Summer Spice

by Kris Pearson

  Ollie saw the problem. “Wise man. Let them get on with it,” he said, beckoning him further in. “How do you like the fleet?” He flicked his gaze to the vaulted ceiling where Jason had suspended the collection of old cousin Ernie’s model planes.

  “Well I never!” George exclaimed. “Where did you get them?”

  “Anna could tell you more, but when she sorted through everything at the old cottage last year, she found these boxed up on top of one of the wardrobes.”

  “Must be at least fifty years old,” George mused, spanners forgotten. “Even a Vulcan bomber – I remember when one visited New Zealand and crashed. Big drama.” He peered up, rubbing an ear. “I can’t see anything newer than that, and they came out…in the sixties sometime? And look at that Sopwith Camel – you’re right back in Snoopy territory there.”

  Ollie returned to the kitchen, leaving George to admire the rest of the models. “I’ll just put some jeans on,” he called. “Anna’s got a lot of other family memorabilia being mounted in frames and display boxes. I guess we won’t get to organize that until after she’s had the baby.”

  “So, these bunks?” George asked a minute or two later as he joined Ollie in the kitchen.

  “I carried all the pieces through to the end bedroom. It’s going to be a kind of kids’ dorm.”

  George grinned. “Noisy. They’ll enjoy it.” They set off just as Mei reappeared, decently covered. Ollie felt the loss of her skin keenly.

  “You want a drink?” she asked them. “Only got coffee, George, and only soy milk if you take yours white?”

  Ollie could have sworn George shuddered. “I’m a tea drinker, dear, so no thanks,” he said as he made off toward the furthest bedroom.

  She held up her e-reader. “Okay. Thought I might hide out on the back deck and read.” She blew Ollie a cheeky kiss, and he trailed a hand along her arm as she walked by.

  While she read, he and George easily assembled the chunky tube bunks. They were strong enough to withstand lively children for many years to come, and George departed, looking pleased he’d been useful, and no doubt hopeful Essie and Thelma had finished their chat by now.

  At Mei’s insistence Ollie surfed for an hour, and although conditions were ideal, the kick he got from imagining being with her exceeded even the rush of the big waves. Shaking his head, he left the surf and strode up through the sand. He leaned his surfboard beside his Moto Guzzi in the garage and went in search of her. Saw her sprawled, eyes closed and earbuds in, stretched out on one of the loungers they’d unpacked the day before. Her compact body was total temptation in a small black bikini, although it showed all too clearly the big bruise over her hip and the graze above her knee. His stomach soured, picturing her trying to defend herself against someone so much larger. Bastard!

  He retreated silently and set off to the campground store, hoping for ham and salad- filled baguettes. Worried he’d startle her if he reached out and tapped her on the shoulder, he returned up the narrow strip of ground at the side of the house and stepped onto the deck where he’d be in her line of sight.

  “Oliver – you’re back!”

  He grinned at her enthusiastic welcome.

  She turned off her music and inspected him, dark gaze sliding over his exposed shoulders and chest down to where his thin navy board shorts now flapped, half-dry in the sun. “Surf was good?”

  He bent to kiss her. Lingered – tasted the faint tang of orange juice and made a mental note to buy some more. “Surf was great. Thought you might be hungry by now,” he added, handing her one of the narrow brown paper bags he was carrying. “Not up to Jossy’s standard. Sorry.”

  “Change from my father’s cooking,” she said. “They eat very traditional – but they love ice-cream.” She pushed her big sunglasses up on top of her head. “What do you like eating?”

  “You,” he said, before she could think too much about what she’d asked him.

  Her tongue moistened her lower lip. “Oliver…” she said reprovingly.

  “Mei,” he said in the same tone, stealing another kiss and pulling the other lounger close to hers before stretching out. “Good food in Bali. I enjoyed that.”

  “Not so different from Chinese,” she said, peering down into her bag.

  “Ya reckon?”

