‘To be honest, I’ve never met a woman like you before. One who makes me feel so good. One who makes me relax and at the same time seems relaxed around me.’
‘I’m relaxed around you,’ she said. ‘But you wouldn’t like me if you knew me better.’
‘I’d like the chance to determine that for myself.’
‘I don’t want to disappoint you.’
‘How could you disappoint me?’
‘It’s such a lot to explain.’
‘I have all night, all week, my whole life.’
Aimee turned and looked at him. He could see the emotion in her eyes. It looked like she was hurting. Was he doing this to her? God, he hoped he wasn’t.
‘Do you want to sit down?’ he asked, looking around and seeing no seats. Aimee nodded and also turned to look about. Matt saw his cue, this was better than offering her his jacket. He took it off, and spread it out on the ground.
‘Wow, you’re serious about this, aren’t you?’ She asked him, smiling broadly.
‘I am.’
They sat down closely together so they could both fit on their tiny makeshift blanket. The cool air enveloped them, but neither of them grew too cold.
‘I’m no good at relationships,’ Aimee said. ‘The only one I had turned out disastrously.’
‘Can I ask what happened?’
‘It was a car crash.’
‘What?’ Matt recoiled.
‘We met in a car crash. I had just moved to Auckland for uni and a truck clipped the back of my car one morning. I got out all prepared to scream down the driver, and fell in love instead.’
‘Oh, thank God. I thought you meant he died in an accident.’
‘No. He was a trucker. Actually, his Dad owned a freight company and Russell kept it in the family.’
‘Tell me about him. At least then I can avoid his mistakes.’
They talked for more than two hours. In that time, the sun completely set and they could scarcely see each other. The hotel glistened somewhere behind Matt, and the lights reflected in Aimee’s eyes. Occasionally, as Aimee told Matt about her long relationship, which ended a couple of years earlier, the glistening of the lights travelled down her cheeks in a tear. Matthew had to fight himself to not reach over and wipe the tears away. She opened herself up to him. He didn’t want to overstep an unknown boundary and cause her to close up.
‘A week before the wedding, I discovered the rumours were true. He really did have a bird in every town up and down the country.’
‘So how did Emma know before you did?’ Matt was worried he knew the answer already.
‘She was one of them.’
‘Ouch, some bridesmaid.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘Thanks for telling me about it. I mean, I understand how a relationship like that could make you cautious. But you deserve happiness, and shouldn’t let one bad experience deny you that happiness. There are plenty of men in the world who would never treat you the way he did.’
‘And you’re one of those men?’ Aimee asked, smiling.
‘I’d like to be given the chance.’
The silence lasted an eternity. Longer. Matt didn’t break it though, he waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts. He could hear his heart beating. Could she?
‘I don’t know, Matthew.’ Her voice was no more than a whisper. ‘I like you too. Honestly.’
‘But?’
Matt heard all the lines going through his head. I just think of you as a friend. He had heard that one before. You’re just too nice for me. Blah blah.
‘I need time. I need to think about this. Can you give me some time?’
Matt just about jumped up on the spot to dance a little jig. Are you kidding? This was better than any response he had imagined to a situation like this. It was beyond his wildest dreams. She was going to actually consider it!
He smiled at her warmly. ‘Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.’
‘Thanks Matt.’ She returned his smile. ‘Shall we head back?’
He stood and reached down to help her up. For the second time that evening, Aimee and Matthew were connected. As she took his hand, electric shocks ran through his body. Matt had never felt like this before. He wanted the night to last forever. He wanted to hold her forever. She walked back to the hotel holding his hand the whole way. He floated. As they said goodnight, Aimee leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek, thanking him for being so understanding. It might never be washed again. He told her he would sit in the lounge bar for a while, and watched her ascend the stairs as gracefully as she had arrived. When she disappeared out of sight, he walked out of the hotel and across the ever-cooling golf course. It took him forever to find his jacket.
CHAPTER 26
Saturday, October 2, 1526
We have not reached the Moluccas, but we have sighted land! A lot of it. It lay directly in front of us on our wind-forced south-westerly heading. We approached closer, but kept a safe distance from the coast, being unsure about reefs and having sighted natives on the headland. We were becalmed and used the opportunity to collect a good bounty from the sea under the watchful eyes of the natives. The wind having picked up, we have tacked to the north and will follow the coast for a few days and see what we can find. We are in need of fresh water and it would be good to get vegetables or fruit if we can find a suitable harbour. It is very exciting to be here. I think this land may be the edge of Terra Australis. My quadrant suggests that we are somewhere around 38 degrees south.
Friday, October 8, 1526
After five leagues of northerly coasting, we followed a large cape around to the west. The coast then sunk to the south-west in what appeared to be a huge bay. However, a pillar of smoke directly to the west drew my attention and so I had the master steer us towards it. As we got closer, it became apparent that there was an island in the middle of the bay, an erupting volcano. These are unpredictable and so I ordered a change of course to the south, to the coast again, about eleven leagues away. Due south from the volcano, we found a safe harbour and have anchored there yesterday. The fishing is good and fresh water in plentiful supply. Because our sweet potato plants are suffering, we have planted them here and hope to return to collect the vegetable at a later time. Some men ventured a short distance into the thick forested hills, but returned without fruit. They did manage to capture some birds and they collected the eggs of these. They have made a tasty treat. The exploration party report no sighting of any natives.
We will stay here for a few days to replenish our supplies and energy. Then we will set off on our continued exploration of the coast to the west.
CHAPTER 27
Te Papa Museum of New Zealand loomed over them. Matt stood with Aimee in a large open plaza. The museum was modern and attractive. To the left, it was a large curvy stone structure, to the right the building was composed of triangular structures of stone and glass. The entrance fell between them and was a large wall of glass. Inside, the building was just as airy as it appeared from outside.
Matt asked a guide where they would find the Spanish Helmet.
‘Oh, you mean the Iron helmet,’ the guide said, after checking in a computer terminal. ‘Item number ME000841. It’s part of the Taonga Maori collection. You’ll find it here.’ He made a little circle on a map and handed it to Matt.
They made their way through groups of school children and tourists until they located the correct room and stood in front of a glass cabinet containing the helmet.
‘I’m going to have to believe them that it’s Spanish,’ Aimee said. ‘I’m no expert.’
‘It’s in fairly good condition, considering it spent so much time in the water.’
‘Actually,’ Aimee said, pointing at the information plaque under the helmets display cabinet. ‘It says here it can’t have spent long in the water. Here, let me read this out loud.’