Blossoms in the Wind Read online

  "We won't have time," Terri replied. "It's a big day out for us too, isn't it kids?"

  The two pre-schoolers smiled before they ran into the spare bedroom that had become a playroom with, in Jeff's opinion, far too many toys to play with.

  Fluer glanced out the front door to where a silver Rolls Royce pulled into the driveway. "Dad's being ostentatious again," she muttered. "I think the only reason he offered to drop us off at the university for the ceremonial walk to the Aotea Centre is to show off his new car."

  Jeff laughed. "Let him have his fun," he said. "You must admit it's better than being squeezed into Ava's Jazz or your car."

  "Yeah, why don't we all go in your Mazda sports with the top down?"

  "And ruin our hair." Ava moaned.

  "Who sees it beneath the mortarboard anyway?" Jeff asked.

  Hannah and Bardon walked in and joined the family.

  "You look just perfect, Fluer," Bardon said and gave his daughter a brief hug before doing the same to Ava. He smiled at Terri and glanced at his watch. "Shall we go? It'll be a slow trip for the traffic is terrible."

  "There are some family photos to take first," Adrian said. "I've got the tripod set up on the back lawn."

  Everyone walked out and gathered together on the lawn. Only Terri stood aside with Karson held by the hand.

  "Come on Terri," Chloe said. "You're family, too."

  "Me?" Terri replied.

  "Of course," Chloe replied. "Isn't Karson really my step-son?"

  Terri grinned. "I never thought of it that way."

  "So join in., both of you," Adrain said.

  Terri smiled, lifted Karson up and joined the families gathered around Jeff and the other two graduates in their academic attire.

  Afterwards, Jeff, Ava and Fluer fitted in the back of the Rolls Royce easily and Jeff couldn't resist waving at several neighbours who stood on the footpath watching them.

  "Makes one feel like royalty," he said with a grin as the massive car reversed into the street and they drove away.

  WHEN THE ROLLS ROYCE pulled to the kerb outside Auckland University the trio stepped out and began to follow the crowd assembling for the grand march through the city.

  "Oh my God," a familiar voice screamed at them. "You did make a grand entrance, didn’t you?" It was Deanne who rushed up to them wearing her own graduation gown "Where did you hire the Rolls from?"

  "We didn't," Ava replied. "It belongs to Fluer's dad."

  "Oh hi Fluer," Deanne turned to the other girl. "Are you still at Jeff and Ava's place?"

  "I am," Fluer replied.

  "And no boyfriends?"

  Fluer looked annoyed but just shook her head.

  "And what about you?" Jeff asked. "Still in your apartment with that English guy?"

  Deanne laughed. "My you are out of date. I left Marcus last year. He was ... oh I don't know. You'll know my new or shall I say old partner?" She glanced out at the crowd and waved. "There he is!"

  Ava glanced across the lawn and grinned as the guy saw them and came across the lawn.

  "Hi you old bugger," Jeff said and gave the newcomer a hug. "The last I heard you were doing that working holiday in London. When did you get back?"

  "Yeah well, it's a small world, I guess. Met up with Deanne over there at one of the pubs New Zealanders meet in. We hit it off and came back together for her graduation," Ryan glanced around. "Hello Fluer, how's it going? Hi Ava, still got the old boy under your thumb?"

  Ava and Fluer both grinned. Ryan hadn't changed at all, nether had Deanne.

  After agreeing to meet again to have a meal together, the pair wandered off.

  "Wonders will never cease," Fluer whispered. "Fancy them getting back together. Are they trying to relive high school days?"

  "Possibly," Ava replied and squeezed Jeff's hand. "Come on. The march has started."

  "Sure?" Jeff replied and grinned at Fluer. "Coming?"

  "Of course," Fluer replied.

  Arm in arm, the three walked across the lawn and blended like blossoms in the wind with the graduates beginning the ceremonial walk. A pipe band began a lively marching tune, banners waved and spectators clapped.

  Ava looked up and noticed Chloe, Dad with Shona hoisted onto his shoulders and Logan at the edge of the crowd. Beside them was Terri holding Karson. She grinned at Jeff.

