Mallory gazed out the window as the plane descended into Queenstown, New Zealand. Over two thousand kilometres separated her from the life she’d known in Melbourne, a life she’d willingly left behind, fascinated by the memories of her family’s history. Outside, the landscape unfolded like a painted masterpiece. Jagged peaks dusted with snow rose beside a vast lake shimmering under the sunlight, its royal blue depths seemingly bottomless. Winding roads traced the landscape, weaving along the water’s edge at the foot of the mountains.

Her heart raced, knowing this would soon be her new home, a place she could see herself falling in love with.

“You can see Mt Cook over there. Or Aoraki, as they call it now,” the older man beside her said, gesturing towards the mountains. “He stands tall above all the other peaks.”

Mallory glanced out. Sure enough, one peak rose higher than the rest, peeking through the clouds in the distance. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“You’re here on a holiday?” he inquired.

Mallory hesitated. Drained of all energy, she couldn’t bring herself to explain. The farewell to her friends in Melbourne, especially to Maggie, had taken its toll. “Yes,” she lied, guilt tugging at her.

“You travelling alone? Brave thing, that,” he said kindly. “But you have a good time, aye?”

His words struck her more than they should have, reminding her of the truth of it. Yes, she was alone… And the reality of it was slowly sinking in.

The man turned to get the flight attendant’s attention, and Mallory gazed back out the window, mesmerised by the view of Queenstown nestled against the shimmering lake, a gondola going up a mountain, and boats sprinkled across the water. She instinctively grabbed her phone to capture some images. The blue sky with merely a few wispy clouds allowed her a clear view extending far into the distance. Would she see alpine mountains like this where she was headed?

She tightened her grip on the armrest as the plane landed with a couple of jolts and came to a quick stop, pulling Mallory out of her thoughts.

A mix of excitement and apprehension bubbled inside her, and Mallory barely noticed that the seatbelt light turned off. Instead, she reached for her bag, sliding her phone inside just as the screen lit up from the movement. The screensaver appeared with a snapshot of her with her friend Maggie, drenched from head to toe, caught off guard by an unexpected wave during their last trip to the coast. She could almost hear their laughter echoing in her mind as she remembered the long drive home, both of them caught in the amusement all the way.

Her mind drifted back to the previous evening, when Maggie had shown up with fish and chips, calling it a proper goodbye. Fidgeting as she placed the food on the table, she scanned the room until her eyes landed on Mallory’s bags.

Finally, she looked up. “Come on, Mon, nobody will think less of you if you pull the plug on this crazy plan,” Maggie had urged.

Mallory had smiled, pleased Maggie still used her old nickname: Mon, short for Mallory O’Neill, a reminder of all their years together. “It’s not crazy,” she had insisted, though her voice carried a touch of uncertainty. “Well, okay, maybe it is. But it’s a great opportunity. There’s nothing keeping me here.”

Maggie had raised an eyebrow. “Nothing? You’re saying I’m nothing? John, Liz, Jane. We’re nothing?”

Mallory’s heart had ached, suddenly aware of what she’d said. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“It most certainly sounded like it, though,” Maggie had countered. She let out a sigh. “You’ve just had three of your paintings accepted at the gallery down the road,” she had pointed out.

Mallory had released a long breath, crossing her arms defensively. “Really? Three paintings that may or may not sell over the next months. That’s not enough to live on.”

“It’s a start, Mon.” Maggie’s voice had softened. “You don’t have to run off to another country just because things aren’t happening as fast as you’d like. You can sell the house and live off that money. It would set you up nicely.”

Mallory had nodded. “Yes, I could. I might even consider that. Who knows?” She’d shrugged. “But first I want to check it out. There’s a grandmother I have never heard of who’s left me a house. I don’t know. I can’t just sell it.”

“But you can just leave everything behind for this stranger?”

They had gone back and forth, neither willing to budge, the smell of the fish and chips filling the room but neither of them touching the food. Mallory knew Maggie was just worried. But Mallory had made her choice, and she wasn’t turning back. Life had been a challenge. Maybe, just maybe, this was her chance to something better.

By the time Maggie had left, her untouched dinner was still on the table. But deep inside, Mallory squashed the doubts that had crept up at the edges of her mind. It wasn’t just the art gallery acceptance Maggie had mentioned, or her few friends Mallory was leaving behind. It was the comfort of the familiar and the safety of not taking risks.

But here she was, sitting in a plane, flying towards an unfamiliar life.

Everyone moved off their chairs and reached for their luggage. It was chaotic for the next ten minutes, with most of the passengers trying to get out at the same time.

Mallory stayed in her seat. A sudden sadness and worry overwhelmed her. There was no turning back anymore. It was going to be different. Of course it would be; after all, she was moving from a metropolitan city to a small coastal town with a thousand or so people, if that. Everything familiar was back in Australia, and she needed to find her feet again in so many ways.

She held back the tears, took one of the serviettes she’d forgotten to hand over as rubbish, and cleared her nose.

Yet, the journey had only just begun, and she knew she was capable of embracing the possibilities that lay ahead in her new home despite her worries. Her mother had raised her to be independent and strong, and she’d be disappointed if she saw Mallory fail at this … as she had with so many things since her mother passed.

