Just for Now: Escape to New Zealand Book Three Read online

  He was sweating a bit now. How had he got himself into this? At least she hadn’t asked if the skirt made her bum look big. But there was still no right answer. He certainly couldn’t tell her that the skirt made her bum look choice. Or that his hands itched to untie the little bow at the top of that hole in her shirt. Inappropriate, he reminded himself again. Inappropriate and dangerous.

  “Done with brekkie?” he asked the kids instead. “Hit your straps, then, and let’s get on to school. Give Jenna some peace.”

  “Don’t change,” he ordered Jenna again. “You look good. Trust me.”

  Chapter 9

  Jenna smiled a hello at the group of mums waiting for their kids outside the gates of Mt. Eden Primary on Thursday morning. She stood a bit apart, as always. Everyone was pleasant, but she was a nanny, not a mum, and she’d felt the distinction being made from the beginning.

  “Jenna!” Sophie burst out of the gate with her friend Caitlin beside her. “Can Caitlin come over?”

  Jenna blinked in surprise. Sophie’d been weepy this morning as she’d said goodbye to Finn, and she’d expected more tears this afternoon. It was good to see her so cheerful.

  “I think so,” she said cautiously. “If she asks her mum.”

  “Hi.” Caitlin’s mum moved to join them, her small son with her. “Siobhan,” she reminded Jenna. “And this is Ethan.”

  “Jenna McKnight.” Jenna reached out to shake hands, then braced herself for Harry’s exuberant arrival. He’d been the last to arrive, as always. Somehow, it always seemed to take him longer to get out the door than anyone else. His mind was on more important things, no doubt.

  “Sophie’d like Caitlin to come to the house today,” she told the other woman as she disentangled herself. “Would that work for you?”

  “Don’t see why not, for an hour or so,” Siobhan agreed. “She’s been there before. I know where you are.”

  “Let me give you my mobile number.” Jenna dictated it as Siobhan typed it into her phone. “Till four-thirty? Does that work for you?”

  “Course. We’re just a few streets away. Ethan and I will walk part of the way with you, in fact.”

  “Muuumm!!” Caitlin wailed when Siobhan arrived at the house later that afternoon. “We aren’t finished yet!”

  “They’re making friendship bracelets,” Jenna explained. “Sophie got a kit for her last birthday, but for some reason she’s only now become interested. Now, of course, it’s the new obsession. Can you stay a few minutes while they finish up, have a cup of tea?”

  “Always the way,” Siobhan agreed. “And I’d love a cuppa.”

  “Harry, why don’t you take Ethan to your room?” Jenna suggested. “Show him your collections. I’ll bet he’d like to see them.”

  “OK,” Harry said agreeably. “C’mon, Ethan. Come see my animals.”

  “I really appreciate your letting Caitlin come today,” Jenna told Siobhan once they were seated at the kitchen table, their cups of tea in front of them. “Sophie always has a hard time on the day Finn leaves.”

  “Where is he this week?”

  “Wellington. The Hurricanes, for the quarterfinal. So not a long trip. He’ll be back Sunday morning. But with Nyree gone as well, it’s hard for her right now.”

  Siobhan nodded. “I heard about Sophie’s mum. She’s attached to her dad, eh.”

  “You could say that.” Jenna smiled ruefully. “They both are. But Sophie especially.”

  “I know a fair bit about it, as you see, even though I’m a newcomer myself,” Siobhan said with a smile of her own. “Finn’s the subject of a good bit of gossip amongst the mums. Always causes a stir when he delivers the kids at school.”

  “Everyone loves an All Black,” Jenna agreed. “You’re a newcomer too? You’re a Kiwi, though, aren’t you?”

  “Cantabrian,” Siobhan explained. “We moved from Christchurch at the beginning of the school year. The earthquakes finally got to be too much for us.” She continued at Jenna’s sympathetic murmur, “It was one thing when the kids were littlies, when I had them with me all the time. But when Caitlin started Year One, every time one hit, especially if it was a big one, I’d be thinking about how to get to her. And thinking about Ethan getting ready to start kindy too . . .”

  She sighed. “My family’s always lived in Christchurch. It was hard to leave. We felt like traitors. But the kids were scared too. Crying whenever there was a good shake. It just got to be too much.”

