In Too Deep Read Online Free Page B

what it’ll look like from your room, Josh,” his father had said.
    He’d been right, although the view from the upstairs bedroom of the completed house had been much better than the one seen from his father’s shoulders. From his window he had watched the other houses being built around them, and the green paddocks had disappeared until all that was left were the ‘extensive urban views’ the sign advertised.
    “Josh, come on, it’s time to go,” his father called from below.
    Josh frowned at the sound of his father’s voice. He hated him for all that had happened since the day he had made his announcement about the business. Nothing had been the same.
    “Josh, hurry up,” his father shouted.
    Wiping away the wetness from his cheeks, Josh turned away from the window. He’d sworn that he wouldn’t cry and yet he couldn’t stop the tears. Picking his skateboard up from off the floor, he tucked it against his hip, left his room and walked slowly down the stairs. The house felt different, as if it was not their house at all, like they’d already left, which, he suspected, in their minds, they had.
    His father waited in the hallway. “Come on, Josh. Why are you dragging it out? I thought you’d be in a rush to get down to Piha.”
    Josh walked past his father without saying anything. It was true, he usually couldn’t wait to get down to the bach, but it was difficult to be enthusiastic when their future was so uncertain. He walked out to his mother’s car, their only car since his father’s leased vehicle had been taken back, and sat in the back seat next to Cyndi. When they pulled out of the driveway Josh whispered, “Goodbye house,” under his breath.
    He didn’t say it quietly enough for Cyndi called, “Josh is saying goodbye to the house. That’s silly. Houses don’t have ears.”
    “Hush, Cyndi,” his mother said from the front passenger seat and Josh could tell from the strain in her voice that she was upset too.
    To block it out, Josh pushed the iPod’s earbuds into his ears and pressed ‘play’. He folded his arms across his chest as hard rock music filled his ears, and settled himself in his seat for the journey.
     
    Civilization dropped away behind them as they drove through the Waitakere Ranges, surrounded by regenerated forest through which Josh could glimpse the western horizon. A right-hand turn and Piha was before them. As they drove past the lookout at the top of Piha Road, he looked down at Lion Rock, standing proud and strong against the onslaught of the sea. The waves were breaking either side of it in broken white lines. It was a sight that always thrilled him. He had a sense that he was coming home, that this is where he belonged.
    His father stepped hard on the brakes as he negotiated the turns in the road on the way down. As they neared the bottom of the hill, Josh could smell the hot metal of overheated brake pads. His father’s foot came off the brake as they drove over the bridge and past the store, before finally taking the sharp right at the Lion’s tail which took them on to Marine Parade. A moment later they pulled off the road into the front lawn of the bach and rolled to a stop.
    Josh climbed out of the car, pulled the earbuds from his ears and stretched upwards, loosening muscles cramped by the ride. He could hear the waves crashing on the sand and could smell the salty brine on the air, something he always associated with Piha.
    He couldn’t see the beach from the bach because the sand dunes blocked the view. He had only taken a few steps when his father called, “Josh, come on, we need a hand to unload.”
    Josh halted. He didn’t want to help. He just wanted to get down to the beach. He hadn’t surfed since the end of last summer and he was itching to get a feel for the water again.
    “Josh,” his father repeated sternly.
    Josh knew there wouldn’t be any use arguing with his father. The sea would have to wait.
    He was about to turn away when a black