Page 10 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘It’s just that I don’t have any experience.’
‘It didn’t seem to worry her. Talk it over next time you see her.’
Jen nodded. ‘I will. It would be nice to work locally and then I can help you around the place.’
She glanced at the gutter, which sagged away from the walls, and at a faded curtain, which flapped in the breeze. Its ends frayed where it had caught on a jagged piece of window frame.
‘Who’d like breakfast?’ Kate asked after following Jen’s gaze. Kate was clearly determined to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Liam jumped up, waving the sprigs of daphne he’d cut. ‘Me, please!’
‘And what would you like, young man?’
‘Rice Krispies,’ he replied with the unwavering certainty of a five-year-old who knew exactly what he wanted.
‘I’m afraid I haven’t got any of those,’ Kate replied. ‘I make some yummy muesli though.’
Liam frowned, dropped the basket of flowers onto the damp grass, and walked slowly towards them. ‘I don’t like muesli.’
‘You haven’t tried mine,’ said Kate. ‘But you can have toast or porridge or anything else I have in the larder if you prefer.’ She put her arm around his shoulders and shepherded him inside the house. ‘OK, let’s see if we’ve got anything in here you fancy,’ she said, opening the larder.
Liam pointed up to the top shelf. ‘I like noodles.’
‘Noodles, it is, then,’ said Kate, plucking the bag off the shelf and frowning at the small print to check the expiry date. ‘I can’t say I actually remember buying these. Anyway, after breakfast we’ll make a list of things you like and go shopping for them. How does that sound?’
‘Good.’
‘Now, what would you like to drink?’
‘Milo, please.’
‘Milo?’ Kate frowned again and returned to the larder. ‘I think we have some somewhere.’ She plucked out a box and held it up triumphantly.
Jen took it, opened it and grimaced at its clumped and discoloured contents. ‘I think that’s seen better days, Mum,’ she said, dropping it into the bin. ‘How about I pop down to the shop and get a few things?’
‘There’s no need for that, surely?’ said Kate. ‘There must be something else he’d like.’
‘There will be, and I’m sorry. If this hadn’t been such a spur-of-the-moment decision, I’d have arranged things better. It’s just…’ She grimaced.
‘Just that you want things to go easy with Liam, especially at first.’
‘Exactly.’ She turned to him. ‘I bet the local dairy has got Milo and boxes of Rice Krispies.’
‘A dairy? With cows?’ asked Liam, wearing an expression which suggested she’d gone mad.
Kate and Jen managed not to laugh. ‘In New Zealand, a dairy is a local shop that sells just about everything. Like a convenience store or corner shop. How about I get what you want from there?’
‘Cool,’ he said with the kind of smile she hadn’t seen on his face for far too long.
‘OK, I won’t be long.’ She looked over to where Kate was filling up the kettle. ‘Your grandma will get you some noodles, and I bet I’m back before you eat them.’
‘How are you going to get there that quickly?’ Liam asked.
Jen grabbed her bag from the hook by the door and slung it over her shoulder.
‘Follow me, and I’ll show you.’
The rusted hinges of the old shed creaked and groaned as Jen heaved the door open, revealing dust motes and cobwebs, and the pungent smell of damp earth mingled with motor oil and potting mix.
