Chapter 9 #2
Kate nodded slowly. ‘Ngaire and her parents were living here in MacLeod’s Cottage in 1942.
But by 1945 — by which time she’d married Tamati — the cottage wasn’t ours.
And then later, after Hope was born, they moved back.
’ Her brow furrowed. ‘Something must have happened to firstly make us lose the house, and secondly to regain it.’ She grunted. ‘Sort of.’
‘Financial mismanagement?’ Jen suggested.
‘Probably,’ Kate said. ‘But it still doesn’t explain why John Kowalski would buy the cottage and set up a trust to give Ngaire a home. It doesn’t make sense.’
‘We need more information,’ Lucy said.
‘I’m looking,’ Augi replied. ‘But the local archives are thinner than I expected. I could put out a request in the community —’
‘No,’ Kate said firmly. ‘Not yet. Not until we have to.’
‘I might be able to help.’
Augi turned to find Oliver standing behind them, just outside the light of the lanterns, as if he wasn’t sure he was welcome in the circle.
‘There were other things, besides Kowalski’s name, which I found at the hotel that I wasn’t sure would be relevant,’ he said. ‘But now I’m thinking they might be.’
‘Mum! Did you already know the name Kowalski?’
Kate shook her head. ‘I hadn’t quite got round to opening the box of papers Oliver brought me.’
Lucy shook her head in despair and turned to Oliver. ‘What things?’ Lucy asked.
‘Some paperwork, unfortunately undated but clearly after 1942 from the context, shows John Kowalski made at least one other visit to MacLeod’s Cove because he settled some outstanding accounts with the hotel then. Accounts which incidentally weren’t his, but members of his platoon.’
Kate pressed her hand to her cheek. ‘Could it have been after the war ended?’
‘I couldn’t find his name on any of the ship’s manifests after the war,’ said Augi.
Oliver shrugged. ‘The paperwork wasn’t dated, I’m afraid. But I’m guessing from the context, it was while the war was still going on.’
‘When was Hope born, Mum?’ asked Lucy quietly.
‘December 1946.’
‘Ah, well,’ continued Lucy, ‘at least there won’t be any surprises about parentage.’
Kate released a breath that was half relief, half indignation. ‘Thank goodness. I don’t want any more surprises.’
Lucy stared at Oliver. ‘So he came back,’ she said quietly. ‘And didn’t want anyone to know.’
Oliver nodded once. ‘That’s what it looks like.’ He glanced towards the front of the house, as if reminded of time. ‘I should go,’ he continued. ‘My taxi will be here any minute.’
Lucy’s face fell. ‘You’re leaving now?’
‘Yes,’ he said, and his gaze slid away from hers. ‘Thank you, Kate. All of you. For the hospitality.’
Kate stood. ‘What’s next for you, Oliver?’
He gave a polite shrug. ‘Work. As usual.’
‘Right. Well, I hope you’ll pop in again to see us.’
‘That’s not likely,’ he said, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Kate. Augi sensed the tension between Lucy and Oliver. He was leaving, and she hadn’t known he was leaving so soon. Augi’s heart ached for Lucy who had perceptibly paled. ‘I’ve a flight booked for Australia tomorrow,’ he continued.
‘Maybe you can visit us when next you’re back then,’ suggested Kate, beginning to look doubtful.
‘I have no plans to return,’ said Oliver.
‘Oh,’ said Lucy looking bereft. Augi’s heart went out to her. Loving the wrong man was always hard. Augi should know. She’d done the same thing so long ago.
‘So, all the best everyone, and, if you’re ever in Sydney, look me up. I know some great hotels,’ he added. ‘They don’t have as much character as the Old Colonial, but at least they have all mod cons.’
Uncomfortable laughter followed, and Oliver and Lucy disappeared around the front of the house.
An uneasy silence fell. Kate’s eyes lingered sadly on the corner of the house, beyond which they could hear murmuring voices.
Augi looked down, uncomfortable at how Lucy’s pain had been laid bare for everyone to see.
