She held up her arms to be picked up, and Drew obliged. “This is Ariana. Ariana, this lady is Hannah.”

  Ariana stared at her. “Are you a fairy?” she asked, eyes wide.

  “No,” Hannah smiled. “Sorry about that. Do you like fairies?”

  “I love them. They’re my very favorite. But you have fairy hair,” the little girl insisted, reaching out to touch the long spirals. “Just like in my book.”

  “I have a fairy bedroom,” she offered. “And fairy dolls too. Do you want to see?”

  “I do,” Hannah told her. “Will you show me?”

  Ariana wriggled to get down, then put her hand in Hannah’s and pulled her into the house. Drew followed, smiling and giving Reka a kiss as she hurried up.

  “Sorry, Drew. I was in the kitchen. Where’s Hannah?” she asked, looking around. “Couldn’t she come after all, then?”

  “Been dragged off to see Ariana’s bedroom. Apparently she looks like a fairy.”

  “That would do it,” Reka agreed. “I hope she doesn’t mind. But come in and have a beer. I’ll rescue her in a minute.”

  Ariana did indeed have a fairy bedroom. Her small bed was swathed in white and covered by a canopy. A fairy wallpaper border ran around the white walls, with several framed pictures of woodland fairies hanging below. A group of tiny fairies hung from the ceiling by fishing line in one corner, above a small painted table with three chairs. A big, comfortable armchair sat in another corner, and Hannah could guess that this was Ariana and her mother’s special spot.

  Hannah didn’t have to feign her delight. “It’s beautiful,” she told Ariana, as the little girl darted around the room pointing out all her favorite possessions.

  Ariana ran forward at last to pull a large picture book from a basket. “This is my fairy book. Will you read me a story?”

  Reka came into the room, followed by a two-year-old boy with the same dark curls. “The lady’s here to see the grown-ups, love. She can’t read you a book tonight.”

  “Maybe I could read a story later, at bedtime,” Hannah offered. “How would that be?”

  “That’ll do you, Ariana,” her mother ordered. “Come on now, let Miss Hannah get back to the party. She’ll read to you later, if you’re a good girl and get ready for bed with no fuss.”

  “Read me too,” the little boy demanded.

  “We’ll see,” Reka temporized. “Come on.”

  “Sorry about that,” Reka offered as she showed Hannah out to the back garden, where a large wooden deck spread under sheltering awnings, amid plantings of native cabbage trees, ferns, and flowering plants. “Those monkeys. My boy’s Jamie. And I’m Reka, by the way. I’m their mum, for my sins.”

  Hannah laughed. “They’re great,” she assured Reka. “No need to apologize. Besides, I owe you something, don’t I? For helping Drew pick out my Christmas present. The combs are perfect. I’m wearing them, see? I wanted to show you.” She touched one delicate ornament proudly.

  “They’re gorgeous. He picked them out, you know. I just helped with the size.”

  “Well, now that I’ve seen your hair, I can see how you knew what to buy,” Hannah said admiringly. Reka’s hair was pulled back into a large knot, but Hannah could tell it was as long and thick as her own, its glossy black a contrast to her own light curls. The other woman’s luminescent brown skin, large almond eyes, and rich figure were a beautiful testament to her Maori origin.

  “Maori hair,” Reka agreed. “We know something about holding up thick hair, don’t we.”

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” she went on. “I’ve been dying to meet you. Let me introduce you to people now, though.”

  To her relief, Hannah realized she knew several of the men already, from her brief introduction in the gym.

  “Good to see you again,” redheaded Kevin greeted her. “Didn’t know you were back in the country.”

  “I’m working here now,” she explained a bit self-consciously. “I have a new job that starts on Monday. I’m just getting settled in now.”

  She found herself being included easily in the relaxed conversation. She had worried that the women would be so glamorous that they would look down on her. The only examples she had been able to come up with of football players’ wives were supermodels and celebrities. If the women were glamour queens, she had thought, she’d be sunk. She would have no idea how to converse with a group of trophy wives.

