Wisps of Cloud (6 page)

Karla found Ryan's mother, Anne Doyle a pleasant quiet lady in her mid-sixties but wasn't so impressed with her husband
, Alan who came across as a pushy extroverted sort. They arrived on Sunday afternoon and within half an hour Alan had unrolled a gigantic map over the kitchen table. It showed a surveyed map of Top Plateau and the immediate surrounding area with the school on the left and the northern farm boundary at the top. The two houses and other buildings were on the map as were the existing fences farm tracks and foliage. The changes were what attracted her attention.

The driveway to Ryan's house became part of a new road that cut right across the plateau area in a crescent shape to return to the original road near the northern farm boundary. Off this proposed road were smaller cul-de-sacs leading to more subdivisions, each around four hectares in size.

"Lifestyle blocks," Alan said. "It is different from the sections being sold in Riversdale in that the owners would have land to run a few animals in a similar way to lifestyle blocks around Palmerston North. If it goes ahead, the developer will need to build the road and other features but won't be burdened with offering a sewage scheme or water supply."

"Why?" Karla asked.

Alan glowered at her as if he didn't like being interrupted.  "With lifestyle blocks this size the new homes would be allowed to have sceptic tanks and they would be responsible for their own water supply by using rainwater tanks. In the future we visualise linking up with the Riversdale water supply but they have their own problems at the moment with their subdivision and village supply."

"So you want to sell the farm to a developer?" Ryan asked.

"No, my company will develop it."

"Alan is a major shareholder in DaY Development," Anne explained. "It was originally Doyle and Young but Alan bought Eric Young out last year. You may have heard of them."

Karla hadn't and caught Ryan's eyes. He looked anything except enthusiastic about his stepfather's proposal.

"So why would anyone want a lifestyle block here?" Ryan asked. "Those around Palmerston North, for example are only fifteen minutes drive from a city of eighty-five thousand people. This block would be fifty kilometres from a town of twenty thousand."

"The view of the Pacific Ocean for a start," Alan replied. "This must be one of the best views in this part of the country, there's a local school nearby and the beach is close. My research shows that overseas people from America or even China would be interested in building upmarket homes. Sure, some rich foreigners like full sized farms but many only want an investment home with some even wanting one to rent out to tourists.  I already have a couple of interested clients."

Karla frowned. Her initial opinion of Alan appeared to be spot on, he was like a super salesman who'd say anything to make a deal.

"This proposal includes two things that you haven't mentioned," she said.

Alan turned. "I haven't finished with my explanation yet, Karla," he muttered as if it was none of her business anyway. "What are your concerns?"

"You have included Ryan's property in your development but left out the hilly part of Top Plateau Station. I doubt if the hilly section will be of much value if the flat plateau is broken up as you suggest in your proposal."

"That's taken care of.
The neighbour on your eastern boundary would buy the hill country and incorporate it into his farm. He has already offered us a good price. This could be used to partly finance the development costs of this subdivision."

"And our stock?" Ryan asked.

"We'd sell the stock. Again this will help in the development costs."

"You are assuming that I want to sell my third of Top Plateau Station to your company," Ryan said

Alan nodded. "There are some alternatives there too, Ryan. You could do that, have your Mum buy you out or come in a partnership with us. I visualise huge profits over the next five years if we go ahead."

Ryan nodded. "I'll need to think about it and get advice from my solicitor. Something as radical as this can't be rushed into."

"Of course not, " Alan replied as he rolled up the map. "With Clive Windley retiring at the end of summer it only gives us six months to act. It's a golden opportunity that you can be a part of."

Ryan caught Karla's eyes and raised an eyebrow. Obviously he wanted to talk about it with her in private.

*

It was Anne, though who approached Karla an hour later when Ryan and Alan accepted Clive's offer to go shooting rabbits at the back of the farm. The rabbit population wasn't too bad in the area but there was always the threat that
with breeding, rabbits would again rise to unacceptable levels. Anne offered to help Karla weed a flower garden beside the driveway. There were many shrubs and plants there but the weeds needed to be removed and shrubs trimmed to restore the garden to its former glory.

It was hot work so by three she suggested they stop and have a coffee. Anne agreed but appeared hesitant about something. After more small talk she stirred her coffee and looked at Karla.

"Ryan doesn't say a lot to me but I think he's becoming serious about you," she said.

Karla frowned and wondered where the conversation was leading. "I enjoy his company," she replied.

Anne smiled. "Okay, that is really none of my business anyway. I just wondered if you could do something for me."

"Possibly. What would you like me to do, Anne?"

"I wouldn't ask but it is difficult for me. If I approached Ryan myself he'd get annoyed. I guess you don't know what it is like but adult children grow away from their parents and often regard any advice or queries with suspicion. Trish is worse than Ryan."

"So you want Ryan to sell his interest to you but if you directly ask him you're afraid he'll do the opposite."

Anne sipped her coffee and said nothing for a moment. "You're are an astute woman, Karla. I can see why you are doing so well as a teacher. My marriage to Ryan's father wasn't that good but in our day one just grinned and tolerated their situation.  He became ill and as Ryan probably told you, died. I met Alan and my whole life changed. He is so different to Ryan's father and for the first time in forty years I am happy. I guess I am a coward but don't want to lose him."

Karla studied the woman sitting beside her and waited.

"I love Top Plateau. It was all that kept me going for most of my adult life. However, I know I'll never live here again and would agree to it being sold, except for one thing."

"You don't want Ryan to go in partnership with Alan?"

