Summer Spice

by Kris Pearson

“You old pervert,” Ollie grated. “Keep your thieving eyes off her.”

  James laid a hand on Ollie’s knee. “My admiring eyes, maybe…”

  Ollie flinched, and shoved the hand away. “Yeah. Well. Never going to happen now, is it? She kept hinting there were ‘reasons’ why we couldn’t get together, but wouldn’t really say why.”

  James’ eyebrows shot halfway up his forehead. “You think she knew?”

  “Haven’t a clue, Dad. They’re supposed to be inscrutable, aren’t they, these oriental women?”

  The two men stared glumly at each other. “God, what a fuck-up,” Ollie said.

  For once his father didn’t blink at his choice of words.

  Chapter 16 – Full of Surprises

  “Jossy will be staying the night with me,” Anna told Mei when she phoned three weeks later. “Well, with us. Me and Jason and Amanda-Miranda.”

  “You’re not really calling the poor baby that, are you?” Mei asked. “Half of it would be okay…”

  Anna laughed at her doubtful tone. “No way. But it was a game we played as soon as we knew she was going to be a girl. Trying to outdo each other with outrageous names. She’ll probably end up being called Virginia Ruth after her grandma and great-aunt. Or something equally normal.”

  Mei considered that. “Or Ruth Virginia because Ruth is nice and short. Difficult to turn into a nickname.”

  “True,” Anna agreed. “We’ll see. We need to get this wedding out of the way first, then we can have a christening. In the meantime it’s fun to keep you all guessing.”

  “So unfair,” Mei grumped. “You want me to come and get ready there? Ollie’s not…?”

  “No, Mei,” Anna said with a touch of steel. “Ollie’s not. He’s at the new place with his parents and mine. They’re not pleased I’ve stolen the bride off them, but it leaves another bed there for someone else. Ollie came for Christmas, went back to work for a few days, and now he’s here for the wedding. You don’t need to talk to him if you don’t want to. I guess we’ll have to walk in as a group – but I can take Ollie’s arm, and I’ll loan you Jason’s, and Becca will be with Cam’s golfing friend, Peter – and then you can avoid poor Ollie all you like once the ceremony is over.”

  “Sounds okay,” Mei agreed with a sigh.

  Kind of okay, anyway.

  Or maybe not at all okay.

  “Come here for breakfast around nine,” Anna urged. “Dad will collect you from the shop and drive you and Becca because she’s still at the new place with him and Mum. Bring everything you need. Jossy’s dress is here, hidden away from Cam’s sharp eyes. Mine’s here too, of course. A bit tight around the remains of my baby bump, but it’s not me they’ll be looking at.”

  Mei scoffed. “Don’t you believe it. You’ll look as beautiful as Jossy. Three blonde sisters with one out-of-place Chinese girl. I’m the one who’ll spoil the photos.”

  “Mei!” Anna scolded. “You’re as Kiwi as me. You’re as Kiwi as Ollie. Somehow you two need to get past that mess between your fathers and make peace. It was over and done with thirty years ago, and it lasted a month. Get it into perspective.”

  “He told you, did he?” Mei murmured. “I guess everyone’s talking about it. Not over and done with so fast in our family. My father stayed angry for years, and our mother was too tired to be polite to him. Worked and worked, and it was never enough. She was a better wife than he ever admitted. She did one thing wrong and he held it over her forever.”

  She heard Anna take a deep breath. “Then don’t you dare hold it over Ollie the same way. I’ll see you tomorrow. Breakfast, make-up, hair, dress, wedding. Jossy says Wildwood’s all set up and ready to go. She’s also hinting at an extra surprise, but she won’t say what. I suspect it’ll be quite a day.”

  *

  Cam eased the beribboned, champagne-colored Mercedes up Jason’s newly trimmed driveway at precisely the arranged time. He looked as immaculate as his car – or a penguin, if the bird had had mischievous gray eyes and a gleaming silk tie to match.

  “He’s here,” Mei called from her vantage point on the deck. Everyone had been safely ready for at least fifteen minutes and they’d had time to sip a glass of Moet to ‘calm their nerves’ as Anna cheerfully put it.

  Mei opened the door and Cam grinned. “If they all look as good as you, we’re in for a treat.”

