Embracing Change (9 page)

Sarah laughed, enjoying the light hearted banter. “I’ll give you 100%. I expected something much more basic and plain. You have a lovely set up here.”

“Room service! Would someone clear a spot on the coffee table?” Joel emerged from the kitchen with a tray of drinks and biscuits.

“Oops, that’s my stuff.” Jade gathered an armful of papers and shifted them to another table. “What will you have, Sarah?”

Easy chatter followed as they asked about Sarah’s impressions of Christchurch and her job. In turn, she questioned them about their neighbours and the security of the area. It was relaxed, but Sarah was aware she was being scrutinised and checked out as a potential flat mate. She felt at home with Jade and Trisha, but Mandy was more reserved and definitely seemed to have some kind of relationship with Joel.

After half an hour, Trisha stood. “Come and have a look through the house, Sarah. I’ll be your tour guide.” She led the way down a long passage pausing at each doorway. “This is my room.” Sarah caught a glimpse of fashion accessories draped over mirrors and lingering fragrances spilled out. “And this is Mandy’s.” The room was pin neat and conservative, with no clutter in sight. “And this whirlwind is Jade’s.” A laptop hummed on a desk, and papers were piled in haphazard stacks on the floor and window sill. A lava lamp bubbled next to Jade’s bed, crimson orbs floating in golden liquid.

The last doorway led to the room recently vacated. Sarah walked inside and liked it at once. It was smaller than her room at home but big enough for her needs. It had a built-in wardrobe and a big window that overlooked the back garden. Buttery walls and soft green carpeting gave the impression of sunshine and warmth. She walked over to the window and looked out.

“You have a summer house!” she said in delight. It was an ornate structure with lacy wood outlines and slatted seats; a perfect place to sit and write in her journal.

“We’ll go and look at it after I show you the bathrooms. Fortunately there’re two, or we’d never cope.”

The first was a shower and toilet, the second a full bathroom. Both had been modernised, as Joel mentioned, and were finished in cream tiles with a terracotta trim. “We even have heated towel rails which is a real bonus in winter.” After a quick walk through the garden and a stop at the summer house, Trisha led the way back to the lounge where Joel was relaxing with his feet up.

“So what do you think?” he asked.

“It’s lovely.”

He swung himself off the chair. “Great. Thank you, ladies. We’ll be in touch later.” Outside, he unlocked her side of the car. “Do you really like it?” he questioned.

“I do. It’s a lot nicer than I thought it would be … I’m just not sure about Mandy. I don’t think she’s comfortable with the idea of me moving in.”

Joel slipped into the driver’s seat. “Don’t worry about her. She can come across a bit snobby and aloof but she’s not really like that.”

“Well put it this way—if they offer me the room, I’ll take it. I liked Jade and Trisha and think I’d get on well with them.”

“Sweet as. I’ll give them a call later if you’d like.”

“That would be great. If the answer’s no, it’ll be easier for them to tell you.”

Joel looked across at her. “You mustn’t put yourself down, Sarah. I can’t think of any reason why they’d say no to you.”

Sarah nodded, although she disagreed. Mandy had a hidden agenda, and she was sure it involved Joel.

“Would you like to go for a drive up the Port Hills?” he continued. “And I’ll call the girls a little later.”

“I’d like that.”

Joel gave her some background as he drove. “The Port Hills separate Christchurch from Lyttelton Harbour and are part of Banks Peninsular. The whole area is formed from volcanic rock, but the last explosions were centuries ago.” He smiled. “The view from the top is amazing. You can see Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains in one direction, and the harbour and peninsular in the other—and of course the coast. On a clear day you can see as far as Kaikoura.”

“You’d make a good tour guide.”

“I’m glad you’re impressed. You’ll see the reality is far better than my descriptions, though.”

At the top, Joel parked in a viewing spot and led the way to a patch of smooth boulders. “Come up here for the best view.” He offered a hand and pulled her up.

Sarah gazed around, amazed at the 360 degree views. “I didn’t realise Christchurch was so big … and the estuary looks beautiful. I still have so much to see and learn.” They rotated slightly and gazed across the harbour, which looked like a toy, far below them.

“The containers look like matchboxes,” Joel commented, “and the ships like bath toys.”

“I love the water. Look how it’s turquoise in the harbour and deepens to blue as it merges with the ocean. I could sit here all day and look at the colours.”

“God’s creation is incredible.”

Sarah turned to him. “I noticed you had a Bible in your lounge. Do you actually read it?”

Joel chuckled. “Why?”

“Isn’t it boring?”

“Not at all. It’s the greatest love story in the world—the story of how Jesus died for us and paid the price for our sin.”

Sarah was quiet for a moment. “Why does God let bad things happen if He’s so loving?”

“We live in a world that’s damaged and contaminated by sin, Sarah. God doesn’t send sickness and suffering, but if we allow Him to, He can turn those negative things into positives.”

“I’ve never heard that before. I mean I’ve seldom been to church but I thought sickness and pain were a punishment from God.”

“Not at all. James 1:17 says: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’”

Sarah thought for a while before changing the subject. “Do you think the girls have made a decision yet?”

Joel pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Want me to find out?”

Chapter Twelve

A small spring of hope is stirring in my heart. I have a job and a place to stay.

From the journal of Sarah Johnson

Tuesday 22nd April

It feels like you’ve been here forever.” Jade pushed back from the table and smiled at Sarah. “You fit in so well.”

“I couldn’t ask for a better place to live.”

Trisha joined the conversation. “It’s been great getting to know you—and I’d love to visit Africa some day. It sounds so wild and different to New Zealand.”

