* * *
It would do, Finn thought. But it wasn’t the only thing he could’ve come up with. He shifted wearily. The loss still gnawed at him, and the couple of beers he’d had the night before hadn’t done much to drown his sorrows. Sinking into a willing woman would definitely have helped, though. He needed to find a new girlfriend. And Jenna, unfortunately, wasn’t giving him any go-ahead signals. Anyway, it would make his life too complicated. She was doing a proper job with the kids, and that was the important thing. He didn’t want to risk mucking that up.
“Sophie seemed pretty upset about the loss,” he remarked to her later that afternoon, sitting in the kitchen over a cup of tea and watching her marinate chicken for that night’s dinner. “Did you have a hard time with her last night?”
Jenna nodded as she squeezed a lemon into the ziplock bag and squeezed the bag shut, shaking it to mix the marinade. “It was tough on her. Especially the concussion. She thought it was you, at first. It terrified her. Then the loss too. But mostly, I think it was the injuries. She worries about you.”
He frowned. “I know she does. Not much I can do about it, though. If you start worrying about being injured, holding back, you’re useless. That’s the beginning of the end.”
“I can see that. But …” He could see her hesitate as she looked at him, before turning her attention back to the chicken pieces she was sliding into the bag. “I do need to ask you. Can you tell me more about what happened to your wife? Because I think that’s what worries Sophie so much. That she could lose you too.”
“I reckon you’re right. I told you that Nicole died a few years ago, eh.”
“Yes, but not how. “Was she ill for a long time? Is that what was so traumatic?”
“Nah. The opposite. It was sudden. And pretty awful. It was a car smash. She crossed the center line on Highway One, up in Northland. Nobody knows why.”
“Oh, no,” Jenna said with obvious distress. “Was anyone else hurt?”
“Nah. She clipped another car. Overcorrected, ended up rolling the car. No seatbelt. Nicole was always a bit careless about things like that. I’ve been so thankful she didn’t have the kids with her. I never trusted her with the car seats. It was bad enough as it was, but I still have nightmares about that.”
“I’m sure. How horrible. But if she was alone … were you off playing somewhere?”
“Safa. Pretoria. It took ages for them to tell me, and then for me to get back. About thirty-six hours. Luckily, Nicole had arranged for Nyree to stay with the kids. And both Nicole’s parents and mine came pretty quickly. But as you can imagine, it was a rotten time. Lots of high emotion. And Sophie …” He sighed. “Sophie was four. By the time I got back, she’d gone quiet. Harry was little, not even two yet. Don’t think it had as much of an impact on him. But even though she’ll tell you she doesn’t remember, I reckon it did something to Sophie.”
“It’s a hard thing to measure,” Jenna told him. “People tend to think that, because kids don’t remember them, traumatic events in their early years don’t register, somehow. But we’re finding, more and more, that that isn’t true. And for a sensitive child like Sophie, I can imagine it would have had a big effect.”
“Jenna!” Harry burst into the kitchen. “I’m starved. When’s tea?”
“Can you say excuse me?” Jenna asked. “I’m talking to your Dad right now.”
“Sorry,” Harry said. “Excuse me. Jenna, I’m starved. When’s tea?”
He had to smile, and so did Jenna. “OK,” she said, “but next time, say it first. Look at the clock. What time is it now? Where’s the little hand?”
“On the four,” Harry said, disappointed. “That means four o’clock, right?”
“Four-fifteen, because the big hand is on the three,” she agreed. “More than two hours to go, buddy. How about an apple? And look in the snack compartment. I think you’ll find some cubes of cheese in there. That should hold you until tea.”
“OK.” Harry opened the fridge and removed two cubes of cheese from the low compartment, then went to check the fruit bowl. “I’ll have a kiwifruit. And could Trevor come over to play, d’you reckon? Since it’s so long till tea?”
“Up to your Dad,” Jenna said. “He may need some quiet time today.”
“We’ll be very quiet,” Harry pleaded. “Please, Dad?”
