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I glance at Charlie, a little ashamed. She looks back at me, her lips twisting.
“I don’t think it occurred to either of you to ask me what I want,” Mum says. “And every time I tried to talk about it, you shut me down.”
I stare at her, horrified. Is that true? I suppose it is. She did try to say she wanted to find a solution that would mean neither of us would have to give up the men in our lives, but we both steamrollered over her, insisting we weren’t going to cave.
“When I talked to Kip, though,” Mum continues, “he said, ‘What doyouwant?’ I was so touched I nearly cried.”
I glance at him, but he’s looking at her, his lips curving up behind his fingers.
Mum looks at me. “As I said, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But I’m not going to let either of you pass up on the chance of happiness with the man of your dreams for me. Alice!” She snaps as I open my mouth. “Please!”
I close my mouth again, shocked at her sharp tone.
“I know that over the years you’ve had to step up and make the decisions for this family,” she says. “And I have so little energy that I tend to take a back seat. I find it too exhausting to argue. But for now, I need you to let me speak.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“It’s all right. I didn’t mean to sound so sharp. But I need to say this, and I need you both to listen. Charlie, you’re going to get right back on the phone with your young man, and you’re going to tell him you’ll marry him, and that you’re moving to Auckland.”
Charlie stares at her. “But—”
“Goodness, please, just listen. You’ll go to Auckland, and Kip has kindly offered the use of his plane for you to fly back as often as you like to visit us. Now, Alice. I know in the past I’ve said that I can’t bear to leave this house because of your father. But he’s been gone eleven years now. I still miss him as much today as I did the day he died. But he’s not here.”
“His grave is, though,” I remind her, finding it difficult to speak.
Her expression softens. “He’s not there either, sweetie. I don’t need a gravestone to remind me to think about him. It’s time I moved on. Timewemoved on. You’re twenty-six now. You’ve found a wonderful man who loves you, and you deserve to have a home of your own, and a family. You want babies, don’t you?”
Tears rush into my eyes, and I cover my mouth with a hand. I look at Kip. He’s watching me, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he smiles.
“So,” Mum says. “We’re going to be moving to Wellington.”
My eyes widen, and I dash the tears away. “What?”
“I’ll still be living with you, but Kip says his current house is on several levels and isn’t suitable for someone in a wheelchair. We talked about getting stairlifts put in, but in the end we decided it’ll just be easier to get somewhere new.”
“I had a browse this afternoon,” Kip says, “and I’ve been thinking maybe somewhere near where Saxon lives in Island Bay. A property on one level, with plenty of space. I’ll get onto the real estate agents tomorrow and start asking around to see what’s available.”
“We’ll put this house up for sale,” Mum says. “Kip has suggested Charlie take most of the proceeds to put toward a place for her and Jake as he can pay for our house. And then we’re going to look around for a private nurse to come in and take care of me from time to time.”
“Mum!” I say, jaw dropping. “You’d hate that!”
“Sweetie, no person in their right mind dreams of being disabled or needing to be taken care of, and it’s true that in the past I’ve felt embarrassed and worried about losing my dignity by having a stranger look after me. But Kip has connections through the hospital, and he’s going to help me find someone I like, maybe a woman of my own age, who can be more like a friend. It’s what I want, Alice. You’ve been so good to me, and I want you to be able to go out, to travel, to live a normal life, as much as possible.”
I can no longer hold the tears in, and they run down my face. “Oh Mum…” I look at Charlie—she’s crying, too.
I turn my gaze to Kip. “I can’t expect you to do all this for me,” I whisper.
“Alice,” he says firmly, “it’s what I want, too. I’m a big family guy, you know that. I adore you, and I want to be with you… but it’s not all about you. I want Charlie to be able to marry Jake. And I want to help your mum. I want to be a part of your family, and for you to be a part of mine.” He glances at Mum. “I forgot to say on the phone, but actually I think you’ll get on really well with my mum, Mae. Her best friend is a nurse, and I think she might be able to help find you someone to help with your care.”
“What about June?” I ask. “It’ll make it more difficult for her to see you.”
“We can fly her and her family down whenever you want,” Kip says.
“It’s not great for the environment,” I grumble.
He gives a short laugh. “Maybe not, but we’ll have to save the world in other ways.” He clears his throat and looks at Mum. “Would it be okay if I have a few minutes alone with Alice?”
“Of course,” she says.
