Page 91 of Hidden Gem
“I thought it doesn’t start until three?” he asked as he passed the kitchen, catching the sight of Marnie, Tanya, Shasa and Elsie hard at work.
“It doesn’t!” Shasa yelled over the kitchen island, which was packed with cupcakes and general mess. “Is someone at the door?”
Another loud knock echoed through the house. “Can you really not hear that?” Jason laughed, traipsing to the door. Whoever it was, they were determined to get in.
He glanced through the peep hole, an old habit. After the first weeks following his resignation, the press had more or less left him alone. It was probably a neighbour.
Malcolm’s rotund figure caught him off guard. What was the big guy doing here? He opened the door, widening his eyes in anticipation. “Malcolm!”
“Jason, my boy, you look good! Married life suits you!” Malcolm invited himself inside, pushing past him into the hallway. “What domestic bliss.” He grinned, sniffing the air.
“Um... what are you doing here?”
“You haven’t been following the news, have you?”
Jason shrugged. He’d told Malcolm he needed a break from everything. To his own surprise, he’d found it rather easy to stay away from the news sites. If he didn’t google his own name, he didn’t have to worry about what anyone said about him. The story of his fake degree hadn’t broken yet. The party had done their best to keep it out of the news, which he understood. But it didn’t matter anymore. If it came out, he’d own it. He’d taken the line out of his CV. The past was past, he couldn’t change it. But he could do better from now on.
Marnie met them in the hallway. Her hair had a dusting of icing sugar, and her cheeks blazed rosy as she shook the neckline of her top to let air in. Jason’s gaze dropped from her cleavage to her round belly. He could hardly believe it. The pregnancy that had been given such terrible odds, one that had started so unexpectedly, had prevailed. They were about to fill this house with so much life it would forget all about those years sitting empty, gathering dust.
Malcolm grinned, gathering Marnie into a hug. “Wow, look at you! You’re glowing! And you’ve done something to him,” he pointed at Jason, circling his finger at his eye. “I barely recognise him without those dark circles.”
She blushed, waving her hand.
“Congratulations on the baby! And the wedding.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled. “It was a very small affair.”
Jason could tell she worried about offending Malcolm; he hadn’t been invited. “We eloped,” he confirmed. “No press coverage, just a couple of friends.”
Malcolm nodded. “Good call.” He shifted his weight, dropping the smile. “Look, I wanted to pay a visit since this project was once your baby...” He glanced at Marnie’s stomach. “Of sorts. Anyway, they’ve finally decided to push it through, and I wanted you to hear it from me. I’ve been chairing the working group since you left. It’s not much of a victory, to be honest. The penalties are low. But for as long as the market is stagnant, it’ll help a bit.”
He pulled a page out of his briefcase and flapped them before Jason’s face – a press release with an embargo for the next day. Jason took the copy and skimmed over it. Malcolm was right. The tax rate was pitiful. It wouldn’t deter most people from keeping an empty investment property, especially if the prices started rising again.
Malcolm cast him an apologetic look. “If it’s any consolation, it’s thanks to you that this happened at all. If it weren’t for that first meeting—”
Jason held up his hand. “It’s fine. It’s a step to the right direction.”
Malcolm shifted closer, lowering his voice. “You still have support. With a bit of groundwork, you could get through in the next election.”
Jason handed the press release back to Malcolm, smiling. “I’ll think about it. Legislation isn’t the only way to change things.”
After returning to teaching teenagers, he’d felt the old passion for discovering talent, for supporting those who struggled. It was hard work, but when you slept at night, anything was possible.
“Very well.” Malcolm shrugged, retreating to the door. There was a hint of redness to his cheeks. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for pushing you in that direction... with the degree. In hindsight, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I guess I’ve been in the game for too long. I’ve become a bit jaded. I didn’t foresee what it might do to you, keeping that secret.”
Jason stared at him, his mouth hanging open. He’d never expected to hear these words, and he had no response at the ready.
Marnie stepped in front of him, extending her hand to Malcolm. “Thank you for looking after him in Wellington. I know you’re the one who showed him the ropes, and you even carried out the work after he couldn’t continue. You’re a legend.”
Malcolm’s face melted into a hearty smile, and he gave Marnie another squeeze, before turning to hug Jason. “You found a good woman, Jason. Hold on to her.”
“I will.” Jason coughed, his throat feeling tight. “Thank you for everything.”
Marnie had found the words he should have been able to produce. After posting that video, she’d come more and more out of her shell, and it turned out, had a winning combination of grace and charisma. She could have made a career in politics. Maybe one day, they’d do it together. With Marnie at his side, he could do anything.
Jason smiled at the idea as he opened the door to Malcolm. “I’ll walk you out. I need to show you this insane fountain we got as a wedding gift...”
***