  She shrugged. “Curry paste, more coconut and lime. Lots of the same fresh meats and vegetables. Not the same rice – they like the sticky kind. And different spices for sure.” She sat up and pulled the baguette part way out of the paper bag. Took a bite and said, “Yum,” through her mouthful. “Real French bread, not those soggy packet rolls.” She chewed and swallowed, reaching across to pat his arm as he reclined, watching her. “Better not eat too much if we’re going out for dinner with Jason and Anna.”

  “I was thinking ‘better eat it quick so I can take you back to bed’.”

  She attempted to chew the next mouthful she’d just bitten off and started to cough through her laughter. “Bad boy, Oliver.”

  He reached over to rub her back, loving the feel of her soft skin under his hand until she had her breathing back under control again. “I don’t need much encouragement where you’re concerned. I barely believe last night happened.” He leaned far enough to drop a kiss on her hair.

  “Was nice,” she agreed, bowing her head.

  He heard the past tense all too clearly. “Not over yet. We still have tonight. And tomorrow morning if we’re lucky. The truck won’t arrive at the crack of dawn.”

  “And then we carry more furniture around. Eat your baguette.”

  He laughed at her glum tone. “Won’t take forever. We can have dinner once we’re back in the city?” He held his breath. Really didn’t want their time together to end.

  Mei looked up at him, doubt written all over her face. “I have to get moved into my new place, Oliver. It’ll take a while to get all my things arranged. Need to get my uniforms from the room in the other house, too.”

  “I’ll help,” he said, knowing he probably sounded desperate. He took a bite of his baguette to stop himself from descending into outright begging.

  “I’m thinking,” she said once she’d finished her next mouthful, “Seeing it’ll be Monday I should try and see my mother after all, just for a few minutes. Might not get many more chances.” She slanted a look across at him and took a deep breath. “Would you take me before we leave tomorrow? He’ll be out of the way at work then, so no chance he’ll see.”

  “Kieran?”

  She nodded before taking another bite. “She’ll be pleased. Never really liked him.”

  Ollie swallowed before asking, “Because he wasn’t Chinese?”

  “Mmm…”

  Which didn’t tell him much. “What’s she sick with? You said the doctors thought she was doing well.”

  Mei flicked him a lightning-fast glance and then looked away again. “AML – Acute Myeloid Leukemia. No, she’s not doing well any longer, Oliver. The five-year survival rate is twenty-six percent, and she’s had it for seven.” She twisted her pretty mouth into a tight line. “She’s not young, she always worked too hard, and she’s had enough of the chemo now.” She closed her eyes.

  Ollie set his baguette down and reached across to draw her into a hug.

  She resisted for a few seconds and then gave in, pressing into his chest, although she was still strung tight with tension.

  He smoothed his cheek across her hair. “Yes of course we’ll go. You want to do it now?”

  She shook her head against him. “Tomorrow. Just some time before we leave. In case… Because after this I’m away for another week, and…” She shrugged. “Hard to know.”

  He kissed her brow. “Nice lady. I’d like to meet her again.”

  Mei closed her eyes. He saw her lashes sweep down against the damn bruises.

  “I don’t think so, Oliver. I don’t think she’ll want to see anyone but the family.”

  “Ask her.” The words hung between them like drifting smoke. “I mean it.
I’d like to see her. To tell her you have good friends like Anna and Jason and me. In case that makes her feel better about… the future.”

  “The future she doesn’t have.” Said in a quiet, shaky voice.

  “Yeah. So she can go there more peacefully, maybe.” He reached for one of her hands and gripped it hard. “You’ve been coping with a lot, honey. Let someone else help with the load for a change. I’m here and I’m more than willing.”

  Finally she relaxed against him, and her breath feathered over his chest. Her smooth blue fingernails traced around the edge of his tattoo. “No escape,” she said. “For her.”

  Ollie buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her exotic fragrance. “Or for me,” he said. “From you.”

  Her nails dug into his flesh in a sudden spasm and her gaze flashed up to his. “You can’t say that. Not things like that. Not after one day.”

