New Beginnings

CHAPTER SIX

While Jack’s team didn’t win the cricket final, the local paper ran a nice story about them, noting they had been underdogs all season and yet managed to reach the final. Jack was down for a while but soon enough he and his teammates were talking about “next season.” Blake, Xavier, and her father had taken the team and the coach out for dinner and while the ladies were invited, they passed and made the most of their freedom by having dinner at a well-known Devonport restaurant. All in all, it had been a lovely weekend and they would do it all again in a few days when Jack and Lucas celebrated their sixteenth birthdays. Her mind drifted towards Blake, the kiss, and the fact that she was running scared in terms emotionally. She wanted to trust him, to believe him, to grasp the olive branch he was holding out to her, but the pain of the past wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Her mother wasn’t helping with her subtle hints, despite her father warning her to stay out of their daughter’s business. Did her mother simply believe Blake had changed? That his Mea Culpa was genuine?

As if all of that wasn’t enough to give her a pounding headache, Caroline Pugh’s tenth phone call in the space of an hour droning on and on about the damage her two hens, Rainbow and Sadie, were inflicting on her garden only served to combine into one mega migraine. Because hens were naturally inclined to scratch around, and they weren’t too fussy where they scratched.

Forcing back a wave of nausea, she said, “Caroline, I empathise with your problem but other than fencing off the areas you don’t want your girls being totally free range, there is no magic solution.”

“What sort of fence? I mean I still need access to the garden so I can’t see how a fence would help at all.”

Alex sighed, “I can suggest a brand of portable fencing that you can easily put in place when you go outside or when you’re putting the girls out.”

She could imagine Caroline’s sour face on the other end. While designing her garden, Alex lost count of the number of times she almost told the woman where to stick her garden. But she wasn’t a quitter and there was no she wanted to let someone like Caroline, a professional whinger, get the better of her.

“You’re not talking about one of those nasty plastic fences, are you? I’ve seen those and quite frankly I wouldn’t be happy with that given how much money the project cost.”

Oh. My. God! This woman! Taking her time, Alex took a deep breath,

“Caroline, I’m just looking at my notes and you didn’t mention anything about chickens at our initial meeting and neither my staff nor myself saw the chickens when we were doing the work.”

“Well -,” Caroline sputtered, “Well, no, I didn’t have them at that stage. My sister has some and she said it’s so lovely to have fresh eggs and I thought I’d like that as well.”

“Okay, so it seems as though if you don’t want the temporary fencing and you don’t want them going free range in the garden then maybe you need to rethink whether they are really for you.”

Alex waited, not really caring what Caroline Pugh thought because if she didn’t take something for the headache soon, she was going to throw up.

“Yes, you’re right. About the chickens, I mean. I’m finding they are a lot of work and I love my plants and… Well, that’s it. I’ll just have to get them done away with.”

What? “Done away with?”

“Yes, you know, taken to one of those places that take care of things like that.”

“Um, Caroline? I’m fairly sure we don’t have anything like that here on Waiheke.”

“No?”

“No. Look, I’ll take them and if I can get my father to give me a hand, we’ll dismantle the coop and bring it to my place.”

“Oh, really dear? That would be lovely. How soon would that be?”

How long? Good God woman! I’m doing you the favour here.

“Well, I can probably sort something out tomorrow if you can hang on that long.” Alex wasn’t sure why she said that because she didn’t have a clue whether her father could help out or where on earth, she would put the hens in the meantime.”

Caroline was all sweetness when that idea was put to her.

“What time do you think you could be here?”

Gritting her teeth, again, she said, “How about I check with Dad and then I’ll call back. Just be patient, Caroline.”

With the call done, Alex dropped her phone on her desk and cradled her head in her hands, gently massaging her temples. She needed to get her migraine medication, but the nausea and dizziness kept her in her chair.

“Alex? I did knock but I guess – are you okay?”

She slowly lifted her head. Blake. Oh my, she had never been so pleased to see another human being as she was right now.

