Page 57 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
Jen returned to school as the bell rang to signal the end of the school day.
‘Mum!’ Liam’s voice cut through the distance, his backpack bouncing as he ran towards her across the playground.
‘Hey, Liam!’ she said, waiting for him to run into her arms. But he stopped short, and she lowered them. ‘How was your day?’
‘Good thanks, Mum. This is George,’ he said as the little boy she’d seen earlier walked up shyly behind him. ‘He’s got dinosaur models at his house. Can I go to his house and see them?’
Jen glanced at the boy, still cautious. She didn’t want to let him go to someone’s house she didn’t know. But this was MacLeod’s Cove, she told herself.
‘Of course. But not today, Liam. Your grandma’s expecting us home.’ Plus, it would give her time to check with her mother, who would no doubt know the family.
‘Oh,’ Liam said, placing a hand on George’s shoulder as they made new arrangements.
There was no way Jen had expected this. Her mother had been so right.
As they walked the short distance to the cottage, Liam chatted about the people he’d met, the teacher and the painting he’d done.
Upon reaching home, they found Kate pottering around the kitchen, the aroma of roasted chicken wafting through the air.
‘I thought an early dinner might be a good idea.’
And so it proved to be. By 5.30 Liam’s excitement had subsided into tiredness, and he fell asleep on the sofa by the back window, his slight form curled beneath a throw, lost to dreams, no doubt, of his new friends and activities.
Jen and Kate’s discussion of whether to carry Liam upstairs to bed or let him sleep there for a little longer was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Sam.
‘I thought I’d let you know I’ll be a bit late tomorrow. I’m going to pick up some supplies from Paraparaumu.’
‘Thanks for letting us know. I’ll leave a key under the pot outside in case you need to access electricity or something.’
‘No!’ Jen exclaimed. ‘No keys under pots. I’m sure I’ve seen a spare one in the kitchen you can have.’
‘Sorry, force of habit,’ said Kate. ‘You’re quite right. Now, Sam, there’s something else I wonder if you could help me with.’
‘Of course. Name it.’
‘I don’t suppose you have any CRC, do you? Liam’s door is squeaking,’ said Kate. ‘It’s unsettling him a little.’
‘I don’t have any in the car, I’m afraid, but I’m pretty sure I have some up at the caravan. I’ll fetch it if you like.’
‘Jen, why don’t you go with Sam? You said you wanted to take a walk. You can walk back along the beach.’
Jen shot her mother a look of pure alarm. ‘But Mum, Liam might wake up.’
‘And I’ll be here for him. He’s fine for now. Look at him,’ Kate said with a smile. They all turned to see Liam fast asleep on the sofa. ‘When he wakes up, I’ll get him off to bed. No, you go. I’ve got things to prepare for the school library tomorrow.’
Jen shook her head. She was pretty sure she’d never heard her mother lie before. She guessed there was always a first time. If there was a squeaking door in Liam’s room, it must be a cupboard door but she couldn’t recall one. There didn’t seem any response she could make except agree without calling out her mum. Besides, against her better judgement she wanted to go. After days of worrying, she felt intense relief, and a walk along the beach sounded wonderful. And, for the first time, she found herself wanting some alone time with Sam.
‘Do you mind, Sam? I don’t want to mess up your evening.’
‘It’s all good. I’ve nothing planned.’
‘OK, see you later, Mum,’ she said with one last look at Liam, as she popped her phone into her bag.
‘Thanks, Sam,’ said Jen a few minutes later as she climbed into the passenger seat of the four-wheel drive. ‘I didn’t realise Mum’s need for the CRC was so great, otherwise I’d have got some while I was out.’
‘No problem.’
They drove through the park towards the one piece of land that was still privately owned — Sam’s.
