His grin widened. ‘Moana, it sounds just the kind of thing I’m after. Are they looking for people at the moment?’
‘They don’t advertise as such, but I know the people involved and they’re always looking.’
Within minutes Moana had arranged a meeting for Dan with the consultancy company. She tossed down the phone, slid out her feet from under her and stood up. ‘My work is done! I think this could work well for you.’
He wanted to hug her, so he did. She was his relative after all, as well as being extremely good at her job. ‘Thanks so much. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.’
‘No problem, cuz, any time. Although,’ she said as he followed her out the front door, ‘I don’t think you’ll be needing my services again. I think this could be an excellent fit.’
‘Hope so.’ And for the first time, he felt lighter as he began to walk away.
‘Oh, Dan!’ called Moana. ‘I nearly forgot.’
He turned to her.
‘You’re working on that MacLeod’s Cottage trust thing, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘With Lucy and Kate?’
‘Yes.’ He frowned. ‘How do you know about that?’
Moana grinned. ‘Small village. Also, my auntie’s been talking. Everyone’s been talking. There’s been gossip on the marae for weeks.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, yeah. As I say. Small village. Anyway, I wasn’t sure you all knew that my great-grandfather is still alive.’
Dan stared at her.
‘What?’
She nodded. ‘Still alive. He’s ninety-eight and lives out on the land, up past the old pa site. He doesn’t come into town and doesn’t do doctors unless he has to. He’s still sharp as anything.’
Dan’s mind ran quickly through the family tree. Great-grandfather. That meant someone who’d known Ngaire’s era.
‘Why hasn’t anyone—’ Dan began.
‘Because of the rift,’ Moana said simply.
Dan frowned. ‘What rift?’
Moana’s eyebrows raised. ‘You really don’t know?’
‘I’ve been away,’ he said, as if that explained everything.
She studied him for a moment, then nodded once, accepting it.
‘A long time ago, there was some resentment to do with your great-grandmother Ngaire moving back into MacLeod’s Cottage. Into that house by the sea, where your mum lives. There was some thought that she was getting something she didn’t deserve.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know the details, just its effect which was a rift in the family.’
Dan felt a dull thud in his chest. Getting something she didn’t deserve. That sort of bitterness didn’t come from nowhere.
‘And your great-grandfather?’ he asked.
‘He knew Tamati,’ Moana said. ‘Properly knew him. And he knew what happened back then — at least, more than most. I only know the rumours about Ngaire, the gossip. But, if you really want to figure out what happened all those years ago, I’d go see him, if I were you.’
‘How come Lucy or Mum don’t know about this?’
She shrugged. ‘Maybe they haven’t asked the right questions. But you, coming here today, I reckon you need to know a bit more about the past. Like we all do.’ Moana’s gaze held his. ‘Because if you’re digging, you should hear it from someone who was actually there. And because…’ She hesitated, then added, ‘because it’s time. The old people are leaving. If the story goes with them, you’ll never get it back.’
Dan thought of Kate with her photograph, tapping it against her knee as if tapping could knock the truth loose. He thought of Augi’s careful, relentless mind, circling the mystery.
