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"No Aggie," Harold retorted. "I do not want to address any science conference. I haven't been near a research laboratory for ten years. In science, that is like a dinosaur being asked to appear beside a genetically enhanced dairy cow."
"But Dad," his daughter argued. "That paper of yours was before its time and the strain of Red Giant you originally wanted marked is selling so well the shares of Alderfield Chemicals and Produce have almost doubled."
"Which puts it only about three generations behind current research." Harold gave a slow smile. "Anyway in the present climate I’d have to fight my way through all the protesters against genetic engineering. No Aggie, I do not want to go back and, anyhow, I have more important things to do."
"Like what?"
"Get married and buy a farm."
Doctor Angelina Sands-Bentley studied the elderly man who was her father and broke into a smile. "Oh Dad," she replied. “I’m thrilled."
"About the farm or getting married?"
"Farm! What farm?" The woman's eyebrows rose.
"Well, quarter a farm, actually." Harold grinned at his daughter's response. "That avalanche drove Kelvin Newson to the wall. He's selling up and retiring to town. His brother has bought most of his farm but Kelvin sold me the hundred acres or so at this end."
"A giant slip that nothing will grow on!" Aggie frowned. "What's the use of that, Dad?"
"Not much, but my purchase also included his house and two good quality paddocks that border John's property. Once I remove all the junk around, it will be a sound investment. I also intend to replant the slip in pine trees."
"And where did you get the money, Dad?"
"I sold the Alderfield Chemicals and Produce shares I had been given when they purchased the rights to the Alpha Strain from me. They won't stay up, you know."
Doctor Angelina Sands-Bentley grinned. "So it's been helpful to you after all, Dad? After all that arguing to get you to even accept them."
"Well, if you can't beat them, join them."
"And does Fiona know?"
"It was her idea," Harold replied. "She is one astute woman, Aggie."
*
Four weeks later in a special little gully beside three of the most rare trees in the world, Harold and Fiona exchanged marriage vowels. The tree daisies were in full bloom with the scented flowers adding to the tranquillity on the scene. The stream tumbled by and foliage was lush. Overhead, chirping fantails darted around to snap up insects from the air and cicadas competed with the frogs to serenade the bridal couple.
It was an exclusive wedding with the only newcomer being the young vicar officiating. Even baby Caroline had been lowered down in her carrycot and seemed to sense the importance of the occasion as she gurgled in her mother's and big sisters' arms and two dogs trotted excitedly around sniffing the undergrowth.
Afterwards, they all drove down to Little Oasis, as Fiona had renamed Kelvin Newson's old house, to a small reception. The house, a seventy year old character home, had already been repainted on the exterior and had had the kitchen renovated while the outside jungle of neglected trees and hedges had been trimmed, a new lawn sown and gardens in the process of being replanted.
"Do you like it Sweetheart?" Fiona asked Julie as they walked in the new open plan kitchen. There was a breakfast bar and the latest in sink top facilities, dishwasher, new refrigerator, deep freeze, extractor fans above a sink top stove, everything.
"Grandma," Julie gasped. “It’s wonderful and makes our one seem quite antiquated. Can I come and do some cooking here sometime?"
"That's the general idea, Sweetheart. This can be your second home," She smiled and led her granddaughter up the corridor and into a tiny bedroom. “This is for Caroline. After all, she'll be here everyday while Kylena is at work."
Julie and Helen, who had accompanied them, both gasped.
The wallpaper was covered in giant teddy bears and the room was filled with baby's gear.
"She will be as spoilt as her big sisters," Kylena interrupted
"Mommy!" retorted Helen. She glared at her stepmother with her hands on her hips. "We're a family. That's what you always say."
"And families do things for each other," added Julie.
*
Outside, John and Harold were examining the grounds.
"It's quite a change from when Kelvin was here," the younger man complimented as he gazed around the smooth brown soil that still had to grow into the lawn. "When I first saw the junk left here by Kelvin, I wondered if you had got a bargain, after all."
"Yes." Harold shrugged. “It had been neglected, that was all. The buildings are sound and the farm buildings in particular were kept functional. Kelvin even had a new water bore drilled only a few years back so there is an excellent water supply. In fact, it could be linked to yours to provide the top tanks with an extra supply."
"Only if you sign that partnership agreement," John replied.
Harold smiled and placed a hand on John's shoulder. "If you insist but it's not necessary, my friend. Through your children and Fiona we must be related, you know. How about a Family Trust instead?"
"For all the wives and daughters in our lives?"
"Something like that," Harold responded. There was a tiny twinkle in his eyes. "Agreed?"
"Why not?" John replied and gripped his companion's hand. 'I must admit those extra grazing fields you bought with this property will be a great benefit for our operation. We could..." He continued talking as they walked to examine the wool shed with Bella and Sissy in hot pursuit.
