New Beginnings

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Alex wiped the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, Autumn had officially started but someone forgot to let Summer know because temperatures were mild. Still. It wasn’t unusual for Waiheke to be warmer than the mainland as there was a difference of between six or seven degrees, even in the winter, the island tended to be a little warmer. She had spent most of the morning pushing wheelbarrow loads of compost onto the plot she had dug a few weeks ago. Her plan was simple, she wanted to recreate her grandmother’s Dahlia garden which had fascinated her from when she was a small girl. She loved how the gnarled tubers went into the ground and from September onward began sending up green shoots that eventually became sturdy bushes with stunning blooms. Her grandmother and Great-Aunt Celia were in constant competition with one another when it came to gardens. Celia preferred roses and Grandma loved Dahlias. When Celia’s house was sold, it was done so with the new owners acknowledging that the rose garden would not be part of the property and Alex, with the help of a well-known horticulturalist had relocated the roses to her parents’ home.

Blake had taken the ferry to Devonport for his meeting, leaving the Diana moored in the bay below. She didn’t know why he was still here, but she was enjoying his company. Some evenings they sat out on the deck and talked for hours about books, politics, theatre and even sport, although she had to admit she had only a passing interest in sport other than the New Zealand All Blacks. Marron had asked her if she was happy with the situation as it was, and she’d had to think about it. The fact that Royce and Arlene continued to lurk in the shadows had them both cautious. She doubted they would do anything stupid, well, no, Arlene would. Alex recalled the woman’s unhinged screaming and yelling, calling Alex a witch and then some. No, she didn’t fear Royce, but Arlene was a different kettle of fish.

“Wow, this is looking good, Alex!”

She turned to see Marron approaching and smiled,

“Yeah. Grandma’s dahlia garden was just a little to the left of here, but I remember her saying the plants could do with a bit more sun, especially in late summer when the sun was lower in the sky.”

“It’s a shame it was lost,” Marron lamented, “I remember her cutting the blooms for me to take to Mum. Do you know what plants she had?”

“Mum found an old photo of me in the garden, Grandma had cut a stem for me and I was carrying it around. I was only about eighteen months old. Anyway, I enlarged it and was able to pick out some of the colours and varieties. Grandma loved dinner plate dahlias so I’m going to focus on them,” she glanced at her watch, “Fancy a snack?”

“Absolutely.”

They retreated indoors where Alex washed up before heading to the kitchen,

“I’ve got some nice local sourdough, olives from a great olive growing outfit near here,” she winked at Marron, “goats’ cheese from the olive place, wine,” she peered into the fridge, “Oh and some cold meats.”

“I love your fridge, it’s always full of delicious things.”

They laughed and chatted away while they fixed what turned out to be a sumptuous feast.

“Do I smell?” she asked Marron.

“Huh? Smell?” she leaned closer, “Nope.”

“Thank God. I was sweating out there, I probably need a shower, but I’d like to get it finished today and I can work off this lunch.”

“I noticed the boat is still in the bay, but no Blake?”

“Gone to Devonport for the day. Mum’s probably chewing his ear, putting in a good word for me,” she rolled her eyes, “She’s totally incorrigible.”

“I know. However, I must say when I saw you at the barbecue the other night, you two looked good together. The s*x must be working.”

“Ha ha. The s*x has happened twice, I sort of hoped he would sleep in the house after the barbecue but no, he rowed himself over to the yacht.”

“Why don’t you go with him?”

“And Jack?”

“Well, you come back early in the morning.”

Alex reached for a plate and began filling it, “I don’t know, Maz. I think I’m too old to be doing something like that.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. Wine?”

“Not for me.”

She looked at Marron, “You know the last time you refused wine was when you were pregnant with Lucas.”

“That’s right,” she replied, smiling so hard the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears.

“You’re not!”

“I am!”

“But what about the endometriosis? That specialist said the scarring was too extensive, not even dynamite was going to get to the prize.”

