Chapter 8 #2
He entered a small house that had been completely transformed inside.
Walls had been knocked down and the living space was open plan with a kitchen, dining table and living area.
A professional area had been set up in the corner, complete with desk, computer screens and a back-drop of plants and tidy bookshelves, no doubt for the benefit of zoom meetings.
‘Coffee?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘Thanks. You’ve got a great place here.’ Through the window, the grasses and undulating meadows of Queen Elizabeth Park rippled pale gold. A stand of cabbage trees stood at the bottom of the garden framing the view.
When the coffee machine quietened, she glanced over her shoulder. ‘It’s home.’
He grunted, understanding completely.
‘Take a seat.’ She indicated the comfortable looking sofas set around a low coffee table.
She brought over the coffee, in pale green cups and saucers which matched the designer decor. It might be an old house in the middle of the countryside, but Moana had embraced the mid-century style and created a home which wouldn’t have been out of place in House and Garden magazine.
‘Thank you.’
He took a sip of his coffee as Moana retrieved an iPad from her desk.
She tucked her legs under her and tapped at the tablet, before looking up at him with a warm smile.
Despite all the comfort, style and informality, there was something in her eyes, the way she looked at him, which made him realise that she was the complete professional.
And that you under-estimated Moana at your peril.
‘So,’ she said replacing her cup on the saucer and settling back among the cushions in all shades of cream and green. ‘You’re after a job.’
Dan didn’t think he’d ever felt this unsettled during a work meeting before. He guessed that meant he’d never wanted anything more.
‘Yes. But I’m after something different to what I did before.’
She nodded. ‘Tell me about it.’
And he did. He found it easy to talk to her about what had initially drawn him to his work, and how he’d enjoyed it at first. Then he went on to describe how slowly he saw a side to the political world in which he’d moved that he’d felt uncomfortable with at best, and, at worst had grown to hate.
It had eaten away at him bit by bit, until he knew it was time to move away.
He reflected that what he was saying related equally to his private life, but he wasn’t about to share those particulars with Moana.
He stopped suddenly, realising that he’d talked for longer, and revealed far more about his life, than he’d intended. Moana was clearly good at her job.
He huffed an awkward laugh. ‘Seems like I’ve used you as my therapist.’
She smiled and shrugged. ‘I consider I am a kind of therapist. After all my living depends on assessing people and placing them in the right job.’
‘And do you think you can find the right job for me?’
‘I think you have a lot of skills that can be re-directed.’ She tapped her finger against her lips for a few moments.
‘Wait a moment.’ She swiped through a few screens on her iPad, scanned the text thoughtfully and then looked up at him.
A slow smile spread over her face. ‘How about working as a consultant — as you’re used to — except you’d be working for an independent policy consultancy? ’
His heart beat more quickly, but he narrowed his eyes, determined not to get his excitement up. This could mean anything. ‘A consultancy working for who?’
‘The particular consultancy I’m thinking of works for the public interest. Its consultants are hired by non-government organisations, iwi, charities, any entity which advocates for the public interest.’
He found himself sitting forward, hands clasped. ‘Sounds interesting.’
‘The consultancy is extremely in demand but is also very choosy about who they hire. They want excellent communicators, people used to the complexities of politics, with the ability to grasp meaning from political documents and communicate those to their clients. But, most importantly, they’re after consultants with integrity, who put the public good over business.
Does that sound like the kind of thing you’d be interested in?
’ She said the last statement with a smile, as they both knew it was exactly what he’d described.
His grin widened. ‘Moana, it sounds just the kind of thing I’m after. Are they looking for people at the moment?’
‘They don’t advertise as such, but I know the people involved and they’re always looking.’
Within minutes Moana had arranged a meeting for Dan with the consultancy company. She tossed down the phone, slid out her feet from under her and stood up. ‘My work is done! I think this could work well for you.’
He wanted to hug her, so he did. She was his relative after all, as well as being extremely good at her job. ‘Thanks so much. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.’
‘No problem, cuz, any time. Although,’ she said as he followed her out the front door, ‘I don’t think you’ll be needing my services again. I think this could be an excellent fit.’
‘Hope so.’ And for the first time, he felt lighter as he began to walk away.
‘Oh, Dan!’ called Moana. ‘I nearly forgot.’
He turned to her.
‘You’re working on that MacLeod’s Cottage trust thing, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘With Lucy and Kate?’
‘Yes.’ He frowned. ‘How do you know about that?’
Moana grinned. ‘Small village. Also, my auntie’s been talking. Everyone’s been talking. There’s been gossip on the marae for weeks.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, yeah. As I say. Small village. Anyway, I wasn’t sure you all knew that my great-grandfather is still alive.’
Dan stared at her.
‘What?’
She nodded. ‘Still alive. He’s ninety-eight and lives out on the land, up past the old pā site. He doesn’t come into town and doesn’t do doctors unless he has to. He’s still sharp as anything.’
Dan’s mind ran quickly through the family tree. Great-grandfather. That meant someone who’d known Ngaire’s era.
‘Why hasn’t anyone—’ Dan began.
‘Because of the rift,’ Moana said simply.
Dan frowned. ‘What rift?’
Moana’s eyebrows raised. ‘You really don’t know?’
‘I’ve been away,’ he said, as if that explained everything.
She studied him for a moment, then nodded once, accepting it.
‘A long time ago, there was some resentment to do with your great-grandmother Ngaire moving back into MacLeod’s Cottage.
Into that house by the sea, where your mum lives.
There was some thought that she was getting something she didn’t deserve.
’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know the details, just its effect which was a rift in the family. ’
Dan felt a dull thud in his chest. Getting something she didn’t deserve. That sort of bitterness didn’t come from nowhere.
‘And your great-grandfather?’ he asked.
‘He knew Tamati,’ Moana said. ‘Properly knew him. And he knew what happened back then — at least, more than most. I only know the rumours about Ngaire, the gossip. But, if you really want to figure out what happened all those years ago, I’d go see him, if I were you.’
‘How come Lucy or Mum don’t know about this?’
She shrugged. ‘Maybe they haven’t asked the right questions.
But you, coming here today, I reckon you need to know a bit more about the past. Like we all do.
’ Moana’s gaze held his. ‘Because if you’re digging, you should hear it from someone who was actually there.
And because…’ She hesitated, then added, ‘because it’s time.
The old people are leaving. If the story goes with them, you’ll never get it back. ’
Dan thought of Kate with her photograph, tapping it against her knee as if tapping could knock the truth loose. He thought of Augi’s careful, relentless mind, circling the mystery.
‘So, can you arrange for us to talk with your great-grandfather?’
She nodded. ‘I can arrange for you to meet, but whether great-grandfather will talk’ — she shrugged — ‘that’s down to you.’ She smiled. ‘Whether he likes you or not,’ she added by way of explanation.
‘Right. No pressure then.’ He grinned.
‘I’ll talk to Aunty Mere. She looks after him mostly, and text you a time and place,’ she turned to go inside but stopped and twisted around. ‘And Dan?’
He looked up.
‘If he says something that stings…’ She shrugged, half-apologetic.
‘Just remember — old people don’t soften things for comfort.
Oh, and I’d time it to coincide with the librarian’s fortnightly visit to Mere.
That should soften him up. He likes her.
’ She shot him a final smile, a wave and she was gone, leaving him with a feeling that fate had just stepped in and was steering him along a certain path whether he wanted to go down it or not.
As it happened, he did.
Because it meant he’d be seeing Augi again, sooner than he’d imagined.