Don't Let Me Go (2 page)

When it came to learning Chloe was like a sponge, soaking everything up until she could take no more, though still she kept trying. Everything fascinated her, from why the clouds changed shape and colour, to how dolphins could jump when they didn’t have legs, to why Mr Kingfisher kept coming to perch in their pokwa tree. She loved to help Nanna plant vegetables, or bake cakes, or fold napkins, almost as much as she enjoyed fishing with Rick, or horseback riding with Danni. On the way to school she’d recite some of the names of the wild flowers they passed, kaka’s beak, bedstraw, harebells, and when she brought a mangled bunch into the bach as a gift for Charlotte her curly head would tilt curiously to one side as though she couldn’t quite believe how thrilled Charlotte was to receive them. She was like a flower herself, continually blooming and blooming, bringing so much joy to everyone’s lives that it simply wasn’t possible to imagine that she’d ever been anything but the excited and engaging little sprite she was now.

Knowing she could trust her not to go any further into the waves than the depth of her knees, Charlotte stepped back into the kitchen to retrieve a tray of coconut bread from the oven. This was one of Chloe’s favourite after-school treats, though Charlotte suspected it was the sifting, whisking and mixing of it that she enjoyed the most.

The kitchen of their bach was efficiently compact and yet wonderfully airy, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that opened out on to the bay. At the heart of the space was a square mosaic-topped table that was never without something the intrepid explorer and archaeologist, Chloe, had discovered in the garden or the waves. The fridge, with its impressive display of Chloe’s artwork, was decorously lit from above by the seashell lamp Nanna and Chloe had made and given to Charlotte for Christmas. The cupboards, shelves and work surfaces along the back wall were made from sand-coloured Tawa wood, as was the bach itself, though the walls and window frames were painted a creamy white. To one side of the kitchen was a door that led into a natural stone bathroom where Chloe’s toys, shells and fossils cluttered up the old-fashioned roll-top bath, and Charlotte’s hairdryer was joyfully plugged in next to the sink. How much easier life was with electricity in the bathroom.

Since the main living space was open plan, it was an easy flow across the brushed-granite floor from the kitchen into the sitting room, furnished with a deep comfy sofa, two basketweave armchairs and a large pine chest for the TV, with more French windows on to the bay. Behind the sofa an oriental-style screen and giant potted palm created some privacy for Charlotte’s sleeping space. The elegance of her bed with its sumptuous plum and ivory linens, the built-in wardrobe and hand-carved driftwood lamps never failed to delight her. Chloe’s room had been added on to Charlotte’s just before they’d arrived in New Zealand, and was full of everything a little girl and her cherished teddy bear could wish for. Boots, the bear, even had his very own bed, though he’d yet to sleep in it, because he got lonely without Chloe.

There was no door between the two bedrooms, only a jangling bamboo curtain that meant no one could pass through without making a noise. This was a precaution that probably wasn’t necessary here, on the Bay of Islands, but Charlotte felt happier to have it there. Besides, it woke her when Chloe came padding through after a bad dream.

After depositing the coconut bread on to a rack to cool, Charlotte flipped the oven gloves over her shoulder and reached for a band to tie back her hair. During these past four months it had grown to below her shoulders and the sun had bleached it to a silvery blonde. Her tan – Chloe’s too – was as golden as a honey-baked bun, and surprisingly, given all the scrumptious food Anna kept serving up, plus the lavish dinners Bob treated them to in restaurants of nearby vineyards, neither of them had gained much weight. This could only be thanks to the swimming, rowing, bicycling, gardening and ball games they went in for, not to mention all the handstands, cartwheels and roly-polies Chloe regularly performed for her doting family audience.

‘Mummy! Mummy! The ducks are here,’ Chloe shouted, bursting in through the door. ‘Look, look,’ and grabbing Charlotte’s hand she dragged her outside on to the patio. Sure enough, paddling out of the waves was the raggle-taggle collection of ducks that lived on the pond behind the bach.

‘It must be five o’clock,’ Chloe declared knowledgeably. Nanna had told her that they could set their watches by the ducks’ evening constitutional – though Chloe couldn’t say that word, so she called it their ‘shall’. ‘Have we got some crumbs?’ she pleaded, looking up at Charlotte.

‘Of course,’ Charlotte smiled, and going back inside she dug out the bag she made up during the day especially for the evening ritual.

‘They’re nearly here, they’re nearly here,’ Chloe cried excitedly, and grabbing the bag she ran down to the footbridge where they were already starting to gather.

