I wanted Darcy to understand that she could trust me, because I was sure that was the thing holding her back. I’d do everything to convince her to stay, but I felt as though she needed to reach that conclusion herself.

She was quiet in the car.

“Let’s get the event over, and then we’ll have some time alone. I don’t think we can devote ourselves completely to this sort of discussion when we’re constantly distracted.”

“You’re right,” she said. “And, tonight’s going to be one big distraction.”

As I turned onto our street, Darcy asked me to stop at the cottage.

“I haven’t checked the mail for days.”

I drove right up to the mailbox so that she could lean out of the window and check it.

“Ugh, probably all bills,” she said, tucking the envelopes into her bag.

I pulled into my driveway as the automatic gate slid open.

Darcy groaned. “I don’t believe it. Luther’s here already.”

“Raincheck on the bath.”

“I know. But I really wanted Ginger to be here first so that she didn’t have to walk in on us. Is Luther going to be nice to her?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he behaves himself.”

Luther was sitting on the patio, talking on his phone. Darcy said she was going to change into more comfortable clothes, and I headed into the kitchen to pour drinks.

Luther joined me a few moments later. “Is there any more of Darcy’s Ring Sting Chutney? I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” I said. “Have a look in the pantry.”

He returned triumphant and was eating it straight from the jar with a teaspoon when Darcy turned up.

“Good evening, Luther.”

“Evening, Darcy. Have you made any more of this stuff? You’re almost out.”

“Maybe after the weekend once I’m jobless.”

She seemed on edge. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“Sure. Can I borrow a car? Ginger’s just called me. She’s broken down.”

“She’s probably forgotten to fill her gas tank,” Luther said, scooping out more chutney.

“It involved a loud noise, so I don’t think it’s gas.”

I passed her the keys, but Luther stopped me.

“I’m due to pick up our dinner,” he said. “I’ll pick her up.”

“Are you sure?” Darcy asked, but he was already leaving the kitchen. “She’s on Governor Lane.”

“Anything else you need?” he called from the front door.

“No,” we replied in unison.

Darcy swung around to me. “What the heck?”

“You know Luther. He’s protective.”

“But, that’s Ginger. He even has a special scowl, specifically for her.”

“Deep down, he thinks she’s okay, in a big brother, annoying little sister sort of way.”

“I doubt she’d want to hear that.” She went to her handbag which was sitting on the counter. I watched her pull out the mail, flick through the envelopes and flyers. “Electricity bill, lost cat, store catalogs for Sara.”

“You can probably return any of Sara’s mail.” I slid Darcy’s wine across the counter to her, and tasted my beer.

“Oh, this is exciting. An invitation to an art exhibition.”

“Everyone gets those.”

She held up one finger. “This one’s special. All the paintings are done by dogs. They’re raising funds for an animal shelter.”

“Give them a donation,” I said. “They do it every year and the paintings are what you would expect.”

“Doggy?”

“Yep.”

At the next envelope she paused, frowned, turned it over to check the blank back, then tucked it behind the other envelopes and shoved them all back into her bag.

“Mostly bills,” she said. “I wonder what it was like in the old days when you actually received letters from friends. I had a pen pal when I was seven, but it didn’t last. Life is small when you’re a kid, so I guess we just ran out of things to write about. She lived on the west coast, and she had a pony. I think she despised me for living in the city. Funny how judgmental she was for such a young girl. It’s humid tonight, isn’t it? Feels like we’re going to get rain. I wonder how long Luther and Ginger will be. I hope her car’s okay.”

She was rambling. Darcy didn’t ramble. “What’s happened?”

She gave me an odd smile that I couldn’t quite interpret. “Nothing’s happened. I guess it feels strange that after Saturday, I’m unemployed again. Well, except for the aftermath of the gala, and wrapping up the loose ends.”

As far as I was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere. “There’s plenty for you to do here, Darcy. You’ll never be unemployed in this town.”

She looked at the envelopes in her bag again, then zipped it closed. “I’m not sure. I haven’t had time to give it much thought, and suddenly the gala’s here and then, it seems, a void.”