  “I can imagine,” Jenna said. “Or rather, I can’t really imagine. What it must be like to live with so many earthquakes, not being able to trust the ground under your feet.”

  “Every day, sometimes,” Siobhan said. “And then, of course, the big ones. Those really do get to you. Worrying about my hubby, too. Declan worked in the CBD. He wasn’t in one of the badly damaged buildings, thank God. But it was awful, that day. Horrible, waiting to hear, knowing what was happening down there. And after that, even though his firm relocated, it was scary having him so far away from me and the kids. And all the firms that closed, not being able to go to the café, no real city life . . .”

  She paused, looking into space. “It hasn’t felt the same place. We resisted, for a long time. But last year, Declan began looking up here, and we made the decision to move.”

  “It must have been so hard,” Jenna said. “After so long.”

  “Reckon you know what it’s like to move far from home,” Siobhan said, a smile lighting her plump, freshly pretty face. “From the States, aren’t you? Here on a working holiday visa, or for longer?”

  “Longer. I’ve been here since I was twenty-two.”

  “Really.” Siobhan’s eyebrows rose. “We don’t get many immigrants from the States. Came here on a visit and decided to stay, eh.”

  “Not exactly. I followed a man. Classic story.”

  Siobhan nodded. “Man’s gone, I take it.”

  “I’m gone,” Jenna corrected. “Or rather, I’m still here, in New Zealand. But not with him. If you see what I mean.”

  “But,” she went on briskly, “it’s all good. I’m in Auckland now, I have a good job, I’m enjoying myself.”

  “It’s hard, though, in a new place,” Siobhan said. “At least for me. The mums are friendly enough, but . . .” she shrugged. “It takes a bit. They have their friendships. Their kids went to kindy, Year One together. It can be tough to be the new one.”

  “Especially if you’re a nanny,” Jenna said.

  “Even harder. And now,” Siobhan sighed as she stood up, “much as I’d prefer to sit here and keep chatting, I reckon I’d better collect the kids and get home, get a start on tea, or we’re not going to eat tonight.”

  “Did they say when you’d have it back?” Jenna asked as Finn hopped into the Toyota at the mechanic’s where he’d just dropped off the Range Rover on the following Tuesday afternoon.

  “A few days. I’ll get Ben Thompson to collect me, next couple days. Won’t worry about getting it back till I’m home from Canberra. No point. As long as you and the kids’ll give me a lift from the airport on Sunday.”

  “Of course. I could drive you to practice too, if you’d rather,” she offered. “And pick you up afterwards as well.”

  “Nah. No worries. Ben’ll be chuffed.”

  “Why would he be that pleased to drive you? Are you his hero or something?”

  He laughed. “Not a hope. But he’s looking for that starting spot. He’ll be taking the opportunity to pick my brain.”

  “And that’s OK with you?”

  “Well, to be dead honest, not so much. But it’s part of the job to mentor the younger boys. And to make sure there’s a fit replacement ready to go if I’m injured in the next game, or when I retire. Or, God forbid, when he overtakes me and I’m the one riding the pine.”

  “Tough, then,” Jenna said sympathetically. “To have to teach him all your special tricks. Those boots in the ruck, and everything.”

  Finn chuckled. “Nah, Ben�
�s never going to be the hard man. Not enough edge to him. You’ll see.”

  Jenna dashed the last few yards through the rain that had done a good job of drenching her during the run home. She reached the gate and opened it as a tall man in his early twenties hopped out of a sports car that had pulled up to the curb.

  “Morning,” he called, pulling his Blues beanie down over his mop of blond hair and jumping up the step to join her. “I’m Ben. Here for Finn.”

  “Come on out of the rain, then.” Jenna ran up the stone steps with Ben close behind. Once they were under the shelter of the villa’s broad front porch, she pulled out her house key and opened the door. He reached for it and held it for her, shutting it after them.

  “Phew. That blew up fast,” she laughed as she hung her rain jacket on the hook, toed off her shoes and pulled off her soaked socks. “Hang on a second. I’ll get Finn for you.”

  Before she had a chance to go looking for him, Finn came out of the kitchen, still munching a slice of toast and taking a final mouthful of tea. “Morning. You’re early.”

