Blossoms in the Wind

by Ross Richdale

  "Roger Hartwood has a daughter attending Joseph Ward Senior High," Detective Sergeant Gloria McKenzie said.

  "Figures," muttered Tullock and turned back to the proprietor. "You will warn nobody that we're here," he hissed. "For you sake, let's hope there are no drugs on the premises."

  The proprietor looked terrified but muttered about not being responsible for what guests brought into the units with them. He handed Andy a master key and escorted them to the units

  MARYANNE HARTWOOD WOKE to see a torch shining in her eyes but even worse was the massive Alsatian dog that practically rubbed noses with her. She screamed, sat up, realised she was topless and shrank back with the sheet pulled up around her neck.

  "My dog has smelt drugs in this room," the dog handler said. Now sobbing, Maryanne noticed her partner across the room hastily pulling his trousers on. A second uniformed police officer stood at the door.

  "Find them, Girl," the dog handler ordered.

  In less than two minutes the dog sat beside a purse and whimpered. Inside were several bottles of yellow tablets and three satchels of white powder.

  "Go and get yourself dressed. I wouldn't attempt to flush any other drugs down the toilet," the police officer said. "We'll wait outside."

  The pair and the dog left the room and shut the door.

  "Sorry Maryanne," the youth now pulling his shirt on said. "I never heard them coming."

  "Stupid prick," she screamed, flung the blankets aside and frantically began to dress.

  AT North Shore Hospital Accident and Emergency, after a short wait with the drunks and accident victims, Deanne with Ava there for moral support, sat up on the cubical bed after being examined by a female doctor.

  "I can confirm that you had intercourse a number of times, Deanne. Swabs have been taken to confirm my suspicion that there were at least two and possibly more males who penetrated you." She stood back as Deanne's lips quivered and silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

  "I don't remember any of them," she sobbed.

  "It is not your fault," The doctor was empathetic. "I have also found enough drugs in your body that would have rendered you unconscious for several hours..." She continued on with a non-condescending description of Deanne's injures and what treatment she was about to describe before filling a tumbler of water and handing her a tinfoil encased pill.

  "This is an emergency contraception pill commonly called a morning after pill. Take it now ..." Again in a precise but kind voice she explained everything before turning to Ava. "This is a most traumatic experience for Deanne," she said. "At the moment she is still slightly drunk and under the influence of the drug. Will you be able to take her back to her home?"

  "I can't go home," Deanne howled. "I can't tell my parents." She turned to Ava. "Can I stay at your place? That's where I told Mum I was staying after the dance."

  "Of course," Ava gave her friend a hug and glanced across at the doctor. "My dad is in the waiting room and we can look after her..." She briefly explained about how they rescued Deanne.

  "You're a good friend, Ava," the doctor said. "Deanne will need support over the next few days. Her bruising will become more pronounced and whole body sore. However, even more important in cases such as this is the emotional side. This is where friends and family are important."

  "Not my family." Deanne sobbed. "They'll blame me and call me a little slut."

  "I don't think so, Deanne," Ava said. "I know your Mum loves you and your Dad is strict but I know he loves you, too."

  Deanne glanced at her. "Do you really think so?" she whispered.

  "I do but you can stay with us as long as you wish. Dad or I will say nothing to your Mum or Dad if that is your wish."

  "Perhaps Mum later, " Deanne sobbed. "Right now, it seems like an ugly nightmare," She smiled slightly. "It's a tragedy for the Easter dance was so much fun."

  Ava gave Deanne another hug, "It was, wasn't it?" she replied.

  THE CONSEQUENCES OF the police raid on Blue Waves Motel were minimal. Nothing appeared in the media and even students' Facebook sites were silent. It was as if someone had pressured the police into doing nothing. However, there were a few things that eventuated. When Ava and the other students returned to school for the second term after the Easter holidays, several Year 13 students were conspicuous by their absence; Maryanne Hartwood was spied in the local mall a week later wearing the uniform of a North Shore private school and the guy Paxton turned up at Countdown Supermarket stacking groceries, having apparently dropped out of school. All the other girls and boys at the motel had had been stood down from Joseph Ward Senior High for the first week of the new term and had lost other privileges including being banned from participating in senior netball and rugby games and one guy was removed from the student council.

