Wind Across the Playground

by Ross Richdale

  "Meaning?" Noel stammered.

  "We have been making love for weeks now, Noel. I have tolerated your affair with Margaret because I reckoned I was no better than she was."

  "But?"

  "I can't just move in and live with you, Noel. I need a commitment. Say I'm old fashioned but I guess a little of my parent's strict code of ethics has rubbed off on me."

  "So marry me," Noel burst out.

  Kate stopped and stared opened mouthed at him.

  "What?"

  "Marry me, Kate."

  The young woman's lips trembled and her eyes brimmed with tears. "Do you mean it, Noel?"

  "Yes," he replied. "I love you, Kate and want you more than anything in the world."

  "Not just the sex?" She broke into a smile.

  "No," Noel replied.

  "A few conditions, Noel," Kate turned serious again.

  "Okay, what are they?"

  "You break off with Margaret this weekend and never bed her again."

  "And..."

  "We get married before we shift north. I am not going to live with you until after we are married."

  "Agreed," Noel smiled and stepped forward.

  This time Kate folded into his arms, placed a wet kiss on his lips and burst into a flood of tears.

  "One more thing, Noel, " she sobbed.

  Noel held her close and kissed her wet cheeks. "Go on."

  "We take Sarah with us. She brought up Alexia and we cannot cast her aside, now."

  "I never thought of that," Noel admitted. "But of course we can."

  "And you tell her that, too Noel," Kate ordered. "It's going to be a big weekend for you, isn't it?"

  "Sarah called it crunch time," Noel chuckled and hugged his new fiancée in a massive bear hug. "What say we..."

  "No!" Kate retorted. "My flat mates will be here soon and also there will be no smooching until after you have completed your side of our agreement."

  "That's blackmail," Noel chuckled.

  "Could be," Kate replied. She took a handkerchief out, wiped her eyes, and kissed Noel passionately on the lips then ducked away out of his arms. "Now go, Mr. Overworth. I'll see you at school, tomorrow."

  Noel walked back to the FJ deep in thought but instead of heading back home, he turned north towards Balclutha.

  HALF AN HOUR LATER he knocked on the door of Margaret's flat. It was opened and he received a jolt. A man, built like a rugby forward and dressed only in trousers, opened the door.

  "Yeah!" the man grunted.

  "Is Margaret in?" Noel asked. Somehow, after the initial shock, the presence of this stranger did not surprise him.

  "Margaret," the man yelled. "There's a guy all dressed up with a tie to see yah." He turned back to Noel. "Won't be a moment," he said and disappeared.

  An embarrassed Margaret appeared in a dressing gown and sort of signalled with her eyes at Noel. She seemed almost frightened.

  "Mr. Overworth," she said. "I was going to call at your office, tomorrow. Do come in." The eyes rolled again and a finger moved up to her quivering lips.

  Noel gave the briefest of nods and walked in.

  "Mr. Overworth, Toby McLean," she said and followed with a lie. "Mr. Overworth is my lawyer, Toby."

  "How do," the man appeared to relax and seized Noel's hand in a vice grip. "Working on Margaret's separation agreement, are yah?"

  "Sort of," Noel responded and inwardly grinned. So Margaret had another lover! This made it easier ...rather uncouth sort of bloke, though. He looked like a freezing worker.

  "We need to talk, Mrs. Stuart," he said in a very formal voice, took the initiative and turned to Toby McLean. "Do you mind?"

  "Nope," the man replied. "I was just off, anyhow." He turned to Margaret and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. "See you Monday," he said.

  "Toby goes home to Dunedin for the weekend," Margaret muttered. "He has a family there."

  "How long!" Noel muttered with his voice cold.

  "Two months," the woman quivered. "He's a jealous man, Noel. If he knew..."

  "A family, you say?"

  Margaret nodded and turned red in embarrassment. "None of us are angels, Noel. You've been carrying on with your assistant so don't be high handed with me."

  "No, I guess but I'm not coming back, Margaret. It's over between us."

  "And you came today to tell me, didn't you?" Margaret murmured.