“I know! Well, he didn’t use the word dynamite, but you’re right, he was wrong.”

“Do you know when?”

Marron poured herself a glass of iced water from the pitcher Alex had placed on the table,

“No idea because, you know, we’re at it like rabbits, never expecting this to happen. I’m about sixteen weeks apparently.”

“Wow, really? I can’t tell. I’ve forgotten what sixteen weeks pregnant looks like.”

“Me too. Please tell me you’re excited.?”

“You need to ask. God, I’m deliriously happy for you guys, Xavier adores you and I know how much you wanted to have more than one. How is Lucas taking it?”

“I was worried he’d be – what do they say? Oh, yeah, grossed out. Because when you’re sixteen you do not want to think of your parents doing it.”

Spontaneous laughter burst from them both, “And was he grossed out?”

“No, he was genuinely happy. He’s such a great kid. Just worried this one, Mr or Ms Dynamite could be a handful and we’re not as young as we once were.”

Alex reached over and squeezed Marron’s hand,

“There are plenty of kilometres left in both of you, you’ll do great, and you and I will have to go shopping ASAP. Mum will flip, of course, the knitting needles will be out, and she’ll drive you insane about what colour you want.”

Alex saw a flicker of sadness on her friend’s face,

“You’re thinking of your mum?”

“Yeah. I know it’s been a while, but the loss is still there, times when I’d like to talk to her. I know your parents have all but adopted me and I also know I can pick up the phone and call Diana whenever but…”

“I get it. Just not the same as your own. I’d be lost without Mum and yes, she’s like the Humane Society, collecting people like they pick up stray animals but she’s sincere when she tells you to call anytime.”

“I plan on going to Devonport tomorrow, I checked with John to make sure they’d be home. If he thought it was odd, he didn’t say.”

“No, that’s Dad’s default mechanism because if he told her you had called, she would have wanted to know why, the interrogation would never end and then she would start on you!”

“I dodged a bullet then and John too?”

“Yes indeed. So, when can we go shopping?”

“Anytime. We’ll need to buy everything from scratch because who holds onto baby stuff for sixteen years?”

“You’re right. I think it’s best if Xavier helps choose the pram, bassinet, that sort of thing, don’t you?”

“I guess, I mean there a million things to get.”

“I know and that means we can go shopping more than once or, we can shop online.”

The spent the next hour talking about babies, what room they planned on turning into a nursery and names. As Marron was leaving, Alex wrapped her up in a hug,

“I’m so happy for you and Xavier, I could cry. But I won’t because I know your hormones are pushing your hot buttons and I don’t want to upset you.”

Marron rested her head on Alex’s shoulder,

“Aside from meeting and marrying Xavier and having Lucas, the day I met you was one of the best. We were six years old and here we are almost thirty years later.”

With that they both burst into tears.

Blake had a lot to think about on his return journey to Waiheke. Steve, the investigator had come armed with a bundle of documents and when Blake saw them, he wondered how on earth they had come to be in Steve’s possess. Many of the documents related to Royce Winchester’s business dealings, but there were other documents that were far more disturbing. Arlene Winchester had, for many years been arranging adoptions without the proper authority. Sitting in the ferry, Blake pulled a sheaf of papers from his backpack. The documents went back as far as 1960 and included the names of young women who’d given birth to babies at a private hospital owned by Arlene’s sister. Was his adoption in here? Or what about Gabriella? He stared out at the volcanic cone of Rangitoto as the ferry glided by, then returned to the documents. Who could he give these documents to? First, he intended scanning them all, so he had some proof of what Arlene had been doing before he handed them over to whatever authority. His mind was buzzing, questions coming at him from all angles, he stuffed the documents into the backpack and squeezed his eyes shut. Just thinking about the extent of Arlene Winchester’s cruelty had has blood boiling. Those poor girls who’d relinquished their babies would have absolutely no way of ever making contact with their birth mother, conversely those relinquished children who find in near impossible to locate their birth mother.