“It is,” Sarah agreed, “but while I miss it, I feel much safer here.”

“I can understand that after looking at your photos.” Jade started stacking the dirty plates. “Your houses look like forts, with those high walls and electric gates.”

“Even then, you’re not safe. Many break-ins occur at night, and they don’t just take your stuff. They wake you up and demand your bank cards and PIN numbers and any weapons you have in the house. Even if you comply, they often beat you up or shoot you anyway.”

Mandy shuddered. “Sounds awful.”

“Is that the time?” Jade dumped the dishes by the sink. “I’ve been asked to attend a school play and do a write-up on it.” She looked across at Mandy. “Any chance you can swap kitchen duties with me?”

“Sorry, I’ve got a dance class in fifteen minutes.”

“Trisha?”

Black curls bounced as she swallowed the last of her apple juice. “I would, but I’m meeting Melanie at the mall. We’re going to watch a chick flick.”

Sarah started clearing the remaining items on the table. “I’m home tonight. I’ll do it for you.”

“You’re a honey.” Jade gave her a quick hug as she headed to her room. “I’ll make it up to you.”

The house quietened as the girls left, and Sarah was alone with her thoughts. It was three weeks since she’d moved in, and already she felt at home. Joel and Jade had taken her to the recycled furniture depot, and for less than $100 she found a bed and mattress, a bedside pedestal, a desk and chair, and a light-wood chest of drawers. The bed linen, pillows and table lamp she bought new.

The girls shared household duties and Sarah slipped into their routine with little trouble. Her days were filled with work, and when the weather was fine, she would take an hour to sit in the summer house and write in her journal. In the evenings, she watched a bit of television or chatted with the girls. She got on well with Jade and sometimes they went for a stroll, kicking piles of leaves and laughing as they shared stories from their day.

While she could see she was making progress, the pain was still there, stuffed under layers of busyness, and if she was by herself it bubbled up. She often drove to the Waimakiriri River on the outskirts of the city, and sat staring into turquoise braids.
Are you here, Luke? Have your ashes drifted this far, or are they spread across the mountains and plains? Maybe some have reached the sea, or even washed up on this bank
. She felt close to him there and occasionally took a few blossoms from the garden and scattered petals on the water, watching them swirl and bounce as the currents bore them off to the ocean.

Joel walked in just as Sarah was washing the last of the dishes, the plates sliding through soapy water like shells in a foamy sea. He took a tea towel and started drying up. “How’s your day been?”

“Good, thanks. I’ve almost finished the Kaikoura brochure I’ve been working on. Would you like to see it?”

“Love to.”

Sarah slipped the last dishes from the water and handed them to Joel, watching his hands as he dried up, firm and strong with square-tipped fingers and short nails. She thought back to how those hands had held hers and infused strength and comfort when she’d been sick.

“Where’re the girls tonight?”

“Mandy’s got a dance class, Jade’s working and Trisha’s gone to see a movie.” She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. “Go and sit and I’ll make some coffee.”

Joel dropped into a comfortable chair and flipped through the television channels before turning it off again.

“Anything interesting on?” Sarah asked from the kitchen.

“Just the usual stuff.” He made a space on the table as Sarah came over carrying two mugs of coffee. “Looks so creamy.”

“The art is in frothing up the milk.”

“You’re obviously an expert.”

Sarah laughed. “I worked in a coffee shop when I was a student.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Feels like a lifetime.”

Joel took a deep swallow from his mug. “Perfect.” He patted the seat next to him. “Come and tell me about work.”

She sat down. “The job’s working out really well. I pop into the town office once a week and communicate by e-mail the rest of the time.”

“Is it all brochure work?”

“Pretty much. They’re working on South Island at the moment. I’m doing the east coast while others are covering the west coast and interior.” She put her mug down. “I’ll get the latest draft for you to look at.”

Joel took the papers from her a minute later and examined them carefully. “You’re very good at what you do.”

“It’s a team effort. They have writers who visit the area and delve into the history and visit the popular tourist sites. Some of them double up as photographers, but otherwise a photographer will accompany them. I’m given the text and photos and follow a prescribed formula so the brochures all have the same look.”

Joel nodded. “I’ve done photographic work for tourism projects. It’s interesting to see the next stage in the process.”

Sarah pointed to the front of the brochure. “The information is all laid out in boxes which pick up on the colours in the photos. I love matching them up and getting the best effect possible.”

Joel studied the brochure a little longer and when he looked up, Sarah saw uncertainty written in his features.
That’s unusual. He’s normally so casual and confident.

“I came here to ask you something.”

“Sure, go ahead.”
What in the world can it be?

“I’ve been asked to do a photographic feature on the ferry that runs between Picton and Wellington. It’s a wonderful trip and very scenic ... ”

“And …?”

“I have tickets for two with all expenses paid. I wondered if you’d like to come along.” He paused. “It involves an overnight stay but we’d obviously have separate motel rooms … I thought you’d enjoy it and we’ll pass through Kaikoura and all the small towns you’ve been working on ... ”

You’re nervous
, Sarah thought.
You’re not sure how I’m going to respond
. “When are you going—and how long is the ferry trip?”

The tickets are open for any day in the next fortnight—I’ll be watching the weather forecasts as I’ll need a clear calm day. It takes three hours to cross to North Island, and the drive from here to Picton is about five hours.”

Sarah rested her chin in her hands, looking thoughtful but already knowing what her reply was going to be. “I think I’d enjoy that. Thank you for asking me.”