  She gave him a small curtsey, her spring green dress dipping into supple folds. “Jossy looks beautiful,” she whispered. “You look beautiful too.”

  She heard rustling behind her and saw Cam’s eyes lose their amusement. His bright gaze fixed on his bride, and for once he seemed lost for words.

  “Yeah,” he finally said, moving inside, eyes fixed on Jossy. “You’re right. Beautiful, and then some. I’ve come to take you home where you belong, Ms. Wynn.”

  Jossy did a slow twirl so the hem of her ivory dress swirled out. Then the folds fell back into place and its slender silhouette returned.

  “Love the low back,” he said, voice husky. “Your long hair against your gorgeous skin.” He leaned in and gave her a cautious kiss on her brow. “Wouldn’t want to spoil the finished effect until I can do a really thorough job of it.” His eyes devoured her and then some of his usual exuberance returned as the other girls appeared behind her; Anna in apricot, Becca in violet.

  Mei stood with them to complete the line-up, and they did their previously-arranged twirl so he could see they all had their long hair tumbling down the low backed dresses.

  “Thought we’d better give people something pretty to look at during the service,” Jossy said, smiling as he gave a lecherous wolf-whistle. “And that’ll be quite enough whistling at other women for now.” She rose up and gave him a peck on the cheek, then wiped the trace of color away.

  He cleared his throat. “Got everything you need?”

  “Mum was keeping all the flowers cool at the new house and taking them to Wildwood, so yes, I only need you.” She reached out and slid her hands into his, then went up on tiptoe for another kiss.

  “And I’ll bring these three,” Jason said from his perch partway up the stairs where he’d been quietly snapping candid shots. He was dressed as suavely as the groom.

  “Then let’s do this,” Cam said. “Give us five minutes’ start because I’d really like to have my woman to myself for a while. It’d be a shame not to put the roof down and show her off with a slow drive along the main beach road.”

  “Me or the car?” Jossy asked.

  One corner of his mouth hooked up. “You’re a pretty spectacular pair.”

  “We’ll see you there,” Jossy said, smiling at the compliment. “So we’re taking everyone’s bits and pieces in the Merc’s trunk?”

  “Yep, the bags are stacked together over there,” Anna said, ever the organizer. She leaned toward Jossy and gave her a careful kiss on the cheek. “See you, little Sis. You’re a knockout.”

  They all trooped outside, Cam carrying the bags and Jason with his camera still at the ready. Anna made sure Jossy’s dress was safely stowed before she allowed Cam to close the car door.

  “And they’re off,” Jason said, taking a final shot as the vintage Mercedes moved slowly forward. “Who’ll be the next bride? We seem to be having them every six months.”

  “No-one suitable in my life,” Becca claimed, with a smile that said otherwise.

  “No hope after that fiasco with my father,” Mei said gloomily.

  “It won’t be Poppy,” Jason said. “I think Cam’s sister might prefer girls.”

  “Didn’t know that,” Becca said. “Really?”

  He shrugged and looked slightly guilty. “Well, no spark. You know?”

  “Jason! You tried it on with her?” Becca squealed.

  He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Not…really. It never seemed quite the right moment. She kind of avoided it being possible.”

  “Maybe she simply didn’t fancy you?” Becca suggested.

  Mei burst into gi
ggles. “But everyone fancied Jason.”

  He shot her a broad grin. “Thank you for that vote of confidence, Ms. Chan. For the record, Anna immediately took against me when she met me, and although Poppy was my best friend’s sister, she always seemed totally immune.”

  “So Poppy preferring women is the best you can come up with?” Becca needled.

  “It’s only one theory. Maybe Cam warned her off? I don’t know. There’s just something different about her. And she’s such a good person.”

  “A good person?” Mei exclaimed. “Not a flattering description, Jason. She probably knew you thought of her as ‘a good person’ instead of ‘a hot woman’. That’ll be it.”

  Becca turned to go back inside the house. “Good enough to offer to have a baby for them. Joss was overwhelmed when Poppy suggested being their surrogate. God, I hope they can make it happen. She’d love a family after all she went through.”

  Jason nodded soberly and followed her, stopping by the padded Moses basket and focusing his camera on his tiny sleeping daughter for about the thousandth time. “They need one just like this,” he agreed. “And long may she stay out for the count.”

