Page 84 of Under Southern Stars
By the time we get back to the hotel, Madison is yawning every thirty seconds, and even Sophia is fading fast. We all surrender to the jet lag, Madison falling asleep in her clothes on top of the covers, Sophia and I barely managing to change before collapsing into the king bed in the separate bedroom.
“Tomorrow,” Sophia murmurs sleepily against my chest. “Show us your country tomorrow.”
I press a kiss to her hair. “Promise.”
???
“This is ‘real’ coffee, huh?” Sophia stares at the flat white I’d handed her, skepticism written across her face.
“Just try it,” I urge, watching her expectantly.
We are sitting at a small café in Britomart, the morning sunshine warming the outdoor tables. Madison is still working her way through a stack of pancakes, looking much more rested after a solid twelve hours of sleep.
Sophia is, as expected, deeply skeptical. She ordered one, takes a tentative sip, and then her eyes widen. She stares into the cup, then back at me, then back at the cup, a look of profound, almost religious shock on her face.
Madison, thankfully, is engrossed in trying to Instagram a picture of her elaborate hot chocolate.
“What the actual…” She looks up at me, bewildered. “This is…this is what coffee is supposed to taste like? All the time?”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me, nearly choking on my own drink. “Told you Kiwi coffee was different.”
“Oh my God, Jack…” Sophia finally breathes, her voice hushed. “This is…this is like when I was sixteen and I figured out what else my electric toothbrush could do.”
I choke noisily on my own flat white, coffee exploding from my nose in a less-than-dignified spray. Laughter, sharp and sudden, bursts from me as I grab a napkin. Sophia is already bright red, her hand flying to her mouth, but her eyes are dancing with unapologetic amusement.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Madison asks, looking up from her phone, completely oblivious.
After breakfast, we make our way to the Sky Tower, Auckland’s iconic landmark. Madison’s excitement builds as we ride the elevator to the observation deck, her face pressed against the glass as the city spreads out beneath us.
“You can see everything!” she exclaims, pointing at the harbor, the volcanic cones, the distant islands. “Look, Mom, those are volcanoes! Actual volcanoes!”
“Dormantvolcanoes,” I clarify quickly, seeing Sophia’s momentary alarm. “Auckland’s built on a volcanic field, but they’ve been quiet for centuries.”
“Less reassuring than you think,” Sophia mutters, but she is smiling as she takes in the 360-degree views.
I play tour guide, pointing out landmarks and sharing stories. When Madison asks about the possibility of bungee jumping from the tower, it earns an emphatic “Absolutely not” from Sophia. Instead, we head down to the All Blacks Experience, an interactive exhibit celebrating New Zealand’s national rugby team. Madison, to my surprise and delight, is immediately fascinated.
The exhibit leads us through rugby history, famous players, and iconic moments. I am careful to keep my comments general, steering clear of any references to the times my family had hosted All Blacks players at events or my father’s position on various rugby boards.
“So it’s like football but you can only throw it backward?” she asks, trying to pass a rugby ball the proper way in one of the interactive displays.
“And no pads,” I add. “Just pure grit and skill.”
“That’s insane,” she says admiringly. “I want to try it.”
Sophia shoots me an accusatory look. “Now you’ve done it. She’ll be tackling people in the hotel lobby by dinner.”
When we reach the haka display, Madison stops, completely captivated.
“This is amazing,” she breathes, watching the video of the All Blacks performing the pre-match challenge, their faces fierce with concentration.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
SOPHIA
We spend the afternoon in Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park. We’ve found a quiet spot near the duck pond, the trees providing welcome shade as we rest our feet after a morning exploring the Sky Tower and the All Blacks Experience.
“Jack, do you know how to do the haka?” Madison asks suddenly.