  “Much longer than one day,” he insisted. “Years and years. Only one day to know the grown-up Mei, but I want the chance to know her better.” He covered her hand with his. “Slow as you like. I know it won’t be easy, the way we both work, but Cam managed it with Jossy, and she was away for months in France. You can’t scare me off. Not after what we’ve done the last twenty-four hours. Do we need more juice?”

  She gave a startled laugh. “Big change of subject, Oliver.”

  “You taste like oranges so I thought maybe you finished the bottle off. I wasn’t expecting company.”

  “Yes, more would be good,” she muttered, easing away from him.

  Ollie let her go and looked at his baguette again, hungry after his surfing. “I’ll eat this on the way to the store and get some juice for breakfast right now.” He left her in peace to think. About her mother. And about him, and hopefully about how they’d manage future dates so things could progress.

  *

  “Okay on your motorbike? she asked, doing a slow turn to display her dinner choice of pink suede stiletto-heeled ankle boots, silver tights, flirty pink-and-black striped shorts, and a black top with a neckline low enough to display the upper slopes of two perfect breasts and thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels.

  Ollie shook his head slowly, appreciating the view for sure, but wondering how she expected to travel without attracting attention.

  “I found my old trench coat,” she said, laughing at his no-doubt astounded expression. “Easy now everything’s hanging up and organized in a nice big wardrobe.”

  He walked a slow circle around her. Pink boots and silver tights. Not the least bit noticeable or memorable. Just as well they’d be gone next day. “You put me to shame, honey. Best I could do was change my T-shirt.”

  Mei stood as tall as she could on her high heels. She reached up and smoothed her palms over his shoulders and down his chest. “No complaints from me. I like seeing your body.”

  He breathed in, loving the feel of her hands on him. “Okay – better get the coat on and tuck this down the front.” Reaching across to the kitchen counter he picked up the bottle of wine.

  She returned from ‘her’ room with a dark gray trench coat and tilted her wrist to check the time. She’d changed her watch – it was no longer the sleek black digital model she’d worn earlier. This one had a golden face surrounded by a row of sparkly stones. On anyone else he’d presume they were glass. On her, there was every possibility they were diamonds, and there had to be between forty and fifty of them. They couldn’t be, could they?

  “Getting on for five o’clock,” she said. “They’ll be safely home by now.”

  Ollie opened the door from the living area to the garage and ushered her through, thanking the weather gods for the fine summer afternoon. They were soon well away from the last of the houses, the tails of her coat firmly tucked under her butt so they didn’t flip and flap as they rode.

  Mei’s helmet bumped against his. “Should be out there,” she yelled. “Really big waves. You should be surfing.”

  He slowed as they reached Anna and Jason’s. “Rather be here with you,” he called back as he turned the bike up the crunchy graveled driveway. The stiff breeze had scattered red pohutukawa tassels over the stones in a magic scarlet carpet. He braked to a careful halt on the shifting surface and reached down to pat her knee. “Definitely rather be here with you.”

  Anna appeared at the open door and took a couple of steps toward them.

  “You had a good time?” Mei asked as soon as she had her helmet off. She shook her head to rearrange her hair.

  Anna beamed. “Eleven out of ten.”

  “Can’t ask for better than that,” Ollie said. “We bought you a bottle of wine, which had better go in the fridge right away because Mei’s been warming it with her boobs.”

  “You should have a place for luggage,” Mei replied, reaching into the front of her trench coat.

  Ollie winked at Anna. “Not exactly a packhorse, this bike. It’s made for racing.”

  “Oliver! You don’t, do you?” Mei exclaimed.

  “Had it a long time, Dragon Lady. Since I was young and stupid.”

  Anna extended her arm for the bottle. “You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t hit you, calling her that.”

  He grinned at them both. “I called myself stupid so maybe we’re even.”

  “Yes, he used to race,” Anna said to Mei as she led them inside. “Bikes and cars. Those little go-karts. Anything with an engine. Just about drove his mother mad with worry.” She headed across to the kitchen to put the wine away.

  The delicious scent of home baking filled the air. Ollie sniffed. Cake?