The old man beside her shifted in his seat, clearly struggling a little with the small overhead bag above him. Without hesitation, Mallory stood and offered, “Let me help you with that.” She carefully pulled it down and handed it to him with a warm smile.

“You have a wonderful holiday, aye,” the old man said as they disembarked.

She smiled again, touched by his kindness. “I sure will. Thank you.”

Exhaling deeply, she stood as well, took all her belongings, and followed the crowd. Her heart raced as she moved along with all the other passengers, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. This was it. Her opportunity for a change, a new beginning, and she wasn’t going to let this slip through her fingers. Mallory stepped off the plane and down the stairs onto the tarmac. A crisp breeze that carried a scent of fresh mountain air combined with the sharp tang of jet fuel made her shiver. She wished she could thank her mystery grandmother for leaving her a house. Why had her mother kept her a secret? Why hadn’t she ever mentioned her? A twinge of sadness trickled through her, thinking of her mum, who had lost her life two years earlier. The loss was still raw for Mallory. One moment, her mother was full of life, laughing over breakfast, and the next — gone. An aneurysm, the doctors had said. No warning. No time to say goodbye. Barely fifty years old, and everything changed in an instant. Her throat tightened as she navigated through the queues for immigration and passport control, remembering the loneliness that had followed. It had hit her hard. Her mother had been her world, her anchor. There was no one else. She’d never known her biological father, who’d been just a fleeting moment in her mother’s life and who she had never talked of. But that never mattered. They’d been a team, always together, always enough for each other. Mallory wouldn’t complain. Her childhood had been a blur of love, laughter, and many wonderful memories. And then Jacob came into the picture. Her mother’s face would light up around him as if she’d found another piece of happiness. They still had their fun, their inside jokes, their easy bond. Mallory smiled at the memory, and a bittersweet warmth filled her chest.

After clearing passport control, Mallory collected her luggage, and half an hour later, she was outside, loading her bags into the rental car’s boot. She set her destination on the GPS. But a short distance into the drive, she stopped, captivated by the breathtaking scenery. Snow still covered the mountain peaks, leaving her in awe, wondering if this wintry spectacle lasted all year. The beauty surpassed even her fond memories of childhood trips to the Victorian Alps with her mother.

As she continued her drive along the highway on the eastern shore of the lake, she stopped again at the Devils Staircase Lookout Point, capturing even more images of the stunning lake views. Her travels took her through Kingston and Lumsden until she finally arrived in Gore in the late afternoon. Tiredness spread through her body, and she decided to stay the night in a hotel, to finish the drive the next day. A quick scroll through social media and a brief message to friends informing them of her safe arrival was all she did before heading to bed. She even messaged Jacob, her mother’s partner. Their relationship had gradually drifted apart after her mother’s passing, and the goodbye hadn’t been positive. Neither of them had truly coped with the loss of Mallory’s mother and they’d had different ideas about how to move forward. Jacob struggled to accept her decision to leave. It hurt, and eventually, the contact had stopped completely.

She switched off her phone and snuggled into bed, imagining her new home as a peaceful seaside haven, the kind of place where time slowed and worries faded with each passing day. But even she had moments of doubt. The beautiful scenery she’d been admiring all day was now a reminder of everything familiar she’d left behind. Could she build a life here, alone, in a house that hadn’t been lived in for months, and most importantly, could she find a job? Were Maggie and Jacob right that she might have not been running towards something better, but just running away?

Despite her tiredness, sleep didn’t come easy, but when it finally did, her dreams were filled with hopeful signs like gushing water, dolphins, and whales swimming just out of reach — all of it giving comfort.

But dreams had a way of being deceiving, and no amount of internet searches could have prepared her for what lay ahead.

 

~ ~ ~

 

Cameron tossed his tools in the back of the car when he heard someone shouting his name. It was Amy. Swiftly, he turned, wearing a forced smile.

“Cameron. Took you long enough to hear me,” she said, a hint of breathlessness in her voice. “Hello, Buddy.” She extended both hands to give his Collie, who patiently sat on the passenger seat with his head out the window, a thorough rub.

“Good morning. How can I help you? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re always in a hurry.” She leaned against his car, crossing her arms. “So, Sofia’s granddaughter arrives tomorrow, and from what I’ve heard, you haven’t done a damn thing yet to the house.”

He nonchalantly shrugged. “I have my hands full, especially with the new houses and the repair works at the hotel.”

With a sigh, Amy placed her hand on his arm. “Look, I know you have a lot on your plate, but Sofia’s granddaughter is counting on this place to be what she imagined. This woman is coming here expecting the house to look like the photos Lucy sent her.”

Again, he casually raised his shoulder in a dismissive shrug, gently moving her hand off his arm. “You should’ve thought about it before you sent her those photos. I can’t see why this is suddenly my problem. Lucy works in real estate. Isn’t there a code against deception?”

“We wanted her to fall in love with the place. Rumour has it, she was about to sell the house. And then what?”