I crossed the kitchen and laid my hands on her shoulders, pressing my lips to her forehead. “There’s no rush. You deserve a break. You’ve worked damned hard since you arrived.”

“I’m used to working hard year-round, like most people with full-time employment.”

“You’ve done a year’s work in three months.”

“I have to keep pushing forward, Oliver. There isn’t a limitless supply of good jobs.”

“But there’s me and you, and there are opportunities in Waitapu. Tell me what’s happened to make you insecure, and we’ll fix it together.”

She kissed me quickly, a shut-this-down sort of kiss, and before I could dig any deeper the front door opened.

Ginger appeared in the kitchen with Luther behind her. “Car’s faarked,” she announced.

Darcy snorted. “Five minutes in his company and you sound exactly like Luther.”

“There’s nobody like me. I’m one of a kind,” Luther said, placing enough takeout food on the kitchen island to feed a rugby team.

“Good impersonation, huh?” Ginger started opening each bag and peering inside. “That was his diagnosis. He turned the key, nothing happened, and without any attempt to soften the blow, he said: Ginger, your car’s fucked.”

I passed out plates while Darcy organized drinks. “The good news, Ginge, is that Luther is not a mechanic. Ants know more about car engines than he does. Leave me the key and I’ll get someone to look at it for you.”

“Thank you, Oliver. I’m actually hoping it will be stolen tonight and wrecked. Then I can claim it on insurance. Could you arrange that for me?”

“That’s more Luther’s line of business,” Darcy teased.

“I’ve got a guy at Tradewind whose son is obsessed with car engines. I’m sure he’d love to look it over.”

Ginger dished herself a serving of prawns. “Thanks, Oli, but I think I’ll have to phone the wreckers and see what they’ll give me for it. I can’t afford repairs. I’ve still got my bike—”

“We’ll fix it, Virginia, I’ve already told you that,” Luther growled.

“Virginia?” Darcy, asked with feigned innocence. “Virginia?”

“What? That’s her name.”

“Fine, Luther. Virginia, would you like to come out to the patio with me? It’s such a lovely evening,” Darcy said in a ridiculous fake-posh voice.

The girls left the kitchen, laughing, and Luther turned to me. “See what happens when I try to be nice.”

“Calling her Virginia was probably a step too far. It sounded like you were trying to get into her pants.”

“Fuck off, Sackville, I was trying to keep things formal. You’ve had nothing but sex on the brain since Darcy showed up.”

“You’re jealous.”

“Yes, jealous, that’s exactly what I am. The only thing missing in my life is a woman to complicate it. You’re right. Desperate for that sort of shit. Jealous as hell,” he scoffed, and picked up his plate. “Come on, let’s join them. They’ll be plotting out there. As you said, Oli, know your enemy.”

“Ginger is not the enemy,” I said, following him.

“You know what I mean.”

“One day, she’ll find out, Luther. You can’t micromanage this shit.”

He swung so fast the noodles on his plate rushed to the edge, and it was only his quick reflexes that kept them from sliding to the floor. “Her mother is nuts, and I made a promise to a dying person. I’ll micromanage the fuck out of this thing for the rest of my life.”

“Yes, you will. But just in case you’ve forgotten, you’re human and there’s a big universe out there that likes to mess with us. I think the past three months have shown us just how quirky that universe can be. I just hope to god there’s a Plan B in your strategy.”

“Oliver, who are you talking to? There’s a plan assigned to every letter in the alphabet. I trust you haven’t talked about this with Darcy.”

“Yes, trust me on that. I want Darcy to like you.”

He laughed. “Trust me. Darcy loves me.”

“I wouldn’t push it that far.”

Dinner entertainment was provided by a pair of comical fledgling oystercatchers at the bottom of the garden, poking about in the mud at the river edge. They were covered in gray fluff, yet to grow the handsome sleek black feathers of adulthood. Their parents ushered them along when they delayed and squawked to be fed, rather than foraging for their own food.

The birds were a welcome distraction. Luther provided a hilarious commentary to their antics, and all the while Ginger watched Luther like an adoring puppy.