February Or Forever Page 8

  Whoosh! Whoa! Fresh air pushed past Chrissie’s face and lifted her hair from her shoulders like a cape. She couldn’t help but grin, and the air had helped pushed her mouth back into a wide smile too. She slowed to a stop at the bottom, Kai cheering from the sidelines.

  ‘That was awesome fast, Mum, how come you went faster than me?’

  Because I’m a tad heavier than you, my darling. ‘Who knows?’

  She handed her mat to the attendant and adjusted her pants.

  ‘Ooh look! There are the ponies. Let’s go on them!’ Kai pointed, then tugged Sam’s shirt.

  ‘Stay with me, boys, don’t run off.’

  Sam slowed down and walked alongside her, obviously conscious of being a ‘good boy’ so he could get his extra ice-cream tonight.

  They walked to the cordoned off riding area, the ponies appearing to move in slow motion compared to the speed of the slide.

  ‘Are you going to go on one too, Mum?’ As was the case with an only child, Kai always expected his mother to be his playmate.

  ‘No, I think I’m too big. I’ll just watch you two.’

  Sam and Kai were helped up onto the back of the calm animals, and a guide held onto a rope attached to the reigns and led them around the circle.

  ‘I’m a cowboy,’ said Kai as he rode past Chrissie. He turned back to Sam riding the pony behind him.

  ‘Me too,’ said Sam. ‘I’m Cowboy…Cowboy Warrior!’

  Kai laughed. ‘I’m, um…’ he let go of the reigns with one hand and tapped his chin. ‘…Cowboy the Great!’

  Chrissie laughed and plucked her phone from the small knapsack she’d strung diagonally over her body for easy carrying. She clicked a few pictures, one of Sam with a ‘thumbs up’ sign and Kai with his fist powering into the air.

  ‘That was cool,’ Kai said on dismounting the pony.

  ‘Way cool,’ said Sam.

  ‘Where are the lucky dips, Mum?’

  Chrissie scanned the fair; people dawdling along, kids licking toffee apples, chirpy sideshow music filling the air… ‘Um, should be somewhere over there I think.’ They walked in the direction of stalls selling arts and crafts. She eyed her surroundings and homed in on a group of kids standing near one of them.

  Lucky Dips ~ $2 each or three for $5, the sign said.

  I think one will be plenty. Chrissie remembered the boxes of Kai’s toys she had yet to unpack at the beach house. ‘Two boys’ lucky dips, please,’ she asked the woman behind the stall, handing her four dollars.

  Kai and Sam crouched in front of the large box on the ground, eyes moving all over trying to ascertain which wrapped package would contain the most desirable prize.

  Kai plunged his hand in and rummaged around.

  ‘Maybe this one.’ He pulled one out, feeling it with his fingertips. ‘Nah.’ He dropped it, picking up another. ‘This one instead.’ He ripped the paper and revealed a yo-yo with a smiley face on it. Fantastic. A toy he’d probably struggle to learn to use. Might be one for Victor to teach him, as Chrissie didn’t know if she had the patience.

  ‘Cool,’ Kai remarked, clearly unaware he’d scored something almost as tricky as the Rubik’s cube.

  Sam chose his prize and unwrapped it, holding up a silver whistle on a ribbon. ‘Oh, a whistle!’ he said, hanging it around his neck and wrapping his mouth around it, releasing a loud blow. Kai blocked his ears.

  I bet Sarah will be over the moon with that. Chrissie chuckled.

  ‘Here, Kai, I’ll keep the yo-yo in my bag so you can try it out at home.’ She took it from his hands.

  ‘Can we get a toffee apple?’ Kai pointed to a display of glossy red things on sticks.

  ‘How about we wander around a bit first, go on a few more rides, and then we can sit down and have one, yeah?’

  The kids agreed and they spent the next hour or so enjoying the sights, amusements, and activities on offer, including petting the cute baby animals.

  Chrissie headed over to the public toilets and waited at the entrance of the men’s for each child to go, then ushered them into the ladies bathroom. ‘You boys wait right here, okay? I’ll just be a couple of minutes.’ It was hard knowing what to do with a growing boy when it came to public bathrooms. When Kai was younger she’d bring him into the cubicle with her, but now he was older it was a bit weird, and even now, if she left him waiting near the sinks some women would scoff at her for letting her male child be in the ladies room. What was she supposed to do? She wouldn’t dare leave him outside, vulnerable to being taken by some weirdo. At what age was it okay to start doing that? She couldn’t bring him in with her forever. She wondered how fathers of daughters managed, it would be even trickier to have to bring a female child into a male bathroom with the risk of seeing a lot more than one should at a young age.

