Chapter Eighteen
Three days later.
The days away from Auckland had left her rested and full of enthusiasm to get her grandfather’s house ready for occupation. Although, something perturbed Jack and Hone. She kept disturbing the two men in a huddle. Sometimes with Emma, which left Cassie uneasy. Secrets. They had them. She didn’t.
Cassie applied paint over the last part of the spare bedroom wall and stood back to survey the new decor. Rich, decadent cream. Not bad. She set down her roller and wandered out to see what was keeping Emma.
“Hey, do I have body odor or something? The three of you whispering secrets is enough to make me paranoid.”
Emma rushed into speech. “Fire-related stuff. The insurance company is refusing to pay out. They’re calling it arson and dragging their feet.”
“But even if it is arson, that’s not your fault,” Cassie said.
“Insurance companies have their own set of rules.” Jack shrugged, a tiny jerk of shoulders that spoke of disheartenment and frustration and irritation. “All we can do is keep up the pressure. There’s a vehicle outside.”
“Might be the plumber,” Cassie said. “I rang him to sort out the kitchen and make it useable now that the new units are in place.” Cassie hurried to meet them, but Hone intercepted her, drawing her to a halt.
“No, I’ll go. You wait here with Jack and Emma.”
“It’s not necessary, but okay. If it’s the plumber tell him I want him to fix the taps in the bathroom too.”
“The house is looking good,” Emma said. “Are you sure you don’t mind Jack and I moving in?”
“It’s fine. I need to decide soon. I don’t want to leave the house empty again and I know you and Jack will care for the property. I’ll have to decide what to do with the land.”
“How many acres?” Jack asked.
“Just over ten. I haven’t even had a chance to check out the paddocks. There is a creek and a swimming hole we used to spend time at when I was a kid. It’s probably full of debris by now. Grandad used to clear it at the start of each summer.”
“Jack and I can do that. You could lease out the land to a local farmer. What’s the fencing like?”
“I have no answer to that either. With all that has happened since I’ve been home I haven’t bothered. I figure it will keep.”
Voices in the kitchen indicated Hone’s return.
“Can I go and speak with the plumber now?”
“No wonder Hone spanks you,” Jack muttered.
Emma let out a guffaw, quickly covered by her hand. Her blue gaze danced with hilarity.
“No comment.” Cassie pushed her glasses up her nose and marched away before telltale mortification blazed in her cheeks. Hopefully the house would be ready soon and Jack and Emma could move out of Hone’s place. They’d all have privacy again.
While Cassie spoke to the plumber and issued orders, Hone had a discussion with Jack and Emma.
“I rang Dad. He says everything has quieted down with Auntie June, but we should keep our distance.”
“Is it okay for us to lower security on Cassie?” Emma asked.
“Dad says as long as one of us is with her at all times that should be enough. He thinks Auntie June burned out her anger at your house and we don’t have to worry about death by dragon.”
“She destroyed our house,” Jack growled. “Now the insurance company is quibbling about payment and trying to say our occupation attracted a crazy. Someone needs to repay our losses.”
“Dad says Samuel has promised to make good on the damage. Manu has his mother locked down, and she seems to have accepted she went too far.”
“So Manu is acting leader?” Emma asked. “I understood he didn’t want the responsibility.”
Hone slapped at an audacious fly buzzing around him. “He didn’t have a choice. He must be frothing at the mouth having to deal with this when he’d rather be in his lab.”