 By the time he reached Waiheke, he had calmed down to a simmer and his spirits lifted when he caught sight of Alex waiting for him. He had said he would walk to Cactus Bay, but Diana must have been on the phone to Alex. He shook his head and smiled when she waved at him. When he reached the car, he dropped a light kiss on her forehead,

“Meeting go well?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you about it once we reach your place.”

“That sounds a little ominous. You’re not having problems with permits or anything like that, are you?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Mm, call me sceptical but you seem a little -  I don’t know how to describe what you are, but you seem sad.”

“Maybe it’s because I am.”

“Blake?”

“When we’re at your place.”

“I’m stopping for fish and chips because I’ve been so caught up with recreating Grandma’s dahlia garden that I forgot to take something out for dinner. Plus, Marron stopped by. She’s pregnant!”

There was no mistaking her excitement, hell even he had to smile at her enthusiastic response.

“Not that I know anything about female anatomy…” He paused, “I’ll rephrase that, I must admit to a total lack of knowledge when it comes to female reproduction…”

Alex  gave him a wry smile and patted his knee,

“Quit while you’re ahead. You’re no stranger to female anatomy and I’m prepared to overlook your poor knowledge of reproduction.”

With that she eased the car out of the parking spot and drove up the hill towards Oneroa.

“I’m pleased you’re excited. Do you think Xavier will be allowed to our next working bee on Motutawa?”

“Allowed? Blake, he’s not five. Of course, Marron, will approve of your male bonding sessions. You know, Xavier doesn’t have any family here in New Zealand, being from the US, so it will come as no surprise to you that the inimitable Diana Porter has taken him under her very large wing. I think it’s great that you and Xavier have jelled together, because as you know, Mum can be a bit overwhelming at times. You guys are much quieter.”

“Did Diana call and let you know I was on my way.”

She shot him another cheeky grin, “What do you think?”

He laughed as she pulled up in front the fish and chip shop. They got out of the car, placed the order, and wandered through Oneroa village as they waited for their order before driving the short distance to Cactus Bay.

“Is Jack home?”  he asked as they entered the house and moments later, he had his answer as Jack bounced into the kitchen, with Lucas at his heels.

“I’m starving!” Jack announced and again, Blake had to laugh at his son’s perpetually hungry state.

“I hear you’re going to have a brother or sister in a few months,”  Blake said to Lucas and saw a smile break over the boy’s face.

“Yeah. I’m moving in here if it keeps me awake all night.”

“Is that right?”

Jack slung an arm around Lucas’s shoulders, “Just looking out for the guy who is the closest I’ll ever have as a sibling for me,” he said.

“Right,” Alex announced, “This food is going cold but until I see some action with setting the table nobody is eating.”

Jack and Lucas were a frenzy of activity, opening cupboards, pulling tomato sauce, mayonnaise, and sweet chili sauce from the fridge. A pitcher of iced water also went to the table followed by glasses and when they had finished eating, the same frenzied activity cleared the table, stacked the dishwasher and the boys thundered their way upstairs.

“Want to sit outside?” he asked Alex.

“Let me get a wrap, the nights are getting cooler although today I was sweating it was so warm.”

Blake stepped out onto the deck, dusk was making way for the night and a few early stars were out. He watched the lights of a fishing boat heading further out into the gulf towards the Coromandel Peninsula. The water was like glass and as he admired the stillness and the beauty of his surroundings, he could have sworn he saw torchlight on the beach below. He watched and waited, yes! There it was again; someone was on the beach and his first question was how they managed to get down there because the only access to the bay was through Alex’s garden. Or from the water.

“Here you are!” Alex exclaimed, stepping onto the deck.

He swung round and placed his finger on his lips,

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Watch. Look! See it? Someone’s down on the beach with a torch.”

They watched as the light continued moving around the beach, sometimes reaching out towards the yacht.

“What are they looking for?”

“Don’t know,” replied, “But I think I’ll go and find out.

