February Or Forever by Juliet Madison

He grabbed hold of some protruding rocks and pulled himself up, placing his foot on a concave part, then his other foot higher up, gripping and grabbing and pulling. He reached the top and scanned the magnificent stretch of horizon from his vantage point. Man, he missed this. Missed getting out in nature and going with the flow. He turned to the left, his focus resting on the old double-storey beach house that’d stood the test of time. Its white weatherboard exterior, faded and peeling from the salty air, like an elderly person whose wrinkly skin had seen many summers. The house was in a prime secluded location, with its own backyard pocket of beach as the rocky hill gave way and opened up to let the sandy shore spread up towards the house.
    He glanced at the ocean, its rippling waves hypnotising him for a moment, then turned back to face the house where someone sat on the verandah. A woman. Her head was buried in her hands, and a long blonde ponytail dangled over her shoulder.
    Chrissie? She lives there?
    Drew felt suddenly self-conscious, like he was intruding, even though technically he was standing on public property. Is she okay? He hesitated on the rocky ledge, unsure whether to go over and talk to her or leave before she noticed him. Before he could decide, she turned to the left and picked up a phone, bringing it to her ear. She got up and tucked a strand of hair behind her other ear, and walked around the side of the house, obscuring his view.
    Intrigue wound its way around Drew’s spine as he climbed back down the rocks.
    What’s her story?
    He had twenty-six days to find out.
    * * *
    Chrissie wandered around the other side of the house, careful not to let Kai hear her speaking. ‘Thanks for calling me back, I know you’re busy.’
    â€˜Are you kidding? Talking to my best friend takes precedence over research any day. I’m neck deep in work here and my brain was starting to fry, your call was just what I needed to give me a break from the daily grind,’ said Melinda. ‘So, what’s up? Your voice message sounded…strained.’
    Chrissie had been close to tears, but as usual, held them back in front of Kai. ‘Oh, it’s just Kai.’ Chrissie glanced through the side window at her supposedly sick but totally faking it son as he lay on the couch and listened to an audio book. ‘I don’t know what to do. He hates going to school, every morning here is like PMS on steroids, and today he pretended to have a tummy ache so I’d pick him up early from school.’ She rubbed her palm against her forehead as a headache formed. ‘I had to leave work early, and there’s no way I can keep doing that. He’s so grumpy when he has to do anything he doesn’t want to do.’
    â€˜That’s kids for ya.’ Melinda chuckled. ‘But Kai has been through a bit of stress lately, he’s probably just feeling insecure.’
    â€˜He’s not the only one.’
    â€˜Have you talked to his teacher?’
    â€˜Only briefly at school drop off and pick up. She says he’s quiet but goes along with everything okay. I wish they’d watch him better at lunch though, he hardly eats anything.’
    â€˜Let me guess, you pack apples, healthy sandwiches and raisins?’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜Sometimes you’ve just gotta chuck a packet of chips in there, hun, if only to make sure he eats something.’
    â€˜I don’t want to get him used to eating junk, I can’t bribe him with treats all the time.’
    â€˜What about once a week? Tell him if he goes happily to school every day he’ll get chips in his lunch box on Fridays.’
    Ever practical, Melinda. She had to be, working from home as a freelance journalist with a four-year-old and a two-year-old as office colleagues.
    â€˜I guess that’s not a bad idea.’ Chrissie nibbled on her bottom lip. ‘So rewards, not punishment works best,