*
After an hour of attending to Caroline who had one of those baby rashes and diarrhoea, Kylena once more found herself awake. It was mid winter and a southerly gale was rattling on the windows while the temperature hovered around freezing. What was it that had awoken her? John was asleep and breathing softly beside her, the baby was asleep at last but she was sure something had disturbed her sleep.
She shrugged and turned over just as a sound caught her ears. Someone was sobbing. The only other person in the house was Helen so it must be her. Kylena grimaced, reached for her dressing gown, made her way along the hall to the little girl's room and switched the light on.
"What is it, Sweetheart? " she whispered.
The seven year old was sitting up in bed with tears streaming from her eyes.
"Nobody wants me, Mommy," Helen sobbed.
“Of course we want you, Sweetheart," Kylena replied. She sat on the bed and tucked an arm around her stepdaughter. "What made you think that?'"
"Everybody comes in and says, 'How's the baby?' and pick her up. You've got Caroline. Daddy's got you. Grandma's got Harold and Julie's got friends at high school. I've got nobody."
"Oh Sweetheart," Kylena replied. "Yes you have. You have everyone. We all love you."
The youngster looked up. "Even Grandma just talks to Caroline and tells me to hush up when I try to tell her everything I've done at school. You're too busy and Daddy is too."
Kylena frowned. Diane had told her Helen's work had gone downhill and there had been a few little incidences with other children at school. With the baby to look after, it was easy to ignore Helen. She was usually a happy confident girl who just fitted in. Obviously, though, she had taken things to heart.
"Well, we'd better do something about this, hadn't we?" she said.
"What, Mommy?" Helen sniffed
Kylena sat in the dull light for a second thinking. "I know," she said. "I'm pretty worn out. What say just you and me have a day off school and go down to Palmerston North. Just the two of us! Daddy's pretty busy on the farm, Grandma can look after Caroline as usual and we'll do all the things you like."
"But you've got school, Mommy." Wide eyes stared across the bed.
"Yes, but I have not had a day off this year. I think I'll have one tomorrow so there'll be just us doing things. How does that sound?"
"Can I go for a swim in the indoor pool?"
"Why not?"
Kylena nodded. 'How about the movies, too? They have ten thirty sessions and I know of two movies on you might like?"
"And you'll do that just for me?"
"That's right?"
"I'd like that Mommy," Helen sniffed and cuddled back into bed.
*
The weather was terrible but Kylena and Helen did everything promised. They swam, watched a movie, ate hamburgers and visited the Science Centre. Helen's eyes shone as they drove out of town at three fifteen and onto Feilding. Just as hundreds of school children poured into the streets Kylena drove up to the hostel and found Julie having an afternoon drink.
"Kylena, a what are you doing here?" Julie shouted. "Hi Helen. How are you?"
"We've been to Palmy," Helen boasted. "I went to the movies and Mommy even came swimming with me."
"Did you?" Julie smiled. "Aren't you lucky?" She glanced around at the five other girls in the kitchen. "This is Mom and my little sister, Helen," she introduced.
"Hi Helen." The girls all smiled and a moment later one of the other girls took Helen off to examine the bedrooms.
When she had gone, Julie frowned. "What's wrong, Kylena and where's the baby?"
"At home with your grandmother and nothing's wrong. Poor Helen just felt neglected so I decided to have a day off work and spend it with her. I think she misses you at home."
Julie nodded. "You know, I miss her at times, too. I never thought I would."
"Can you tell her that," Kylena answered. "She was so down hearted last night."
"Sure Mom," Julie replied. “I’ll go and find her. Come on. I'll show you my room." She stood and grinned. "I even manage to keep it tidy."
They were about to walk up the corridor when a dark haired girl about seventeen walked into the room.
"Hello Mrs. Berg, I'm Suzanne," an American voice said. 'I'm the American Exchange Student. I heard Julie's little sister's voice and it made me think of home. My brother is about her age."
"Hi Suzanne," Kylena replied. "I guess you don't hear many American voices."
"Only Julie's ... all the time," the girl replied and laughed at the snort her younger schoolmate made. "Not that I mind. I like it here but everything is so different, it's sure great to have someone from home around."
Kylena sensed there was one other homesick girl at the hostel but before she could say any more, Helen came rushing back tugging on Julie's arm. The youngster began chatting to everybody about nothing in particular but everything in general.
Kylena smiled. The day had been a success for both herself and the seven- year-old who needed a little reassuring that she was appreciated in their family.
"See you Friday," Helen waved as they retreated to the car.
"Mom," Julie poked her head in the car window. "Can Suzanne come home with me one weekend? I know she's a senior but I think she'd like our place."
"Sure, Julie, anytime," Kylena replied.
*
After a week's heavy rain, Top Oasis was saturated and the Land Rover stuck on the top plateau with mud almost up to its hubcaps. John peered in the driver's window with water pouring off his hat onto an unturned collar.