‘No, that’s naughty,’ she chided, holding the bag high as a particularly impatient Appleyard tried to stick its beak inside. ‘You have to wait your turn.’

Since Charlotte already had countless photographs and videos of Chloe at the centre of her greedy duck club, she resisted the urge to reach for her camera again and was about to stroll down to the footbridge to join them when the phone rang inside the bach.

‘Great, you’re in,’ a cheery voice declared as she answered. ‘Everything OK?’

‘I think you could say that,’ Charlotte assured her stepsister, Shelley. Though she was still getting used to the idea of even having a stepsister, it was easy to think of her as a friend when Shelley was so relaxed and undemanding.

Charlotte hadn’t spoken to Gabby since she’d left to come here, and she wasn’t sure if they’d ever speak again.

Don’t think about it now. It’s too late to change things, so put it out of your mind.

‘Where are you?’ she asked Shelley.

‘On my way to collect Phil from the airport. He was supposed to be staying overnight in Auckland, but I think he got wind of Dad’s barbie tonight. They caught some amazing crayfish when they were out yesterday, did you see them?’

‘Bloody awesome,’ Charlotte answered in her best imitation of Bob. ‘Is your brother gracing us with his presence too?’

‘Rick? I’m not sure, I forgot to ask. Did he say he was coming this weekend?’

‘Not to me, I haven’t spoken to him since he left last Sunday. In fact, didn’t he say something about going to Sydney for a couple of days this week, so chances are he’s not even in the country.’

‘Well, I’m sure we’ll find out when we see Katie later. Did you two get together earlier?’

Feeling a twinge of awkwardness at the mention of Rick’s fiancée, Charlotte said, ‘No, I had to cry off. They needed some help at Aroha, so I’ve been doing my bit for childcare today.’

With a teasing wryness to her tone Shelley said, ‘And I bet Chloe loved having her mum around so she could show off to all her friends.’

As Charlotte’s eyes moved to where Chloe was watching the ducks waddling off to their pond, she felt such a rush of tenderness that she had to fight the urge to go out and hug her. She was such a good little girl, never wandering out of sight, even when the temptation to follow the ducks must be almost overwhelming. ‘It’s true, she does seem to enjoy it when I’m there,’ she conceded, ‘but she’s on her third week without me now
and
she’s mixing quite happily with the other kids, so great strides are being made.’

‘She’s a little sweetheart and we all love her to bits,’ Shelley declared fondly. ‘Now, before I ring off, I’m taking Molly to the vet tomorrow so I was hoping, if you’re going to be in town too, that you might join me for lunch.’

Thrilled, Charlotte said, ‘I’d love to. I’m picking Chloe up at midday so we can be free any time after that.’

‘OK. Let’s do twelve thirty at the Fishbone. I know her little highness loves it there and we can always put Molly under the table if we eat outside. Meantime, I’ll see you at Dad’s in about an hour. Shall I pick you up on my way down the drive?’

‘Thanks, but I’ll take the car so I can bring Chloe back in it if she falls asleep, which she undoubtedly will.’ Her heart gave a sudden jolt as Chloe let out a shriek. ‘What the . . . ?’ she gasped, dashing outside.

‘What’s happening?’ Shelley demanded.

Charlotte’s fear was already dissolving into laughter. The shriek, she realised, had been of delight. ‘Danni’s just turned up on Diesel,’ she told Shelley.

With a mother’s long-suffering groan, Shelley said, ‘I knew that girl would bolt straight out of the door as soon as I left the house. She should be doing her homework, not riding her horse, but hey, when did she ever listen to me? Tell her I’ll want to see her essay when I get back and it had better be finished – and good.’

‘Is Craig with you?’ Charlotte asked, referring to Shelley’s eight-year-old son.

‘No, he’s already at Dad and Anna’s. He walked down all by himself again, which is making him feel very grown up, especially as he gets to take Danni’s mobile in case he falls.’

Since Shelley and Philip had built a house on a neighbouring plot of land, it meant that Craig was only ever on family property as he made the half-mile descent to his grandfather’s home. Nevertheless, the thought of him being alone in the pine woods, picking a lonely route through the tangled Chardonnay vines, wasn’t an easy one for Charlotte. Clearly she still had a way to go before she could get past her inherent fear of danger lurking on every corner.

‘OK, I’ve just pulled up outside the shack we laughably call a terminal,’ Shelley was saying, ‘and I can see the plane waggling its way out of a cloud so I’ll love you and leave you.’