"No, more than that," Anne replied. "I don't want him to sell his third at all. This house and part of the farm was the original one Ryan's ancestors bought over a hundred and twenty years ago. The original homestead that was on this site burnt down in the 1930s and this house built to replace it. By that time two other farms had been amalgamated to form Top Plateau Station. With it was the other homestead so a more modest house, this one was built to accommodate Ryan's great-grandparents' family."

"So you are prepared to sell your land but don't want Ryan to do the same. Won't that spoil Alan's plan?"

Anne shook her head. "Oh he's a resourceful man. I dropped a hint that Ryan mightn't go along with it and he has an alternative plan drawn up. The road goes in by the main homestead and has a smaller number of subdivisions but in his opinion is still a viable option. It would leave Ryan's farm intact and with the animals he owns could easily be self-supporting if he chose to come home."

Karla guessed that Anne was also an astute businessperson. "I think Ryan will make his own mind up but will see what I can do," she said. "No promises, though."

*

After the pair left later that afternoon, Ryan grinned at Karla. "Mum knows it is useless trying to tell me what to do. I guess she's right but their ploy to leave her alone with you was obvious. Alan is no countryman and wasn't really interested in shooting rabbits. Did she convince you to persuade me it would be a good idea to sell my bit to herself or Alan's company?"

"No."

Ryan laughed. "She couldn't persuade you to nag me?"

"Half and half." Karla grinned.

"Now we're talking in circles. What's it all about?"

"First of all, I want you to do what you think is the best, not what Alan or your mother wants or be persuaded by any opinion I may have."

"Fair enough but go on."

Karla told Ryan exactly what Anne had said to her while he listened with his hand beneath his chin.

"Interesting," he said. "Even as a kid I noticed that she was sometimes depressed. There was never any violence between Dad and her, more like icy silences. Mum would immerse herself in the garden or on the farm and everything would return to normal a few days later. I think Trish who is older than me was more affected than I was. She went off boarding to Solway College, a girls' high school in Masterton in Year 7 and never really returned to live permanently at home again. I went boarding at Wairarapa College from Year 9 but came back to work for Dad."

"So I've done it," Karla said. "Have you any idea what you want to do?"

"Stay out of it and keep this farm. Trying to persuade Mum to also keep the rest won't help. I can see that your opinion of Alan is similar to my own. I've heard his company is heavily mortgaged and a development like this is quite a gamble. We're too far out." He frowned. "Sometimes I wonder too…"

"What?'

Ryan shrugged. "Don't say anything to Mum but you know that old cliché? I've always suspected that he only married her for her money.  Mind you she is definitely much happier now and it surprised me when their marriage succeeded."

"Except that your mother is afraid she might lose him if she disagrees with what he wants to do." 

"There's that of course. What you said makes it easier for me for that was what I had decided anyway. I will tell Alan I'm not interested and if he blames me for being stubborn, what the heck!"

"I like your Mum," Karla said. "You must have inherited her traits."

"Possibly," Ryan said. "But enough of this serious stuff. Let's go for an evening walk and see if there are any new lambs around."

Karla nodded and a few moments later they were walking along the road towards the school. Off to the left the Pacific Ocean stretched away to the horizon with only a few clusters of rock sticking out of the water. Further north, the headland went out to a point and the Castlepoint Lighthouse could just be seen. Once it became dark, its light became quite a feature of that direction.

An old pickup truck came by loaded with firewood. It stopped and the driver wound down his window. Karla saw a somewhat bearded old guy dressed in typical country clothes.

"Gidday there Ryan," the old guy said. "Just got some firewood for next year off your farm. Clive donated it to us. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all Ted," Ryan replied before he nodded at Karla and introduced her.

"I've heard about you, Karla," Ted replied. "Doing great things in the school Ryan's the caretaker at. Must be a tough job trying to pacify all those snooty parents."

"Not too bad," Karla replied. "Nice to meet you."

The truck roared off and Ryan laughed. "You have no idea who he is, do you?"

"A local farmer, I guess. Why should I, anyway?"

"That's Ted the teacher at Top Plateau School. Remember I told you about him?"

"Oh my God!" Karla gasped. "I'd never have guessed it."

"Nice old guy but that's the trouble. The kids at school are happy but the rumour is they don't learn much. If Ted was a miserable old sod the Board of Trustees would have a sacked him years ago."

Karla stared at the old truck that disappeared in the distance. What a contrast of people she had met in the last few days
, from the farm manager and his wife, Ryan's mother and stepfather and onto the local teacher who looked anything but a teacher. They all were different than what she would have imagined but of course everything always is. She chuckled, took Ryan's hand and turned her gaze to look out at the Pacific Ocean that was now in the shade of the hills to the west behind them.

"Lovely evening," she whispered.

*

Later, while Ryan watched television Karla found her laptop could connect to Clive's Wifi, as he had not bothered to have an access code. Feeling a little guilty, Karla went on the internet but found no page for Top Plateau School so she decided to go into the ERO site instead.

ERO was the New Zealand government Education Review Office that reviewed and reported back on every school in the country, both public and private. There was an appraisal of both the academic and administrative strengths or otherwise of the school being visited. Afterwards the school was sent a detailed account of the ERO recommendations. If everything was satisfactory the school would be left to implement any suggestions made and the ERO team wouldn't visit again for between three and five years.

However, if major problems were found, the ERO team would revisit the school earlier to see that their suggestions are acted upon. In extreme circumstances the elected Board of Trustees could be replaced by a statutory manager or, on the academic side, the principal replaced. As well as the review sent to the school, a less detailed one was published on the internet for anybody to read.