  Chrissie finished up and washed her hands, then peered around the corner to where she’d left the boys standing near the entrance. Oh no.

  She dashed outside. ‘Kai? Sam?’ Her heart pounded and blood pumped rapidly through her veins. ‘Kai! Where are you?’ she yelled.

  ‘Boo!’ Chrissie jumped as Kai leapt from behind the toilet block and flashed one of his award-winning scary faces, Sam giggling.

  ‘Kai!’ She crouched and pulled him in close. ‘Don’t you ever do that again! I didn’t know where you were. When I tell you to stay put I expect you to stay put, young man.’ She held a hand to her chest to steady her heart, and glanced at a guilty-looking Sam.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Chrissie, it was Kai’s idea.’ Ha, the consequences of ratting out one’s mate were obviously nothing compared to not getting any ice-cream.

  Chrissie looked at Kai.

  ‘He’s right, it was my idea. I thought it was a good one.’

  ‘Well it wasn’t. At home maybe, but not in public. I need to know exactly where you are at all times.’

  Kai hung his head. ‘Sorry, Mum.’

  ‘Okay, well you’re forgiven, as long as you’ve learned your lesson.’ She eyed both the boys.

  ‘Yes,’ they agreed.

  Sam held up his whistle. ‘Would you like to keep my whistle? You can have it if you want.’

  She smiled. Prepared to give up his whistle for a shot at extra ice-cream. This kid might have a serious case of dairy-dependence.

  ‘No, that’s okay, Sam. But thank you, it was kind of you to offer.’

  Sam let the whistle fall to his chest.

  ‘Okay, now that you’ve learned your lesson, let’s get back to the fair.’

  ‘You mean we can still have fun? We’re not going home early for punishment?’ Kai asked.

  Chrissie feigned seriousness. ‘Well, it did cross my mind, but as long as you promise to be extra good we can stay a while longer. Deal?’

  ‘Deal.’ The kids held out their hands and Chrissie shook them, sealing the agreement.

  ‘Now, who wants a toffee apple?’

  ‘Meeee!’

  Chrissie paid for the teeth-rotting sweet treats and took them over to a seating area to watch some side shows. There was a juggler, a ventriloquist, and, oh no. Not one of those things. Chrissie looked at the transparent tub filled with water and the tall structure with a seat on it. One of those ridiculous dunking games. ‘Dunk a firefighter!’ the sign read. Apparently if you could hit the button hard enough with a rubber hammer it would let the clasp loose and the victim would fall into the water below. All this to raise funds for the Rural Fire Service. Couldn’t they have taken donations instead? Or made a raunchy calendar, surely that would bring in the big bucks? She’d buy two copies, one for her, one for Melinda as a Christmas present.

  ‘Can I have a go at that?’ asked Kai, pointing to the firefighter sitting atop the chair.

  ‘Ah, no, I think we’ll leave that one, it’s a bit tricky.’

  ‘I’ll just watch then.’ The boys licked their toffee apples and focused on the dunking game. A teenager with hammer at the ready hit the button. Nothing. He hit it again, and still nothing. He gave it
one final enthusiastic hit, and suddenly the man had dropped through the gap and a flurry of water whooshed around him in the tub. His arms and legs flailed, and although he was putting on a show, Chrissie’s heart raced. Come up, come up, she chanted to herself. The man rolled around under the water, his body visible through the clear tub apart from the froth created by his movements. Oh God, just get out of the water! Heat crawled across Chrissie’s back and her chest tightened. She clutched at it, twisting her top into a knot. She swallowed a heavy lump in her throat and as the man surfaced with a big grin on his face she let go of her top, forcing herself to take slow deep breaths.

  It’s okay, it’s just a game. He’s okay, no one can get hurt here, it’s not deep enough. She kept bringing her thoughts back to reality. Just because she never saw Danielle resurface didn’t mean that every person who ventured underwater would be destined to suffer the same fate. But still, it was easier, safer, not to take the risk. Humans didn’t need to swim, it wasn’t a necessity for a full life. She knew how of course, had learnt as a child, but so had Danielle, and that hadn’t saved her.

