Page 12 of A Breath of Fresh Air

JUNE

Brett

Hey, I can’t get out of any weekends this month. I’m really sorry. And I have to respect Tracey’s rule regarding Alice and partners — no meeting the new girlfriend until 6 months in. I’ve got the same rule going the other way. It’s to protect Alice, you know?

I know. I had a similar rule for Ellie. No man ever made it that far hahaha. I understand.

Thank you babe. I’m going to send you a VM when I get home. Maybe a video too if you’re up for it.

The question is will YOU be up for that video? Because I am all for that. Knot kidding.

Hahahaha. Yes. Will you send me something back?

Yes. You know I will. xx

More like XXX

Amaia: Omg. Lol.

JULY

“It’s bloody awful, isn’t it. The world used to be so normal, now there’skidnappingsleft, right, and centre. Makes you feel so unsafe.”

I stare quietly at the two women in front of me in the checkout line. They’re completely oblivious to anyone around them as they continue to talk aboutthedocumentary.Stolen By Magichasn’t even aired on TV yet, but thanks to a huge advertising campaign, it seems to be all everyone wants to talk about. It’s on billboards and bus stops, on the radio and the ad breaks in between the six o’clock news. It’s an international documentary, one that promises to ‘shed light on the disappearance of humans in the wake of the Unravelling,’ and it’s come at a time right when I thought the world was finally beginning to feel settled again.

“It’s pretty obvious it’s anti non-humans, and there’s a lot of money behind it.”Brett had lamented to me over the phone last week.“And I’m saying this knowing full well that we both have a personal connection to someone that wasactuallyalmost stolen by magic, but I don’t think this documentary is even going to touch on the fae. I mean, how could they, if it’s ahuman-led production? They won’t know shit about the truth of it all. We don’t even know what’s really going on.”

I want to believe that he’s right, and that this documentary is just full of shit. At the same time, I can’t help but be fearful, not when I know that my own daughter was in danger last year. She’s safe now, and I’ll be forever grateful to Van for protecting her the way he does, but I still feel so uneasy knowing that therearepeople out there that can just open a portal to this realm, come through, and steal others away.

All I know is that the documentary airs tomorrow, and I’ll be relieved when all the fuss around it dies down.

I straightenthe rain jacket hood around Kahu’s ears, doing my best given the fact that Kahu is only three and incapable of standing still. “Come on Nikau,” I call to her twin brother. “Haere mai;let’s get you dressed for Mum, too. She’ll be here any minute.” It’s pouring down outside, typical mid-winter weather, and the boys are the last ones left at the daycare today. Outside, the sky is already pitch black.

On cue the door opens as I’m zipping up the last collar. In steps their mother, wrestling with her umbrella on the wet lino in the foyer. “Kia ora!” I call, rising to my feet. “E pehea ana koe?”

“E makariri ana ahau!” I’m cold!

“Aue,” I lament, before switching to English, having reached the limit of what I know how to say inte reo Maori.“It’s awful out there today, eh. They’re ready to go home, let me come with you and I’ll help buckle them in their carseats.”

“You don’t have to do that?—”

“Yes I do.” The wind is howling now, and I don’t know if her umbrella is even going to hold it together in the big gusts that are coming through. “Can’t have you buckling the two of them in all by yourself in this weather. I’ve got their bags.”

My hood has fallen off and my hair is drenched by the time I’ve finished doing up Kahu’s belts. “Ka kite e Whaea,” she says softly, her little hand patting my shoulder.

“Ka kite ano, darling” I smile. “Ka kite,” I add, waving at Nikau, who’s strapped in on the other side of the backseat.

“ByeWhaea,” he says with a huge yawn. “I’ll show you my monster truck tomorrow.”

I’m shivering by the time I get back inside. I still have to get my things and finish locking up — the lastkaiakofrom the baby room went home half an hour ago. I grab my handbag from the office, my raincoat raining water down on the carpet as I move from room to room, switching the lights off as I go. I’m in the final room when the sound of heavy footsteps in the foyer makes me pause because no one should be here right now, and I peek around the doorframe.

“Brett!” It’s both a wonderful surprise and a relief to see him. “I thought some stranger had wandered in!” I rush towards him, almost slipping on the wet floor, and his hands dart out to catch me.

“Jeez, careful!” He pulls me against him, his lips descending on mine, blazing warm. He growls into my mouth, tongue meeting mine, and I grip his hair tight, ignoring the plastic sounds of our raincoats and the fact that we’re making out in the middle of my workplace.

“What are you doing here?” I ask when our lips part.

“I took some time off work. So did you; Ellie has arranged for you to have leave for the next three days.”

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