“You can’t make any more noise than the young boys on the team bus,” Finn told him with a smile. “And I’ve put up with them for days now. Course Trevor can come over.”
“If his mum says yes,” Jenna pointed out as she picked up her phone.
She spoke a few minutes, then rang off. “He’s on his way,” she told Harry. “A few minutes.”
“Sweet as,” Harry said with satisfaction. “I want to show him my new animals. I got a cheetah, and an otter, and a meerkat, Dad. At the museum yesterday. Jenna took us.”
“Hope you didn’t ask Jenna for them,” he said.
“Dad. I spent my own money, of course. I’ve been saving up. D’you want to see them?”
“I do,” Finn said. “After Trevor leaves, you can show me. What’s your sister doing?”
“Reading,” Harry said with disgust. “We were playing, but she stopped. That’s why I need Trevor. I’m going to go wait for him by the door,” he announced.
“Bye.” Finn smiled as Harry rushed to the door again. “Yeh. They’re a bit different, Harry and Sophie,” he said to Jenna. “People don’t always notice Sophie, or her feelings. You think she’s sensitive, eh.”
“Of course I do,” Jenna responded with surprise. “She isn’t expressive, like Harry. But she feels things deeply, and doesn’t get over them as quickly. Harry’s more volatile. But Sophie runs deep.”
“She does. I’m glad you can see that. Most people can’t.”
“Because she’s quiet,” Jenna suggested. “Quiet children, especially girls, tend to get passed over. People think, ‘Oh, she’s fine,’ and pay attention to the kids who are acting out.”
“It’s true. And I probably didn’t do enough for her in that first year or so. I was having a bit of a hard time myself. Luckily, Nyree was there. She’s been the real constant in their lives.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You’re Sophie’s shining star. It’s because you matter so much to her that she worries about you. Nyree’s important too,” she hastened to add. “To both of them. But you’re the one Sophie looks to.”
“Wish I’d done better, then,” he mumbled.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’d say you’ve done a pretty terrific job. She knows how much you love her, and she trusts you to be there for her, no matter what. I’d say she’s a lucky girl.”
“Really.” He felt more cheerful. “I’ve never known what I was doing,” he confessed. “I’ve tried my best, but I’ve always wondered if it was enough. Specially being gone so much.”
“It’s a big burden, being a single parent,” she said. “Of course, you’ve had Nyree, but in the end, you’re the parent. And all parents—all good parents—wonder if they’ve done well enough. They worry about the things they’ve got wrong, because kids don’t come with an instruction manual. You’re learning all the time, right along with them. But the important things—you’ve got those right, it seems to me. You have great kids, and they didn’t happen by accident.”
“Thanks,” he said gruffly. “It’s good to hear.” He shifted in his chair and winced at the soreness.
“But it seems to me you’ve earned a rest now,” she went on. “Why don’t you go spend some time in the spa? I’ll keep an eye on the Wild Bunch. I’ll bet you’re as starved as Harry, too. How about a sandwich out there?”
“You don’t have to do that. I can make it. Or I can check the snack compartment myself.”
“I don’t think a couple cubes of cheese are going to do it,” she smiled. “Not as hard as you worked last night. I’m still on duty till tomorrow morning, with not much to do besides making dinner. It’ll take me five minute
s to fix you a snack. Go on. Get out of here.”
He laughed and got up gratefully. Ten minutes later, she stepped out onto the huge wooden deck and handed him down the melamine plate. A generous handful of crisps was piled high beside a huge BLAT, the bacon freshly fried, avocado and tomato plump between the slices of toast.
He took the plate from her with a “Cheers” that turned to a grin when she handed him the bottle of beer she’d been holding behind her back.
“How’d you know?” he sighed, stretching out in the warm water, the jets pulsing against his lower back, and taking a swallow of cold beer.
“Psychic,” she told him with a smile. “Enjoy.”
He watched her opening the ranch sliders that led back into the house and stepping inside. He’d have enjoyed it more with a bit of female company in here. But for now, a fat sandwich and a beer weren’t too bad.
School Days
“Have a good day.” Jenna gave Harry and Sophie each a discreet squeeze around the shoulders and watched them walk through the school gates.