  ‘Are you still angry at us, Mum?’ asked Kai, eyeing her with concern. It was only then Chrissie realised her turmoil must be apparent to the youngsters and she forced a smile and casually leaned back in the seat. ‘No, I’m not angry. Everything’s okay. I’m just a bit puffed out from all this fun!’ She ruffled his hair and Sam’s concerned expression relaxed.

  ‘As soon as you’re finished eating those apples, how about a few more goes on the slippery slide before we head home?’

  ‘Yes!’ Kai said, then munched on his treat at twice the speed. ‘Mum, you could watch us at the bottom of the slide and tell us who goes faster.’

  ‘I will.’

  And she did, making sure they both got equal opportunity to be the Slide King to avoid any disappointment.

  As they walked to the car, happy yet tired, Chrissie’s mind went over her near panic attack at the dunking game. She couldn’t risk those things happening when she had children under her care. Not that anything bad would happen, except a bit of hyperventilation, but she didn’t want to scare them, and certainly didn’t want to risk Sarah not allowing Sam to play with Kai on the impression that his mother was a complete basket case. She’d have to get around to going back to therapy with a new practitioner. Or be stricter with her techniques and use that hypnosis CD the psychologist had given her to deal with her fear of water. Maybe living near the ocean would eventually help her desensitise and come to grips with it. Either that, or make things ten times worse.

  Chapter 10

  Kai and Sam talked nonstop on the drive back about what the best parts of the fair were, while Chrissie took in the surrounding properties again, taking an extra glance at Honeydew House. Something about it calmed her. Maybe it was the fruit trees lining up alongside the driveway, or the fancy lettering of the house’s name on the sign out front, or maybe her mind was fixating on something for no particular reason in order to deflect from the beach house.

  Minutes later, she pulled into the driveway of the McAdams residence and Sam cleared his throat. ‘Thank you, Mrs Chrissie, I had the best time ever and you are really nice.’

  She turned in her seat to face the overly complimentary child and smiled. ‘Well, thank you. I enjoyed the day too, and you are really nice as well.’ He grinned and looked at her hopefully. ‘And I’ll let your mother know I think you deserve that extra ice-cream tonight.’

  His face eased into a wider grin and he leaned back, pleased with himself. There was no point harping on about the toilet block incident; it was just one of Kai’s cheeky tricks, and she was sure he’d learnt his lesson. Sam was just an innocent bystander.

  They got out of the car and Sarah must have seen them coming because the door opened before they got to it.

  ‘Hi there! How was the fair?’ She bent down to welcome Sam home.

  ‘It was extra cool, and I was extra good, so can I have — ’

  ‘Extra ice-cream?’ Sarah stood. ‘If Chrissie says you can, then yes.’

  Chrissie nodded.

  ‘Yes!’ Sam said. ‘Can I show Kai my toy car collection?’ The kids were already in the doorway.

  ‘Um…’ Chrissie scratched her head.

  ‘You’re welcome to come in for a bit if you like, you probably need a seat after all that. Here.’ Sarah led the way and pulled out a chair for Chrissie at the casual kitchen table setting.

  ‘Thanks, Sarah, we won’t stay long.’

  ‘Cuppa?’ Sarah raised her eyebrows. ‘Tea, coffee, hot chocolate…’

  ‘Yes thanks, do you have any herbal teas by any chance?’

  ‘I do. Peppermint, green tea, chamomile…’

  ‘Peppermint thanks.’

  ‘Coming right up.’ She flicked the switch on the kettle and took two mugs from the high cupboards above the dishwasher.

  ‘Thanks again for taking the boys, it looks like they had a great time. Sam wasn’t any trouble I hope?’

  Chrissie flicked Sarah’s concerns away with her hand. ‘No, he was great, and polite. Although he did get a whistle from the lucky dip, so I hope he doesn’t make too much noise for you!’

  ‘Ah, no worries. I have a teenage daughter, she makes more noise than Sam.’

  Phew. Chrissie remembered when someone had given Kai an electronic toy drum set for his birthday. The cymbals it came with were so high-pitched and irritating she accidentally-on-purpose took the batteries out and told Kai it was broken. It was either that or throw the bloody thing out the window and hope it got crushed by a passing car.

