Just for Now (9 page)

“I really appreciate your letting Caitlin come today,” Jenna
told Siobhan once they were seated at the kitchen table, their cups of tea in
front of them. “Sophie always has a hard time on the day Finn leaves.”

“Where is he this week?”

“Wellington. The Hurricanes, for the quarterfinal. So not a
long trip. He’ll be back Sunday morning. But with Nyree gone as well, it’s hard
for her right now.”

Siobhan nodded. “I heard about Sophie’s mum. She’s attached
to her dad, eh.”

“You could say that.” Jenna smiled ruefully. “They both are.
But Sophie especially.”

“I know a fair bit about it, as you see, even though I’m a
newcomer myself,” Siobhan said with a smile of her own. “Finn’s the subject of
a good bit of gossip amongst the mums. Always causes a stir when he delivers
the kids at school.”

“Everyone loves an All Black,” Jenna agreed. “You’re a
newcomer too? You’re a Kiwi, though, aren’t you?”

“Cantabrian,” Siobhan explained. “We moved from Christchurch
at the beginning of the school year. The earthquakes finally got to be too much
for us.” She continued at Jenna’s sympathetic murmur, “It was one thing when
the kids were littlies, when I had them with me all the time. But when Caitlin
started Year One, every time one hit, especially if it was a big one, I’d be
thinking about how to get to her. And thinking about Ethan getting ready to start
kindy too . . .”

She sighed. “My family’s always lived in Christchurch. It
was hard to leave. We felt like traitors. But the kids were scared too. Crying
whenever there was a good shake. It just got to be too much.”

“I can imagine,” Jenna said. “Or rather, I can’t really
imagine. What it must be like to live with so many earthquakes, not being able
to trust the ground under your feet.”

“Every day, sometimes,” Siobhan said. “And then, of course,
the big ones. Those really do get to you. Worrying about my hubby, too. Declan
worked in the CBD. He wasn’t in one of the badly damaged buildings, thank God.
But it was awful, that day. Horrible, waiting to hear, knowing what was
happening down there. And after that, even though his firm relocated, it was
scary having him so far away from me and the kids. And all the firms that
closed, not being able to go to the café, no real city life . . .”

She paused, looking into space. “It hasn’t felt the same
place. We resisted, for a long time. But last year, Declan began looking up
here, and we made the decision to move.”

“It must have been so hard,” Jenna said. “After so long.”

“Reckon you know what it’s like to move far from home,”
Siobhan said, a smile lighting her plump, freshly pretty face. “From the
States, aren’t you? Here on a working holiday visa, or for longer?”

“Longer. I’ve been here since I was twenty-two.”

“Really.” Siobhan’s eyebrows rose. “We don’t get many
immigrants from the States. Came here on a visit and decided to stay, eh.”

“Not exactly. I followed a man. Classic story.”

Siobhan nodded. “Man’s gone, I take it.”

“
I’m
gone,” Jenna corrected. “Or rather, I’m still
here, in New Zealand. But not with him. If you see what I mean.”

“But,” she went on briskly, “it’s all good. I’m in Auckland
now, I have a good job, I’m enjoying myself.”

“It’s hard, though, in a new place,” Siobhan said. “At least
for me. The mums are friendly enough, but . . .” she shrugged. “It takes a bit.
They have their friendships. Their kids went to kindy, Year One together. It
can be tough to be the new one.”

“Especially if you’re a nanny,” Jenna said.

“Even harder. And now,” Siobhan sighed as she stood up, “much
as I’d prefer to sit here and keep chatting, I reckon I’d better collect the
kids and get home, get a start on tea, or we’re not going to eat tonight.”

“Did they say when you’d have it back?” Jenna asked as Finn
hopped into the Toyota at the mechanic’s where he’d just dropped off the Range
Rover on the following Tuesday afternoon.

“A few days. I’ll get Ben Thompson to collect me, next
couple days. Won’t worry about getting it back till I’m home from Canberra. No
point. As long as you and the kids’ll give me a lift from the airport on
Sunday.”

“Of course. I could drive you to practice too, if you’d
rather,” she offered. “And pick you up afterwards as well.”

“Nah. No worries. Ben’ll be chuffed.”

“Why would he be that pleased to drive you? Are you his hero
or something?”

He laughed. “Not a hope. But he’s looking for that starting
spot. He’ll be taking the opportunity to pick my brain.”

“And that’s OK with you?”