Amy’s concern echoed in her words, but Cameron entertained the notion that one less woman in the area would mean fewer prying eyes. He’d moved here for the peace and quiet, discovered his talent for a bit of tinkering, and had since become the go-to person for local maintenance and carpentry. But living in a small town also meant that there was no escape. Everyone needed something. And as much as he wanted to be left alone, he couldn’t afford to not work.

“Look,” she pleaded. “Could you at least make sure she has electricity and water, preferably hot water as well?” She tilted her head and added a super sweet, “Please?”

Checking the time, Cameron asked, “When’s she coming?”

“Tomorrow,” Amy told him with a hint of excitement in her voice.

Sighing, Cameron relented. “Fine. I’ll take a look. But don’t expect miracles, Amy.” He rubbed the back of his neck and added, “I owe Sofia.” He stared into the distance towards Sofia’s house, wondering if she’d known how much she’d helped him during those months after… well, after everything. When his world had collapsed, her door had been open for him, at any time of the day.

With unexpected swiftness, Amy leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You’re the best,” she declared, giving Buddy another pat on the head. “You are too.” She laughed.

“I’m the only one. And what have I told you about the kissing.”

Waving her hand dismissively, Amy marched off towards the real estate office. “Aww, you love my kisses.”

Her laughter faded into the distance, leaving him with a comfortable quiet again. Cameron leaned against his car, the wind tugging at his shirt, and despite himself, he let out a soft chuckle. Locals often described Amy as a force of nature, a storm to be reckoned with. Over time, he had learnt to appreciate her, especially her strong sense of community. In the early days after his move to Anahera Bay, she had kept asking him to fix or build something in her house, fuelling suspicions that there might be something else to it. However, he soon found out that her intentions had been purely platonic as she was happily married to Troy, the local hotel manager.

“Buddy, I think this town has enough women, don’t you?” he mused, prompting a whine from the collie as the dog settled on the seat.

“I wish I had your life,” Cameron said quietly, giving Buddy’s fur a scratch. “No troubles in the world. And you always have food in the bowl at six o’clock.”

He walked around the car and hopped in, making his way to Mr Henderson, the local pub owner, who wanted Cameron to check out his fence because of the recent night’s strong winds. Hoping the repair would be easy to fix so he’d have time afterwards to visit Sofia’s house to check the power and water.

He’d liked the old lady. Granted, she had been a bit eccentric, but honest and generous to the bone. She’d lived a rough life, and she’d worked hard for the money she’d made over the years, some of it possibly not always on the legal side of things, according to her without going into details. But she’d given back to the community as much as possible. Cameron had respected Sofia, and he felt a sense of duty to ensure her granddaughter’s welcome to Anahera Bay was as smooth as possible.

Sofia had been a strong woman who simply wanted to live a content and happy life until the very end, and she had achieved just that. Cameron fondly remembered the many dinners at her place, where she had also told him about Isabella, the daughter she had never known. What she hadn’t realised at the time was that she’d also had a granddaughter.

Buddy’s whining interrupted his thoughts, and Cameron laughed. “Sorry, mate, I keep forgetting that you don’t like the windy roads. Maybe I should’ve moved to Outback Australia instead?”

The day flew past, and he was even able to get Sofia’s house sorted for her granddaughter.

“Buddy, what do you think? How long will the girl stay here? A week or a month?”

The dog let out a bark, which made Cameron laugh. “Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I give her a week, not more.”

When he sat on his front verandah later in the evening, watching the sunset with a beer in hand, Lucy stopped by.

“What can I do for you, Lucy?” he greeted her.

Amusement crossed her face. “Hello to you, too.” She stepped onto the verandah and joined him on the double seater. Buddy nudged her with his nose, and after getting a friendly rub, he settled down next to Cameron. “Amy said she talked to you about—”

“All done. This girl will have power and water.” He took a sip of his beer. “You know you’re doing a pretty nasty thing to her, right?”

Eyes wide, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He shook his head. “Sofia deserves better. She was too old to look after the house, and it’s been six months now since she passed. The house needs some serious cleaning. You should’ve at least done that.”

Lucy elbowed him into his arms. “You’re offering your services?”

He choked back a snort. “Nope.”

She sighed. “Work is crazy at the moment. I’m all over the place. Everyone is buying a house all of a sudden, and Amy’s busy with helping Troy in the hotel.” She gave him a bit of a nudge. “Please,” she begged.

“Nope.”

“Theoretically, it’s not my fault, but Sofia left it in a terrible state.”

“Theoretically, that is correct, but you modified the images you sent to her granddaughter.”

Lucy blew out a big breath. “I know it wasn’t perfect, but we needed her to come. It’s Sofia’s house. It needs to stay in the family.”

Cameron turned to meet her gaze. “Why?”

With a shrug, she said, “Because it’s Sofia’s granddaughter. I’m sure she’ll be just as much fun.”

“Sofia found out she had a granddaughter a year before she’d died. If she had wanted to meet her, she would’ve had enough time to do so.”

Lucy nodded. “But why add her into her will?”

Cameron shrugged and downed the rest of his beer before he stood. “Guilt for leaving her daughter behind? Either way, you meddled with it. You fix it yourself.”