Page 15 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

Matt lifted a hand in greeting as the car pulled up next to where he and Jake Barnes were discussing the cost of a possible new paint job for his office. He hadn’t seen Bree while the paperwork for the sale had gone through. Today she was well rugged up against the cold August wind, but that hair was still flowing free. The parrot on her dress had been replaced by a scarf which wound round her neck several times. She looked … cute.

‘Hello, Bree. Good to see you. Everything is ready.’

‘Great. I’ve really been looking forward to today.’

‘By the way, this is Jake Barnes. Jake, this is Bree Johnston. She’s taken over The Gums.’

‘Pleased to meet you.’ Jake shook her hand. ‘That’s a nice place.

It’ll be good to have someone living there again.’

‘Jake here is the Mr Fix-It I mentioned,’ Matt said.

‘I may well be calling on you,’ Bree told him.

‘I also cook a pretty mean steak and my lasagne is famous. You’ll find me working in the kitchen at the pub three or four nights a week.’

‘Matt might have mentioned that too.’

‘Right. Well, I’ll see you around.’ Jake set off up the street.

‘Come inside where it’s warm and we’ll get everything sorted.’

Matt led the way into the office.

It didn’t take long. Finally, Matt held out a set of keys and dropped them gently into Bree’s hand. ‘Congratulations. I hope you’ll be very happy at The Gums.’

‘Thank you.’ Her voice was a little shaky.

Matt could see this was an emotional moment for her; the sort of moment that made him enjoy his job. He got to his feet and moved out from behind his desk. ‘I guess you’ve got a lot to do. I won’t keep you, but if there is anything I can do to help, let me know. And don’t forget about Jake. I can give you his number if you need it.’

He held out his hand to shake hers as he had with so many happy customers before today. Bree looked at the hand and her face lit up with a smile that seemed as if the sun had suddenly entered the room. Before he knew it, she had flung her arms around him and enveloped him in an enthusiastic hug. A hug he returned full measure.

A moment later came the sound of the door opening and a child’s voice. ‘Daddy?’

Matt let Bree go and quickly stepped away from her, letting his arms fall as he looked down at his daughter. ‘Hello, sweetheart. You remember Ms Johnston, don’t you?’

‘You’re the alpaca lady!’

‘That’s right. And you’re Vicki.’

Bree’s voice was calm and unsurprised, whereas Matt could feel his heart pounding, and not in a good way. ‘Ms Johnston was picking up the keys of her new home,’ Matt explained to his daughter, avoiding looking at Bree.

‘Are the alpacas here? Can I see them? I’ve been reading all about them. See?’ Vicki dropped her school bag on the floor, opened it and pulled out a book, which she proudly displayed to Bree.

‘Now, honey, Ms Johnston has only just collected her keys. You need to give her time to get settled in. And it’s rude to invite yourself over to see her alpacas.’ This time he did cast an anxious glance in Bree’s direction.

‘Well, Vicki. The alpacas aren’t here yet.’ Bree crouched to bring herself to Vicki’s level. ‘I have to go and make their new home ready for them. But once they have settled in, you can come and meet them, if your daddy says it’s all right.’

‘Please, Daddy! Please!’

It was a cry no adult, much less a father, could refuse. ‘Yes, honey. You can, when the animals have had time to settle into her new home. Now, say thank you to Ms Johnston. It’s kind of her to invite you.’

‘Thank you!’

‘You are very welcome. Well, it’s time for me to go. I’ll see you soon, Vicki. And you too, Matt.’

‘I like Miss Johnston,’ Vicki announced after Bree had left the office. ‘She has pretty hair. Do you think her hair is pretty too, Daddy?’

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