“Well, to be dead honest, not so much. But it’s part of the
job to mentor the younger boys. And to make sure there’s a fit replacement
ready to go if I’m injured in the next game, or when I retire. Or, God forbid,
when he overtakes me and I’m the one riding the pine.”

“Tough, then,” Jenna said sympathetically. “To have to teach
him all your special tricks. Those boots in the ruck, and everything.”

Finn chuckled. “Nah, Ben’s never going to be the hard man. Not
enough edge to him. You’ll see.”

Jenna dashed the last few yards through the rain that had
done a good job of drenching her during the run home. She reached the gate and
opened it as a tall man in his early twenties hopped out of a sports car that
had pulled up to the curb.

“Morning,” he called, pulling his Blues beanie down over his
mop of blond hair and jumping up the step to join her. “I’m Ben. Here for
Finn.”

“Come on out of the rain, then.” Jenna ran up the stone
steps with Ben close behind. Once they were under the shelter of the villa’s
broad front porch, she pulled out her house key and opened the door. He reached
for it and held it for her, shutting it after them.

“Phew. That blew up fast,” she laughed as she hung her rain
jacket on the hook, toed off her shoes and pulled off her soaked socks. “Hang
on a second. I’ll get Finn for you.”

Before she had a chance to go looking for him, Finn came out
of the kitchen, still munching a slice of toast and taking a final mouthful of
tea. “Morning. You’re early.”

“Didn’t want to be late,” Ben answered with a cheeky grin,
“and have you going crook at me.”

“Too right. And Jenna. You should’ve driven the kids.” Finn
frowned at her.

“No worries. They didn’t get wet. The rain started on my way
back.”

“That’s what I meant,” he said in exasperation. “You
should’ve driven them.”

“I didn’t melt. Just a bit bedraggled, that’s all.” She took
the empty mug from him. “Have a good day. Nice to meet you, Ben.” She gave him
a smile and headed for the kitchen. No point in changing out of her running
capris. She’d towel them off as best she could, then clean the kitchen and
start the washing before she went on her real run. It was likely to rain on her
again anyway.

“Right. Let’s go, then. Thanks for the lift.” Finn finished
tying his shoes and picked up his duffel from its spot beside the door.

“That’s the nanny, eh,” Ben said bemusedly as they headed
down the steps. “Crikey, she’s fit. You should’ve warned me. I’d’ve combed my
hair. Good thing you aren’t married, though. The missus would never go for
that.”

Finn stared balefully at him through the rain, but didn’t
comment until they were in the car.

“Jenna’s a professional,” he said at last. “She’s a trained
teacher. Bloody good cook, too. I’m lucky to have her.”

“Mind if I come in for a minute?” Ben asked when they
approached the house again that afternoon. “Haven’t seen your kids for a while.
I could say hello.”

“My kids. Right. Didn’t know you were so fond of them.” But
Finn led Ben up the steps to the front door again.

The house was quiet as Finn dumped his duffel by the door.
“Jenna!” he called. Shrugged. “Maybe she’s out getting the kids now. Come on
into the kitchen, have a cuppa.”

They walked into the warm room and saw Jenna, her back to
them, hips swinging back and forth, body bopping to an invisible beat while she
worked at the kitchen bench. Finn stepped up behind her and tapped her gently
on the shoulder. She whirled in alarm, an icing-covered spatula still in her
hand. The implement landed squarely on his warmup jacket, leaving a messy smear
of white.

She pulled the headphones from her ears, laughing in dismay.
“Oh, no! What a mess. That’s what you get for sneaking up on me, though.”

She reached for her hip and turned off her iPod. “Hi, Ben.
You guys caught me dancing. How embarrassing. Here, Finn, let me clean you up.”
She wet a paper towel at the sink and moved close to wipe the white icing off
his chest. Then stopped abruptly, flushing, and handed him the towel. “Maybe
you’d better do it. Or, better yet, throw it in the basket, and I’ll wash it.
Because that’s going to leave a mark.”

“No worries,” Finn told her with a smile, giving a cursory
wipe to the spot and tossing the towel in the bin. “Nice show you put on for us
there. What’re you making?”

“Carrot cake. Would you guys like some?”

Finn raised an eyebrow at Ben. “I would,” the younger man
agreed. “Please.”

“Couple cups of tea, too, then. This cake requires that.”
Jenna pushed the button on the electric jug and got out three mugs, putting a
teabag into each and pouring in the water that had boiled within seconds.