After ringing off Charlotte wandered down to the beach where Danni was sliding off her beloved chestnut to land plop in front of Chloe, who was gazing up at her adoringly. Danni was a striking-looking girl with long wavy blond hair, tanned, gangly limbs and vivid blue eyes.

‘Hey you,’ she cried, ruffling Chloe’s curls. ‘Thought I’d come and find out how you got on at school today.’

Chloe clapped her hands in glee, then launching forward she began patting Diesel’s silky legs and reaching for his reins.

‘Do you want to sit on?’ Danni offered, holding the horse’s head still so Chloe could stroke his nose.

Chloe’s eyes shot eagerly to Charlotte.

‘OK, for a few minutes,’ Charlotte agreed, and after lifting her into the saddle she immediately wanted to laugh at how proud Chloe looked of herself all the way up there on the stationbred’s back.

‘Swim?’ Chloe asked Danni.

Danni’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at Charlotte.

Knowing she wanted Danni to take Diesel into the water and swim him round to the main house with her, Chloe, clinging on behind, Charlotte said, ‘Not right now. You have to get dressed before we go to Nanna’s and I thought . . .’

‘We’re going to Nanna’s,’ Chloe told Danni. ‘She’s got crayfish and a barbie . . .’ She caught her breath. ‘Can we do pipi dance?’ Her leg was already coming over the saddle so Charlotte quickly reached up to catch her.

‘You do the dance too, Mummy,’ she urged, as Charlotte set her down, and grabbing Danni’s hand she began dragging her into the waves.

Realising now what the odd little contortions had been about earlier, Charlotte stood stroking the horse as she watched Chloe and Danni digging their bare feet into the shingle while waving their arms until Danni suddenly dropped to her knees and Chloe followed suit.

‘We’ve got one!’ Chloe shouted triumphantly. ‘Mummy, we’ve got a pipi.’

‘Well done,’ Charlotte laughed, and leaving them to their search for cockles, or pipis as Danni had taught Chloe to call them, she returned to the bach to freshen herself up for the evening ahead. No doubt Chloe would want to build a fire on the beach before they left in order to poach the pipis in seawater till they opened, but this evening they’d have to give them to Bob to pile up on the barbecue.

By the time they were ready to leave there was an impressive basket full of pipis to take to Nanna, all found by Chloe, Danni insisted, which made Chloe beam and Charlotte want to hug Danni for how ready she always was to make her young cousin feel special.

‘You found some too,’ Chloe insisted generously, and Charlotte couldn’t have felt prouder of her as she swept her up in the air and landed her on the horse in front of Danni.

‘Put the hat on,’ Charlotte told her, as Danni unclipped it from the saddle. ‘And no taking it off. No trotting or galloping either. Or swimming. I’ll be in the car, right behind you, so I’ll have my eye on you.’

Chloe broke into a mischievous giggle and began kicking her feet into Diesel, trying to urge him forward.

Danni pressed in her heels and off they went. ‘We’ll wait for you at the top of the slope,’ she assured Charlotte.

‘I guess I’m bringing the pipis,’ Charlotte replied drily, and after going back for the coconut bread and a napkin to cover the cockles, she climbed the incline behind them, having to admire the picture they made amongst the towering canna lilies and manuka trees at the top.

‘Did you know,’ Danni said, as she reached them, ‘that Captain Cook and his crew made tea and beer out of the leaves of these trees? I just learned that in school today.’

‘No, I didn’t know,’ Charlotte replied, feeling the pleasure of their shared history stealing through her as warmly as the heady fragrances wafting up from the bay. ‘In England we call it the tea tree, so I guess that makes sense.’

‘I’ve never been to England,’ Danni said, easing Diesel aside so Charlotte could put the basket and her bag on to the car’s passenger seat. ‘I think we’re going to go though, one of these days. Dad wants to visit where his parents grew up.’

‘Go now,’ Chloe demanded impatiently.

Though Charlotte considered reprimanding her for being rude, it was so rare for her to speak or act out of turn that in truth it was a relief to see it. So, giving her leg a playful squeeze, she went round to the driver’s side to begin following Diesel’s magnificent rump through the fruiting Shiraz vineyard.

As they reached the main drive she was just reflecting on how all children should grow up free to roam the outdoors and feel at one with their world, when her attention was caught by a car coming up behind her. At first she thought it was Shelley with Philip and was about to wave, but as the silver BMW drew closer she felt herself sink.