“I will be if you can raid my bathroom and find my migraine medication. Down the hall, second door on the left.”

She folded her arms on the desk and let her head rest there.

“Is this it?” He stood in the doorway, a small box in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Nearing her he placed the box in front of her and set the glass down.

“Thank you,” she mumbled then winced the moment she lifted her head.

“How about you lie down, that doesn’t look very comfortable.”

“In a minute.” Sitting up, she pressed out a tablet from the blister pack and sipped at the water. “I can lie down on the sofa over there,” she said, pointing in the direction of the sofa in the corner of the room. Blake helped her out of the chair and, with his hand at her elbow, he led her to the sofa.

“You still get them? The migraines?” he asked.

“Yep. Not as frequently as I once did, but when I get them now, they strike hard.”

She watched him place the cushions at one end then gestured for her to lie down before he took the throw and covered her with it.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I picked up my new car and got on the vehicular ferry and… well here I am. It wasn’t planned and I ought to have alerted you or at least the opportunity to say you were busy – or something.”

“Well, I guess it was meant to be. You’ve rescued me from having to crawl down the hall or worse still, hug the toilet bowl.”

He gave a short laugh, “Hugging the toilet bowl? It gets that bad?”

Alex felt her eyes grow heavy,

“Don’t leave before Jack gets home from work, just make yourself at home, you know where the kitchen is.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m going to fall asleep for about thirty minutes, just relax. I’ll deal with Caroline Pugh later.”

“Caroline Pugh?”

“Mmm.”

Blake sat watching Alex for a few moments, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. God, she was beautiful. Even with the migraine she was beautiful. Smart. What sort of moron was he to turn his back on her, on her family and his son? Somewhere deep in his soul a part of him grieved for what had been lost. Was there any chance Alex and Jack would consider him worthy? Worthy of letting him into their lives? Okay, so Diana and John had been extremely gracious, and Jack was – well Jack was Jack. But where did that leave Alex? Nobody had mentioned whether she was seeing someone although if there was someone, Blake had convinced himself it wasn’t serious. He got to his feet and pulled the throw a little higher. Although the afternoon was warm, he remembered when she was younger and had a migraine, she always woke up cold. In the kitchen he made himself a cup of coffee. On the bench was a container filled with biscuits so he helped himself to a couple. He made his way back to her study and sat down at her desk. A small fantail danced along the railing of the wooden deck outside and for a few moments Blake watched it, smiling. As a boy he’d loved the cheeky little birds, loved the way they swooped close, as though it were a game of sorts.

From Alex’s study, there was a wonderful view of the Gulf and across to Motutawa, which now belonged to him. He owned an island, but it was more than ownership, it was a new beginning for him, a fresh start. Sipping on his coffee, Blake noticed Alex had scribbled a cryptic note on a scrap of paper, Rainbow and Sadie and Caroline Pugh.

“Mum?”

Jack was home. Blake went to the top of the landing and watched his son’s face light up,

“How come you’re here?” he asked as he climbed the stairs two at a time, “Nice wheels by the way.”

“Thanks. I wasn’t planning on turning up here, but the dealership was close to the vehicular ferry terminal and I thought,” he paused and gave a shrug, “I just drove on.”

“Where’s Mum?”

“When I got here, she was struggling with a bad migraine. She’s had some medication and is sleeping It off.”

“Did she puke?”

“No,” Blake turned and headed back toward the study. “Alex is in here,” he said over his shoulder.

“How long has she been out?”

“About fifteen minutes. Say, you don’t know who Caroline Pugh is do you?”

Jack sniggered, “Waiheke’s answer to Mrs Compton but worse because she not only gossips but she complains. A lot.”

“I think Alex was on the phone with her because she wrote this.”

Jack read the note, smiling as he did so, “Rainbow and Sadie are her two chooks. They keep getting into the garden mum designed for her and she’s on the freaking phone every other day.”

“Jack?”

They both looked up. Alex struggled to open her eyes; her speech was a little slurred.