  In some ways, Deanne, Ryan and Fluer were lucky. As they were not at the motel during the police raid, they were not included in the punishments made against the other students. Ava also noticed something when she and Jeff were driving past Blue Waves Motel one day. A large sign hung down from across the administration block.

  Under New Management, it stated.

  CHAPTER 4

  Chloe smiled when Ava walked in the door. Over the last two weeks that were the school Easter holidays, Jeff's girlfriend had been at their house regularly. Not that she minded for the young woman was just what Jeff needed. She also found her mature and good company. It was as if the generations had merged.

  "Hi Chloe," Ava said as she placed two bags of groceries on the kitchen table. "Dad said that I've had so many meals over here it's about time I contributed to the food costs."

  "He shouldn't have?" Chloe replied. "After all Jeff's had several meals at your place."

  Ava laughed. "That's Dad," she said and began unloading items from her bag and placing yoghurt and ham slices in the refrigerator. "There's a chicken here too. Do you want it in the fridge or freezer?"

  "Fridge will do. You're invited to stay for a meal if you wish."

  "Thanks but I'd better get home tonight. Logan's gone off to the mountains with one of his friend's family. It's a bit early for snow but he likes the bush walks. Dad'll be alone."

  "So ask him, too."

  Ava stared sat her. "You aren't just being polite?" she asked in a whisper.

  "No," Chloe replied. "He's most welcome if he'll like to come. Jeff won't mind."

  "Okay, I'll ask him but he goes to his bowling club a lot and sometimes has a meal there. The company is good for him." She took out her mobile and tapped out a message.

  "Dad probably won't read it until it's too late." She glanced around. "Where's Jeff?"

  "On his laptop in the living room. Go on through."

  Ava shrugged. "It doesn't matter. When he's into one of his games I get nothing out of him, anyway."

  Chloe helped unpack the second bag and noted that just about every item was one that they used right down to the brands she preferred. Ava was quite observant.

  "So how's Deanne?" she asked.

  Ava shrugged. "Different but I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way."

  "How?"

  Ava laughed. "Oh she was the chatty one who'd roll her eyes at the boys and give them cheek. I remember thinking that Jeff would be asking her to the dance and was quite surprised when he asked me." She chuckled. "Had trouble getting his words out though."

  Chloe nodded. "He was always awkward with girls but you've brought him out of his shell. But what's different about Deanne?"

  "She's gone all quiet and won't go near boys. If any approach her, she just about snaps their head off. Won't even go near Ryan. I think she blames him for what happened."

  "I quite like Ryan and didn't he take that other girl, Fluer home?"

  Ava grinned. "Yeah, now they're dating, I hear. Well that's what she says on Facebook. She doesn't say much to me."

  They continued chatting for a few moments and Ava offered to help prepare a meal. Her mobile buzzed and she opened the messages grinne
d and showed Ava the text.

  Tell Chloe I'd love to come. What time? Hope you got those groceries.

  "I didn't think he would," she said. "Except for the club, he hardly ever goes out."

  CHLOE HAD HAD A LITTLE to do with Adrian as her company did his firm's books. He owned a small but quite prosperous firm Switched On Components that provided web services and programming to businesses. By remaining a niche market and not attempting to expand beyond his main base he had avoided the trap of expanding too quickly with massive bank loans.

  He was clean shaven, had a lazy smile and Chloe could see many of Ava's mannerisms as he sat down for the meal and talked about her life rather than his own while, at the same time, avoided becoming too personal. She found herself chatting away as if she had known him as a friend for years, not just a business acquaintance.

  When the meal was over and Adrian insisted on helping to tidy up, she noticed Ava glance at Jeff who grinned.

