‘Kate said she’d been wanting to come for years, but wasn’t sure how welcome she’d be. She said her grandmother Ngaire had kept her distance and had wanted her to do the same.’
Mere nodded. ‘Understandable. After what happened.’
‘What—’
‘Not here, boy,’ said Mere impatiently. ‘Let’s go and see the person you need to see.’
They followed Mere around the side of the house, past a washing line pegged with clothes that snapped lightly in the breeze. Mere walked with steady purpose, and Augi had to hurry to keep up with her and Dan.
They reached another house — older, more weathered, surrounded by native plantings that looked as though they’d been left to grow wild. Mere stopped at the gate. It was from this house that smoke from the chimney wound its way up into the sky.
‘Uncle Hemi’s place,’ Augi said to Dan. She turned to Mere, and Dan could see she was a little nervous. ‘He’ll talk to us?’
‘He’ll talk,’ Mere said wryly. ‘Whether it helps you or not is another matter.’ She lifted her chin toward the verandah. ‘But you’re the librarian. He likes you. He says you bring books like food.’
Augi smiled faintly. ‘That’s nice of him.’
‘He’s old. He’s softer than he once was.’ She glanced from Augi to Dan and then opened the gate. ‘Come on then. Let’s get this done.’
Uncle Hemi was on the verandah, wrapped in a blanket despite the mildness of the day, his eyes sharp beneath heavy lids. He looked up as they approached.
‘Uncle!’ she called. ‘What are you doing outside? You should be keeping warm inside. Why did I light the fire otherwise?’ Despite her telling off, Mere sounded cheerful.
‘I’ll do what I want, girl.’ His gaze went to Mere first, then to Augi and Dan, before returning to Augi.
‘Librarian,’ he said.
Augi inclined her head. ‘Kia ora, Uncle.’
He grunted, which Dan reckoned could mean anything from irritation to approval.
Mere stepped forward. ‘And this is the boy MacLeod. Danny. Remember him Uncle?’
‘Of course I do. Right little bastard. Caught him scrumping all my apples from my tree once, along with your mokopuna.’
Dan pulled a face. ‘Sorry about that, Uncle.’
Hemi grunted, rubbed his gnarled fingers over his eyes before dropping his hand into his lap where his fingers worried a wooden carving. ‘Come a bit closer, boy, so I can see you better.’
Mere pointed to a plastic white garden chair and Dan sat down in it. It gave slightly because it was cracked. Whatever Hemi saw in Dan, he seemed to approve and gave a satisfied grunt. He turned to Augi.
‘You two friends?’
Augi blushed and refused to meet Dan’s gaze. ‘Yes. I’m friends with all the MacLeod family.’
Hemi shot Dan a mischievous look and was about to speak when Mere jumped in, clearly worried that Hemi was about to say something inappropriate. So was Dan.
‘Augi has brought you books, Uncle.’
Hemi turned his attention to Augi. ‘Thank you. Got some of those raunchy romances I like?’
Augi smiled and nodded. ‘Yes. Shall I take them inside for you?’
He nodded, and, looking grateful for a reprieve she slipped inside the old house. She returned almost immediately.
‘They came to talk to you about Ngaire,’ said Mere in a loud voice.
‘Hm,’ grunted Hemi and rubbed his nose.
