Now, a week after arriving home, walking towards his parents’ house with his fingers frozen and tucked as far into his coat pockets as humanly possible, New Zealand seemed like a fading dream.
He knocked on the door, where his dad greeted him with a hug and led him into the kitchen.
“Cup of tea?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
His father shuffled around the kitchen, and Nate could see new grey hairs streaked through the black. How much stress had this whole situation caused his parents? Even more proof his plans were necessary. They didn’t need the extra conflict.
“Where’s mum?”
“Out at Book Club.” He passed Nate a steaming cup of tea, cradling his own. They sat opposite each other at the breakfast bar, a neat pile of paperwork waiting between them, a pen balanced on top.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” His dad said, nodding towards the papers. “Samantha did cheat on you.”
“And I’m not saying I’ve forgiven her fully,” Nate said. He’d considered it long and hard and, regardless of how hurt he was, he knew it was the right decision. “I’m still upset, but I wasn’t exactly fair on her.”
“I’m not following.”
“I expected her to wait around for me. Honestly, Dad, I gave her so little of myself I’m surprised she even agreed to marry me at all. We barely knew each other when I think about it.”
“You were just doing what it takes to make consultant.”
“Doesn’t make it right, though. How did you and Mum do it?”
“I don’t even know. We made it work somehow. I can’t say it was easy.”
Nate grabbed the pen, his hand hovering over the document. He needed to make his own life work somehow, too. What he’d been doing clearly wasn’t it. Time for something different.
“As long as you’re totally sure. The lawyer can finalise it this afternoon. But it’s not too late to change your mind, son.” His dad placed his cup of tea down, looking concerned.
“I’m sure, Dad.” Nate sounded more confident than he felt, but he’d made up his mind. It could be the biggest mistake of his life, throwing everything away, everything he’d worked for, but it was a risk he needed to take.
Reading his name next to hers again brought up all the memories and regrets of the past few years. The things he wished he could do differently. That he would do differently from now on. He’d start with this.
Nate steadied himself with a deep breath and signed the paper.
HER CAT JIMBLE CURLEDup asleep on her knee, Jess sat on the couch with her best friend, both peering over the laptop.
“You put an offer on? This is the most exciting thing since chocolate popcorn.” Poppy clicked through the photos of the cottage again.
“Now you’re making me crave popcorn,” Jess said.
Poppy handed the laptop to Jess and reached for her bag, pulling out a Tupperware container. “You think I’d come over and not bring treats?”
“Of course you have Tupperware. Are you actually my grandmother in disguise?"
Poppy shrugged. “Your grandma was awesome, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” She opened the lid and revealed chocolate-coated pretzels.
“Did you make these?”
“I did. Now talk to me. What offer did you make?”
“I don’t know if it’s enough. The bank gave me a limit, and it’s at the lower end of what they’re asking for.”
Jess stroked Jimble’s silky fur and tried to calm her excited nerves with a pretzel. When she’d seen the Rangiora cottage up for sale, it felt like fate. She couldn’t believe it. With the payment from the film consultancy job, she’d finally saved enough for a deposit, and her dream had the possibility of becoming a reality.
It had to mean something, didn’t it? The cottage going on sale just when she was ready to buy?