“Where’re the kids?” Finn asked.

“Sophie has soccer, and Harry has kapa haka. New Wednesday
schedule, remember? I’m leaving to get them in about twenty minutes. How was
practice?”

“Gym day, mostly,” Finn told her. “As it was so wet. Did a
bit of work outdoors as well, though. It’s good to practice in the wet
sometimes. We play in it often enough.”

“That must have been unpleasant.” She cut two generous
slices of cake and put them on plates, adding a fork to each. “Milk and sugar,
Ben?”

“Both, please,” he said. She added them to his mug, poured a
splash of milk into Finn’s tea, and handed them their tea and cake. Fixed her
own mug and sat down with them at the big table.

“This is yum,” Ben told her after his first bite of cake.
“What’s in the icing?”

“Fresh ginger,” she explained. “That’s the secret. What did
you guys work on today?” She listened attentively as Finn and Ben began to fill
her in.

“Ben was having trouble with his boots,” Finn told her with
a smile. “Least that’s what he told us. He came a real greaser, fell bang on
his face during a running drill. While the newsies were out there, too, doing a
piece about our being the form team. Cameras and all.”

“Oh, no,” Jenna commiserated in laughing sympathy. “Poor
you. I’m sure they won’t show that, though. You must have got good and muddy,
Ben.”

“And I don’t have anyone to do my washing,” he sighed
piteously. “Have to go home and put it in the machine myself. Nobody to fix my
tea, either. My work day’s just beginning.”

“Rough,” she agreed, a smile quirking the corner of her
mouth. “You may have to get a takeaway. The horror. And you may want to work on
your story as well. I know the team takes care of your kit for you, remember? But
speaking of work, I need to go get the kids.”

“I’ll walk you, or drive you if you’d rather.” Ben bounded
up and went with her to the entryway. “That’s why I came in, to say hi to the
kids. Didn’t know I’d be getting cake too. That was choice. Thanks.”

“So you’re a nanny, eh,” he said to her as they crossed the
main road on their way to the primary school.

She nodded. “Just for now. I’m a teacher, normally.”

“Yeh, Finn said. And a cook, obviously. Is it hard work?”

She laughed. “No. Finn isn’t a very exacting employer.”

“He gives you days off, then?”

She looked at him in surprise. “Of course he does. Once the
game’s over, and he’s back from wherever.”

“So your days off are the same as ours, more or less,” Ben
said musingly. “Sunday, I reckon.”

“Unless you’re in South Africa or Perth, slow getting back.”

“Maybe you’d like to have dinner with me this Sunday, then,”
he suggested. “Have somebody else do the cooking.”

She thought about offering an excuse, decided to keep it
simple. “Sorry, but I can’t.”

“Monday?” he persisted.

“Sorry.” She smiled up at him apologetically. “I’m not
available. For dating, I mean.”

She saw with relief that Harry and Sophie were waiting
outside the school gates. Harry ran to her with his usual enthusiastic hug,
Sophie following behind.

“You guys know Ben, right?” Jenna asked them. “He’s keeping
me company today.”

Sophie looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Sophie!” Jenna exclaimed, shocked. “That isn’t very nice.”

“He’s the backup No. 8,” Sophie explained. “He’s trying to
get Daddy’s job. You shouldn’t be nice to him.”

“Oi,” Ben said plaintively. “I just do what I’m told. I have
to earn a crust somehow. Have a heart, Sophie. After I gave your dad a lift
today, and all.”

“Apologize, Sophie,” Jenna said sternly. “Ben hasn’t done anything
wrong, and that wasn’t at all polite.”

“Sorry,” Sophie muttered.

“Did practice go badly, or something else go wrong?” Jenna
guessed. “You seem a bit out of sorts.”

“I missed four goals, and didn’t make any at all,” Sophie
told her glumly. “I was rubbish.”

“Sometimes that happens,” Ben put in. “I fell on my face
today, myself. Fell on my ar—my bum a few times too, in the rain.”

“Really?” Sophie brightened.

He nodded. “Looks like that starting job’s eluded me again.”
He sighed theatrically. “Your dad’s just too good for me. Tell me more about
what happened, though. You were a bit off pace, eh.”

“Jenna,” Harry was tugging at her sleeve, impatient with the
conversation as Sophie and Ben continued to chat during the walk back. “We
learnt a new waiata today in kapa haka.
E Te Iwi E.
It’s one that men
sing, did you know that?”