  A few minutes later they all climbed into Anna’s double cab pick-up truck – Anna beside Jason in the front, with Amanda-Miranda’s basket wedged securely between Mei and Becca in the rear. “Not crushing your dresses?” Anna asked.

  “We won’t mind if she does,” Mei whispered. “Look at those tiny fingernails.”

  And off they went to Wildwood.

  *

  Mei watched, heart full of joy and apprehension, as Cam finally drove the gleaming Mercedes between the impressive gateposts. Wedding guests stood about in small groups, enjoying the sun, catching up with friends, and drifting slowly toward the welcoming entrance doors. Anna and Becca and Mei made a beautiful group at the base of the ramp leading up to the main reception room, although they had much more momentous things on their minds than their appearance.

  Beside Mei, a slightly harassed-looking woman in a jaunty red hat held the hand of a small boy who was tired and sulky. “It was such a big ride for us, wasn’t it,” she cajoled, looking down at him. “Fun in the jet plane, but another long time in the car after that.”

  The child kicked at a chunk of bark mulch from the shrub border. His big gray eyes inspected the animated gathering and his bottom lip pushed out in defiance.

  “They’re so lucky with the weather, aren’t they?” the woman added to Mei with a note of desperation when the boy didn’t reply. She glanced sideways as the car rolled to a halt. “Oh God, here they are. Let’s hope this goes okay.”

  “Might take a little time…” Mei said, hoping no one knew how much this was affecting her.

  Why can’t I… why can’t Ollie and I … have something like this?

  “… but I’m sure it’ll go fine,” she concluded, giving the tightly wound woman her best cabin attendant’s reassuring smile. She had no confirmation of what was happening yet.

  Cam opened the door of the Mercedes for Jossy and she took his hand and stepped out in a swirl of shining ivory fabric. Her gaze went straight to the woman. “Alison? You made it after all. You thought you couldn’t!”

  Mei stayed silent as the two friends hugged and air-kissed. How lovely to have people willing to travel so far to share your special day. Not to mention possibly bringing such a momentous gift.

  Cam moved as if in a dream, ignoring everyone and squatting right down on his haunches until his hungry gray eyes were level with the child’s. His coat-tails dragged, unheeded, on the ground behind him. “Hi buddy,” he said, tilting his head on one side. “Want to come and see my baby goats?”

  “Doats!” the child yelled, suddenly transformed.

  Cam closed his eyes for a second, then stood and swung the boy up onto his shoulders. “Back in a few minutes,” he said, finding a shaky grin for the suddenly silent guests.

  “Your jacket, Cameron…” nearby Magdalena exclaimed, pointing to the dusty marks the little boy’s joyfully kicking boots were leaving on his pristine black lapels. Cam shook his head and loped away.

  “Thank heavens he doesn’t have his boutonniere on yet,” Ruth Wynn said, bustling up with several crisp white carnations. “I’m trying to get these onto the men out here. Who was that? I didn’t think we’d invited any very small children.”

  Magdalena blinked, then ran her fingers under her eyes. “I think he was our grandson. Not sure. But why else would Cameron…?”

  The two women clutched each other’s hands as their heads swiveled in unison from Jossy embracing her friend to Cam and his gleeful rider. Squeals of “Doats! Doats!” drifted back to them before Cam disappeared into the nearby field.

  “Is a good thing I bring my big handbag,” Magdalena quavered, releasing Ruth’s hand and diving into the bag’s depths to produce a small clothes brush. “For tidying up the men, just in case. But I never think it’s for mud off shoulders.”

  “Or grass seed off trousers,” Ruth agreed with a tremulous smile.

  “Trust you to be so organized, Ma.” Cam’s sister, Poppy, tucked an arm around her. “Are you ready for this?”

  Ma leaned against Poppy’s shoulder. “Plenty ready. Very good time to do it. Shame Colin can’t be here too.” She twisted to speak to Ruth again. “Our other boy is scientist in Antarctica, so ….” She shrugged.

  “No chance of flying back from there at a moment’s notice,” Ruth agreed, producing a small handkerchief from an equally dainty purse.