“Hey Mum, good job Blake was here to help out, wasn’t it?”

“Uh uh. I need -,” she tried to sit up, but Blake gently nudged her back against the pillows.

“Tell us what you need, and we’ll get it for you,” he said.

Alex closed her eyes again and slowly recounted her conversation with Caroline Pugh. It was a little disjointed, but he got the gist of it; the hens needed to be relocated and the coop needed to be dismantled.

“We’re keeping the old bat’s chooks?” Jack asked, his brow creasing into a slight frown.

“She wanted to send them to one of those places where – well, I’m sure you know what I mean.”

“You mean she was going to turn them into chicken tenders or schnitzels?’

“Something like that.”

Blake pushed his hands into his pockets, it wasn’t late, perhaps he and Jack could dismantle the coop?

“How big is the coop?” he asked.

“Not big, I have a tandem trailer so Dad could use that.” Alex tried sitting up again, swinging her legs over the side of the sofa, “Thanks for keeping an eye on me,” she said. She was smiling at him and his heart bounced off his rib cage like a tennis ball.

“Tools?”

“Mum has everything to dismantle it.”

Blake looked at Jack, “We could go and do the job now if you’re available?”

“No, Blake, I’m sure Dad won’t mind.”

“No point in waiting if I’m here and Jack’s here. How about I make you a cup of tea or coffee and then you help us organise some tools.”

Blake looked around Caroline’s garden. It was a work of art. In the background she was running off at the mouth about the hens, the destruction and on and on it went. He wasn’t all that handy but with Jack’s help and a marker pen, so they knew what piece went where, they dismantled the coop and it them on the trailer. Caroline stood and watched them all the time and when Blake asked her for a cardboard box big enough for the hens, she looked at him as though he was asking for a billion dollars. Finally, they had the hens and the coop and made their way slowly down the steep drive.

“That woman is scary,” Jack announced, making Blake smile at his son’s candour.

“Is there a Mr Pugh?”

“Yea, he’s a super nice guy. Everyone likes him. Why do guys like that end up with women like her?”

“Well, the same goes for super nice women who marry jerks.”

“I guess.”

“Where exactly are we putting this coop?” he asked, realising this ought to have been discussed before they went to collect it.

“Dunno. Hopefully, mum will have an idea.”

“Hope so, otherwise those two girls on your lap could be living inside with you.”

Jack gave him a sidelong glance then began laughing. Yeah, officially, he was a goner when it came to his son.

Blake eased Alex’s work ute into her driveway and then down toward the house from where she emerged. He noticed she had more colour in her cheeks and her eyes looked much brighter.

“Thanks so much for doing that, Blake.  Oh, God! Look at your clothes!”

Blake looked down at the t-shirt and chinos he was wearing and was at least thankful he didn’t have to travel back to Devonport on the ferry.

“A bit of dirt, that’s all. Don’t stress.”

“I do, I mean you’ve helped me out, your clothes are a little the worse for wear and I don’t even know why I offered to take the hens.” she said as he pushed open the door.

“Well, put it down to being under duress or pain or a combination.”

Jack, carrying the cardboard carton joined them, “Where are you putting these chooks? More importantly, where is the chicken coop going?”

She frowned, “I know, I know, it was all so spur of the moment. I couldn’t bear the thought of them being sent off to be used for other purposes.”

Jack set the carton on the ground and two head poked out of the top,

“Maybe we can set up something in the garage?”

A sound of tires crunching on gravel had them turning to see a St Lucia Vineyard & Winery SUV approaching with Marron behind the wheel. Blake caught the look of surprise on Marron’s face and smiled. No doubt there would be a lot of questions at some stage.

“Chooks?” she called, “You’ve got chooks?”

“Nah, Mum got sucked in by Mrs Pugh who keeps complaining about the destruction they’re causing in her garden.”

Marron laughed, “Got you good, my friend! Why did you offer or agree or whatever it was?”

“She gave me the worst damn migraine I’ve had in a long time, that’s why. My head was about to explode and when she started talking about sending them off to be…Well, you know.”

