Just for Now by Rosalind James

Christchurch
at the beginning of the school year. The earthquakes finally got to be too much
for us.” She continued at Jenna’s sympathetic murmur, “It was one thing when
the kids were littlies, when I had them with me all the time. But when Caitlin
started Year One, every time one hit, especially if it was a big one, I’d be
thinking about how to get to her. And thinking about Ethan getting ready to start
kindy too . . .”
    She sighed. “My family’s always lived in Christchurch. It
was hard to leave. We felt like traitors. But the kids were scared too. Crying
whenever there was a good shake. It just got to be too much.”
    “I can imagine,” Jenna said. “Or rather, I can’t really
imagine. What it must be like to live with so many earthquakes, not being able
to trust the ground under your feet.”
    “Every day, sometimes,” Siobhan said. “And then, of course,
the big ones. Those really do get to you. Worrying about my hubby, too. Declan
worked in the CBD. He wasn’t in one of the badly damaged buildings, thank God.
But it was awful, that day. Horrible, waiting to hear, knowing what was
happening down there. And after that, even though his firm relocated, it was
scary having him so far away from me and the kids. And all the firms that
closed, not being able to go to the café, no real city life . . .”
    She paused, looking into space. “It hasn’t felt the same
place. We resisted, for a long time. But last year, Declan began looking up
here, and we made the decision to move.”
    “It must have been so hard,” Jenna said. “After so long.”
    “Reckon you know what it’s like to move far from home,”
Siobhan said, a smile lighting her plump, freshly pretty face. “From the
States, aren’t you? Here on a working holiday visa, or for longer?”
    “Longer. I’ve been here since I was twenty-two.”
    “Really.” Siobhan’s eyebrows rose. “We don’t get many
immigrants from the States. Came here on a visit and decided to stay, eh.”
    “Not exactly. I followed a man. Classic story.”
    Siobhan nodded. “Man’s gone, I take it.”
    “ I’m gone,” Jenna corrected. “Or rather, I’m still
here, in New Zealand. But not with him. If you see what I mean.”
    “But,” she went on briskly, “it’s all good. I’m in Auckland
now, I have a good job, I’m enjoying myself.”
    “It’s hard, though, in a new place,” Siobhan said. “At least
for me. The mums are friendly enough, but . . .” she shrugged. “It takes a bit.
They have their friendships. Their kids went to kindy, Year One together. It
can be tough to be the new one.”
    “Especially if you’re a nanny,” Jenna said.
    “Even harder. And now,” Siobhan sighed as she stood up, “much
as I’d prefer to sit here and keep chatting, I reckon I’d better collect the
kids and get home, get a start on tea, or we’re not going to eat tonight.”
     
    “Did they say when you’d have it back?” Jenna asked as Finn
hopped into the Toyota at the mechanic’s where he’d just dropped off the Range
Rover on the following Tuesday afternoon.
    “A few days. I’ll get Ben Thompson to collect me, next
couple days. Won’t worry about getting it back till I’m home from Canberra. No
point. As long as you and the kids’ll give me a lift from the airport on
Sunday.”
    “Of course. I could drive you to practice too, if you’d
rather,” she offered. “And pick you up afterwards as well.”
    “Nah. No worries. Ben’ll be chuffed.”
    “Why would he be that pleased to drive you? Are you his hero
or something?”
    He laughed. “Not a hope. But he’s looking for that starting
spot. He’ll be taking the opportunity to pick my brain.”
    “And that’s OK with you?”
    “Well, to be dead honest, not so much. But it’s part of the
job to mentor the younger boys. And to make sure there’s a fit replacement
ready to go if I’m injured in the next game, or when I retire. Or, God forbid,
when he overtakes me and I’m the one