Page 82 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘Wow,’ breathed Liam. ‘What was that?’
‘Takahe,’ said Jen. This was one she knew. ‘I saw one once before and remember telling your father about it.’
‘Was he interested?’
‘Yes, he was very interested. He said he hoped to see it one day.’
Silence descended on the group as they all contemplated what might have been. It was Sam who made the first move. ‘Come on, we’ve still a long way to go.’
Jen remained for a few moments, letting the others continue on, not wanting them to witness the wave of grief which had suddenly swept over her. Since Alistair’s death, her emotions had been all over the place. She blew her nose when she saw Lucy retrace her steps and walk towards her.
‘You OK, sis?’ asked Lucy, tilting her head and shooting her a gaze full of sympathy.
‘Of course,’ said Jen, beginning to walk again, in step with Lucy.
‘Good.’
‘It’s just upsetting to remember what Alistair was like when I first met him, and how he’d wasted his life. How much potential there was and how it came to nothing. I want Liam to know that there was more to his father than the painful memories.’
Lucy nodded and slipped her arm through Jen’s, and they continued up the steep path to the top.
It was a long walk, and they were all breathless as they emerged above the trees on the island’s peak.
‘Wow!’ said Liam, turning a full circle. ‘Look, there’s MacLeod’s Cove.’
‘And if you look closely, you’ll see the cottage,’ said Kate. ‘See the tall Norfolk pine? It’s to the right of that.’
‘I see!’ said Liam, jumping up excitedly.
‘No jumping up here,’ said Jen, laughing, and putting her arm around Liam. ‘I don’t want you falling over there.’ She pointed in the other direction, to where the cliff plunged almost vertically into the ocean.
They were silent as they all looked away from MacLeod’s Cove into the sea, which was deeper on this side, and across to the islands which marked the northernmost points of the South Island. Today, their outlines were starkly clear against the pale blue sky.
Jen took a step back and watched as her family looked around, talking quietly, their mood suddenly subdued. She felt it too. But she also felt settled — grounded — here in the place of her birth. She was home, and she was truly safe now. It was time to do what they’d come here to do.
Each of them said a few words about Alistair before they turned to Jen. She looked out to the bright horizon and thought about Alistair, focusing on the man she knew at the beginning of their relationship. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but this was for Liam.
‘Alistair,’ she said, before licking her lips, still unable to say his name without feeling fear. She closed her eyes tight shut. ‘I remember when we first met, you told me you wanted a son who could be all the things you weren’t able to be. Well, we have one. And I want you to know that he has inherited your best qualities and that we will love and cherish him here at MacLeod’s Cove.’
Her words hung in the silent air for a few moments before she felt Liam’s arm around her waist. She opened her eyes and gave him a hug before turning to the others. Tears streamed down Kate’s face, and Lucy moved away abruptly and cleared her throat. Her gaze came to rest on Sam, who simply nodded his approval.
If Jen didn’t know her sister better, she’d have said that she’d shed a few tears, too. But this was Lucy, who never let her emotions rule her brain.
‘Time to get going,’ said Lucy, looking out towards the lowering sun. ‘We don’t want the boat to leave without us.’ She stretched out her hand. ‘Liam?’
Liam took Lucy’s hand, and they led the descent back down the path, with Kate following. Only Jen and Sam remained at the summit.
‘You can see my place from here, too,’ Sam said.
She followed his gaze out to the small clearing which marked his land, and where his new house would be.
‘You should spend your time working on your own house rather than MacLeod’s Cottage.’
‘I can do both. And I have been. I picked up where I’d left off on the footings last week.’
‘You did? That’s really great. So, what’s changed? You said you’ve been sitting on this project for months.’
His gaze continued out to MacLeod’s Cove, his eyes watering a little in the bright light. ‘Remember what my sister said to me?’