“I found her slumped over her desk,” Blake said, “But she looks better now.”

“Mm,” Marron sized him up with a decidedly sceptical look, “And you just happened to be in the neighbourhood?”

“He bought a new car, lucky for mum he showed up because at least she didn’t throw up.”

“Well, aren’t you a regular knight of the realm,” Marron teased, giving Alex a cheeky wink as she did so.

“Just being neighbourly,” he replied to which they all laughed.

“If you lived there or there,” Marron said, waving her arms at the boundary lines of two other properties, “That would be neighbourly. You done good, Blake. Thank you for being here for Alex.”

“Yes, well, a bit overdue don’t you think.”

“Okay,” Jack announced, “What the frick are we doing with these ladies?”

“Is that the coop?” Marron asked, “How on earth did you dismantle it in your state?”

“That is the coop, Maz but I didn’t dismantle it. Blake and Jack did.”

“Wow. Well, I’m seriously going to reconsider my opinion of you if you keep performing good deeds in the community.”

Blake laughingly shook his head. Even as a kid Marron Huxley always had a smart mouth and wicked sense of humour and it was a no brainer that she and Alex’s brother were usually thick as thieves planning and scheming.

“I don’t know where to put the coop, I know I have plenty of room, but I’d like to chicken-proof the garden before I set them loose.”

“We could take them, and the coop. Is it sturdy?” Marron asked.

Blake shook his head, “Not terribly but it would do in the interim. Is the island still free of foxes and the like?”

“Yes, at least I think so. We haven’t had any trouble with the goats, although for a while there were a couple of dogs whose owners accidentally on purpose forgot to take them back to Auckland.”

“Marron, I can’t ask you to do this. I ought to have left Mrs Pugh to sort it out for herself.”

“Alex, we’ve got plenty of places to put a chicken coop,” she looked at the trailer still hitched to Alex’s work ute, “Can I tow that trailer with my vehicle?”

“You don’t need to. Jack and I can drive it round to your place if you’re happy to take them?” His eyes remained fixed on Alex.

“Of course, after all fresh eggs won’t go amiss in the restaurant kitchen.”

“I’ll go with Blake,” Jack said and bent down to pick up the cardboard box, “Are we putting the coop up this evening?”

“If all of you men get stuck in, you’ll have the job done in no time,” Marron was searching his face and he said,

“Good idea,” he turned to Alex, “You’ll be okay?”

“I might come along as well, I’ll ride with Marron, you boys go on ahead.”

Blake smiled inwardly; the use of the word “boys” sent the weirdest tingle deep in his core and pulled himself out of his sense of weightlessness that he couldn’t explain, long enough to suggest Marron let Xavier know he and Jack were on their way.

When the ute could no longer be seen, Marron turned to Alex and said,

“I’m a little awestruck with what’s happening here, Al.”

“You, awestruck?”

“Don’t get smart with me, has something happened. You haven’t slept together have you and forgot to mention it?”

Alex rolled her eyes, “Maz, relax, no sleeping. Not yet anyway.”

“Ah ha! So, you’ve thought about it?”

“What? No! Absolutely not! Well, okay maybe a little. Just wondered if it would be the same, better or worse.”

Marron snorted, “Seriously? You think it would be worse than when you were nineteen? Have you looked at that man? How likely is it that his talents are less now than they were sixteen years ago?”

Alex laughed and hooked her arm through Marron’s,

“Yeah, okay. You were always too smart for your own good. I’m sure he’s smoking hot between the sheets but we’re not there yet.”

“Does that mean the potential is there?”

Alex shrugged. The kiss had certainly ignited her imagination, had her wondering how it might feel.

“It’s there. Just to put you out of your misery,” she said, “There was a kiss, a brief kiss and no, neither of us regretted it.”

Marron pushed her out at an arm’s length, “Well don’t stop there!”

“Nothing more to tell. Now, let me do something with my hair and we can go and supervise the installation of a chicken coop.”