  But, she found, there wasn’t too much to worry about. The women were certainly attractive. But everyone was fairly casually dressed, and seemed to know each other well and be comfortable. Some of the men even entered into discussions about children, to her surprise, rather than separating solely along gender lines. She found herself relaxing and enjoying herself as Hemi manned the barbecue and Reka offered drinks and what she called “nibbles.”

  They sat down to eat at last, spreading out among several comfortable small tables around the deck area.

  “Your teammates can certainly put away an amazing amount of protein,” Hannah marveled to Drew, watching the men dig into the huge steaks, quartered chickens, and sausages. “Not to mention everything else. What’s this, though?” she asked, indicating the vegetable she was eating. “It looks like a sweet potato, but it’s purple.”

  “That’s kumara.” Drew seemed amused. “Didn’t we feed you kumara when you were here? Maori sweet potato. The original staple food. And still a staple for all Kiwis. Red, orange, purple. Wait till winter. You may wish you’d never seen a kumara. Or a pumpkin.”

  “Too right,” Kevin agreed. “Reckon our meat’s the secret of our success, though.” He grinned at Hannah. “Beef, lamb, pork, venison. Best in the world. Builds rugby players, eh.”

  “Wow,” Hannah marveled. “So successful . . . and so modest, too.”

  Drew laughed. “Reckon she’s got you there, Kevvie.”

  “I have a rugby question too,” Hannah went on. “I keep meaning to ask you, Drew. Why do the All Blacks have that white feather on their uniforms? What does it stand for?”

  She couldn’t have said anything more amusing, she saw with dismay. Everyone at the table laughed, looking at each other and continuing to chuckle as Drew reached an arm around her, pulling her against him with a smile.

  “That’s not a feather, sweetheart,” he told her. “That’s the silver fern. The national emblem of New Zealand.”

  “Oh.” Hannah felt herself turning red, but had to laugh at herself in her turn. “You have to admit, though, it looks like a feather. I thought it was some kind of bird or something. A kiwi, maybe. And I’ve never seen a silver fern, have I?”

  “It’s the underside,” put in Jonah, a teammate who was clearly partially Maori. “Of the ponga—one of our fern trees. If you turn the leaves over, you’ll see they’re silver. Warriors used to put them upside-down in the bush when they went out hunting, or to war. When they returned by moonlight, the fronds would shine in the moonlight like beacons. Like arrows. The silver fern will always point the way home. That’s the idea, eh.”

  “Thanks,” she said gratefully. “You should see how little I know about rugby, if you think that’s bad. I’m hopeless.”

  “Never mind,” Drew said comfortingly. “It’s part of your charm.”

  “What, ignorance? I’m not so sure about that,” she answered ruefully.

  “So much to teach you, isn’t there,” he grinned at her.

  She kicked him under the table as he continued to smile, then turned with relief at a tug on her sleeve.

  “Miss Hannah?” It was Ariana, ready for bed in her pink nightgown, with her little brother by her side in Bob the Builder pajamas. “Will you read me the fairy book now?”

  “Read me too,” Jamie demanded.

  “I’ve been summoned,” Hannah excused herself. “Back soon.”

  She returned at last from Ariana’s room and met Reka in the hallway, coming to check on her.

  “Both in bed,” she assured the young mother. “We compromised—we read a fairy story and then a truck book. Twice.”

  “I’ll just give them a few minutes to settle, then.” Reka moved with Hannah to the corner of the lounge, where Drew was talking football with Hemi. “Come sit on the couch and talk to me. I’m ready to sit down. Did Drew tell you I’m expecting another baby? I’m flaked out.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Hannah exclaimed. “Not that you’re tired,” she added quickly. “You do have lovely children, though. They’re so sweet.”

  Reka laughed. “Trying to impress you, that’s all. They’re not so lovely, some days. But I reckon I’ll keep them. This one’s about three months along. I should begin feeling better any time, and none too soon. You must have nieces and nephews yourself, though. To be so good with kids.”

  “No, but I helped raise my brother and sister. I used to read a lot to them when they were younger. It’s nice to have the chance again.”

  “You’ll want kids of your own, then, someday,” Reka guessed.