“Jenna!” She saw Siobhan beckoning from the group of mums chatting nearby, hesitated a moment, then went to join her.
“Hello, love,” Siobhan greeted her. “Missed you yesterday.”
“My day off.” Jenna smiled at her gratefully, acknowledged the nods of the other mums.
“We noticed,” Siobhan said. “Finn looked a bit done for.”
“But choice,” one of the other mums put in. A general laugh greeted the comment.
“We all enjoy Mondays,” Siobhan grinned. “Do you know everyone, though?” She introduced Jenna to the four or five women around her. “Jenna’s a Year One teacher, normally, did you know?” she told them. “I’ve taken shameful advantage of her expertise, palming my kids off on her.”
“No, you haven’t,” Jenna protested. “You took Sophie and Harry last week.”
“Only out of shame,” Siobhan declared. “I couldn’t live with myself.”
“Pity the Blues lost this weekend,” a woman named Clarice offered. She was the mum of a boy in Sophie’s class, Jenna remembered. Danny, she thought. “We were hoping to see them in the final.”
“We were hoping to see Finn,” Monique, a pretty brunette, corrected. “Our local celebrity.”
“Speak for yourself,” Clarice offered tartly. “I was watching the footy.”
The other women scoffed in disbelief. “I didn’t notice you running away when he brought the kids yesterday,” Monique said.
“I wanted to congratulate him on a good game,” Clarice said stiffly.
“He did play well, didn’t he?” Jenna put in hastily. “I know they were all so disappointed to lose. But it does give him a rest. It’ll be hard on the Crusaders on the All Black squad. Playing in the final next weekend and then going into training straightaway.”
“I never thought of that,” Clarice said.
“Though I know he’d rather be tired, and play,” Jenna said with a smile. “Any of them would. Guess that’s the way it goes.”
“Must be an interesting job, yours,” Monique said.
Jenna laughed. “Well, not so much. Cooking, housework, looking after kids.”
“Exactly like my life,” Monique agreed. “Except that you get a day off, and no questions asked, eh. That’d be nice.”
“None of the real responsibilities of kids,” Clarice put in. “And you get paid for what you do. Lucky you. Want to trade places?”
Jenna flushed and shifted, unable to think of a retort.
“I need to get Ethan to kindy,” Siobhan broke in. “Come on, Jenna. Walk me.”
She pulled Jenna away from the group, set a brisk pace that had Ethan complaining.
“Sorry, darling,” she told him, slowing down after they’d crossed the road. “She didn’t mean it, you know,” she said to Jenna. “Not thinking, that’s all.”
“What?” Jenna asked, startled.
“When she said you were lucky. She can be a bit tactless. And she’s jealous.”
“Was it obvious?” Jenna faltered.
“I hope you haven’t been considering a career shift, becoming a poker player,” Siobhan smiled. “Because you’d be rubbish. No worries, though. It’s just because I know you.”
“Jealous, though,” Jenna said. “That’s a laugh. Being a nanny isn’t exactly a glamour job.”
“You haven’t seen her husband.” Siobhan shuddered theatrically. “Nightmare. Belly out to there. But come on,” she urged. “Walk Ethan to kindy with me, go for a coffee. I need a treat.”
* * *
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Maggie, the Year One teacher Jenna had been assisting, said with relief when Jenna joined her in the teachers’ lounge of Mangere Primary during lunch the following Monday. “I can really use your help today. The school’s having a visit from a few of the All Blacks, and I’ve got a room full of wound-up five-year-olds. I’m not looking forward to this afternoon.”
“What’s involved? And how can I help?” Jenna asked.
“They’ll be having a chat with the students first, then going out to the field for a bit of rugby practice. We’ve got it pretty well organized, but I could do with another supervisor.”
The children were every bit as excited as Maggie had predicted, and when she announced that it was time to go, their anticipation became even more intense.
Jenna walked at the tail of the queue of Year One students as they made their way to the auditorium and arranged themselves cross-legged on the floor directly in front of the stage. Once they were settled, she stood against the wall to one side and watched the big room fill up with the older pupils.
