Chapter 30Emir

Chapter 30 Emir

Sunrise spread its buttery glow across the horizon as I trudged up the grassy hill, my most casual slacks getting damp from morning dew. Josh traipsed ahead of me, clearly keen to show off how fit he was. He’d mentioned playing cricket and running track as I’d asked him about sports, and shrugged several times when I asked about school.

The way he’d jumped on finding a missing horse told me the teenager needed a distraction. He seemed at peace here, probably happier in rubber boots and a hoodie than in the preppy school uniform I’d seen in one of Janie’s photos.

I could tell Janie was trying to deal with this alone, and it bothered me. I didn’t know how, but I wanted a future with her. Josh was her family, which meant he’d be my family, too. But it was way too early. I had no right to butt myself into the situation.

When we made it to the back of the property, something caught my eye. Part of the fence had been flattened.

“Do you think Molly went through this?” Josh asked, pushing the loose fence post with his foot.

“If she did, she must have been very spooked.”

I remembered this part of the fence had been leaning a bit, with one fence post in an awkward angle. The weather had been fine, which meant that something or someone had pushed on the fencepost, hard. Horses were strong and could probably bust through any fence they chose. But why? She hadn’t taken the opportunity when the fencing had been in a much poorer condition.

“She must have gone through here. Do you know the area?” I asked. “We could split up here. You go closer to the road, I’ll go up the hill and around that bit of bush, and we meet at the next house.”

I knew the neighbor’s mansion was somewhere there, behind the greenery. I’d seen it enough times when driving past, even if I wasn’t sure of the distance on foot.

“Mr Pattison’s house?” Josh pulled a face. “If she’s gone there, he’s going to be mad! That guy came for a visit when we first moved in and had a go at Mom about keeping the animals in check. Apparently, whoever owned our house last used to let them wander over and they’d destroy his garden.”

“Did your mom buy the house with the animals?”

“Yeah. The horses… there used to be two but the other one was old and sick. They didn’t tell us that. And then the chickens, but they had mites, and they didn’t tell us that either. Dad wanted to…” he motioned across his neck, “but Mom wouldn’t let him. She spent so much money trying to treat them.”

I nodded, imagining Janie despair. “What about the pigs?”

Josh glanced to his side, thinking. “Uh… I don’t know where she got those. It was later. Why?” His gaze snapped to mine, and I knew what he was asking.

Why was I gathering information on his mother?

“I’m in love with your mother. She told you we’re together, right?”

Josh nodded, regarding me with a wary look. I couldn’t blame him.

“I want to be straight with you. Because I can’t stay here. I have to fly back to Istanbul soon. And while I’m gone… your mom is here by herself. Two days ago, someone broke into the house. We walked in on them. I went after the guy, but it was dark, and I lost sight of him.”

Josh glanced at the broken fence, suddenly alert. “Do you think they went through here?”

He was a sharp guy. “Possibly. I went the wrong way, down the driveway.”

“So, we should keep an eye on any other broken fences or snapped branches or something, to see which way he went?”

“It’s a long shot, but sure. He might have had a vehicle of some kind.”

“A dirt bike maybe? It leaves tracks.”

“Okay. Good. Check for those.”

For the first time since I’d seen him last night, Josh looked fully awake.

“I’ve changed the lock and installed a security light. I don’t think the burglar is coming back, but I need you to look after your mom. Especially when I have to leave.”

“I will.”

I wondered if Janie would have protested about me telling her son about the break-in, but I felt like I had no choice. Something about the whole thing still bothered me, like a niggling stone inside my shoe. If Josh was going to be here, I needed him to keep watch.

I picked my way through the flattened fence, gesturing for Josh to follow. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go together and come back along the road. I might need a local guide.”

Josh’s smile was a little lopsided, but still reminded me of Janie. “I only lived here a few months.”

“Well, it’s more than me.”

We walked in silence for a while, my shoes getting wet from the dew.

“So, what happens after you go to Istanbul? Do you come back?”

“I hope so.”

“I mean, you want to come back to New Zealand?” He looked at me with suspicion.