Not that Lucy would have worried. Augi shouldn’t have come.
She should have made up an excuse. She looked up to see Dan watching her carefully.
‘Lucy lives her life in the spotlight,’ said Dan. ‘It must seem strange to you.’
‘A little.’ She shrugged. ‘I just hope Lucy is all right.’
Kate dragged her gaze back to the table and took a sip of wine.
‘My Lucy will be fine. She’s lost her heart to Oliver, there’s no doubt about that.
But it’s not the same as when it happened last time.
She’s older, more resilient now. It’ll hurt if it’s not reciprocated but she’ll get on with life, because she has a big, full one.
She’d like him to be in it, I’m sure, but she doesn’t need him to be. ’
‘That’s good to hear,’ said Augi.
Kate nodded. ‘Thank you for finding out the mysterious marine’s identity, Augi.’
‘It took some doing.’
‘Well, we appreciate it. When we send his name to the Michigan lawyers, hopefully they’ll be able to confirm whether it was him behind the trust and house ownership.’
‘It’s got to be him,’ said Dan. ‘The photo provides the connection to Ngaire, and then there are the other clues like the recipe and jewellery which link back to Michigan.’
‘Yes, I think it must be him. Well, hopefully the lawyers will be able to move things on to their logical conclusion. I guess they just need to find a descendant who will inherit the trust and then that will be that.’
Dan and Augi exchanged a worried glance.
‘But it still doesn’t answer the question,’ Kate continued, clearly refusing to have a discussion on what she’d do once she was no longer entitled to live in MacLeod’s Cottage. ‘Of why John Kowalski would buy MacLeod’s Cottage and set up a trust for a woman he barely knew.’
‘Love?’ asked Dan.
‘Then why didn’t he give her the cottage instead of hiding it from everyone in a trust?’
Dan shrugged. ‘No idea. But he must have had a reason.’
‘And I wonder if anyone around here knew it,’ said Kate, leaning back in her chair, gazing out to the dark rolling hills to the side of the cottage. ‘I’d love to ask my Māori relatives, but I feel a little awkward. There’s been so little contact with them over the years.’
‘Do they live on the Māori land, just north of here?’ asked Augi.
‘Yes, that’s right. It’s where Tamati came from.’
‘When I visited Moana today she told me her great-grandfather was still alive and remembered Ngaire and Tamati.’
Kate’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Really?’
‘I know him,’ said Augi quietly.
‘And I don’t,’ said Kate sadly. ‘There was some kind of rift. But I should have gone to see them and tried to heal old wounds.’
‘Moana said she’d get Mere to arrange a meeting for me.’ Dan turned to Augi. ‘She said that it would be best if you were there, too, as the old man knows you.’
‘Of course,’ said Augi, knowing it was the right thing to do, even while acknowledging she seemed to be losing the battle to keep away from Dan.
‘That would be brilliant! Thanks so much,’ said Kate. ‘Both of you.’
Augi jumped up. She had to go before she agreed to anything else. ‘Thank you for dinner. It was lovely, but I must get going.’
‘Thank you for coming, Augi. And for your news about Mr Johnnie Kowalski — the missing link.’ Kate rose and walked with Augi to the side of the house.
Only when they were out of earshot, did she lean in to Augi.
‘And thank you for agreeing to see our Māori relatives with Daniel. It’ll be such a help to me, but also to Daniel, I think.
’ She glanced in his direction. ‘I think he needs this to re-connect with us all here. And, you have the contacts to make it work. And he has the…’ Kate seemed stumped for words. Augi wasn’t.
‘Charm?’ Augi laughed. ‘Between the two of us, hopefully we’ll be able to mend the bridges so you can travel along them again.’
Kate kissed her on the cheek — a first for Augi who paused only briefly before disappearing to the front of the house and down the path and the short walk home.
As she walked along the dark streets to her little cottage, she wondered how she’d ended up doing the complete opposite to what she’d intended at the beginning of the evening. She guessed that was what happened when you opened up.