Page 97 of Obsession Under the Southern Stars

“Jesus,” he says, “can you believe it?”

“I didn’t expect that,” I admit. I give him an appraising look. “I didn’t think you’d be so forgiving.”

“Love has a way of making you look at things differently,” he admits.

“Love?” My lips curve up.

“Fuck off.” He presses play on the remote, and I chuckle.

We finish the movie, then both walk out onto the deck to finish off our whiskeys.

“I’m pleased for Elora,” I admit as we look up at the waxing moon.

Fraser sips his drink. “You realize if Dad refuses to give his permission, it’s going to make it a much harder decision for her to agree to marry Linc?”

I nod slowly. Dad might refuse to allow Linc to visit Greenfield. What would Elora do then? Presumably she’d have to visit our parents alone, which would mean her visits would be a lot less frequent.

“I didn’t think to ask,” I say, “do you think he means to move back to New Zealand? Or is he hoping she’ll go with him to the UK?”

Fraser thinks about it. “I don’t know,” he says eventually. “That’ll be tough on her and us.”

“It might do her good, though. Let her stretch her legs a bit.”

He doesn’t reply. He finishes off his drink, then says, “All right, see you in the morning. You’ve already booked a flight, right?”

“Yeah, ten a.m.”

“Okay. ’Night.”

“’Night.”

He goes inside and heads off to his room.

I sit in one of the chairs, though, sipping the rest of my drink. Linc’s courage has impressed me. His decision to propose is fraught with problems, but he’s going to do it anyway.

Inhaling the scent of the jasmine, I continue to sit there as the moon rises slowly in the sky, painting all the bushes and trees with silver.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Zoe

On Friday night, when I finally arrive at my parents’ house, I discover that Hannah and George have both come around to see me, so we’re all together for the first time in months. Olivia and Rory finally go to bed around ten, but Hannah and George stay until late, and then as soon as they leave, Dad heads off to where he’s sleeping in George’s old room until he moves to Auckland, following which Mum announces she’s also going to bed. I suspect it’s because she knows I want to have a conversation, but I don’t push it because I’m shattered, too. I head off to my flat, intending to see her the next morning.

Unfortunately, it’s only when I text her the following day that she tells me she’s leaving early to drive Olivia’s netball team to a match. Rory’s going over to a friend’s for the day, so I end up on my own. Restless, I wander around the shops, then go home for a while, but I can’t settle to anything, and I’m relieved when Mum finally texts to say she’s back home.

I pull up outside the house in my Toyota and sit there for a moment. I look at my phone. Joel has texted me a couple of times today to say he’s in Hanmer Springs, and have I made a decision about whether I’d like to join him there? I haven’t replied yet. I miss him more than I thought I would. But I’m so mixed up with emotions that I’m afraid seeing him again will force my hand in a way that’s not good for me long term.

Besides, I have other things on my mind.

Eventually, I lever myself out of the car, walk up the path and around the house, and find Mum hanging out Olivia’s netball kit that she’s obviously just washed.

“Hey,” Mum says.

“Hey. How did the game go?”

“Yeah, good, they won comfortably.”

I sit on the deck step, my feet on the lawn. “Where is she?”

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