  ‘So, ready for another week of lunch-making and school runs?’

  ‘Does it ever end? The weekends go by so fast.’

  ‘Oh, I know. Just when you’ve recovered from the previous week the next one creeps up on you. I really think school should be on weekends and weekdays should be free, don’t you?’

  ‘Absolutely. A two-day week sounds much better.’ Chrissie smiled, and Sarah placed the steaming tea in front of her and took a seat opposite.

  ‘So, how long have you been in this house for?’ Chrissie scanned the room. It was well-lived in, but tidy.

  ‘Seven years. Moved in when I was pregnant with Sam. Liam, my husband, built it.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yep. We’d not long been married when we bought the land. Liam was in his element working out the plans with the architect. It’s great to have a place that’s built with the way you live in mind.’

  ‘It’s a great place. You’re very lucky.’

  ‘I sure am. What about your place, where is it?’

  ‘Fairly close to Serendipity, and the beach.’

  ‘Wow, great spot. You must love it.’ Sarah sipped her tea. ‘But you’re going to sell, right?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Let me know when you’re househunting and I’ll see if I can go with you. I love looking at houses.’

  A sense of gratitude flooded Chrissie. Sarah was so nice, so accommodating. Maybe being away from Melinda wouldn’t be too hard after all. ‘Actually, that’d be great. I could do with an objective eye.’

  Sarah’s eyes widened and she clicked her fingers. ‘Oh, I’m taking Sam to the aquatic centre tomorrow, Kai’s welcome to join us if he likes. My way of paying you back for looking after Sam today.’

  Crap. She always dreaded these types of invitations. How could she tell another mother that she’d never taken her own child to swimming lessons? She’d have to eventually, but not yet. There was still time. She just had to wait until she’d dealt with a few things first.

  ‘Oh, thanks, that’s nice of you, but there’s no need to pay me back. And Kai and I still have some boxes to sort through and unpack. I’d like him to help me, give him some extra responsibility to raise his self-esteem, you know?’

  ‘Of course, yes, he needs to be involved. I think it’s a great idea. Boys love to be helpful and strong, lifting boxes and making decisions about where things g
o.’

  Chrissie nodded.

  ‘But if you change your mind, let me know. We’ll be going sometime late morning.’

  ‘Sure thing.’

  The muffled sound of a guitar vibrated through the wall nearby.

  Sarah glanced to the right. ‘Oh, that’s my daughter. Been in her room all day.’ She rolled her eyes.

  ‘Teenagers, huh?’

  ‘You just wait,’ Sarah said with a mischievous grin, pointing her finger playfully. ‘Sometimes I think the whole changing nappies and night-feeding business is easier than this.’

  ‘Oh dear. I’m trying not to think about it yet. Must be challenging for you with both a child and a teenager.’

  Sarah plumped her lips together and nodded. ‘I love ‘em but they know how to test me. And one minute they don’t want to leave your side and the next, they can’t wait to be away from you. The way my daughter talks, anyone would think I’d raised her in a prison or something. The girl can’t wait to leave home, and unfortunately, in a few months time she’ll legally be able to.’

  ‘That’s tough. I’m sure you’ve taught her well though, she’ll learn how much you’ve done for her once she’s out on her own.’

  ‘I’m hoping. She’s still my baby, I want her to stay here a little bit longer!’ Sarah pinched her thumb and forefinger together and squinted.

  The guitar strumming became louder, and a soft voice wafted through the walls. It kept stopping and starting, like she was practising something and trying to get it right before continuing, then she resumed. A rhythmic melody got Chrissie’s foot tapping, and when the girl’s voice sang along, perfectly in tune, and hitting a few notes Chrissie’s voice would no doubt crack if she attempted, her hand flew to her chest.

  ‘Wow, your daughter is amazing.’

  Sarah smiled, a pink glow emanating from her cheeks.

  ‘Really, really amazing.’ Chrissie leaned forward on the table.

  ‘I know,’ Sarah replied. ‘Takes after Uncle Drew.’ Sarah’s hand flew to cover her mouth as if she didn’t mean to let that slip.

  Uncle Drew? Chrissie’s foot stooped its tapping and her breath halted. ‘You don’t mean Drew Williams by any chance, do you?’