“I’ll come with you, that could be a raving lunatic down there ready to shoot you. Or stab you or generally harm you.”

He chuckled softly, “On Waiheke? How about I call the two men upstairs to come down. If that’s one person on their own, the sight of three men will probably send them packing.”

“Don’t you think Jack and Lucas are a bit young to get involved in this sort of thing?”

Movement behind them made them turn around to see Jack and Lucas,

“Dad, someone is down there. We saw the torchlight.”

“I know. I’m going down to check it out.”

“We’re coming too,” Lucas said.

“Lucas Weston, I’m responsible for your well being while you’re here, no heroics. Understand?”

“Understood.”

Blake, Jack, and Lucas move stealthily across the lawn toward the steps leading onto the sand where Blake stopped to check where the torchlight was and caught sight of it at the far end of the bay.

“Maybe you guys ought to stay here,” he suggested, keeping his voice low, and they followed him onto the sand toward the source of light.

“No way! I’m not letting some loser dude beat up my dad!”

Blake’s heart squeezed and he gave Jack a quick hug, “Nobody is beating me up, least of all a loser. Hang back and at the first sign of trouble, you’re out of here. Got it?”

“Sure,” Jack mumbled.

Blake threaded his way toward the far end of the bay, keeping to the shadows of the Pohutukawa trees as much as possible. Fortunately, the moon had yet to rise so he was relatively obscured. He heard a gasp behind him and knew the boys were there. It was then he noticed the small zodiac and Blake realised whoever it was had accessed the beach from the water. He moved quickly toward the figure who was now pushing the zodiac off the sand,

“Hey! Stop right there, the police are on their way!”

Blake had been wrong, there wasn’t just one person, there were two because something heavy caught the back of his head, and an explosion of pain sent him stumbling across the sand, fighting to keep his footing. His arm shot out to grab the person attempting to float the zodiac, he pulled them down into the shallows, but something pulled his feet out from under him. As the first fists and feet rained down on his body, he instinctively curled himself into the foetal position. Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard Jack call out for help and hoped both Jack and Lucas were off the beach, safe with Alex. He started sinking into oblivion, the last conscious thought he had before total darkness was the explosion, illuminating the beach. His yacht, his Diana was gone, of that, he was sure. The heat from the flames kept him warm as he lay in the shallows, or maybe he was in hell? Maybe he was already dead, and he would never hold Alex in his arms again, never make love to her, never see Jack get married and have his own family, never see his sister or John and Diana. All the people who mattered to him, his family, he left without saying goodbye, just as he did before. He felt hands on his body, making him groan because there wasn’t one inch of him that didn’t hurt. Jesus, did it hurt!  

“Hey man, you know the theatrical is my thing!”

Jack? Was here? “Jack, is that you?”

“The one and only. Looks like they messed you up, B, that pretty face of yours has taken a real beating.”

“Hurts like a b***h. I think the back of my head is missing.”

Jack laughed, “No, it’s all good. Too bad about the boat.”

“Yeah. Bastards.”

“You named it after Mum. That was nice. You’re doing okay with Alex too?

“I think so. I don’t mind telling you I’m scared, Jack. I can’t stuff up again, I just can’t. I’ve missed you, man. There are so many things I want to tell you.”

Jack was moving away, and he tried to reach out, “Jack, wait!”

Jack turned his head, smiling, “People to see, places to go. Look after my sister, okay? I am watching, remember that. You’ll be fine B. Simply fine.”

Jack was close by, he could feel his energy and something else, he was aware of pain, his whole body screamed with it. He must be alive. If he were dead, he wouldn’t feel pain, would he? There were voices, one of them might have been Alex or was it Xavier, yeah, Xavier was there. His body began shaking, the cold was so intense, he was being lifted, someone held his hand.

“Alex?” he groaned.

“Ssh, the medical team are here, Blake.”

“Jack and Lucas?”

“They’re okay. Just relax, you’re safe now Blake.”

Darkness blanketed him as he lost consciousness again.