Three days later.
The days away from Auckland had left her rested and full of enthusiasm to get her grandfather’s house ready for occupation. Although, something perturbed Jack and Hone. She kept disturbing the two men in a huddle. Sometimes with Emma, which left Cassie uneasy. Secrets. They had them. She didn’t.
Cassie applied paint over the last part of the spare bedroom wall and stood back to survey the new decor. Rich, decadent cream. Not bad. She set down her roller and wandered out to see what was keeping Emma.
“Hey, do I have body odor or something? The three of you whispering secrets is enough to make me paranoid.”
Emma rushed into speech. “Fire-related stuff. The insurance company is refusing to pay out. They’re calling it arson and dragging their feet.”
“But even if it is arson, that’s not your fault,” Cassie said.
“Insurance companies have their own set of rules.” Jack shrugged, a tiny jerk of shoulders that spoke of disheartenment and frustration and irritation. “All we can do is keep up the pressure. There’s a vehicle outside.”
“Might be the plumber,” Cassie said. “I rang him to sort out the kitchen and make it useable now that the new units are in place.” Cassie hurried to meet them, but Hone intercepted her, drawing her to a halt.
“No, I’ll go. You wait here with Jack and Emma.”
“It’s not necessary, but okay. If it’s the plumber tell him I want him to fix the taps in the bathroom too.”
“The house is looking good,” Emma said. “Are you sure you don’t mind Jack and I moving in?”
“It’s fine. I need to decide soon. I don’t want to leave the house empty again and I know you and Jack will care for the property. I’ll have to decide what to do with the land.”
“How many acres?” Jack asked.
“Just over ten. I haven’t even had a chance to check out the paddocks. There is a creek and a swimming hole we used to spend time at when I was a kid. It’s probably full of debris by now. Grandad used to clear it at the start of each summer.”
“Jack and I can do that. You could lease out the land to a local farmer. What’s the fencing like?”
“I have no answer to that either. With all that has happened since I’ve been home I haven’t bothered. I figure it will keep.”
Voices in the kitchen indicated Hone’s return.
“Can I go and speak with the plumber now?”
“No wonder Hone spanks you,” Jack muttered.
Emma let out a guffaw, quickly covered by her hand. Her blue gaze danced with hilarity.
“No comment.” Cassie pushed her glasses up her nose and marched away before telltale mortification blazed in her cheeks. Hopefully the house would be ready soon and Jack and Emma could move out of Hone’s place. They’d all have privacy again.
While Cassie spoke to the plumber and issued orders, Hone had a discussion with Jack and Emma.
“I rang Dad. He says everything has quieted down with Auntie June, but we should keep our distance.”
“Is it okay for us to lower security on Cassie?” Emma asked.
“Dad says as long as one of us is with her at all times that should be enough. He thinks Auntie June burned out her anger at your house and we don’t have to worry about death by dragon.”
“She destroyed our house,” Jack growled. “Now the insurance company is quibbling about payment and trying to say our occupation attracted a crazy. Someone needs to repay our losses.”
“Dad says Samuel has promised to make good on the damage. Manu has his mother locked down, and she seems to have accepted she went too far.”
“So Manu is acting leader?” Emma asked. “I understood he didn’t want the responsibility.”
Hone slapped at an audacious fly buzzing around him. “He didn’t have a choice. He must be frothing at the mouth having to deal with this when he’d rather be in his lab.”
“You guys in a huddle again?”
Emma didn’t miss a beat, thinking faster on her feet than him and Jack. “We’re discussing furniture and the best place to buy it. Now that the painting is almost done, we can move in as soon as we have a bed and kitchen stuff.”
“The electrician is coming tomorrow to sort out the wiring in the kitchen. If we order a stove today, you’ll have the basics. Where is the best place?”
Emma rearranged her ponytail, pulling it tight. “Probably Manukau. We’ll start there. You guys coming?”
“Dad wants us to drop by the office to discuss a new job,” Hone said. “I want you to watch everyone around you and listen to Emma. Okay?”
“Sure,” Cassie said. “Believe me, the first clown I see, I’ll scream loud enough to wake the dead in this town and the next one over.”
