Chapter 18
31st December
Queenstown, NZ
Will
Downtown in the Queenstown centre, the New Year’s Eve party preparations are in full swing. Crews have brought lighting rigs and firework stations, and they're working on setting up a stage.
I have no doubt Daryl and John will be partying it up here tonight, but I have other plans.
I pull my cap further down. I'll still probably get recognized but maybe not as much. I cross the road towards the pontoon by the lake, and head straight to the booking office.
A young woman smiles when she sees me. “We were waiting for you, Mr. De Jong. The TSS Earnslaw is ready.”
I nod. “Is everyone onboard?”
“Not yet, Miss Featherstone and her family aren't here yet.”
I frown. “Okay. I'll get on now. Remember, not a word about the other passengers.”
The girl nods. “Absolutely. Enjoy your trip on The TSS Earnslaw.”
I tap my cap and sprint up the steps.
“Mr. De Jong!” A deckhand nods and welcomes me on board.
I can count on the fingers of both hands the times I’ve been on this classic steamer from one side of the lake to the other. I figured if I hire it, everyone will be a captive audience.
“Mr. De Jong.” The captain seems excited to see me. “Could I please have a photo?”
“Sure, but… can I please ask you not to post it on social media for an hour or so? For privacy reasons.” I hope the captain will understand.
He nods, we pose together, and he snaps a pic, then I step into the covered main deck where someone is playing the piano.
“This is very nice, Will.” My mom waves from where she, my dad, Daryl, and John are having a high tea at a table. “These scones are great. But your dad's are better.” My mum whispers the last bit, and my dad laughs. Everyone seems relaxed. I hope this works.
“Don't you want some, dear?” Mom waves a scone at me.
“He's just arrived mum, let him be.” Daryl is in on it.
I take my cap off and place it on a bench. “Lovely music, very relaxing.”
“I must say I was surprised when I saw there were no other passengers. Daryl said you booked it all for us.” My dad is awed.
“It's nothing, Dad. Just wanted to say thank you for supporting me. And—” The engine noise kicks in, letting me know that the Featherstones have embarked, and we're getting ready to sail. “And anyway, I had another idea dive deeper into later. How about some rentals I can invest in? That way you can still work at the lodge if you want to but have a separate income.”
My mum and dad look at each other but don't say no straight away.
“I'll let you mull it over. No rush!” I pat my dad on the back and lean backwards. Some voices carry through the hallway. Daryl looks at me panicked, and John raises his eyebrows.
Kat steps in and lights up the room. I want to run over, scoop her up, and shout from the rooftops that she's mine.
“Hi, everyone.” Kat gives a little wave, and the pianist pauses for a second then restarts.
Her parents follow her in, taking in their surroundings and looking displeased at the company they find themselves in.
My dad recovers from his shock first. “Glad to see you're feeling better, Stan.”
Stan straightens. “Fritz. Thank you.”
Kat leads her parents to our table. “Please take a seat, have some high tea. More is coming.”
She takes the seat next to me, and I grab her hand for support.
Dad asks, “So what is this about, Willem?”
My full name only comes out when I'm in trouble.
I shake it off this time. “Forgive me for the underhand tactics. We brought you together for the next hour or so to talk to you about something very important.”
Kat's mum sighs. “If you want to tell us you're together, you needn't have gone to all this trouble. We know. Kat's moved to your place.”
I purse my lips. “It's not that… it's about what's happened over the last week.”
Kat’s mum hasn’t come any further into the room. She’s not going to be able to get off the boat, but she can certainly slink off and hide somewhere else. She doesn’t, though. She roots her feet to the floor and crosses her arms over her chest. “I know what you think Gem did, but I know she didn’t. Who told you such lies?”
I lean forward. “Nikos confessed to John and I when we stopped to look out for Stan the other day.”
John nods, grim.
“And auntie admitted it to us on the phone,” Kat adds. “I tried to tell you the other day, but you refused to listen, and now we’re forced to trap you on a boat just so you’ll hear us out.” Kat steps closer to her mother. “I know it’s upsetting. I’m upset, too, but It will all be worse if you refuse to accept Will. You won’t just lose a sister, you’ll lose a daughter.”
I’m gut punched by what Kat’s just said. She’d risk the loss of her own family to be with me. I hope it doesn’t come to that. I won’t let it. I take her hand, and we stand strong, side by side.
For a moment, the world seems to freeze, and I have no idea what will happen when time starts back up.
What happens is that Kat’s dad strides toward mine. He swallows and holds his hand out. “Fritz, I’m sorry for ever believing it was you.”
My dad stands and grabs his hand. “And I'm sorry for thinking it was you behind the bad reviews.”
My mum and Kat's mum touch hands, and Kat and I sigh with relief. This went better than expected.
“Right.” Daryl rubs his palms together. “Now I'm hungry, folks. Tuck in. Even if it's not as good as dad's.”
Dad chuckles, and I rise from my seat, the sound of my chair scraping against the wooden floor echoing through the room. My throat feels tight as I clear it, preparing to speak.
“Now that we’ve got that out of the way”—I cast a pointed look at our families—“I want to make it clear that nothing will come between Kat and me.”
As I finish my statement, I reach for Kat's hand, and she eagerly takes it, her purse swinging back and forth as she stands up. The fabric of her dress swishes with each movement, adding an air of elegance to her already radiant presence. A small giggle escapes her lips as I raise my eyebrows at our families, silently daring them to object.
“Actually,” Kat interjects with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, “we have somewhere important to be. So we'll leave you all to enjoy your afternoon tea and get to know each other better.” Her exaggerated wink causes Daryl to burst into loud laughter.
With a wave and blown kisses, we make our escape from the cabin and step out hand-in-hand into the warmth of the summer afternoon and into our new life together. The sun shines down on us, its warm rays enveloping us in a sense of hope and possibility for our future together.