  "We're going to watch Netflix in the other room," Jeff said. "Come and pick something, if you wish, Mr Knight."

  "Call me Adrian,"

  "Sure Adrian," Jeff sounded relieved and glanced at Ava who flushed slightly.

  "You two go ahead while we just have a chat in the kitchen." Chloe almost spluttered and mentally kicked herself so added. "Unless there is something you'd like to watch, Adrian?"

  Adrian grinned and waved his hand. "No, I'd rather just relax here and chat a while."

  "And a small wine?" Chloe added.

  "Love one."

  For well over an hour the pair chatted and sipped wine, Chloe brought out some muffins and later they had a coffee. Jeff strolled in a couple of times to get some chips and cans of fruit juice from a cupboard but otherwise they never saw the teenagers all evening. Perhaps it was the wine but Chloe found herself talking about more personal things such as her failed marriage while Adrian also seemed to also unwind.

  "It was so hard in the last couple of years before Danielle died and I try to remember her as she was when Ava was little and hope that is the memory she has of her mother," he said.

  "The treatment caused the problem?"

  Adrian sighed and sipped a little of his wine. "Not really. Her whole personality changed after she was diagnosed three years before her death and at that time only given two years to live."

  "How?" Chloe whispered.

  "Her whole personality changed from being a quiet conscientious woman, not unlike Ava now, to a flirtatious slut if you pardon the word. She started by having an affair with her boss at work and it got worse." Adrian stared down as he stirred a spoon around his half-filled coffee mug and sighed. "That broke up but before she became too ill she had so many casual relationships I lost count. I managed to hide it all from Ava and, to give Danielle due credit, she did as well. During the last two months of her life she reverted back to being the loving caring person I loved." He glanced up. "At least that was something."

  Chloe stared across at him. "Oh Adrian I am so sorry."

  He grinned. "I have never told a soul except now. Please don't tell Ava for she has such fond memories of her mother who cared and looked after her like a loving mother except for those last few months."

  "Of course I won't," Chloe whispered. She was thinking about what else to say when they were interrupted when Jeff and Ava walked in.

  "The movie's over and you two are still chin-wagging," Jeff said. "Do you know it's almost midnight?"

  "Oh goodness," Adrian replied and stood up. "Such delightful company."

  "Yeah," Ava replied and nodded at the almost empty wine bottle. "I'm driving you home in your car, Dad. I'll come back for mine tomorrow."

  Adrian grinned, reached out, shook Chloe's hand and thanked her for the wonderful meal.

  "Can I reciprocate sometime?" he said when the younger two were out of earshot. "Ava's almost a good cook as yourself."

  "I'd love that," Chloe said and squeezed his hand. Feelings, unfelt for a decade or more pulsed through her body.

  IT WAS THREE WEEKS later and after four outings for they could hardly be called dates, Chloe swallowed and knocked on Adrian's door that Saturday afternoon. She clutched a letter in her hand and waited as she heard footsteps.When he opened it his face broke into a grin.

  "This is a pleasant surprise." He waved her in and glanced at the official looking envelope. "Do you have a problem?"

  "My ex-husband wants more of our property." She gulped and handed him the letter.

  Adrian escorted her through to the kitchen, offered her a wine that she accepted and read the letter through.

  "There's nothing legal here," he said. "His lawyer is trying an intimidation tactic so don't sign that accompanying form. Instead, get your lawyer to send a rebuttal or better still a counterclaim against his half of the matrimonial property."

  "Thanks, that's what I thought but every time I visit the lawyer it costs a hundred bucks."

  "They can be expensive," he said. "You have another reason for calling, though, haven't you?"

  "Not really," she spluttered. "I must away. Jeff'll be home from his orienteering soon. I like to have something out for him when he comes in."

  "No," he whispered. "Just take the plunge, Chloe. Let's go upstairs."

  "What?" she gasped.

  "You heard," he whispered, grabbed her butt from behind and kissed her on the back of the neck.

