Find Me (Trust Me, Find Me 2)

The bellowed order rolled around the wind and the shoreline in the stillness.

From the bedroom window, through the scope, Irish’s body shifted a little to the left. He was wobbling. He was gone.

Shaun got ready again.

“Give me Sion Edwards.”

Irish’s voice sounded reedy and dry.

Tane stood tall and Shaun waited for the next move.

Would the warrior come and drag him down there? Swap him for his daughter?

He was prepared to go.

But Tane stood still, unarmed, staring steadily. His physical power slowly sapping the Scouser’s strength. But a stalemate, nevertheless.

Shaun had one more option. Risky, but he could see the gun man’s nerve ebbing away.

Slowly, Shaun swung the bedroom window wide open. In full view, he stood in the sunlight, Irish centred in the gun’s scope.

“I’m right here.”

His voice carried down onto the ground below.

Startled, Irish moved.

Swinging his shotgun up wildly towards Shaun like he was shooting grouse rising from the moor, he suddenly reared back as Tane Matene threw himself in a death leap onto him.

Triggers were pulled.

The bolt action 0.22 delivered its bullet to the target’s head, the hole perfectly centred between his eyes.

Claire screamed.

“Dad!”

On the ground before her lay two bodies.

One dead.

The other, lifeless; the blood seeping from his blasted arm into the sand.

His blown-off hand, fingers curled, lay discarded a few feet away at the water’s edge.

Epilogue

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“Nau mai, Haere mai.”

The still air is filled with the strong, powerful Karanga call from the small black-lipped lady in front of the red-carved marae. She invites the guests to step forward into the holy meeting house of her ancestors.

Surrounded by my new family, I smile nervously at my koroua and kuia. My grandparents. They’re so lovely. I’ve stayed with them quite often, and I love to spend time cooking with my kuia. And she’s made a special manuka honey balm for my scar. It’s helped a little but I’m not fooling myself, the scar is with me forever. I’ve made my peace with it.

Kuia calls me, ‘Her lost one’. Her two daughters, Amiria and Areta, my aunties, are much younger than Tane and Ari. They stand beside her now and I can tell that she’s proud of them. A doctor and a lawyer.

Ari stands alongside Shaun. And towering over me, at my other side is my father, ex-gang leader, Tane Matene.

I place my hand on the crook of his handless arm. I can tell that it’s a big day for him too.

The crowd squashes into the marae and there are too many people for me to spot faces. It’s a big blur, but I know that Frank and Celia are in there somewhere.

It was touch and go if Frank would make it at one point, he’d lost so much blood. Physically, he’s recovering well. But, he’s not been back into the store, even though it’s been over a year. They’ve been travelling a lot. Italy, France, and they met up with Christos in Crete.

A manager’s running the camping shop until it’s sold. Frank says he’ll not miss it, one jot. Plus, it means he has more time teaching Shaun and our lake lodge visitors how to fish like a Kiwi.

“Dad?” I whisper in Tane’s ear. “We’ve been wanting to ask you something?”

Shaun and I’ve been discussing this, and we really want to do it. Now seems the right time.

“Can we take your name? Cobain means nothing. Your family are everything to us.”

The big man breathes heavily, kisses me on the cheek and gives a nod of consent to Shaun.

“I’d be honoured,” he says. “I thank God every day that you found me.”

My heart fills my chest. All the things Tane has been and has become. Professional athlete, hard-nut criminal, an amputee. And now, after six months of training, an inspirational speaker. He’s been going around schools talking about life choices. I am deeply proud to call him my dad. When I used to think about his name on my birth certificate, fantasise about who my father was, I never imagined this.

Shaun squeezes my hand.

“You look so beautiful, Claire.”

And a little bewildered by the words in this strange language before we step up to take our vows.

“We’ve got this,” Shaun says softly to me, feeling my nerves.

We place kakahu, capes of feathers, around each other’s shoulders and come together in a hongi, our noses touching in exquisite silence. Man and wife.

There are no rings. Instead, two matching intricate designs swirled in black lie over our ring fingers, pointing upwards across the back of our hands towards our hearts. Our commitment etched indelibly onto our skin.

After the ceremony, the guests line up and press their noses to ours, welcoming us into the family.

Later, there’ll be more. Much more, with singing and dancing, hakas and hangi; traditional Maori celebrations.

The line of family finally dwindles.

“Mr Matene,” I say with a grin, gazing up into his deep blue eyes, our first moment alone.

“Mrs Matene.”

He leans down, his lips meeting mine, then kissing me deeply.

“Uh-hum!”

Somewhere a throat is cleared very loudly.

“Err...sorry to interrupt.” The voice is British and male.

We pull apart.

“We weren’t sure what to do about the noses thing.”

“Oh my God! Annie. Jac. Jason…”

“And this is Luke,” Jason adds.

“Luke. Great to meet you.”

Shaun embraces Jason’s partner.

“You’re here!”

I hug each of our friends in turn.

“But...How? I thought you couldn’t come… and where’s little Seren?”

“Callista’s got her,” Annie grins, “No way could we miss this.”

“And you’ve been here the whole time?”

Annie nods.

“We were at the back, in case Seren started joining in.”

Callista, Jac’s mother, rushes up towards us.

“Claire, my darling. Congratulations!”

She winks at me.

“I knew it wouldn’t take you long to find him.”

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Her long grey dreadlocked hair is held up in a batik print silk scarf, her fine grey linen dress hugging her slender, willowy body.

I can’t help myself, I snuggle Annie and Jac’s baby girl in my arms.

“She’s so adorable.”

“Who’s that?”

Callista’s eyes wander towards the tall tattooed man standing across from them on the other side of the marae.

“Callista, let me introduce you.”

Taking her breath away, Tane Matene leans down, a little shyly if I’m not mistaken and presses his nose to hers. They move apart but their eyes are still on each other.

The look I give Annie makes her giggle.

“What about her partner, Sam?”

I blow a kiss on the baby’s cheek.

“Split up a year ago. Too straight-laced.”

I can see that. Not everyone can handle Callista’s energy and love for life.

It’s later that evening when Annie finds me.

Jac has taken Seren to try and get her to sleep, and the party’s in full swing.

We’ve been eating delicious smoked meat and vegetables from the hangi and there’s a big bonfire on the beach in front of the marae.

“I love this place,” Annie announces.

I don’t disagree. Our new home. My new family.

“You know, there are things I need to tell you, Claire,” she begins.

I look at her warily.

“Mum wrote me a letter a few days before she died. Callista gave it to me the day you left on your travels.”

“What did it say?”

“Everything about what happened that night my father died. But you know all about that by now, right?”

“Shaun told me about what your mother did. I’m so sorry, Annie.”

Annie stares out at the full moon, rising high above the sea.

“She was brave. I don’t blame her for what she did. She stood up to him, even though she was dying.”

I’m not sure what to say so I stroke her shoulder.

“Shaun covered it up.”

A shiver runs through me. Is she angry about that? Does she blame Shaun?

“What’ve you done with the letter? Did you take it to the police?”

“I burned it. I reckon what’s done is done.”

Shaun wanders over towards us and takes my hand.

“So, what do you think?”