The Family She Needs

‘Good morning, you two. Hope you’ve given Mickey his breakfast?’

Karina jerked out of his arms and spun around to stare at Mr Grumpy as though she’d never seen him before. Her fingers were pressing her bottom lip as if she was trying to keep that kiss there.

‘Mickey?’ she squeaked.

‘Is having a lie-in.’ Logan stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder, and eyeballed Jonty, who had a stupid grin on that wrinkled face of his.

‘You won’t be interested in doing any more digging this morning, then.’ Jonty clomped up the steps to stand right in front of them.

Logan relaxed. ‘I was on my way to see you.’

‘Humph,’ Jonty grunted.

Ignoring the interruption, Logan continued, ‘We’re heading up Mount Arthur—taking Mickey to see the snow. Do you want to come?’

‘Why the heck people like rolling around in that stuff is beyond me.’

‘Come on, Jonty. It will be fun. Can you picture Mickey throwing snowballs?’ Karina had finally found her voice.

‘Unfortunately, I can. What time you leaving?’

Karina gave him a quick hug. ‘Ten o’clock. I’ll pack a lunch and some drinks.’

Jonty stomped back down to the path. ‘None of that lemonade stuff for me. Hot tea is the only thing.’

‘Guess that’s a yes, then?’ Karina called after him, and then turned back to Logan.

Her face was his favourite colour—pink. Her eyes were filled with mischief and wonder. Then she leaned close and traced her finger over his chest.

‘I’m sorry you had a bad time. Let’s have some fun today.’

He just had. What could be more fun than kissing a hot woman? He hadn’t enjoyed himself so much in a long time. Which showed how much he’d lost his grip on reality.

He had no right to be kissing his nephew’s guardian. It would only set up difficulties for further down the track. What if they disagreed on Mickey’s education or health plan? How could they resolve things amicably if they’d briefly got too close and personal? How did parents deal with these situations? Parents. He was not nor ever likely to be a parent, given his penchant for working in inhospitable places. He was a guardian. Full-stop. But that meant giving the same love and care and concern, didn’t it? Like a parent.

Logan swore silently. He was caught whichever way he looked at it. Sighing, he gave up his one-sided argument. ‘Want me to get Mickey up? Give him the good news?’

‘Sure. There are plenty of thick clothes on the bottom shelf of his closet.’

Karina turned to go inside.

Who’d have believed something as ordinary as a car driving by could have led to him kissing her? Though he was glad she’d stopped pushing for more answers than he was prepared to give, he felt they’d crossed a line in their relationship. No longer were they only Mickey’s guardians at loggerheads about where he’d live. Those problems remained, but now Karina knew a little of what drove him and he knew how far she was prepared to go to look out for those she cared about—a very long way.

He did not need or want that from her. The things that had tipped his world upside down, including James’s death, were his to absorb and cope with alone.

* * *

Karina sat up front with Logan, giving him occasional directions as they drove through the valley alongside the Motueka River. Frost glittered on the grass in the paddocks and on kiwi fruit vines while the sun made a feeble attempt to warm the world.

She tried to ignore that kiss. Failed. If only that kiss had a future. But it had come out of a moment of shock on her part and fear on Logan’s. His fear had been quickly followed by embarrassment, and then he’d kissed her. To erase that fear? Or in the hope of diverting her so she’d forget what she’d seen?

‘What’s snow?’ Mickey shouted from behind her.

‘It’s like ice, only all mashed up. Like if I put it in the blender to whizz round and round.’

Logan flicked an amused glance her way. ‘Where do you get these ideas?’

‘Have you got a better way of explaining it?’ Her smile was teasing, taunting him to come up with something.

Which he damned well did. Too easily. ‘It’s like hard ice cream, buddy, but it doesn’t taste half as good.’

‘Yippee! I’m going to have ice cream all day!’ Mickey yelled.

‘Shh, you’re giving my eardrums a hard time.’ Karina looked around and shook her head at the excited wee guy. ‘Mr Grumpy’s probably wishing he’d stayed home right about now.’

