Page 126 of Even Ground
“Where did you book the motel?”
“In Havelock North. Then it’s not far to go and see your friend.”
I lean back in my seat. “I don’t know this guy personally. His audition was amazing, but so were some of the others.”
“I Googled him. He’s pretty cute.” She glances at me, and I take in the grin on her face.
“I’m cuter.”
“Yes you are, my beautiful baby man.” She does that baby voice that Delaney does when she’s taking the piss out of Josh. But before I can respond, she takes a deep breath. “There’s something I want to show you.”
We drive along what looks like the main street of Napier. To the left is the beach with the waters of the South Pacific ocean stretching as far as the eye can see. The street is lined with pine trees, and we drive a short distance before Pania stops the car.
I close my eyes as I step out and breathe in the sea air. The sun settles on my skin and warms me.
“Reece?”
I open my eyes and meet Pania’s gaze. “Just enjoying this weather. What are we doing here?”
She locks the car, walks around it, and grabs my hand. “This way.”
Leading down a path to a large white fountain, we then take a right turn and end up at the base of a bronze statue, going green with age. It’s a woman, her legs bent under her body, her breasts bared. She gazes out toward the water, a wistful smile on her face.
“This is Pania of the Reef,” Pania says. “My dad grew up not far from here. When I was born, he named me Pania.” She places her hand on the rock underneath the statue. “After her.”
“What’s her story?”
Pania smiles. “She was a sea maiden who fell in love with a Maori chief, living with him at night, but she had to return to the sea by morning or she’d die. He was desperate to keep her with him, and got advice from a kaumatua—a wise elder—that if she ate cooked food, she wouldn’t be allowed to go back to the ocean.”
I cock my head. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
She shakes her head. “Well, he waited until she was asleep and tried to feed her. But she woke and was horrified that he’d risk her life that way. So she returned to the sea and left him forever.”
She wraps her arms around my waist, and I kiss her temple. “I can’t say I blame her.”
“Some say she can still be seen beyond the reef, her arms outstretched, imploring her lover to explain why he did it. Or maybe she’s showing him she still loves him.” Pania leans her head against mine. “I always thought it was a story about the crazy things people do for love.”
“You mean like flying halfway around the world when I was supposed to be filming a TV ad.”
She leans back, her mouth hanging open. “No.”
“I forgot all about it. The only thing I could think about was getting to you.”
Her eyes search mine, and I slowly nod.
“Reece, you didn’t.”
“I did. My agent called me not long after I got here and told me off. She sorted it out.”
Pania rolls her eyes and laughs. “Oh my God! You’re hopeless. What am I ever going to do with you?”
“Whatever you want to.” I plant a soft kiss on her lips.
Waves crash against the stony beach nearby, spraying the air with salty mist. Pania takes my hand and leads me to a nearby bench where a wall shelters us from the spray, but we still get the taste of salt in the air.
“You haven’t told me much about your father.”
“My dad died a couple of years before Delaney went on her OE.”