“Quite a day.”
She turned at the words, smiling a welcome at Ian Foster, one of the Year Five teachers. “It is,” she agreed. “Who exactly are they sending, have you heard?”
“Not sure. Three or four of them, anyway.”
Somehow, Jenna wasn’t surprised when the doors to the auditorium opened and Finn led the procession of four players who leaped up the steps to the stage to thunderous applause from the students and a welcoming speech from the head of the school. It made sense that the Auckland-based players would be making this local appearance, and she knew what a soft spot Finn had for children. She was proud to know him as she witnessed his easy rapport with the kids, his joking good humor that had both students and teachers laughing.
She saw the moment he became aware of her, his eyes meeting hers in surprised recognition before he turned back to answer a question about a teammate’s pinup status.
“Yeh, I know the girls are rapt to have Koti here. Me,” he sighed regretfully, “I’m a bit bashed about by now. The old beak’s been broken a fair few times. But if any of you kids need help with your tackling, you’ll want to see me for that, because everyone knows the forwards do all the real work.”
When the athletes filed off the stage to head outside, Finn muttered a quick word to one of the other players, then made his way toward Jenna as the head began to explain the second half of the day’s program to her eager audience.
“Moonlighting?” he asked quietly. “Doesn’t your employer pay you enough?”
“Volunteering,” she corrected. “My employer pays just fine. Oh, this is Ian Foster, one of the teachers here. Ian, Finn Douglas.”
“Gidday,” Finn said, giving the other man a firm handshake and a quick once-over. “See you outside, Jenna?”
She nodded. “With the little ones.”
“I’ll take care to get myself assigned there, then,” he told her before he left to catch up with his teammates.
Jenna saw Maggie beginning to get the class up. “Here we go,” she said to Ian. “See you later.”
During the session that followed, Jenna could see all the years of working with Sophie in Finn’s encouraging instruction as he ran lines with the Year Ones, offloading the ball gently, reaching to catch their own wobbly passes in one big hand. She had to laugh to witness their version of t
ouch rugby, Finn matching himself against five eager students, the excitement when he deliberately missed his mark and a little girl danced past him to score a try.
“How do you know him?” Ian asked, coming up to join her again and following the direction of her gaze.
“Hmm? Finn?” she asked, still smiling. “I’m his nanny and housekeeper. His kids’ nanny, I mean. Just for now, the rest of the year.”
“Huh.” Ian frowned as Finn accepted the help of several children to get to his feet from where he lay sprawled on the grass after his failed “tackle” and made his way toward Jenna again.
“Disappointing,” she told him severely, watching him brush grass from his black Adidas track pants. “I hope your defense is going to be stronger than that in Perth, or I’m not watching.”
He laughed, his eyes sliding towards the man on her left. “Think you’ll find I rise to the occasion. Looks like we’re finishing up here, so I’ll say goodbye. See you at home. Good to meet you, Ian.”
Jenna watched him trot off, then turned to Ian with a smile. “He’s a really good guy. You wouldn’t know it from watching him play, though, would you?”
“I wouldn’t know,” he said stiffly. “I don’t watch much rugby.”
“I never did either, before,” she confessed. “But I’ve learned a lot about it recently, and it’s surprisingly enjoyable. I need to go on and help Maggie, though. See you next week?”
“Yeh,” he said. “See you.”
* * *
“What a surprise to have you turn up today,” she told Finn after they had put the kids to bed that evening and were chatting comfortably in the kitchen. “I had no idea you were doing that.”
“Community relations. I like the school visits, tend to volunteer for those. We’re all expected to do our bit, but we do get a choice. Talking of surprises, though, I had no idea you were doing that either, going into the school to help out. Isn’t it a bit much after working all week?”
“This job isn’t exactly onerous,” she said, “especially when the kids are in school. The volunteering’s been fun, and it gets me out, gives me a chance to meet some new people.”
Christmas Down Under: Six Sexy New Zealand & Australian Christmas Romances Page 60
