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“I partnered him at a tennis tournament in January,” Chrissie states. “I wasn’t anywhere near his league. He could have won if he’d had a better partner, but he was very kind about it and said it was his fault because his serve was off.”
“That was nice,” I say.
“He’s a lovely guy,” Evie replies, “when you get him talking. It takes a bit of doing. He’s quiet and sorta brooding. Elizabeth said he’s like the Dark Knight without the cape.”
That makes me laugh.
“I don’t think he’s moody,” Chrissie says, “I think he’s just preoccupied, you know? He’s like Mack—all he thinks about is work.”
“Like Mack used to be,” Evie corrects. “Now he’s met Sidnie, he has other things on the brain.”
My lips curve up. “She’s managed to drag him away from Marise?” I know that Mack was obsessed with his supercomputer.
“Amazing what the power of the pussy can do,” Chrissie states. “From what I’ve heard, the two of them hardly get out of bed.”
I grin. “So is Titus dating?”
“Don’t think so,” Evie says. “He went out with a girl called Maisey, but Hux said that Titus told him she talked all the time—even during sex. I mean… Jeez. Poor guy.”
“I thought most men liked dirty talk,” I say, amused.
“No, apparently she used to list what she needed at the supermarket.”
Chrissie and I dissolve into giggles. “Not so bad if it’s whipped cream,” I comment. “Less interesting if it’s bleach for the loo.”
“Loo,” Evie echoes with a chuckle. “You sound more British each time we speak to you.”
“Still enjoying it there?” Chrissie asks. She says the same thing every time we have a conversation.
“Yes, but I’m looking forward to coming home for a bit.”
I don’t like being too effusive about the UK when I’m talking to them, as I know they miss me, but the truth is that I love my job in the tiny primary school, and I adore the picturesque village I live in. There are a lot more people in the UK—sixty-seven million compared to New Zealand’s five million, and the countries are a similar size—but most of New Zealand’s population is concentrated in the biggest cities, and so traffic and overcrowding is as much of a problem there as it is in the UK.
But the most important thing is that I love being surrounded by history. In New Zealand, the oldest building is Kemp House in the Bay of Islands, which was constructed in 1821. In the UK there are prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, Viking, and Medieval buildings. My degree is in history, and it’s a dream come true to be able to wander around castles and churches in my spare time.
“Mum and Dad will be pleased to see you,” Evie says.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing them, too.”
“Once more with feeling,” Chrissie says wryly.
I scrub at a mark on the bottom of my keyboard and don’t reply.
“Are you going to see Dad?” Evie asks.
I don’t want to. But I do want to go to Oliver’s wedding, and to see my mother and sisters and the friends I left behind, so I’m going to have to see him at some point.
I don’t like talking to them about it, though, because I know they don’t fully understand why I feel the way I do. It’s not their fault. I haven’t told them everything.
“Can we change the subject?” I ask.
They exchange a glance, but Evie says, “Okay, how are Gran and Grandpa?”
“They’re great.” Our mother comes from England, and much of her family still lives there. “Gran’s taken up pottery making. I’ve got odd-shaped bowls all over the house. Grandpa caught a thirteen-pound bass last week. I’m guessing he sent you a photo.”
“I think he sent one to everyone in New Zealand,” Chrissie says.
I laugh. “He was very proud of it.”