  "Yes," Noel admitted. "I didn't expect the boyfriend, though. I'm going to marry Kate. I came to tell you."

  Margaret nodded. "I thought that might be the case," she said. "In fact, I wondered when you would come out with it." She smiled. "You have a very loyal ex-mother-in-law you know."

  "What do you mean?" Noel asked. It seemed to be a day of surprises.

  "Sarah Woolstone rang me a while back and told me to bloody leave you alone."

  "Damn," Noel gasped, "I guess she used those words too."

  "And a few more like oversexed hussy, money grabber and told to bed someone my own age."

  "Mild little Sarah said that?"

  "She did," Margaret suddenly broke into a laugh. "Want a last cup of coffee, Noel then I have to slip away and pick Cindy up from Mum's place."

  Noel sat down in the familiar kitchen and gazed around the room for the last time. Things were slipping in place far easier than he had anticipated. If he hadn't been such a coward, he'd have broken off with Margaret weeks before.

  CHAPTER 12

  As time slipped by there was a sublime difference in the way Noel perceived his world. He would study Kate and compare everything with her, not vice versa. She wasn't a chubbier, dark headed Lisa but his late partner was a thinner blonde Kate who was his world now and not a substitute lover for the woman who bore his child. Other things changed, too. The junior class wasn't compared to Lisa's methods any longer. It was Kate's class and her chatty approach with the bouncing happy children became the norm.

  Kate, Alexia and Sarah were the three generations of women in his life, all loved in different ways but still loved. Lisa's mother was his daughter's grandmother, friend and helper, a woman whose help and advice he welcomed and even her ability to be non-judgmental over his actions made her special in his life. Outbursts of tears when he walked by the woodshed were replaced by a lump in his throat and tender thoughts of his first love. It wasn't that he forgot Lisa, far from it, but Kate was with him now in every way. Even the thoughts of what might have been disappeared from his conscious mind. Alexia, that glorious daughter with the laughing eyes became important for herself, not as a Lisa's child but his child, his life and their future.

  One Friday evening he and Kate met Margaret in the main street of Balclutha and he was amazed how old the woman looked. There were lines in her face and the hand she held out to hold his arms for a moment seemed crinkled. It was as if the years between his former lover and his fiancée was a generation. In fact, Margaret looked more Sarah's vintage than his own. He mentally shuddered and wondered why he'd been attracted to her in the first place.

  "And what are you thinking, Noel?" Kate whispered after Margaret walked away.

  Noel smiled. "I'll show you," he said and grabbed her hand to guide her into a nearby flower shop.

  "We would like some roses," he said to the woman who served them. "Half a dozen of those deep red ones, please."

  "Noel," Kate whispered when the woman went to wrap tissue around the purchase. "Did you see the price? I reckon they must have been flown in from Australia."

  "For you, Kate, nothing is too expensive."

  He reached forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "I love you, Kate and seeing Margaret made me realize just how much. She's an old woman, Kate, not my beautiful fiancée."

  "It is strange how things turned out," Kate whispered as she watched the roses being wrapped up. She squeezed his hands and gathered the flowers in her arms. "Thank you, my love."

  THE LAST DAY FOR BOTH the teachers at Ashleyvale arrived. Everyone in the district knew Noel wa
s leaving to a new position but the announcement of his engagement to Kate and the news she was leaving as well, came as a surprise to most of the parents and pupils. The school concert, Christmas party and prize giving was over so all they really needed to do was to clean up the few remaining items at the hall and have a class party. Everyone had something to bring; the goodies were going to be spread out and a grand lunch held. Afterwards there would be one last game of long ball, the desks would be stacked and the pupils allowed to go home an hour early for the Christmas school holidays.

  It was a little after eight when Noel drove his car and trailer in with a load of school chairs used at the break-up. He backed up to the school door and began unloading when Wendy appeared around the corner of the building. She walked up and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.

  "How could you, Mr O?" she snapped.