  “Umm…” Jossy’s friend said softly so only those closest could hear. “Don’t get your hopes totally up yet, Joss, because I’m sure there’s legal stuff to sort out. But Rosie couldn’t cope any longer, and her current boyfriend’s a no-good creep and getting worse. I’ve stolen Tristan away and sent Rosie to our aunt in Christchurch to keep her safe in the meantime. She says if you want Tris, she knows you can give him a better life than she can.”

  Jossy sagged back and clutched the car. “Ali,” she murmured. “Really? I’ll be onto the legal side first thing tomorrow!”

  “You could have a honeymoon first,” Alison said, pressing her lips together to hide a grin. “Tris is just having a holiday with me as far as Levi the creep is concerned. He’ll be thrilled the kid’s gone, although he’ll probably get nasty when he discovers Rosie’s skipped out on him.” She pressed her lips together. “Tris is a handful. You’ll have your work cut out to cope with him, but if he’s living somewhere more stable…?”

  “Santa madre di Dio!” Magdalena murmured, shaking her head, eyes wide and blinking back tears. “Non avrei mai pensato che mio figlio avrebbe preso il suo ragazzo. My son has his boy.” She reached for Ruth’s hand again. “Our children have a sudden baby.”

  Ruth linked arms with Ma, biting her lip and then giving in to laughter. “Better get them married, then.”

  “Sì, sì. I matrimoni. Wedding time.” Ma stood on tiptoe, gazing about for Cam’s father. “Hamish!” she called, brandishing the clothes brush across the parking area to where a group of assembled dads and uncles were peering into the engine of a long, low vehicle and missing the drama.

  Ruth waved her selection of carnations at them and they started making their way across to her.

  “We need Cam back,” Jossy said, recovering her composure somewhat and leaning into the Mercedes. She gave a couple of blasts on the horn.

  That was enough to get all the stragglers moving up the long sloping ramp. Mei and Becca followed Anna and Jossy, and were surprised to be directed to a line of chairs at the back by Jossy herself. Most of the rest of the grand room had beautifully set tables surrounded by chairs with white slipcovers, each decorated with a large black bow at the back.

  “Mum’s good and organized,” she said. “You here, Mei. The lemon and green posy. You over there, Anna – apricot flowers to match your dress. And Becca next to Peter where the violet one is. This is me, obviously,” she said, pointing to a cream bouquet. “Back i
n a mo.”

  The girls sat, nonplussed. Jason and Ollie and Peter were already seated, looking like models from GQ, and wearing a carnation boutonniere each.

  “Hi,” Ollie whispered to Mei, because Jossy had ignored Anna’s suggestion of swapping Jason for Ollie and had seated them side by side. “You doing okay after… that little fiasco here?”

  Mei swallowed. “Hi in return,” she said, taking a deep breath of him because she’d missed him so fiercely. No scent from his old leather jacket this time, but salt and warm skin, now mixed with newly pressed fabric and maybe aftershave because his beard was gone and his face was tanned and so handsome. “Better now some time’s gone by,” she managed. She gazed down at her flowers, and then couldn’t help looking at him again. “At least it got things out in the open and made us talk about it. The boys are old enough now they told our father he needed to pull his head in and do a bit of forgiving. Shame he didn’t do it years earlier.”

  “Huh,” Ollie said. “Bet he enjoyed that.” He leaned slowly toward her and brushed a kiss onto her cheekbone. “So you knew about it all the time. Good to see you again. And looking as beautiful as ever.” He drew back. “Or possibly even more so,” he added, lips quirking.

  Mei’s pulse pounded in her ears and heat raced through her veins. How could she survive the needle-sharp yearning that had been her constant companion ever since they’d parted at the airport that last morning? It had been so hard knowing he was here three weeks ago for the memorial service. She’d barely dared look at him after that quick touch on her hand in case she broke down.

  Now, once again, her emotions were threatening to tear her to shreds, but he sat beside her looking calm and composed, and as though nothing was wrong in his world. Lucky him.

  But… her mother, his father… their affair deeply hidden for all those years, and suddenly dragged to the surface, shameful and shocking. It was something all the permanent residents of Scarlet Bay must surely be speculating about, and now Jossy had made James’ and Yu Yan’s children sit side by side, which would invite even more gossip.