandpaper and the damn machine only permitted her a few sheets at a time.

  One look at Amanda’s face as Hana emerged from the bathroom told her something was wrong. Amanda wouldn’t look at her. They carried on their walk but the lightness had left their journey and they turned for home. Hana tried to communicate, but Amanda was sullen. It was an unpleasant walk home which seemed to take longer because of the atmosphere. At the school gates, Hana’s nerves snapped. “What’s wrong? Have I done something?”

  The look Amanda gave her told her all she needed to know and Hana’s stomach gave a disconcerting lurch. Amanda heard the conversation with Laval. “Who is he?”

  “He’s...it’s complicated. He’s dangerous and I’m trying to...�
�

  It was futile. Amanda didn’t want to hear. “Whatever! He spoke to you like he was...like you were...I’m so disgusted at you right now. How could you? Your husband’s gorgeous! You don’t deserve him. I hope you get what’s coming to you!” With that, she stormed off ahead, pushing her pram out in front of her like a battering ram.

  Nausea attacked Hana, not only at the injustice, but with fear Amanda would spread her opinion across the school site. Chris Carter wouldn’t be able to believe his luck. Hana had never cheated on anyone in her life, well, unless she counted the time she’d snogged the paper cover off the Simon and Garfunkel CD. She was fifteen and going out with the incredibly spotty Andrew Mabbot. Looking back, the singer wasn’t particularly hot and the paper stuck to her lip gloss and ripped. It read as ‘S....unkel’ forever after and Andrew Mabbot finished with her the following week anyway.

  Hana stood where Amanda abandoned her, feeling bereft, her shoulders slumped. She was sweaty and miserable in the heat and second guessing herself. Did she fancy Laval? Was she enjoying his attentions? Hana felt only violation when he touched her physically, but Amanda’s assumption made her afraid. Her red fringe stuck to her forehead and an uncomfortable stickiness spread underneath her pony tail as she stood outside St Bart’s trying not to cry.

  A hand slipped gently round her waist and Hana reacted, pushing roughly at the owner of it. “Stop it!” she screamed, finding herself shoving her husband in the stomach. He grunted and dipped forward, but was too tall and strong for Hana’s weedy shove to make much impact. He took her outstretched hand and looked at it curiously. “Sorry, sorry,” Hana gushed as her heart rate soared and then slumped. “Amanda fell out with me and I feel stink about it.”

  Logan looked incredulous. “Amanda fell out with you?” He stared towards the lane leading to the staff units with a frown on his face. “Weird. What happened?”