  Hannah smiled. “I don’t know. I certainly enjoy them. Thanks for letting me borrow yours for a while.”

  “Don’t you miss your family, being here now?”

  “I do,” Hannah sighed. “It was a tough decision to make. But it’s only for a year or two.”

  Reka raised her eyebrows at that. “But you moved down here to be with Drew, didn’t you?” He had been half-listening, and turned now, moving towards them on hearing his name.

  “Sounds like it’s serious,” Reka went on.

  “I’m not sure,” Hannah answered, just as Drew said, “Yes.”

  Hannah flushed, confused. “I mean, I just got here.”

  Hemi laughed. “You don’t have to answer her, you know, Hannah. Doesn’t know when to stop, does she.”

  Drew came to sit with Hannah, taking her hand and squeezing it for reassurance.

  “You’re mistaken, Reka. Hannah moved down here for her job. I was just the bonus,” he said solemnly. “I’ve already been put right on that one.”

  “The bonus?” Hemi shared a look with Reka and laughed. “Don’t think you’ve ever been called that before, mate.”

  “So you just happened to get a job in New Zealand, after you’d met our boy here?” Reka teased.

  “Could we move on to another subject, please?” Hannah asked, smiling but embarrassed. She nudged Drew in the ribs with her elbow to let him know what she thought of his sharing, but he just chuckled.

  “Here’s an easy one, then,” Reka continued, unperturbed. “How did you two meet? You were here on holiday, right?”

  “That’s almost more embarrassing,” Hannah admitted. “He rescued me.” She told the story, laughing at herself, but Hemi frowned with concern.

  “Nothing to take lightly, those rips. You need to be careful in the sea. Heaps of drownings every year. Not just tourists, either. Fishermen, kids. Good job Drew was there, I’d say.”

  “I know,” Hannah answered, sobered. “It was my lucky day. I do know that.”

  “Sounds to me like it was Drew’s lucky day, eh,” Hemi answered.

  Hannah was happy to be rescued from the conversation by the arrival of some of the other guests. She liked Reka and Hemi, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to share the details of her relationship with Drew. Not when she was so unsure of it herself.

  The evening wasn’t a late one. Several of the other players and their wives had young children as well, and a general exodus to relieve babysitters emptied the house by eleven. Hemi and Reka moved around slowly, picking up glasses and straightening furniture as they chatted about the evening.

  “Drew’s fair gone, I’d say,” Hemi commented. “Not sure about her.”

  “She’s a lovely girl,” Reka answered. “I do wonder why she’s holding back. She’s not playing games, I don’t think. Just careful, maybe. Probably why he fancies her so much. Bit of a change for him, isn’t it.”

  “Well, don’t ask her about it,” her husband advised with a smile. “You embarrassed the poor girl something chronic tonight. Reckon she’ll think twice before she has a chat with you again.”

  Chapter 21

  Hemi was wrong, though. Hannah found herself beside Reka in Auckland’s rugby stadium two weeks later for a game against the Otago Highlanders, New Zealand’s southernmost team.

  “Welcome to the WAG section,” Reka smiled at her. “Football Wives and Girlfriends,” she explained as Hannah looked at her questioningly. “Don’t they say that in the States?”

  “If they do, I’ve never heard it. But this is my first game to watch in person,” Hannah confessed. “I have no idea what I’m about to see. I hope you won’t mind educating me a bit. I saw the game they played in Wellington last week, on TV. And the announcers helped a little. But I’m still pretty confused.”

  “Course I’ll help. How was your first fortnight at work, then?” Reka asked as they waited for the stadium to fill and the game to begin.

  “Good, I think. I think I’ll like it. It’s different. I’m not used to that open-plan office space, for one thing. No cubicles, even. It’s a little distracting, I find.”

  “We don’t like private offices much. We like people to be on an equal footing. And to chat, maybe,” Reka conceded. “But I can imagine it would take some getting used to.”

  “Otherwise, though,” Hannah went on, “it’s good. I like the people. Everyone’s been really friendly. And I’m figuring out how I can help, where I can make a difference. One thing that’s better, I sure could get used to leaving by five-thirty every day. Sometimes I even leave at five,” she announced proudly. “Like tonight.”