“Not funny,” Hone said, concerned yet unable to justify an order for her to remain at home, out of sight. “Everything has been quiet, but I want you to be extra careful.” Despite their audience, he drew her close and kissed the tip of her nose. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
Her words should have relaxed him, but his dragon rumbled, writhing beneath his skin to highlight his uneasiness. Emma was a trained operative. He’d trained her himself, and Jack had helped. She was good at her job and would inform him if anything seemed wonky.
“Right,” Emma said. “Practicalities. Will a king-size bed will fit in the spare bedroom?”
“It will be a tight squeeze, but not, if you and Jack take the master. I’ll get a double for the spare room and keep the smallest bedroom as a music room. Don’t worry,” Cassie said, tapping her head. “I have the measurements in here.”
Hone gave Cassie a quick kiss and shunted her toward the doorway. “We’ll wait until the plumber finishes.”
As she and Emma pulled out of the driveway in Jack’s vehicle, a late model sedan drove past. The driver waved and Cassie returned the greeting. “That’s my neighbor. That must be his son.”
“At least he’s not the nosy neighbor type,” Emma said. “Do you think he’d be interested in leasing your land?”
“Maybe. I’ve got a bit of time. Once the house is sorted, I’ll walk the boundaries and see what needs doing. It was never an economical block. Maybe Matthew wants to grow Christmas trees on it. I wouldn’t mind having trees on the place. It might be nice.”
“Are you leaving?”
“Probably,” Cassie said.
“What about Hone?”
“Weren’t you the one who warned me about him? Said he didn’t do anything except casual?”
Emma’s hands clenched and unclenched on the steering wheel. “He seems happy, less restless with you around.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s ready to commit,” Cassie said even though her heart ached as she forced out the truth. Her phone buzzed, and she frowned at the screen. “Kevin. I should take this.”
“Go right ahead. With this traffic, it will take a while.”
“Kevin,” she said. “How are you? You still in New Zealand?”
“Leaving tonight. Have you signed the contract yet? We need to make plans for this year. We’ve left it too late already. Probably won’t be able to book much in the way of concert venues.”
Cassie opened her mouth to blast him for his negative attitude, aware that in the past she would’ve let it slide. As it was, she bit back her retort. “I’ll get on the contract tonight.”
“Good, I need you to sign and get it back to me by the end of the week. Clock’s ticking.” He hung up before she could reply.
Cassie pulled a face. “Kevin is an asshole.”
“So why are you signing with him?”
“I don’t think I will, but I’d be silly not to consider his offer. Two months ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated.”
“Because you were a couple?”
“Yeah, and in the glow of togetherness I failed to see he was using me. Trying to control me.”
“I like this new Cassie.”
Emma pulled up outside a store that sold everything from electronics to washing machines and bedroom furniture.
“I even told my mother to stop pushing me around when I spent time with them over Christmas.” Cassie laughed at her friend’s wide-eyed expression. “She didn’t take me seriously, but I reiterated when she rang me a few days ago. Still not getting it. I might have to resort to telling Dad exactly what I do to get her off my back.”
“If she learns you’re a well-known singer—”
“She’ll probably lecture me and try to shove me toward the opera genre.”
Emma giggled and the infectious gurgles enticed Cassie to join in. They were still laughing when they walked into the store.
“I have a list.” Cassie plucked it from the handbag slung over her shoulder. She scanned it to refresh her mind. “Beds first.”
“Jack said we should pay for the furniture. I agree.”
“Emma, you guys lost everything in the fire. Use your money to buy clothes and… Look, you buy linens to go on your bed. I have no idea of your preferences. You’ll need a few towels. Would that salve your pride? You’re my best friend, and I’ve saved my money rather than spend it on stuff. It makes me happy to share with you.”
Emma’s eyes were moist as she flung herself against Cassie and hugged her hard. “Thank you. I’m sure the insurance company will pay out eventually, but things are tight right now.”
“Furniture today. Perhaps linen if we have time. What about dinnerware?”
“Samuel and his sons have arranged a collection for us.” Emma’s expression tightened, a flash of fury.
