“Honey, you didn’t do it to hurt us, I know that.” I go over to him and hug him while he’s still got his arms around Thea.
We stand there like that for a moment, until Mum and Nina come in with the coffee and biscuits, and then we break apart with a laugh and sit with them.
“We’ve been talking, the four of us,” Mum says.
“Oh?”
Nina looks at Thea. “Why don’t you go and play in your room, love?”
“No,” Mark says. “I want her to stay. She deserves to know what’s happening.”
Nina frowns, but she doesn’t argue with him.
“I saw a therapist this morning,” Mark says. “And I’m going back to see him once a week. I’m also going to a place called Gamblers Anonymous. I’ll be talking to other people who have the same problem as me. And we’ll try to help each other to get better. I do want to.” He looks earnest. “I’m going to try.”
“That’s great,” I say with feeling. “I’m so proud of you.”
He swallows hard. “Chess… I didn’t say thank you for the money. I want to see Kingi and say thank you to him, too.”
“He knows. But yeah, you’ll have to come over to his house one day. It’s super, looking over the sea.”
He studies his feet. “You shouldn’t have faked an engagement for me.”
“It’s not fake,” Thea says. “They kissed.”
They all look at me in shock. It’s clear from their reaction that they suspected the engagement wasn’t real. And now they’re stunned that it might not be.
I shrug. “It was just a quick kiss.” I give them a mischievous smile.
“Really?” Mark’s smile spreads. “I always knew he liked you.”
He said ‘He liked you.’ Not ‘you liked him.’
“You knew he liked me?” I say, surprised. “How?”
He grins. “He never stopped talking about you. I know he kissed you when you were young. I was surprised you didn’t get together after that.”
“His father told him he could do better,” I say softly.
“Bloody cheek.” My father’s eyes flare. “You’re worth a hundred of Rangi Davis.”
I shrug. “Their world is very different from ours. Parties and balls and celebrities and big deals done every day. Our world must seem very small from such a dizzy height. But I think his chickens are coming home to roost.” I stop there, not wanting to tell them about Rangi and Huia’s divorce in case it doesn’t come to pass. I change tack. “Kingi comes from that background, but he wants to expand his world. He’s going to be the CEO of a group called the Nga Whetu Rangatahi Foundation, and he wants to help under-privileged youths get more opportunities and have a better start to life. He has a big heart.”
“And he loves you?” Mum asks, eyes wide.
“I think so. He said he’s in love with me.” I smile, barely able to believe it myself. “Look, we had a bargain—I said I’d help him look more respectable so he could get the job, and in return he said he’d give me some money to help us get back on our feet. The money was nothing to him, but everything to me. And it seemed like a small price to pay. He’s a good man, with a heart of gold, and I wanted to help him.”
“But now you’re engaged for real?” Dad asks.
“We fell in love,” I say simply. “I’m nervous that it’s just a crush for him, and I want us to take our time. We won’t be getting married anytime soon! But we were about to announce the engagement, and he said he still wants to do it, and… he wants me to move in with him.”
Nina presses her hand over her heart. “Oh, that’s so romantic.”
“I’m so pleased for you,” Mum says. “I know you’ve always liked him. Oh, it’s so nice to hear some good news.”
Dad and Mark exchange glances. Dad lifts his eyebrows, and Mark shrugs.
“What?” I ask.