  "The family's here," she said and waved at them.

  Jeff smiled. It was a proud day for them all.

  The End

  Thank you for reading my 50th novel. You can see them all in my catalogue at: -

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  Did you love Blossoms in the Wind? Then you should read Snow Bond by Ross Richdale!

  When the remote settlement of East Ridge in the South Island of New Zealand is isolated during a snowstorm, Renee and Tyler take in three travellers. Without electricity or mobile phone contact and with all the roads around closed, the five are completely cut off from the world. There, they begin to bond and help one another with problems in their lives.

  Renee is now living with her partner Tyler at East Ridge after a violent marriage to a Larry Brooks and the loss of an unborn child. Tyler, who has a tractor to patrol the local section of highway, rescues Aza and Sofia after their car slides off the road in a heavy snowstorm. As well, Ian, a lawyer who was actually coming to visit Renee is also found in a separate accident where his motorbike skidded off the road.

  Aza is a lecturer and researcher at Auckland University who has had her work on genetic profiling, plagiarised from her PhD thesis by Professor Joseph Hardy who becomes an enemy when she can prove his crime.

  Ian is a lawyer who works for the Crown Prosecutors Office in Auckland. He tells Renee that her ex-husband is being investigated for murder of his child and attempted murder of a partner after a car crash. However, there is not enough concrete evidence to prove that it was not an accident and circumstantial evidence is needed to show Larry Brooks violent past. Several of the man's previous partners are too scared to testify. Ian came down to the South Island to try to persuade Renee to be a witness at a trial that may eventuate.

  During their isolation at East Ridge, the five find they are being stalked and later attacked by an armed criminal, obviously employed by someone to assassinate one of them.

  But who is being targeted? Is it Aza who is a threat to the professor at the university, Renee by the violent Brooks or Ian, the lawyer out to build up a case against him?

  And how does being isolated from the world by the snowstorm add to the problems? Romance enters the equation in an unexpected way after Sofia is shot and wounded in the assassination attempt. Was she the target of the mysterious assassin or was it a mistaken identity with Renee or Aza being the intended target?

  All will be revealed in this romantic thriller set in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

  Read more at Ross Richdale’s site.

  Also by Ross Richdale

  Emerald Eyes Trilogy

  Emerald Eyes Destiny

  Emerald Eyes Mist

  Emerald Eyes Pyramid

  Our Ancient Ancestors

  When the Longships Came

  The Druid's Daughter

  Meztli - Sacrificial Maiden

  Kyla's Fate

  Our Romantic Thrillers

  Blemished Jewel

  Jana Adrift

  Broken Silence

  Eagle's Claw Lake

  Snow Bond

  Blossoms in the Wind

  Terra Novels

  The Truth About Terra

  Terra Incognita

  Wisps Trilogy

  Wisps of Cloud


  Wisps of Snow

  Wisps of Wisdom

  Standalone

  Solar Search

  Acid Air

  Embrace the Fog

  Cosmos Quest

  Azure Sea Gold

  Alien Hybrid

  Crystal Souls

  Countess In Exile

  Anu Factor

  Into the Wormhole

  Time Portal

  Like Twigs in a Storm

  Omega Seed

  Catalyst

  Long Valley Road

  Armlet

  Claire

  Liberty & Opportunity

  Transmigration

  Shadows Behind

  Wind Across the Playground

  Arising Magic

  Generation 7

  The Other Mrs Hayes

  Stretched Horizons

  Behind the Fire

  Watch for more at Ross Richdale’s site.

  About the Author

  After a career as a teacher and principal of mainly small rural schools, Ross Richdale lives in the small university city of Palmerston North in the North Island of New Zealand where he writes contemporary novels and science fiction. He is married with three adult children and six grandchildren.

  His interest in current events and international incidents serve as a backdrop for many of his novels. Ordinary people rather than the super rich super powerful or violent, are the main characters in his stories. His plots also reflect his interest in the rural lifestyle as well as the cross section of personalities encountered during his years as a teacher.

  Read more at Ross Richdale’s site.