  Shivering in anticipation, she walked forward and was aware that he was right behind her as she stepped upstairs. At the top was a small landing with three open doors. She could see a bathroom and two bedrooms, one was a mess but the other one was reasonably tidy.

  He tapped her on the shoulder and indicated the tidier room. He shut the door and without a saying anything reached for her blouse and undid the buttons. He slipped it off her shoulders, folded it carefully and placed it on a chest of drawers. Again without speaking, he unzipped her jeans and after removing her shoes, pulled the jeans off so she stood before him in bra and panties. He walked around her, unclipped her bra ands slid the straps off her shoulders before returning to face her.

  "Lay on the bed, Chloe," he whispered after gently squeezing her breasts."Otherwise, just say no and I'll go no further."

  "It's okay," she whispered for she realised that her whole body was aroused.

  Within seconds they were locked together in fondling, thrusts and counter-thrusts before he penetrated and ejaculated in a frantic climax of love.

  Afterwards Chloe lay there on the bed exhausted but satisfied. She shut her eyes and heard a cough. "You anticipated this?" she said in a soft voice.

  He actually flushed. "No," he said. "Just hoped."

  "I see," Chloe replied and was too embarrassed to say any more.

  Strangely she didn't feel anything except love for the man before her. He had been really gentle, quite unlike David in those last few years. The sex was that of love not lust or trying to exert power over her.

  "Oh Adrian," she whispered and burst into tears.

  He took her tears in the wrong way, apologised profusely and gave her a hug.

  "It's okay," he whispered. "I know I shouldn't have."

  She smiled and kissed him on the lips. "But you did and I am proud, not ashamed you silly man. "

  "Oh hell, " he spluttered and kissed her back.

  IT WAS AS IF THE FLOODGATES had opened. Chloe had sex with Adrian at least once a week and often more often. They were, however, discrete and as far as she knew, neither Jeff or Ava suspected that their respective parents were lovers who enjoyed fulfilling their desires whenever it was possible.

  May arrived, almost winter in New Zealand and a week of wet miserable weather that caused a mini outbreak of a vicious strain of flu to swept through the city. After feeling quite unwell for almost two weeks she accepted her son's advice and made an appointment to see her doctor. He took some swabs and a urine sample and said she would be contacted if there was anything out of the ordinary.

  Even though the nurse who
phoned the next day said it was merely a precaution she was asked to come to the surgery. Chloe was apprehensive when she walked in and sat down opposite the doctor.

  "Oh hello, Chloe," said the doctor. "I have the results of the tests we made yesterday."

  "Is there a problem, Doctor Stewart?"

  He glanced down at a sheet of paper rather than at a computer monitor. "Not at all. Whether it is good news or otherwise, I do not know." He smiled faintly and looked up. "You're pregnant, Chloe."

  "What?" she gasped.

  "Your illness was morning sickness and not the current flu doing the rounds. About five weeks, I'd say." He raised his eyebrows. "Didn't you realise when no periods arrived?"

  She just stared and shook her head. "I was never on time and when my ex-husband became violent I often missed periods." She flushed. "It should be in my notes."

  "True," he said. "I remember helping you. I gather that a different man impregnated you."

  Chloe nodded. "I have a new partner, Doctor Stewart. I thought we had taken all the precautions."

  "So this is unexpected?"

  "Yes."

  "Right, well I can give you literature on any action you may wish to take and a list of mid-wives available. However, whatever you wish to do I assure you that your pregnancy is perfectly normal and being thirty-nine is well within the child bearing years for women in this country."

  Chloe thanked the doctor and walked out to her car in almost a daze. Oh hell, what was she going to tell Jeff and Ava, too? She just sat in the car thinking. My God, she also had to tell Adrian! How would he react?

  Finally what should she do herself? She was thirty-nine, had a son who had just turned eighteen and was separated but unable to divorce until next year. She started the car. At least her parents were both now dead and couldn't chastise her like the last time. She guessed society had changed after almost two decades.