  “Didn’t want to be late,” Ben answered with a cheeky grin, “and have you going crook at me.”

  “Too right. And Jenna. You should’ve driven the kids.” Finn frowned at her.

  “No worries. They didn’t get wet. The rain started on my way back.”

  “That’s what I meant,” he said in exasperation. “You should’ve driven them.”

  “I didn’t melt. Just a bit bedraggled, that’s all.” She took the empty mug from him. “Have a good day. Nice to meet you, Ben.” She gave him a smile and headed for the kitchen. No point in changing out of her running capris. She’d towel them off as best she could, then clean the kitchen and start the washing before she went on her real run. It was likely to rain on her again anyway.

  “Right. Let’s go, then. Thanks for the lift.” Finn finished tying his shoes and picked up his duffel from its spot beside the door.

  “That’s the nanny, eh,” Ben said bemusedly as they headed down the steps. “Crikey, she’s fit. You should’ve warned me. I’d’ve combed my hair. Good thing you aren’t married, though. The missus would never go for that.”

  Finn stared balefully at him through the rain, but didn’t comment until they were in the car.

  “Jenna’s a professional,” he said at last. “She’s a trained teacher. Bloody good cook, too. I’m lucky to have her.”

  “Mind if I come in for a minute?” Ben asked when they approached the house again that afternoon. “Haven’t seen your kids for a while. I could say hello.”

  “My kids. Right. Didn’t know you were so fond of them.” But Finn led Ben up the steps to the front door again.

  The house was quiet as Finn dumped his duffel by the door. “Jenna!” he called. Shrugged. “Maybe she’s out getting the kids now. Come on into the kitchen, have a cuppa.”

  They walked into the warm room and saw Jenna, her back to them, hips swinging back and forth, body bopping to an invisible beat while she worked at the kitchen bench. Finn stepped up behind her and tapped her gently on the shoulder. She whirled in alarm, an icing-covered spatula still in her hand. The implement landed squarely on his warmup jacket, leaving a messy smear of white.

  She pulled the headphones from her ears, laughing in dismay. “Oh, no! What a mess. That’s what you get for sneaking up on me, though.”

  She reached for her hip and turned off her iPod. “Hi, Ben. You guys caught me dancing. How embarrassing. Here, Finn, let me clean you up.” She wet a paper towel at the sink and moved close to wipe the white icing off his chest. Then stopped abruptly, flushing, and handed him the towel. “Maybe you’d better do it. Or, better yet, throw it in the basket, and I’ll wash it. Because that’s going to leave a mark.”

  “No worries,” Finn told her with a smile, giving a cursory wipe to the spot and tossing the towel in the bin. “Nice show you put on for us there. What’re you making?”

  “Carrot cake. Would you guys like some?”

  Finn raised an eyebrow at Ben. “I would,” the younger man agreed. “Please.”

  “Couple cups of tea, too, then. This cake requires that.” Jenna pushed the button on the electric jug and got out three mugs, putting a teabag into each and pouring in the water that had boiled within seconds.

  “Where’re the kids?” Finn asked.

  “Sophie has soccer, and Harry has kapa haka. New Wednesday schedule, remember? I’m leaving to get them in about twenty minutes. How was practice?”

  “Gym day, mostly,” Finn told her. “As it was so wet. Did a bit of work outdoors as well, though. It’s good to practice in the wet sometimes. We play in it often enough.”

  “That must have been unpleasant.” She cut two generous slices of cake and put them on plates, adding a fork to each. “Milk and sugar, Ben?”

  “Both, please,” he said. She added them to his mug, poured a splash of milk into Finn’s tea, and handed them their tea and cake. Fixed her own mug and sat down with them at the big table.

  “This is yum,” Ben told her after his first bite of cake. “What’s in the icing?”

  “Fresh ginger,” she explained. “That’s the secret. What did you guys work on today?” She listened attentively as Finn and Ben began to fill her in.

  “Ben was having trouble with his boots,” Finn told her with a smile. “Least that’s what he told us. He came a real greaser, fell bang on his face during a running drill. While the newsies were out there, too, doing a piece about our being the form team. Cameras and all.”