  Noel frowned at his pupil. She had been in tears at the break-up the night before and he knew she was apprehensive about going to Southland Girls' High in the new year. However, right now she looked more determined and angry than sad.

  "Could I what, Wendy?" he replied.

  "Get engaged to Miss Voss."

  Noel almost laughed but saw Wendy's serious expression. "I thought you liked Miss Voss," he said instead.

  "Not for you," she replied. She stopped and bit on her lip as if she'd said too much. "It's just that..." She stopped and turned away so her face was hidden. "I thought..." she whispered and faced Noel again with serious eyes... "It doesn't matter, Mr O. The year just went too quickly, that's all. I won't be here next year but neither will you. Everything's changing and I wish it didn't."

  "Lots of things happened that we wish we could change," Noel said in a kind voice, "But we all have to move on. Nothing ever remains the same."

  "Like Miss Woolstone's death?"

  "Among other things," Noel replied. "But the year wasn't all bad, was it?"

  "No, you rescued me from the swamp, you have Alexia and now... Miss Voss."

  "Which makes a problem? Why?"

  "She's so... well," the girl stumbled over her words then blurted out. "She's a teacher."

  "So am I," Noel replied.

  "But you're a man."

  This conversation was getting nowhere and Noel was pleased when his fiancée appeared at the door.

  "Wendy," Kate called. "Can we have a word?"

  "What do you want?" the girl yelled and swung around.

  "Wendy!" Noel reprimanded. "You don't talk that way at school."

  The girl's lip quivered and she was almost in tears.

  Kate caught Noel's eyes and walked across to their pupil. "I want your help, Wendy," she said. "Something that is very important to me."

  She led the girl inside while Noel just stood and watched in confusion. The situation became even more intriguing five minutes later when Wendy came bouncing out of the school with a wide smile across her face. She grabbed some chairs and, without a word, began carrying them inside the classroom.

  It wasn't until morning tea break when Kate enlightened him. "She's got a crush on you, Noel," she chuckled. "No wonder I'm the big ogre around."

  "But she's only thirteen," Noel protested.

  "A very mature thirteen year old with hormones screaming around with nowhere to go. You rescued her from the swamp and relied on her for half the year in the classroom then, out of the blue, it is announced we've become engaged. She feels let down and worse."

  "Damn," Noel whispered. "I didn't realize." He frowned. "So, how did you change her mood so quickly? She was almost in tears one minute and grinning like a Cheshire Cat the next."

  It was Kate's turn to flush. "I was going to discuss it with you first but..."

  "Kate!"

  "I said I wanted her as our bridesmaid. Is that okay?"

  "If it cheers her up, that's great," Noel responded.

  Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the staffroom door and the pupil in question appeared. "I phoned Mum," she said with her voice all excited. "She said I could. Thanks Miss Voss." Her eyes switched across to Noel. "You, too, Mr O." She swung around and was gone.

  "...But still a little girl underneath," Noel chuckled.

  "Yes, thirteen going on thirty," Kate added. "And I thought Margaret was going to be the competition."

  "Damn," Noel said a second time. He still had trouble understanding the fair sex. He glanced at Kate and thought he'd better say something. "Did I tell mention how beautiful you are in your summer frock?"

  "Oh Noel, you noticed," Kate replied. She swung around and kissed him on the lips.

  Noel enjoyed the attention but was again confused. The situation was delicate. "Of course I did," he lied.

  "I lost eight pounds," Kate said and spun around so her dress swung out. "So you like the new me."

  "No, I love you Kate," Noel responded. He was about to add no matter how heavy she was but thought it was expedient to clamp his mouth shut before he put his foot in something. Women! He loved them but still didn't completely understand what went through their minds.

  IT WAS EARLY JANUARY and their wedding day. Kate was running late and still in the bedroom at Leanne McEwen's farmhouse where she had stayed the previous night.

  "Mum," the thirteen-year-old bridesmaid moaned. "It's quarter to eleven. Where's Kate?" After she had left Ashleyvale School, it had taken Wendy about two minutes to begin calling the pair by their first names.

