Part One

The room was dimly lit, taking its only light from the pair of small, east-facing windows, while the sun sank into the west. The comfortable, well-worn furniture and the bed’s faded, old patchwork quilt looked almost a part of the room, so long had they been there. Ancient floorboards creaked gently underfoot.

For what seemed like the hundredth time, Mart took out the packet he had hidden so carefully in a little space behind the makeshift table next to his bed and examined its contents. With tender hands, he drew out each letter, each postcard, each little souvenir and let the memories flow. He was, as usual, looking for some clue that he was not making a complete fool of himself. Also as usual, he could not find that clue. Letter after letter was so innocently platonic that something inside told Mart that the attraction he felt was on his side only.

She just sees you as an interesting pen friend, he told himself angrily. You’re just someone who’s different to everyone she knows. Nothing else. Still, it did not change the deep and inescapable attraction that he felt. She’s on the other side of the world, he added, firmly. And she’s only eighteen and you’re almost twenty-four. I can almost hear the cradle-snatching jokes already.

With a grunt, he pushed the packet back where he had found it, took out a sheet of writing paper and switched on the lamp which sat on his small desk. After a few minutes thought, he wrote,

‘Dear Daphne,

‘How are you? I’ve just been talking to Uncle Andrew. You remember I told you that he was going to a conference in New Zealand at the end of next month? He’s just told me that he can’t make it and would like me to go in his place. It’s not settled yet, but if he can transfer the registration into my name, and if I can get all of the other details sorted out in time, I’ll be in Christchurch for a few days at the end of June.

‘I’m not sure yet whether I’ll be able to extend the time that I’m over there, but if I can maybe I could detour past your place on the way there or the way back. Let me know what you think.’

Now that it was written, it did not seem such a big deal any more. Friends did that sort of thing. Her family had been so kind to him the Christmas he had spent with them, as well. In the simple blue ink on ordinary note paper, the suggestion was relieved of all of the negative connotations he had feared would be evident. Slightly easier in his mind, Mart settled down to writing the rest of his news.

“Mart! A word, please,” his uncle called from the far side of the stable-yard. He gestured towards the house and soon the two were in the older man’s office, seated around the desk.

“How are the arrangements coming along for your trip?” Andrew asked, drawing a thick envelope from one of the desk drawers.

“Well, thank you,” Mart replied. “Everything seems to be falling into place. I take it they agreed to transfer the registration?”

His uncle nodded. “They did. You can go ahead and book airline reservations and so on.” He paused a moment, then dropped the envelope he held onto the desk. “While you’re travelling, though, I thought I might get you to handle a few other things for me. There’s a tentative itinerary in the front, here.”

Mart drew out the sheet and scanned it with a sinking heart. His uncle had planned stops both before and after the conference, with hardly any down-time in between. There go my plans, he thought. There’s no way I can extend the time, now.

“Will that be okay?” Uncle Andrew asked, in concern. The disappointment must have shown on his face.

“Yes, fine,” Mart replied. “I was thinking of asking for a little time off adjacent with the conference, but it doesn’t matter.”

The older man smiled. “You really did get bitten by the travelling bug,” he noted. He took the sheet from his nephew and made a couple of alterations. “I can afford to give you two days. Will that be enough to assuage the beast?”

“Thanks, Uncle Andrew,” Mart replied, trying to look grateful. “That would be great.”

“There’s some mail for you, Mart,” Mrs. Gorman announced, as he headed into the farmhouse for his evening meal one night.

Mart thanked her and scooped up the small pile on his way past. He flicked through the envelopes until he came to one with an Australian stamp. His heart skipped a beat. Would she have gotten the second letter yet? he wondered. After finding out that the tentative plan he had put forward would not be possible, Mart had quickly penned a note of explanation to Daphne. It would be sickening if the second letter had not reached her before she responded to the first. With slightly shaking fingers, he ripped the letter open and slid out its contents. With relief, he realised that he had worried for nothing.

‘Dear Marty,’ she had written. ‘Sorry that you can’t make it over here, but I think I’ve got a better idea anyway. My last exam for the semester should be over by then, so I think I might be able to join you.

‘I’ve got a bit of money in the bank and I’ve checked how much the airfares are. I’ve got some rellies to visit in another town nearby while you’re at the conference. So long as I can find somewhere cheap to stay in Christchurch for those other couple of days, I should be able to afford it. Let me know the details and, hopefully, I’ll see you there.’