An instant later, her face cleared and Cassie blinked. Imagination. While it was good in songwriting, her vivid inventiveness saw things that weren’t true in real life. After all, why would a charitable act make Emma angry?
“Okay, let’s do this. Now that the main work is done in the house, the sooner we furnish the rooms, the quicker you can move in properly.”
“I’m over sleeping on the floor,” Emma agreed.
With efficiency, they commandeered an employee, picked two beds and mattresses, a couch and two easy chairs, a kitchen table and chairs, a fridge, stove and microwave plus a dishwasher. Cassie arranged for delivery the following day.
“We have time to visit the department store for bed linen.”
Emma raised her chin. “Let’s do this.”
Cassie hurried out of the store, jazzed by everything they’d achieved. Immediately, her skin prickled, and it wasn’t the change in temperature from air-conditioning to the muggy outdoors. “Is it my imagination or is someone watching us?”
“Maybe they’re ogling our sexy bodies,” Emma said as she unlocked Jack’s vehicle and casually scanned the carpark. “I can’t see anyone obvious. You?”
“No, let’s go to our next stop and keep an eye out.” She craned her neck and scrutinized the area behind them.
Emma spluttered out a laugh. “Well, you’d make a good private eye. Can you be more obvious?”
“Sorry. Isn’t that Manu?”
“Where?” Emma’s voice was sharp.
“It is.” She waved, and he lifted a hand in acknowledgment. “He’s coming over.”
“Hi, Manu. What are you doing here?” Emma asked. “I understood work was keeping you busy.”
“Not too busy to escort my two favorite ladies for coffee,” Manu said.
“We’re off to the department store,” Cassie said. “But we could do coffee. You want to meet us at the mall?”
“I might as well come with you.” Manu opened the rear door and slid inside.
“Don’t complain if you get bored shopping for sheets and towels.” Cassie winged a wink toward her friend. “Emma? What’s wrong?”
Emma clenched the steering wheel, and she studied the parking lot with an intensity that was scary.
“Bit of a headache,” Emma said.
“You want me to drive?” Manu asked.
Cassie frowned, gazing from Emma to Manu. Manu seemed off too and didn’t wear the same easy-going attitude he’d sported when she first met him. Now that she looked closer, he bore shadows beneath his brown eyes, exhaustion hovering over him like a ghost.
“No, I’ll drive,” Emma said. “Where is your vehicle?”
“It’s at the mall. I needed computer parts and saw you come out of the store.”
Cassie frowned again, knowing something wasn’t right, but unable to pinpoint what or why Emma and Manu were suddenly behaving strangely. Maybe it was her imagination again. “So, what color sheets are you going to buy?”
“Pink with flowers,” Emma replied without missing a beat.
Manu chortled from the rear seat. “Does Jack like pink?”
“Jack will like whatever I buy,” Emma snapped.
An uncomfortable silence fell, and Cassie struggled to fill the gap. Had they argued? And if so, why didn’t she know about it?
In the department store, they headed straight for soft furnishings floor.
“You get your sheets, and I’ll grab pillows and towels. What color towels?”
“A dark color that will go with the bathroom,” Emma said. “Darker is better with Jack around. I tried white and had to replace them.”
Cassie strode away to fulfill her mission. When she turned into the towel aisle, she glimpsed Manu and Emma in whispered conversation. Tense because Emma was jabbing him in the chest with her forefinger. Manu stood there and took it before wrapping Emma in his embrace. Not a romantic one, more comforting and friendly. None of her business. Besides, Emma might tell her what was wrong during the drive home.
Long years of friendship had taught her that Emma stewed and processed when she became angry or upset about something. Shrugging away her concern, Cassie grabbed a cart and started her assignment.
Cassie studied the colors and quickly chose a selection of towels. The pillows took a bit longer, but she grabbed six. She also tossed in a package of tea towels.
“All done?” Manu asked.
Emma remained silent, her arms full of packaged sheets.
“All done.”
Half an hour later, after a quick and uncomfortable coffee, Cassie was glad to be on the road back to Clevedon.