  "I'm here, Wendy," Kate replied and stepped into the room. "My, doesn't your frock look beautiful?"

  Wendy grinned and gazed fondly at the bride's long white traditional gown. "I'm like a farm girl compared with you," she said but her pride at being dressed in her very first formal frock showed in her smile. It was full length, apricot coloured with a low front and showed Wendy's tanned shoulders and arms above long white gloves.

  "I don't think so," Kate replied. "I think my maid will make all the boys' hearts swoon. Don't you think so, Leanne?"

  Leanne tucked her arms around her daughter. "God, I hope not," she replied. "I'm too young to have such a sophisticated daughter."

  "Oh Mum." Wendy glanced at her watch. "Hurry up. We should be there!"

  Wendy's worries, though, were in vain for a few moments later they arrived on time to walk through a line of clapping school children into the church. The pianist took the signal that they had arrived and, with much gusto, started the traditional wedding march as Kate took her father's arm and remembered his comment when she had told him she was getting married.

  "So you're going to take on a ready made family are you Kate?" he had said, "I'll give the lad this much, though. He does seem to love you."

  Now, though, her father seemed to have lost his crusty exterior and almost glowed as he glanced down at his daughter. "Noel has done well, Kate. I hope he realizes the jewel he is receiving. Today you make me as proud as when you earned your honours degree."

  "Thanks, Dad," she replied and stared up at the blue eyes. Her father had always been difficult to relate to but at times like this, he let down the frosty exterior and the real man showed through. "Dad," she added in a whisper. "That's for everything, not just now. Without your financial help I would never have got that degree."

  Lance Voss nodded. "So make sure you use it, Kate. Even though you're getting married it does not mean you throw your hard earned education away."

  Kate smiled and squeezed her father's arm. Perhaps Dad understood her generation after all.

  NOEL TURNED AND WATCHED his bride walk slowly up the aisle towards him. She looked radiant as she stepped in beside him, flashed him a smile, squeezed his hand and faced the minister.

  "We are gathered here this morning to witness the joining of Kate and Noel in the bonds of matrimony...." The minister started the marriage ceremony and concluded with the traditional.... "I now pronounce you man and wife. Noel, you may kiss your bride."

  Noel bend across, lifted the short veil around Kate's face, cuddled her in his arms and th
eir lips met. Over her shoulder, he saw a smiling Sandra holding his baby. Alexia was dressed in a tiny apricot dress made from the same material as Wendy's bridesmaid's frock. There was even a tiny pink bow in the baby's hair that made her look like the beautiful little girl she would one day be. It was as if the bonds of the ceremony had also included them both.

  THEY ARRIVED AT THE modern school house a week before the new school year began and went through a polite but subdued welcome with strangers who called in small numbers to make themselves known. The surprise came that first evening when the appointments officer of the Wanganui Education Board phoned and asked if Kate could teach in the junior room. The elderly woman who had taught the class had retired before the holidays and there was a shortage of teachers in rural districts.

  So on the first day, the school had a new principal and junior room teacher. Noel now only had Form One and Two children in his class, twenty-seven large pupils that were almost intimidating until he became used to the larger numbers. Three classrooms away, Kate found the twenty, five and six year olds quite their own challenge with no older children who could work by themselves. The other two rooms were taught by two young women, one married to a local farmer and the other, a single girl who travelled out to the school every morning from Feilding on the high school bus. There was also an office assistant four days a week so the tiny staffroom, no bigger than Ashleyvale's, was crowded at morning tea and lunch times.

  "Well," Noel said after the end of the first week. It was four o'clock and the other two teachers had only just left. "One door shuts and another opens. When I'm in the classroom it doesn't seem to matter where it is."

  "I know, Noel," Kate replied as she tidied her desk. "The school seems so big with kids everywhere. I like June and Suzanne, too" she added, referring to the other teachers. "I think you overwhelmed them a little, though."

  "Yes, everyone is sizing everyone up," Noel replied as he picked up a box of books for his wife and they headed across the road to the schoolhouse. "I admit I'm impressed with them both."