Peace stole over Stella,a creeping golden glow that suffused her entire being with warmth. She sat on a low wooden bench, soaking in the rays of the sun as she watched Aleki fall to the ground, clutching a rugby ball to his chest as a gaggle of school children fell upon him. Their cheers and laughter rang in the air as he fed the ball out to a small boy at the back of the makeshift ruck, who lifted it and ran with youthful ferocity into the swarm of his peers.
Aleki hauled himself to his feet as the action moved further down the sun-baked field. He’d removed his shirt before joining in the game, but his suit pants and white undershirt were streaked with dust as he jogged towards her on the sideline. An easy grin split his handsome face and his brown eyes sparkled with joy. He threw himself on the bench next to Stella and reached for one of the bottles of water strewn at her feet, the column of his throat working as he gulped half the contents down in long swallows.
“I can’t keep up with these young kids nowadays.”
“You are getting on in years,” she commented mildly.
Rolling his eyes at her teasing, Aleki groaned. “Between the dancing and this, my ego is taking some hits today.”
“Your ego could use them.” Stella chuckled lightly. She paused to watch the celebrations at the far end of the field as the skinny girl who’d run the ball over the tryline held it aloft in victory. “How often do you visit the schools on the island?”
“I try to visit at least two a month. There are almost a hundred primary schools on the island and eight high schools.”
“That seems like an uneven ratio.”
Aleki shrugged. “A number of our young adults leave at fifteen to work, so attendance rates in the final two years are lower than the other year levels.”
“Is that for financial reasons?”
“Mostly.” Aleki took another sip of water, and desire fluttered deep in Stella’s stomach when his tongue teased an errant drop of water from his lower lip. “Being able to support family is a key part of our value system. For some, that means attending university or trade schools, either on the island or in New Zealand, but for others the need to provide is more immediate. I’ve been working in tandem with our Ministers for Education and Commerce to develop alternative pathways which will allow our young people to achieve right across the economic landscape.”
“That sounds like a line from a policy document.”
Aleki shrugged. “It is. But it’s also true. I want our young people to believe that they can achieve anything they want globally. I was born into a position of privilege, but many of my countrymen and women never leave the Pacific. They aim to live in New Zealand or Australia if they do, for the largest part. Most other countries do not even realise we exist. I want the children of Avali to know that they matter, that their work is important in a worldwide context. The pathways will take some time to gain traction, but when they do, our people will shine everywhere they put their energies.”
Pride charged his voice, and Stella felt the conviction in each of his words.
“You are amazing.” She didn’t try to hide her admiration. She let it all flow out, let him see how in awe she was of his passion, his efforts to do right for his country. Reaching out, she squeezed his hand, ignoring the sweat and blades of grass which stuck to her skin like threads, binding them together in this new, adult relationship.
“Avali is amazing. I just want everyone to know it.”
“They will.” She hesitated, the words dancing on the tip of her tongue. Just say it. The worst he can do is decline. “I would like to help. If I can. One day. Once we’ve worked out what’s happening with my company and I’m settled here more.”
Delight lit Aleki’s face and he linked his fingers through hers. “When we marry you’ll be able to select a portfolio of work to address in your official capacity. Unofficially, as spokesperson for the initiative, we would be lucky to have you.”
Relief bloomed in Stella, settling in her chest at his easy acceptance of her offer. Even all these years after her father leaving, and cushioned in the shadow of her mother’s support, the taut pull of anxiety still stretched at her skin when she put herself forward knowing she could be rejected. It didn’t matter at work, part of her job was to offer solutions and alternatives, but clients came to her for her expertise. Making unprompted offers still left her dangling in the air under the echo of Graham Warren’s mocking laugh whenever she’d tried to please him. What do you know about anything, girl? You’re as useless as tits on a bull.
“Good.” Her response was soft, the usual crisp edges of her tone smoothed by Aleki’s sincere acceptance of her into this part of his life.
“Hey, Prince! Are you playing or what?” The shout in English came from the pack of kids now entangled in the approximation of a scrum on the twenty-two line.
Aleki heaved a long-suffering sigh, even as the cheeky grin of his eighteen-year-old self cracked through his performance.
“Wish me luck, my princess?”
“You’ll need it, Your Highness. Watch those aging knees out there.”
“My knees are not nearly as injury-prone as my confidence. Will you never back me in such combat?”
Leaning forward, Stella dropped a brief kiss on his full mouth. Aleki’s breath hitched and his eyes warmed. Emboldened by his reaction, she kissed him again, a sweet press of her lips to his.
“There. A token of my affection. That should be enough to win any battle.”
Aleki stood to the hollering of the school children who’d witnessed their kiss and loped back onto the field his fists raised in a sign of victory. And Stella relaxed back into her tranquil cocoon, watching her future husband crash dramatically into the dirt after being tackled by an eight-year-old.