  “Jason will be down in a minute,” Anna added. “Of course he took his cameras, and of course he found some very tempting birds, so he can’t resist having on a look on a bigger screen.”

  “Was this out where the private pools were?” Mei asked.

  “All around the place. It was lovely and secluded. Can you leave the door open, please Ollie? The house is hot, being closed up all day.”

  He turned and opened it, hooking it back so it wouldn’t slam in the breeze. “Look at that. A builder’s home that’s actually finished,” he teased.

  “Or maybe an industrial designer’s home where someone insists every detail is taken care of?” Anna suggested. “Anyway, sit. I’m bursting to know how you got on with only one bed.” She broke into giggles and wrapped both arms around her baby bump. “Darn it all,” she groaned. “The slightest thing makes me want to pee these days.”

  “Serves you right for asking,” Ollie said. “How did you know there was only one bed?” Then he slapped a hand to his forehead. “Cam told you. Rotten sod.”

  Anna settled back into the cushions. “It was a bit too good to keep to himself. So?”

  “I think it was fine,” Mei said, straight-faced. “I don’t remember anything untoward happening, do you Oliver?”

  “Nothing at all,” he said, reaching for her trench coat and sliding it down her arms. He leaned over and pressed a kiss onto her neck before tossing the coat over a chair arm.

  Anna looked at them both. “Hmmmm…”

  “We unpacked stuff,” he continued. “Went for a walk on the beach. Ate our frozen dinners. Were just settling down to watch a bit of TV when Essie asked us over to try her spa pool.” He leaned in the other direction, lifted Mei’s hair aside, and nipped her ear. “Is that the way things happened?” he murmured, remembering the ridiculous scene in the bedroom with Essie calling through the window, and Mei crouched out of sight behind the TV screen, and him trying not to give the game away as she nibbled on his all too eager cock.

  “Something very like that,” she confirmed, turning her dark eyes up to his and sending him a naughty smirk.

  “Hmmmm…” Anna said again, just as six feet four of Jason thudded down the stairs from the upper floor. “Ollie’s holding out on me,” she added in his direction.

  “Of course he is,” Jason said, reaching over to shake Ollie’s hand and bending to give Mei a kiss on her nearest cheek. He grinne
d across at Anna. “I seem to remember you wanted to keep the start of us pretty private for a while.”

  “That was because I didn’t want to influence you getting or losing the contract for the new house,” she protested.

  “Yeah, right,” Jason agreed. “Nothing at all to do with your gossipy sisters or my nosy crew of men.” He motioned Ollie and Mei to the nearest sofa. “I’ll open the back windows and get a bit of air flowing through,” he added, bending to unlatch the window under the stairs. Birdsong poured in from the remnant of original forest at the back of the property. “Has she shown you the new deck?”

  “No,” Anna said with a guilty eye-roll. “I’m almost not used to having it yet.”

  Jason held out his hand and she rose from her seat to lead them into the kitchen.

  “Nice bi-fold doors here,” he said, gliding them aside.

  Anna stepped through and stretched her arms out. “All this space up in the sun for barbecues. I’ve been promised seating by Christmas.”

  “And I’ve been promised a baby,” Jason said, pulling her close to his side.

  Ollie caught the happy glance they sent each other, wondering if he’d ever be as lucky. He seriously wanted Mei. Had been attracted for years, and had no intention of backing away from the assorted obstacles she kept throwing in his path. Their brief time together in the new house had only hardened his resolve. He was in for the long haul, however much she might currently object.

  He looked across at her as he heard Jason saying, “Below this, where the land dips, is the new garage. Good secure storage, and we’ve got the main bedroom back for ourselves again.”

  “Although painting that won’t be happening for a week or three,” Anna added.

  Jason dropped a kiss on her hair. “Great idea to marry a wealthy woman, eh? But I need to get Cam and Jossy’s place finished first,” he added to Mei. “Or they’ll never get married or get their wedding business up and running. We’re already a bit behind with the schedule.”

  She swiveled on her high heels and grinned at him. “We saw it yesterday. It’s going to be amazing.”