‘John Kowalski.’ Lucy repeated, rolling the syllables around on her tongue. ‘Wow. I guess he’s no longer Johnnie the Mysterious Marine.’
Jen picked up the photo from the table, where it had obviously been the subject of earlier discussion. Jen’s son Liam had found it in a box of photos, tucked under the eaves in the attic some months earlier. ‘The name makes it all the more real. John was a real person, with a family, and parents who cared for him. And he was also a man who was in love with someone who was taking the photo.’
‘And that someone must have been Ngaire,’ Lucy said, taking the photo from her sister. ‘Who called him Johnnie.’ She turned it towards Kate. ‘This man — Johnnie Kowalski — was in love with your grandmother.’
Kate frowned, practical even now. ‘It’s a link to Ngaire, yes. But I still don’t see how it connects to the cottage. I just can’t figure out,’ she continued, ‘why a brief wartime romance — if that’s what it was — led to an anonymous trust. We’re getting some of the pieces to the puzzle but they’re not forming any kind of coherent whole. I mean why would a boyfriend of my great-grandmother set up a trust to enable her to live in her old family home? He couldn’t have been here long.’
‘I found that out, too,’ said Augi. ‘He was here about seven months in 1942,’ she said. ‘There’s no record of him returning afterwards.’
Kate nodded slowly. ‘Ngaire and her parents were living here in MacLeod’s Cottage in 1942. But by 1945 — by which time she’d married Tamati — the cottage wasn’t ours. And then later, after Hope was born, they moved back.’ Her brow furrowed. ‘Something must have happened to firstly make us lose the house, and secondly to regain it.’ She grunted. ‘Sort of.’
‘Financial mismanagement?’ Jen suggested.
‘Probably,’ Kate said. ‘But it still doesn’t explain why John Kowalski would buy the cottage and set up a trust to give Ngaire a home. It doesn’t make sense.’
‘We need more information,’ Lucy said.
‘I’m looking,’ Augi replied. ‘But the local archives are thinner than I expected. I could put out a request in the community —’
‘No,’ Kate said firmly. ‘Not yet. Not until we have to.’
‘I might be able to help.’
Augi turned to find Oliver standing behind them, just outside the light of the lanterns, as if he wasn’t sure he was welcome in the circle.
‘There were other things, besides Kowalski’s name, which I found at the hotel that I wasn’t sure would be relevant,’ he said. ‘But now I’m thinking they might be.’
‘Mum! Did you already know the name Kowalski?’
Kate shook her head. ‘I hadn’t quite got round to opening the box of papers Oliver brought me.’
Lucy shook her head in despair and turned to Oliver. ‘What things?’ Lucy asked.
‘Some paperwork, unfortunately undated but clearly after 1942 from the context, shows John Kowalski made at least one other visit to MacLeod’s Cove because he settled some outstanding accounts with the hotel then. Accounts which incidentally weren’t his, but members of his platoon.’
Kate pressed her hand to her cheek. ‘Could it have been after the war ended?’
‘I couldn’t find his name on any of the ship’s manifests after the war,’ said Augi.
Oliver shrugged. ‘The paperwork wasn’t dated, I’m afraid. But I’m guessing from the context, it was while the war was still going on.’
‘When was Hope born, Mum?’ asked Lucy quietly.
‘December 1946.’
‘Ah, well,’ continued Lucy, ‘at least there won’t be any surprises about parentage.’
Kate released a breath that was half relief, half indignation. ‘Thank goodness. I don’t want any more surprises.’
Lucy stared at Oliver. ‘So he came back,’ she said quietly. ‘And didn’t want anyone to know.’
Oliver nodded once. ‘That’s what it looks like.’ He glanced towards the front of the house, as if reminded of time. ‘I should go,’ he continued. ‘My taxi will be here any minute.’
Lucy’s face fell. ‘You’re leaving now?’
‘Yes,’ he said, and his gaze slid away from hers. ‘Thank you, Kate. All of you. For the hospitality.’
Kate stood. ‘What’s next for you, Oliver?’