  “Didn’t you do that before, then?” Reka asked.

  Hannah laughed. “Not even close. More like eight. I still get in pretty early in the morning. But it’s nice to have the whole evening.”

  “Reckon Drew wouldn’t be too happy if you were at work late every night,” Reka agreed. “The boys need their sleep during the season. How’re you coping with being left on your own when he’s gone? I realize it’s only been a couple weeks, but it takes some getting used to. Can get a bit lonely.”

  “For me, this is a lot of companionship as it is,” Hannah explained. “But my work colleagues have been really welcoming also. One of them took me over to Devonport for the day last weekend, and we had a great swim at one of the beaches there. I’ve had quite a few invitations to go out, too.”

  “Really,” Reka replied, eyebrows lifted.

  “Don’t worry,” Hannah said hastily. “I’ve declined those, the ones you mean. I meant invitations to go out for a drink with the group after work. Things like that.”

  “I was wondering for a moment there. But you and Drew are exclusive, eh. Not in some kind of open relationship.”

  “Yes—at least, I think so,” Hannah answered with a frown. “We’ve never actually discussed it. I guess we should.”

  “Always good to know. Not a bad idea to make sure.”

  “Oh, look,” Hannah pointed out, grateful for the diversion. “They’re starting.”

  “So what exactly are Drew and Hemi doing?” she asked, as play got underway. “I know Hemi’s a back, and Drew’s a forward. But what does that mean?”

  “Drew’s on the front lines there, doing the grunt work, going after the ball. Hemi’s more about offense—the flash bits,” Reka explained. “Drew’s a flanker, Hemi’s a first five-eighths. Although both forwards and backs play both offense and defense. Not like American football, where you have separate teams for each. More like hockey, I reckon.”

  “Hemi’s kicking now, see?” she pointed out. “Moving the ball forward. They can only carry the ball, pass it backwards, or kick it, to move it forward. You’ll see them kicking it a fair bit, just to get it onto the other side of the field, even though the other team may recover. Kick and chase football. Especially if they’re stuck back near their own try line.”

  “There’s the breakdown, when play stops and starts again, when the player goes to ground with the ball, once he’s tackled. And where they’re piled up, that’s the ruck,” Reka went on.

  “Look now,” she instructed, as Drew stopped the Highlander carrying the ball in his tracks with a bruising tackle, then jumped up fast to allow the other player to pass the ball back and play to resume. “That’s what makes him the best. He’ll do that all game long, you watch. Got stamina to burn, has Drew.”

  “Hemi’s an All Black too, right?” Hannah ventured.

  “For the past five years,” Reka nodded. “They’re selected every season, though. No guarantees. A player may start one year, or even one series, then be in the reserves the next—or not on the squad at all. With five New Zealand Super 15 teams to select from, there’s heaps of talent. And only fifteen starters.”

  They stopped talking for a while, watching as the Blues got the ball back, then passed it expertly in a choreographed series of moves that steadily advanced them toward the other team’s goal. Finally, Hemi flicked the ball in a deceptively simple motion to a player who came up quickly, reversed directions, and neatly outmaneuvered the charging tacklers to dive across the try line at the corner marker, sliding in on his stomach, the ball stretched in front of him.

  The crowd rose and cheered the try, Hannah and Reka with them. Reka held her breath as Hemi lined up for a kick from the outside corner of the field. Hannah watched, amazed, as he proceeded to slot the ball neatly through the goalposts from the impossible angle, and another two points were added to the five already on the board.

  “And that’s why he’s an All Black,” Reka explained proudly. “The offload—the pass. “And the kick. That precision, that’s what New Zealand rugby’s known for. Precision and toughness.”

  “I still don’t understand the scrum, though,” Hannah commented after the Blues had cruised to a seemingly easy victory.

  Reka laughed. “Neither do I, entirely,” she confessed. “Some things are just mysteries. You’ll have to ask Drew. But wait now. They’re doing the captains’ speeches. You’ll want to see this.”