"I knew we shouldn't have come up here, today," he muttered at Kylena behind the wheel.
"I know my dear but you know Harold. He wanted to check out the tree daisies and it was lucky we did."
"Sure," John replied. "If that small slip wasn't cleared, the stream could have backed up and flooded the whole gully." He broke into a grin. "But now we need more manpower back here to try to push the Rover out."
Kylena glanced around the interior at an apprehensive Helen in the back seat and the more pragmatic Julie sitting beside her.
"There's only woman power in here, my sweet," she grinned,
"I'll drive while you help Dad and Harold push," Julie cut in.
Kylena looked doubtful but John nodded. "Okay but leave it in low and if we get traction, just keep her going. Don't stop until you reach the gravel patch back on the track. Once there, stop and wait for us. Okay!"
"Sure Dad."
"What about me?" Helen piped up.
"Sit beside Julie and make sure your seat belt is on," John directed. "You can tell her when she reaches the gravel."
"And don't bump me," big sister ordered. “You dogs hush up, too or go out in the rain." She glowered in the rear vision mirror at Bella and Sissy barking in the rear. Even the dogs were hesitant about going out into the storm.
After giving a few more instructions to his daughter, John joined Kylena and the pair sloshed in the mud to the rear of the vehicle. Harold glanced up and wiped a hand across his face. The gaunt look he had when they had first met had gone; he'd put on weight and his tanned face made him look a decade younger than his years.
"You push, lass, while we try to lift," he shouted above the roar of the motor and rain.
Kylena nodded and couldn't help smiling. Both men were saturated and splattered in mud while she could barely move her own feet in the slosh but she felt relaxed and contented.
John caught her expression and grinned. "What is it?" he asked.
"I was just thinking," she replied. "Look at us, soaked to the skin and wallowing in stinking mud but I couldn't be more happy."
John reached across, wrapped a wet arm around and squeezed her tight. "I know," he said in a soft voice. Their eyes and lips met in an expression of love.
"Okay, Julie!" John yelled when they were ready. “Get going!"
*
With her tongue sticking out between her lips in concentration, the teenager gripped the wheel and let out the clutch. Four wheels spun, diesel smoke poured from the exhaust, the engine growled and mud spattered up in a high arch over the vehicle.
At the rear the two men lifted while Kylena pushed. The Land Rover slithered to the side and sent a streak of muddy water right into her face. She spluttered but continued to push the vehicle but with no result. John banged the window again, Julie shoved the clutch in and the old vehicle sank back down in the sludge.
"Almost," Harold muttered. He walked forward to inspect where he had placed sacks in front of the wheels. Two had been crunched into a ball but the other pair were under the tyres. He wedged a fence post across in front of the rear wheels and grunted in satisfaction.
"This should work," he added and glanced up at Julie's white face. "Just keep her going this time, lass. Nice and steady, like. Not too many revs."
Once more the three adults lifted and heaved, Helen shouted instructions about how close the gravel was while Julie gripped the steering wheel and stared out through the windshield wipers. Her feet operated the clutch and accelerator and the half engaged engine roared.
The Land Rover shuddered, the sacks disappeared into the sludge but the wheels gripped and propelled everyone forward. It slithered and slid for five metres with the young driver holding the steering wheel with white knuckles and an apprehensive expression on her face.
The four wheels skidded again; mud still splattered everywhere but the Land Rover moved forward onto the gravel, jerked and stalled. But they were clear. Julie smiled as her father opened the door and congratulated her.
"I helped, too," Helen shouted.
"You sure did, Sweetheart,” John laughed. “You were both marvellous."
"Can I drive home down the track, Dad?" a cheeky Julie asked.
"You cannot," her father replied.
Julie laughed and slid across the passenger's seat beside her sister while Harold and Kylena tumbled into the rear.
"My God, I'm wet," Kylena grunted. "I reckon I'll never get clean for a week." She swished a muddy hand over her face to remove hair plastered over of her eyes. "I hope Grandma's got Caroline fed and the kettle on."
"She will." Harold replied. "I know her."
John chuckled and started the Land Rover. With three muddy adults, a teenager, seven year old and two wet dogs crowded in the interior the windows steamed up. They were, though, mobile and heading down the farm track home.
He felt a soft hand grip his shoulder and smiled as a faint whiff of his wife's damp hair reached his nose. So much had happened in the eighteen months since his family's arrival at Top Oasis, a new wife, baby, two growing daughters he was proud of and a recluse who had become a friend married his mother-in-law. There had been troubles and tragedies but they had come through it with strength to face the challengers of the future.
He sighed. Yes, it was had been a busy time, a whole new life but one he would not swap with anyone.
"I bags the first shower," he proclaimed.
"No," Kylena’s voice whispered in his ear just before warm lips kissed him. "We'll have one together."
The End
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