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I open my presents that Mum and Charlie have bought me, and spend the morning setting up auto posts in my social media so Wonderland can continue to function while I’m away.
Kip messages me mid-morning to wish me happy birthday, then informs me he’s heading off to a meeting for a few hours, and he’ll see me at the airport when the plane lands at five.
With growing nerves, I spend a couple of hours getting ready. I’ve waxed myself within an inch of my life, so all that’s left to do is to put on my makeup, do my hair, and then get dressed.
I’m not sure if I’ll have time to change before we go out to dinner, so I put on my best dress for the restaurant he told me he’s taking me to. I’m not really a dress kinda girl, preferring to hang out in jeans or black trousers, but today’s a special occasion, so I’m happy to make an exception. The dress is calf-length and white, sleeveless with a V-neck, and the trim around the neckline and the band above the waist is a panel of broderie anglaise that reveals a tantalizing glimpse of skin through the lacy pattern. I team it with a pair of pretty silver sandals, and I leave my hair down with its natural curl but pin a white flower clip in the side, which gives me a Greek-style look.
Mum presses her fingers to her lips when I go out. “You look so beautiful,” she whispers.
“You look hot,” Charlie corrects. “You’re going to do his head in.”
“That’s the plan.” I give a slightly hysterical laugh.
“The taxi’s here,” Charlie says, looking out of the window. “Are you ready?”
“I hope you have an amazing time,” Mum says when I bend to kiss her.
“I’m sure I will.”
She holds my hand as I go to turn away. “Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, sweetheart.”
“I know.” I look into her blue eyes, so like mine and Charlie’s. She hesitates, then opens her mouth to speak. “Don’t,” I say hastily, knowing she’s going to say something about the future. “Please, just… don’t. This is hard enough.”
She bites her bottom lip, then forces a smile. “Okay, I won’t.”
I give Charlie a hug. “Call me if you need me at all.”
“I won’t,” she states. “We’ll be fine, and I can always ring June. Go on. Don’t think about us at all.”
I pick up my case and open the front door. My stomach flutters with butterflies, and I pause on the doorstep. Is this a good idea? Either I’ve overestimated my relationship with Kip, and it’s going to feel a bit awkward staying with him, or it’s going to be amazing, and I’m not going to want to leave. Either way, I’m not sure it’s the best idea.
But it’s too late now. I’ve said I’m going, and it would be a shame to squash the seed of excitement blooming in my belly.
I wave goodbye, then head out to the taxi.
It takes me to the airport, and I head to the information desk and inform them I have a private flight. The assistant directs me to a quiet gate in the corner, and when I get there, I discover a tall, slender woman in her thirties waiting for me. She’s dressed in a smart gray suit, and she introduces herself as Immi.
“Let me take that,” she says, relieving me of my case. “Come with me. We’re all ready for you.”
Trying to look as if I’ve done this a million times, I follow her across the tarmac to the waiting plane. It’s called The Knight Sky, and when I climb the steps I discover it seats eight, although I’m the only passenger today. In front of me, two light-gray leather chairs face another pair across a polished wooden table, with another group of four further down.
I slide into one of the chairs, smiling as I see the vase of six red roses fixed to the side of the table.
“I understand it’s your birthday,” Immi says as I buckle myself in. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
She proceeds to give me a quick safety talk, and then she takes her seat for takeoff. The pilot introduces himself as Sam and also wishes me happy birthday, and then we’re speeding down the runway, and within seconds we’re in the air.
“Would you like a glass of champagne?” Immi asks me when she comes over.
“Ooh, yes please.” I decide it’s pointless to try to hide my delight at the experience. I’m having the time of my life—why should I pretend I’m not? I accept the champagne and sip it with pleasure, and I also say yes when Immi brings over a small plate bearing a tiny, beautiful chocolate cake and a couple of chocolate mints.
Feeling as if I’ve stepped through the looking glass, I nibble the snacks and drink my champagne as the plane speeds above the clouds, thinking how different my life would be if I could travel like this to Wellington every time I needed to go. It would of course make it easier to visit Kip. Ultimately, though, it wouldn’t change the fact that it’s not a permanent solution. Mum needs me, she loves the home she made with my father, and the last thing she’d want is for me to leave her with a stranger so I could go and get my leg over regularly. I love her, and I couldn’t do that to her, no matter how much she protests she wouldn’t mind, because I know how she really feels.
It would be easy to persuade myself that seeing Kip is pointless because there’s no hope of developing a relationship with him. But I’m not going to focus on that. The fact is that right now, I have this wonderful chance to spend some time with a gorgeous guy. It doesn’t have to be about forever, right? People have short-term relationships for all kinds of reasons. There really is no reason we can’t enjoy each other’s company for as long as this whatever-it-is lasts.
Sam announces we’re going to begin our descent. Immi clears the plate and glass away, I buckle myself in again, and soon we’re dipping through the clouds, and the hills and buildings of Wellington appear beneath us, with the harbor gleaming in the summer sun.