‘No, he isn’t. He’s having fun with me.’ The decibels dropped infinitesimally.

Jonty winced and rubbed his ears. ‘What did you say? I’ve gone deaf.’

Mickey knew a cue when he got one. He yelled, ‘You and me are having fun!’

‘Mickey,’ Logan growled in a low tone. ‘Stop shouting. There’s no need for it.’

‘I like yelling.’

‘Stop right now. It’s not nice.’

‘Okay.’ That was said with much less energy.

Karina let go the breath she’d been holding. ‘Phew,’ she whispered. ‘Thought we were in for an argument.’

‘Who makes the snow?’ Mickey asked next, without deafening anyone.

Logan shot her a grin. ‘Answer that one.’

She pulled a face at him and launched into an explanation. ‘It’s part of the weather. You know how rain comes out of the clouds? Well, snow is like frozen clouds that land on the ground, but it’s thicker than rain.’

‘Very good,’ Logan muttered.

‘Can I jump and splash in it?’

‘You can jump in it, and you’ll get wet, but it won’t splash. It’s good for making snowmen. We’re going to build one today.’

‘Can I build my own?’ The yelling was back.

‘Quieter, buddy. And yes, you can. Mr Grumpy’s brought along a sled for you to ride down the slope on, too.’ Logan turned up the mountain road Karina pointed to. ‘Here we go.’

Karina immediately asked, ‘Isn’t riding a sled dangerous?’

‘What’s the worst that can happen? He’ll tip over, for sure, but you said there aren’t any cliffs, and the slope’s not steep. It’s good for him to push his boundaries in a safe environment.’

This was why Mickey needed his Uncle Logan around. ‘I suppose...’

Looking out at the snow-covered trees, Karina felt a small fizz of excitement in her veins. She hadn’t done anything like this for so long.

Behind her, Jonty said to M

ickey, ‘It’s going to be freezing cold and you’ll soon be wet as a fish. The way those two up the front go on, anyone would think this is fun.’

Smiling, she glanced across at Logan and saw him smiling too. Impulsively she touched his arm, and spoke quietly enough that only he could hear. ‘Knew he’d be thrilled to come.’

‘Exactly.’

‘It’s rude to whisper in front of others.’

‘Yes, Jonty.’

Finally Logan pulled the vehicle into a parking space and looked around. ‘Appears half of Motueka’s here.’

‘Definitely the place to be.’ There were children in every direction, and adults trying to keep up with their offspring. ‘Let’s get amongst it.’

Mickey ran straight for the biggest mound of snow he could see and jumped into it. His look of astonishment when his feet disappeared was priceless. Karina clicked her camera madly, afraid to miss any of his antics.

‘Come on. You’re missing out on the fun.’

Logan reached for the camera but she ducked out of his reach and clicked a picture of him. Just for the record. Nothing to do with capturing that beautiful face and its rare happy expression. ‘Go and jump in with Mickey. I’ll get a couple more shots, then join you.’

‘Silly fools. They’ll get soaked.’ Jonty stood beside her.

‘That’s why there’s a bag of towels and clothes for everyone in the back of the car.’ She snapped more photos—plenty of Logan as well as Mickey. It was a golden opportunity to take Logan’s picture without having to explain why.

Jonty put out his hand. ‘Give me that fandangled thing. I’ll take the snaps while you join in the circus.’

‘Okay. Do you know how to use it?’

‘It’s a camera, isn’t it?’ His gnarled hand closed around the small device. ‘Which button do I push?’ Five minutes later Jonty declared, ‘I know what I’m doing, girl. Leave me to it, will you?’

The photos probably wouldn’t be great, but what did it matter? She’d have memories of today, and she could take more pictures later on.

Bending down, she scooped up a handful of snow and shaped it into a ball. ‘Hey, Mickey, look at this.’ Taking careful aim, she lightly threw the ball at his middle.