Page 41 of Catch a Kiwi
“You don’t have more than two billion American dollars, though, do you?” she asked. “If he gave you a loan, you could expand. He has enough to do it, because I looked him up, and that’s what they said. He’s on that list of billionaires, that famous one.”
“Forbes.”
“That’s the one. He’s only number one thousand something, which is a pity, but still.”
I said, “I imagine he keeps a roof over his head with that, but if you ever see him, you can offer your condolences.”
“Don’t be silly, darling. A billion is a billion. And of course I’ll meet him, if you give it a teeny push and arrange for me to be invited once you’re inside their circle. Maybe he’d want to consult me about fashion for women who aren’tquiteyoung anymore, but who still want to look gorgeous. I’m quite fashion-forward, you know. My friends always say that I wear the trend before it even happens. Anyway, they’ll want to know me as well, I’m sure.”
“Why?” I asked. “Sorry, but why would they want to meet me, let alone you? What am I to do with them?”
“Darling. They’re yourfamily.And it’s not just me saying that. They’reMaori,and you know that matters.Daniel sayshe can’t wait to introduce you to all the whanau. There’s so much further you could go. So much more you could be, with a little help. That investment, and maybe politics, though there’s not much money in that. I always thought you were made for politics, so tall and good-looking. Just like your dad. I’m sure there are opportunities once you’re out of it, too, being on boards and so forth, and don’t we both deserve that? I tried my best to give you a good life, I sacrificed everything for you, but how could I do enough, all on my own? Whereas Hemi got the family, the love, the support. He owes it to you now, really. Heisyour brother, when all’s said and done, and, well, he’s Maori, and so are you, and that makes a difference.”
“I’m not Maori,” I said. “Blood doesn’t make you something you’ve never been.”
“Of course it does. Daniel says, ‘Whanau is whanau, and my son needs to have his place in it. He needs to know where he belongs.’ So deep. It’s not just your brother, either. Your cousins, and your grandfather, too, though he won’t be much use to you. Probably gaga, as he sounds to be about a hundred. Daniel says that’s why it needs to happen now, though. That it was meant to be, meeting me again while there’s still time. But most of all, he can’t wait to meet you. Did I say how proud he was to hear how well you’re doing? Even though it isn’t nearly as much as Hemi has, he never mentioned a thing about that. He never compared you at all. He said, ‘Both my sons, doing all that. Both my boys.” She sighed. “So touching.”
Summer
Roman came back into the room with that stillness of his. With that closed-down face of his, too. He squatted down beside me and said, “Give me the nail gun.” Barked it, really.
I said, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Give it to me.”
I said, “You know what? I think I’m done for today. I have a cramp in my back, and my stitches are bothering me. My knee doesn’t actually love this.”
“Thankyou,” Delilah said. “Did you actually notice that it’s Saturday?”
“Fine,” Roman said. “I’ll finish up here.” And started to drive nails.
I said, “I’d like to go to the beach. I haven’t been yet, and it’s right there. I wanted to get most of this done for you before you saw it again and ease your mind, which is why I’ve pushed so hard this week. We’re moving along well, though. Maybe a break wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Shock,” Delilah said. “I’ve only mentioned that about six times.”
“Good as gold,” Roman said over thethwack, thwack, thwackof the nail gun. “Go.”
“I wish you’d come, too,” I said. “Lunch would taste even better afterwards. It can’t be pizza, I realize, but hot soup and maybe a panini after you’ve swum in the sea? That sounds great.”
“The sea’s freezing,” Roman said.
“I know it’s freezing. Also, OK, I’m not that strong a swimmer, so I don’t usually do more than wade here, especially since there are almost no lifeguards in New Zealand, and Delilah’s not that big, so it’s not like she can drag me out. I’d like to put my head under today and taste the salt, now that my cuts are healing, and if you came with us, I could. If you can swim. I hope you can.”
He still looked—something. Mutinous. And his problems weren’t my problems. Maybe I was actually feeling better, though, more confident, because I didn’t want to run fromthem. Whatever was wrong, I wanted to help if I could. After how much he’d helped me? Of course I did.
You always want to help,I reminded myself.How has that worked out for you?
It’s one trip to the beach.
That’s how it starts, yeah.
He’s the least needy guy in the world.Hewants to helpyou.That’s obviously his happy place, and he looks like he needs to do it.
“Please,” I said.
“Thought you were all about finishing this job fast and getting out of here,” he said.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned,” I said, “so as to have the life that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell.”
