Merry & Seduced by Shelley Munro Page A

Some of them sound rude to foreigners.” She glanced at the kids, saw they were chattering together. “Why-poo?”
    Max barked out a laugh. “You mean Waipu. Trust Camryn.”
    Conversation flowed after that, ranging from Christmas to horses to business and beaches. The drive took them through the outskirts of a town and into the countryside. After the nothingness of space, the lush green pastures dotted with trees and grazing animals were a visual feast.
    “There are lots of different animals,” Amme said, frowning at one they passed. It was small, white and shaggy with horns curling from its head. She had no idea what classification the creature fell into but didn’t like to ask too many questions in front of Marcus.
    “This is perfect farming country,” Marcus said. “You find alpacas, cattle and sheep along with some stud horse farms. Some farmers grow crops.”
    Amme nodded and kept watching the landscape.
    “Are you going to the Christmas parade?” Max asked.
    “I hadn’t thought about it,” Marcus said.
    “We were going to take Luke. He wants to see Santa Claus arrive on the fire engine,” Max said.
    “I want to go.” Amme had discussed the Santa Claus dude with the others, and Camryn had shown them pictures. Now she wanted to see the phenomenon in person. “I’ll take Autumn.”
    “When is it?” Marcus asked.
    “This coming Saturday,” Max said.
    “Sounds doable. I’ll mark it in my calendar.”
    “ Ooh . The sea,” Amme said on catching a glimpse of water.
    “Where?” Luke demanded.
    Autumn remained silent but craned her neck, struggling to see out the window.
    Marcus chuckled. “I can’t decide who is the biggest kid.”
    Amme pulled a face. Too bad. She couldn’t tell him these experiences were brand, shiny new. Her jobs had confined her to cities, mostly big ones with not a trace of plant material. Earth with its gorgeous scenery and lack of technology thrilled her.
    “What are those trees with the red flowers?” The trees clung to cliffs and banks all along the coast road, the scarlet red of the flowers drawing her eye.
    “Those are pohutukawa trees,” Marcus said. “They flower during December, and they’ve become a symbol of a New Zealand Christmas.”
    “Pretty,” Amme said. “I should’ve brought a…” She frowned while trying to remember the correct word.
    “I have a camera,” Max said. “We’ll take some group photos if you want. You’ll see more pohutukawa trees at the beach. I can email the photos to Camryn.”
    “Yes, camera. Thank you. There’s the van,” Amme said. “Will the water be cold?”
    “Maybe at first.” Marcus parked beside the black van and pulled out his phone. He keyed in something and winked at Autumn. “There, now we won’t forget the Christmas parade.” As he placed the phone back in his pocket, it buzzed. He glanced at the screen, scowled, and shoved his phone under the car seat out of sight. “Who wants a swim?”
    “Me, me!” Luke jumped up and down and reminded Amme of Camryn.
    “He reminds me of Camryn,” she said and took Autumn’s hand to stop her tearing after Luke.
    “Swim,” Autumn said.
    “As soon as we get organized,” Marcus said.
    “How long?” Autumn asked, her delicate brows puckering.
    “We need to stake our place on the beach first,” Marcus said.
    “Suntan lotion first,” Max said to his excited son, once they’d settled in a flurry of rainbow-colored beach towels, buckets and spades, picnic baskets and a red-and-white umbrella. “Put on your hat.”
    “What is the purpose of the lotion?” Amme said in an undertone to Camryn. “Should I have some for Autumn?”
    “Yes. Max won’t mind sharing. Humans need it to stop the sun burning their skin,” Camryn whispered. “That’s the reason for the hat too.”
    “We don’t have a hat for Autumn,” Amme said to Marcus. “We don’t want her face to burn.”
    “Good point,” Marcus said. “From memory, there’s a shop just down the