“Why not?”

Josh shrugged. “I don’t know. Istanbul sounds cool.”

“I guess.”

We waded through long grass and reached the edge of the bush, walking alongside of it. I could see the neighbor’s mansion peeking from behind the next hill. In a strange way, it reminded me of the houses lining up the beachfront in the suburb of the rich and famous of Bebek, Istanbul. Only, this one wasn’t rubbing walls with the house next door. It stood in the middle of nowhere, declaring its owner’s wealth to the hills around it.

It didn’t take long before we spotted Molly—deep in the vegetable garden. She’d made a mess of it and was munching on a large cabbage head. Still, I was relieved. Losing her beloved horse wasn’t something I wanted to add to Janie’s list of worries. And maybe I wanted to be the hero who brought her back.

Josh gave me a wide-eyed look.

“I take it Mr. Pattison’s not going to be happy about this?”

He shook his head in slow motion.

I gestured him to follow me towards the front of the house, stopping behind a large tree. And there he was—Mr. Pattison in the flesh. A stocky, greying man in khakis and a puffer vest, waxing a vintage Ford parked outside the triple garage. I saw a glimpse of at least two other cars. A vintage fleet.

I turned to Josh. “Okay. I have an idea, but I need your help. I’m going to walk back to the road, come up the driveway and distract him. Meanwhile, you go to Molly and lead her away. Pick some lettuce or whatever she likes and use that as bait. I’ll meet you back at the house.”

“Which house?”

“I mean… home. Back home.” It was Josh’s home, even if I couldn’t claim the word.

Josh nodded, his face a picture of concentration, and headed back to the veggie garden, hiding behind bushes. I tramped down towards the main road and cut to the driveway, brushing my shirt and slacks. Once I was within talking distance, I raised my hand at Mr. Pattison.

“Hello! My car broke down and I’m waiting for a tow truck. Could I trouble you for a glass of water?”

The man jumped, then narrowed his eyes, regarding me with suspicion before throwing on a hospitable smile. “Hello. Where’s that accent of yours from?”

“I’m Turkish.”

“Are you the Turkish fella staying with Ms. Andrews?”

I jerked back at his question, fighting to keep my voice neutral. “Ms. Andrews?” I knew he was talking about Janie, but I hoped confusion would buy me some time.

“Yes. Janie Andrews. I keep hearing she’s found herself a Turkish fella. Is that you?”

I met his challenging gaze. “I suppose so.”

I’d never been called a Turkish fella, courtesy of having lived my whole life in Turkey. Did it bother me? I took a breath, taking note of the odd feeling in my stomach. This is what we’d always be with Janie—the odd ones out. Either me in New Zealand, or her in Turkey. She’d be the New Zealand woman. Would it bother her?

From the corner of my eye, right behind his back, I saw Josh walking Molly, a huge head of cabbage under his arm. No, not just the head. The entire stalk and roots hung off the thing. Mr. Pattison would be left scratching his head at the damages. I had to say something, to keep his eyes on me.

“I’m helping on Janie’s farm. She’s hosting my brother’s engagement party and we’re trying to get the place fixed up by then. There’s quite a bit of… what’s the word…” I waved my hand, as if searching for the right term, making him wait as Josh coaxed the stubborn horse through the gardens.

“Work?”

Did he really think I was struggling with the English word for ‘work’?

Josh and the horse finally disappeared behind the bushes, and I exhaled.

“Yes, work!” I smacked myself on the forehead.

Cem should have seen me. There were two actors in the family, now. A movie star and an idiot who wasn’t good enough for community theater.

“Must be a lot of work. She’s let the place go since the divorce. Fencing is down here and there. It’s a wonder her horse hasn’t escaped.”

I forced a smile on my face. “Don’t worry. I’ve been fixing those fences, making sure the horse stays in. Anyway, I should get going. The tow truck will be here shortly.”

“What about that glass of water?”

“I just remembered there’s a water bottle in my trunk.” I thanked him, lifted my hand in goodbye and turned around, hurrying down the driveway. The last thing I saw was Mr. Pattison scratching his bald head.