“That’s the infection. I’m glad they’re taking you in, Dad.” I put my arms around him, fighting against the overwhelming urge to cry. When you’re young, you feel as if your parents can do anything, and as if they’re going to be around forever. I miss the innocence of being a child. Adulting sucks.
Nina comes out with Thea, both of them having packed bags, and there’s a flurry of activity as one of the paramedicscomes back to get Dad, and Mum and Nina promise they’ll follow in the car. Nina gives me a spare key to their house. Then they all head off, leaving me and Thea standing there, watching them go.
I turn to Thea and give her a hug. “It’s all right,” I whisper. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“Will we go back to your house?” she asks.
Lisa and Ria won’t mind her staying with me, although we don’t have a spare bed as such, so I guess she could have mine and I’ll sleep on the sofa. I go to say yes, then remember that I’m supposed to be seeing Kingi this evening. “Let’s get in the car,” I tell her, “and then I need to make a quick phone call.”
Once she’s buckled into her booster seat in the back, I call Kingi.
“Hey gorgeous,” he says.
“It’s me,” I reply, not thinking straight.
“I gathered. I don’t reply to every caller like that.”
I’m too upset to smile. “I’m not going to be able to see you tonight.” My voice has a slight waver, and I stop talking and bite my lip.
Immediately his tone turns serious. “What’s up?”
“It’s… it’s Mark. The… the ambulance has taken him to hospital, and my dad too because he’s not well, and Mum and Nina have gone in the car, but they asked me to look after Thea…”
“What happened to Mark? Was he in an accident?”
“No. He…” I’m suddenly conscious of Thea sitting in the back. Oh God. She’s only eight.
“Where are you?” Kingi asks.
“At their place.”
“Mark’s?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”
“Okay. I’m heading out of Midnight now.” I hear his footsteps, and him calling out to his PA that he’s leaving for the day. “You know where I live, right?”
“Um…”
“Matapana Road near Palm Beach. The house is called Karearea.” It’s a New Zealand falcon, sleek, fast, and rare. It doesn’t surprise me he picked that. “You can stay the night,” he says. “I have several spare rooms.”
My eyes sting. “You don’t have to do that…”
“I want to. You sound like you need a hug.”
“I do.” I sniff.
“Good.” He’s smiling. “I’ll meet you there in about fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Drive carefully.” He ends the call.
I program the location into Google Maps, then look over my shoulder at Thea. “You remember Kingi?” She nods. “We’re going to go and stay with him for the night. Is that okay? He lives in a big house overlooking the beach.”