The letter dropped out of his hand. Could she really want to see him that much? Mart knew that she had been saving for a car of her own. A slow smile crossed his face as he determined to make things a little easier on her. If she’ll let me, I’ll pay her airfares, he decided. Maybe he wasn’t such a fool after all.

As the weeks passed, Mart found it more and more difficult to hide the growing excitement he felt. The days seemed to drag by at snail’s pace, despite the busyness of preparing for the trip. Worst of all was the week he spent en route to the conference visiting farm supply companies, researching new equipment and seeing it in use. The whole while, his mind kept straying to places he would rather be.

So it was that when he finally found himself walking through customs at Christchurch International Airport, he could hardly believe that it was real. Clearing the barrier, he saw that Daphne was waiting for him, a radiant smile lighting her face as their eyes met.

“Mart!” she squealed, throwing herself at him. “It’s so good to see you.”

“And you even remembered my right name.” He smiled as he returned the hug, hardly able to think or breathe, let alone speak, over the wild beating of his heart. “Good to see you, too.”

As they made their way out through the airport, Daphne chattering happily, Mart thought to himself, It’s not just me. There’s really something there. I can feel it. The very thought warmed him inside.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Marty?” she asked cheekily, just as he was thinking these things.

He stopped. “I just can’t believe that we’re actually here together,” he remarked, looking at her a little more closely. Something about her had changed since they had last met. Her blonde hair was a little shorter, falling in soft waves around her shoulders, but that was not the difference. There was a look in her eyes that was new. “I don’t know how many times I’ve wondered if I’d ever see you again.”

“I kind of wondered that, too,” she replied, with a tentative smile. “I’ve been hoping that we would.”

“Same here.” He hefted his suitcase as a hint that they should get moving again. “So, what are the plans?”

“There are plans?” She feigned surprise. “That’s news to me.” The dismay he felt must have shown on his face, for she smiled. “Just kidding. First, you need to collect your hire car and we’ll get you checked in to your motel. Then, seeing as the temperature has risen as far as you might expect at this time of year and this close to Antarctica, I was thinking we might take a walk. I know a couple of places we could go.”

This plan was quickly executed, and within an hour the two were strolling along the banks of the River Avon, which flowed through the city. Wintry sunshine struggled through the light cloud, making little glints of light on the calm surface of the water.

“You know,” Daphne mused softly, as they walked along, “we don’t really need plans. All I really want to do is spend time with you.”

For a moment, Mart’s heart seized in his chest. “That’s what I want, too,” he finally answered. “Though, don’t you think it would be better for us to see the sights together? I mean, I’ve been here before, and that was really nice, but I’d rather have someone with whom to share the experience.”

Her blue eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’d like to share some experiences with you, Mart. What did you have in mind?”

“You’re making fun of me,” he complained, with a frown.

Daphne shrugged. “Someone’s got to.”

Mart’s eyes narrowed. “I think you might need to be put in your place. How would you like to be tossed in the river?”

A chilly breeze swept past at that moment and apprehension swiftly crossed her face. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Wouldn’t I?” he asked, sweeping her into his arms and crossing the intervening space before she had a chance to struggle free. He held her over the edge as she clutched at his neck.

“If you do, you’re coming with me!” she threatened.

Mart loosened his grip on her and, feeling herself falling, she let out a shriek – only to find that he was still holding her weight. A long moment later, he swung her away from the water and set her feet on the ground.

“Mart!” she cried, her voice high with fright.

He laughed, taking her arm and pulling her away from the cold, calm waters a short distance below. “Come on. We’ve got some sights to see.”

The next two days flew past for Mart in a whirlwind of activity. The pair roamed the city until their feet ached, drove over the hills to Lyttelton Harbour, enjoying beautiful views of the city on one side and of Pegasus Bay on the other, and lingered over long, leisurely meals. Finally, Mart had to face the true purpose of his trip – the conference – and say goodbye to Daphne for a few days. She would be staying with relatives in nearby Ashburton during that time.

“I’ll see you at the end of the conference,” Daphne told him, as she got into her cousin’s car. “Don’t you dare leave without saying goodbye properly!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Mart replied, with a smile.

The door closed and the car pulled away from the curb. In a few minutes, it was lost from view. Mart remained on the footpath, looking after it in a forlorn manner. Five days of being so close and yet so far away, he mourned. How am I ever going to survive?

When it was over, Mart wondered exactly how he had managed to concentrate as well as he had during the conference. Over the five days, he had gathered much valuable information to take home to his uncle, as well as making contacts that would serve them well in the future. At the end of every day, right before bed, he had spent as long as he dared on the phone to Daphne, only to have to return his attention to the task at hand the following morning. He was pleased with the results of his efforts, but as soon as the last session had ended and the delegates scattered to prepare to leave, the earlier restlessness returned full-force.