“Emma, is something wrong?”
The healthy color fled Emma’s hands as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. “June isn’t well. Manu is worried about her.”
“I see.” An understatement. She didn’t understand at all. If June was unwell why would Manu want to spend time with them? “Why was Manu shopping and not with his mother?”
“He said his brothers made him take a break.”
“Oh.” Well, that made sense, but it didn’t explain Emma’s mood. Anger pulsed off her, and she hadn’t been like that when they left Jack and Hone.
The built-up suburbs gave way to the green countryside, and Cassie let her mind drift to her music. Other managers. Who could she contact? She needed someone with knowledge of the country music bigwigs and who could be flexible about the changes she wanted to take with her career. A sensible person would continue to put out Katie-Jo country songs to make use of her fan base. Perhaps she could use another name for her new stuff and start over as an indie. A lot of musicians were taking the independent route these days, and there was no reason she couldn’t dabble on the side. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to handle a full-on concert tour if she did that. Maybe a month of concerts. Yeah, she could handle a month, and maybe, just maybe, she could return home to New Zealand to relax. Something to consider.
Cassie pulled a notebook out of her handbag and started making a list of what she needed to research. She glanced up and stared, surprise making her blink. “Stop the car.”
“What? What’s wrong?” Emma turned fierce, her tone no-business.
“What is a young kid doing walking down a country road all alone?” As soon as Emma stopped, Cassie hopped from the car.
“Wait. Don’t get out.”
“It’s a kid, Emma.” She ignored her friend’s protests and walked to intercept the child. Not very old. A little boy. He wore a red-and-blue Spiderman suit and had a small bag tucked over his shoulder. His mouth formed into an O when he saw Cassie, then he grinned. Wow, he’d be a heartbreaker once he was older, although right now, he couldn’t be more than five or six. Certainly not old enough to wander down the road on his own.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m running away from home,” the boy said.
“Why?”
He wasn’t crying and didn’t seem unhappy. In fact, excitement pulsated from him as if he were on a grand adventure.
“Daddy read me a story about a boy who ran away. I decided to see if I had the same adventures as Sam.”
“Oh.” Cassie restrained her burst of humor. He didn’t appear tired or dirty, so he couldn’t have wandered far. “Does your daddy know you’ve run away?”
“He was busy in his office.”
“Okay. I’m Cassie. What’s your name?”
“Dillion.”
“Hello, Dillion. It’s very hot. Would you like to have a cookie and a cold drink?”
He cocked his head and studied her before giving a decisive nod. “The boy in the story met a lady and had cookies.”
“Right.” The boy had to live on this road. She’d ring Matthew—no, wait. “Is your daddy’s name Matthew?”
“Yes.”
Good. At least she knew where he came from and he hadn’t walked far. She’d give Matthew a call and drop Dillion back after his cookies.
“Come on,” she said. “We’ll give you a ride home.”
“I’m not allowed to ride in cars with strangers,” Dillion said.
“That’s good advice,” she agreed. “How about I walk back to my house with you? It’s right next door to your house.”
“I only live with Daddy sometimes.”
Ah, so that explained things. Matthew shared custody of Dillion. He seemed like a good father if he read stories to his son. He was probably frantic. Back at the vehicle, Emma seemed relieved.
“This is Dillion, and he lives next door,” Cassie explained. “He’s run away from home.”
Emma gawked at her.
“We’re going to have cookies,” Dillion told Emma.
“Let me grab my phone. Dillion, quite rightly, doesn’t want to get into a car with a stranger. I’ll walk back to the house with him and ring Matthew so he doesn’t worry.”
“Oh, but—”
“It’s not far. We’ll be ten minutes tops.”
Emma scanned the road behind them. “All right,” she said, her tone grim. “See you soon.”
Weird. Emma was behaving plain weird. Probably the strain of the fire.
Cassie rifled through her handbag and found the business card she placed in the side pocket.
“Hello? Matthew? This is Cassie Miller-Pope. I have something that belongs to you.”
“Pardon?” His tone was frosty and unwelcoming.
“I found your son on the side of the road, not far from my place. He said he was running away from home.”