  “Oh, no,” Jenna commiserated in laughing sympathy. “Poor you. I’m sure they won’t show that, though. You must have got good and muddy, Ben.”

  “And I don’t have anyone to do my washing,” he sighed piteously. “Have to go home and put it in the machine myself. Nobody to fix my tea, either. My work day’s just beginning.”

  “Rough,” she agreed, a smile quirking the corner of her mouth. “You may have to get a takeaway. The horror. And you may want to work on your story as well. I know the team takes care of your kit for you, remember? But speaking of work, I need to go get the kids.”

  “I’ll walk you, or drive you if you’d rather.” Ben bounded up and went with her to the entryway. “That’s why I came in, to say hi to the kids. Didn’t know I’d be getting cake too. That was choice. Thanks.”

  “So you’re a nanny, eh,” he said to her as they crossed the main road on their way to the primary school.

  She nodded. “Just for now. I’m a teacher, normally.”

  “Yeh, Finn said. And a cook, obviously. Is it hard work?”

  She laughed. “No. Finn isn’t a very exacting employer.”

  “He gives you days off, then?”

  She looked at him in surprise. “Of course he does. Once the game’s over, and he’s back from wherever.”

  “So your days off are the same as ours, more or less,” Ben said musingly. “Sunday, I reckon.”

  “Unless you’re in South Africa or Perth, slow getting back.”

  “Maybe you’d like to have dinner with me this Sunday, then,” he suggested. “Have somebody else do the cooking.”

  She thought about offering an excuse, decided to keep it simple. “Sorry, but I can’t.”

  “Monday?” he persisted.

  “Sorry.” She smiled up at him apologetically. “I’m not available. For dating, I mean.”

  She saw with relief that Harry and Sophie were waiting outside the school gates. Harry ran to her with his usual enthusiastic hug, Sophie following behind.

  “You guys know Ben, right?” Jenna asked them. “He’s keeping me company today.”

  Sophie looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”

  “Sophie!” Jenna exclaimed, shocked. “That isn’t very nice.”

  “He’s the backup No. 8,” Sophie explained. “He’s trying to get Daddy’s job. You shouldn’t be nice to him.”

  “Oi,” Ben said plaintively. “I just do what I’m told. I have to earn
a crust somehow. Have a heart, Sophie. After I gave your dad a lift today, and all.”

  “Apologize, Sophie,” Jenna said sternly. “Ben hasn’t done anything wrong, and that wasn’t at all polite.”

  “Sorry,” Sophie muttered.

  “Did practice go badly, or something else go wrong?” Jenna guessed. “You seem a bit out of sorts.”

  “I missed four goals, and didn’t make any at all,” Sophie told her glumly. “I was rubbish.”

  “Sometimes that happens,” Ben put in. “I fell on my face today, myself. Fell on my ar—my bum a few times too, in the rain.”

  “Really?” Sophie brightened.

  He nodded. “Looks like that starting job’s eluded me again.” He sighed theatrically. “Your dad’s just too good for me. Tell me more about what happened, though. You were a bit off pace, eh.”

  “Jenna,” Harry was tugging at her sleeve, impatient with the conversation as Sophie and Ben continued to chat during the walk back. “We learnt a new waiata today in kapa haka. E Te Iwi E. It’s one that men sing, did you know that?”

  “I know that one,” Jenna said with pleasure. “Will you sing it to me tonight?”

  “If I remember,” he said dubiously.

  “I think I do,” she said. “I can look up the lyrics. After dinner, we’ll have a bit of a practice, all right?”

  “I’ll be off, then,” Ben announced as they arrived back at the house. “See you, kids. And Jenna. Cheers for the cake. If you change your mind at all, Finn has my mobile number.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him apologetically. “But I don’t think so.”

  “Jenna has a boyfriend, eh,” Ben asked Finn the following day on the way to the team’s Eden Park practice facility.

  “Not that I know of,” Finn said in surprise. “Turned you down, did she? Is that what she said?”

  “Not exactly. Said she was ‘unavailable.’ Whatever that means. Pity. That cake was choice. And she isn’t bad herself. Some other reason, d’you reckon? Not a lesbian, is she? That’d be a bloody waste.”