Consulting his watch, Mart found that he had an hour to wait until Daphne’s planned return. In the meantime, he needed to set his notes to order and pack his belongings for the flight home. With an inward groan, he set to work. He was in the middle of stowing the last few items away as he heard a welcome knock on the door.

“Miss me?” Daphne asked with a grin, when he opened the door.

“Of course,” he replied, returning the smile. “Come on in. I’m just about packed.”

His friend settled on the bed with a plop and sighed heavily. “I really wish you weren’t going again so soon.”

For once, words failed Mart and he simply nodded. His hand trembled as he smoothed down the topmost shirt in his suitcase and closed the lid. The zipper jerked across its teeth, catching as he pulled it unevenly and snagging on the protruding edge of a garment.

“Here, let me do that,” she offered, brushing his hand aside. In a few moments, it was secured and Mart set it by the door.

He took a glance at his watch. “I need to get going, now…” Instead, he sat down next to her on the edge of the bed. Gently, slowly, he began to caress her hand. Daphne captured his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I don’t want you to go,” she whispered, and they shared a bitter-sweet smile.

The next thing that Mart knew, they were leaning towards each other. For the briefest moment, their lips met. A voice inside Mart’s head began yelling at him: You dolt! What did you do that for? It was bad enough before, wondering, without actually giving in to temptation!

“I– I’m sorry,” Mart apologised softly, trying to pull away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Yes, you should have,” she contradicted. “Please, Mart. I want you to kiss me. I’m only sorry that we didn’t start earlier – like the instant you arrived here.”

“May I remind you,” he asked, running his fingers through her hair, “that we live on opposite sides of the globe. I mean, I’ve heard of long distance relationships, but that’s taking the concept a little too far, don’t you think?”

“We could meet up again somewhere,” she wheedled. One hand played with the collar of his shirt, while the other tried to pull him in for another kiss. “How about a Pacific island? Hawai’i, maybe – then you wouldn’t even need to leave the country. Or, I could come to see you. I’ll have three months off over Christmas. I’ll come and see you then.”

Mart looked deep into her eyes and he knew that he was lost. “Okay,” he whispered, kissing her softly. “I’ll see you at Christmas.”

Daphne smiled and tightened her grip on his shoulders. Before he knew what was happening, they were kissing once more. Time seemed to stand still as they held each other. After an indefinite period, Daphne pulled away and took a glance at the clock.

“I think it’s time to go,” she murmured, still holding him tight. “You don’t want to miss your plane.”

He squeezed her tight one last time and they left for the airport together.

For Mart, the next five months were unlike any others of his life. To his great relief, he no longer had to wonder what Daphne was thinking. Her letters told him that she missed him and could hardly wait for them to be together again. With every letter he sent to her, he told her how much he wanted to see her.

On the other hand, there was now a tension within him that he had not felt before. It was as if, by admitting his feelings, he had given them a physical power over him. All he seemed to think of was the time when they would be together again.

As the months passed, they made more and more plans together. Daphne wanted to see the town where he grew up and meet his friends and family. She also had an impossibly long list of things that she wanted to see and do. With every letter the list grew.

By November, Mart was certain that Daphne would need to stay in the States for a decade to do all of the things she had mentioned. Meanwhile, he made the unwelcome realisation that while Daphne had three months free, he would have to work almost the entire time. The last letter he wrote before her arrival suggested a rough itinerary.

‘I’ll meet you in New York,’ he wrote, ‘and we’ll spend a couple of days there. Then we’ll go on to Sleepyside for Thanksgiving and stay at Crabapple Farm. Afterwards, I have to go back to Iowa, but you can stay with my family and friends and see some sights if you want to. Honey’s taking a trip then, along the East Coast, and Trixie’s taking one upstate. They both say you’re welcome to join them. I’m hoping to get a few weekends free to meet up with you if you do decide to do some travelling with them. In any case, I’ll meet you at Crabapple Farm for Christmas, then we’ll go to Iowa together. Mrs. Gorman already has a room picked out for you in the main house. I think she’s looking forward to some female company.

‘Uncle Andrew thinks I’ll be able to take a little more time off just before you leave and you can tell me where you’d like to go closer to the time. Before then, you can stay with us when you like and travel on your own when you want to, or I could find you a companion.’

He finished the letter with a quiet excitement. The wait was almost over.

Continue to part two.