Chapter 12
28th December
Glenorchy, NZ
Will
The car trunk shuts smoothly and automatically. A new idea forms in my mind. Nikos is Kat’s cousin. What if I could convince him Kat and I are great together? Then, he could convince Kat’s parents. I don’t know how much sway he has with them. Being their nephew, he has more of a chance than me right now.
“Are you sure you're not coming?” I ask Daryl, who's standing arms crossed in the doorway of the Lodge.
“Nope.” He pops the P. “No love lost between Nikos and I. Plus I hate golf.”
“Are you sure you don't mind me going?” John asks, looking worried.
“Not at all, darling. Keep an eye on this one.” Daryl nods towards me.
I cock my head. “You still won't tell me what you've got against Nikos.”
When I met him in town that day he seemed fine. Yet both Kat and Daryl, the two people closest to me, show a clear dislike for him. Kat’s parents seem to like him though. I’m not sure what to believe.
Daryl waves his hand. “Not now. Go! Kat and I are wedding planning.”
For a moment my heart stops. Wedding planning? But I haven't asked Kat yet.
Daryl notices my confusion, looks at John, then looks back at me, rolling his eyes. “You're such a goner. My wedding, you lemon. Now go!”
I get in the car with John in the passenger seat, and navigate towards the Glenorchy Golf Club.
“Is Nikos meeting us there?” John asks, clicking in his seatbelt.
“He's on the way, we'll pick him up.”
“I haven't played golf in a couple of years, I'm a bit rusty.”
I chuckle. “I think I last played a few months ago. Not something I do often, but Nikos insisted, so I figured it was something we could do together.”
John shrugs. “I bet Glenorchy golf club has some amazing lake views.”
“Definitely, I haven't been, but I've heard great things about it.”
John's very easy going. I'm happy that Daryl has found someone who can put up with all his bullshit. We arrive at Nikos’s house and he's outside on the pavement with his own clubs. I get out of the car and open the trunk for him to place his clubs.
“Careful!” Nikos snaps, annoyance in his voice. “These were expensive. I only got them yesterday.”
John's eyes widen but he doesn't comment. He moves to the back seat, and Nikos takes the passenger seat. I figure he's trying to give us some bonding time.
I start the journey to Glenorchy, the lake on my left, and the mountains in the distance. This feels like home.
Nikos takes one look at John and asks. “Where's Daryl?”
“He stayed home. Kat is helping him and John plan their wedding.”
His eyes narrow. “Any more news about the Featherstone mouse?”
A deer jumps across the road, and my formula one reflexes kick in. I swerve hard, avoid it, and straighten.
John gasps, and Nikos exhales. “That was close. I've always said they need to put fences up.”
“That was something, Will. Is that what you're like when you're racing?” John sounds genuinely impressed.
I smile. “A little.”
“I've noticed otherwise you're a slow and sedate driver.”
Nikos blows out a heavy sigh and pushes his way forward, hanging over the console and wedging himself between me and John. He twists until his back is entirely to John, blocking him off, and says, “Anyway, they'd better do something about these wild animals. They'll end up killing somebody.”
I nod and put some music on. Nikos changes the channel to some electronic music. I don't mind.
Nikos rubs his chin. “So tell me, are you and Kat like… serious?”
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. “Very serious. I'd like her to move to Monaco with me. Or somewhere else, I don't know.”
Nikos swallows uncomfortably. “I don't know if it's wise. I mean she has her aunt and the vintage shop to look after…”
“How do you know about her aunt’s situation? I thought you were related on her dad’s side.” I enquire politely.
He swallows again. “Oh, it's common knowledge. Changing topic, how is your family?”
I shrug. “They're okay. They had a minor issue with someone posting fake reviews about the Lodge. All is getting sorted, though.”
“Oh.” Nikos unbuttons one of his polo shirt buttons.
“This is the button for the Aircon.” I point toward the button that’s become a life saver in this sweltering weather.
“And how do your folks feel about Kat?”
His question gives me the ick. No real reason for it, but I don’t want to talk about Kat with him, especially if she doesn’t like him. I turn to John instead. “John, you've spent more time with my folks this holiday than I have. How do they feel about Kat?”
John chuckles. “You know they've always liked her. Now they know you've had a crush on her all along, they like her even more.”
I smile. Good.
“Enough about me, though. How's your life, Nikos? What do you get up to?”
“A bit of this, a bit of that. I tried teaching for six months. Didn't love it. Then I went into the tourism business. I'm still at the Gondola. It's got its advantages.”
“Oh?”
“Always get to meet new people. Tourists. …Girls.” He winks over a shit-eating grin and punches John in the shoulder. “Know what I mean?”
“Must pay very well to afford those golf clubs,” John mutters.
Nikos hears him and turns. “And what do you do, John?”
“I'm a paramedic. I don't get much time off so coming down from Auckland for the holidays is a treat. The next big break will be for our wedding.”
“And I wouldn't miss it for the world,” I reassure him. I’m excited to return home for the wedding. I’m not as looking forward to leaving the place that feels like home as I thought would be.
I pull into the carpark at Glenorchy golf club and stretch my hands. “Let's hire some gear and play, folks.”
It’s hotter than usual and the sun is high up in the sky. The heat is ratcheting up the frustration and annoyance for everyone and the tempers are boiling like the air. The fizzy drink gives me extra energy. Nikos is annoyed we didn't hire a golf cart and are walking everywhere. He’s making it really hard to charm him. I can’t imagine he’ll say anything good about me and my family to Kat’s parents.
“All this walking is harming my golf swing,” he mutters.
I sigh. “My friend, John is thrashing the both of us. He's winning by miles. I'll drown my sorrows when I get home.”
John sinks another birdie, and I throw my can in the recycling bin. “Okay, I think we've probably had enough. It's 4 p.m. now, and by the time we get home, it will be close to dinner.”
Nikos sulks.
I turn towards him. “What's wrong?”
“If only we'd have hired a cart, I would have won. I'm sure of it.”
I shrug. “Oh come on. Winning is not everything.”
His eyes look feral. “Rich for you to say. Mr. World champion. Mr Multimillionaire. Mr gets the girl. “
John raises his eyebrows and grabs his clubs and mine. “I'll return these to the hire place, then meet you by the car.”
I nod. “I don't know what your problem is, Nikos. You've been acting very strangely. We've always been good friends, and now you're behaving like we're in some sort of competition.”
“There's no competition,” Nikos mumbles. He picks up his expensive golf caddy and heads for the car.