Page 24 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

CHAPTER

10

The number at the bottom of the page leaped out at Matt—$80. It wasn’t a lot of money, not really. And certainly not for some. But for him, right now, it may as well have another zero on the end. His spreadsheet was looking better, but still not good. The commission from selling The Gums was keeping him and Vicki afloat, but he didn’t know how long that was going to have to last. Kim’s medical costs had eaten up their savings, not that he had begrudged a single cent of that, but trying to put money aside for the future—for Vicki’s future—wasn’t easy these days. While his savings account was still pretty much empty, he’d decided to use some money to smarten up the office, and much as he wanted to, he really couldn’t change his mind on that. If the business looked like it was in trouble, it soon would be.

Eighty dollars. For a half-day school trip.

‘Please, Daddy. Zoe and Matilda are going. Daisy too.’

Matt smiled at Vicki, but his heart was breaking. ‘Honey, I know they are your best friends and you want to go too. I wish I could say yes. But this is a lot of money. I can’t afford it. Not right now.’

‘But, Daddy, I’ve always wanted to ride a pony. Please. I wanna go!’ Her voice rose towards the end of the sentence.

He wanted her to ride a pony too. But he also wanted her to go to university one day. Or fashion design college. Or to travel around the world. He wanted to give her whatever she wanted. The proposed school trip involved money to ride the pony and hire a hard hat and safe boots. It involved the cost of lunch and transport on the bus. And he was pretty sure the excursion would be followed by requests for a pony of her own. Or if not that, then regular lessons that he just couldn’t afford. Not to mention her own helmet and boots and whatever else she needed.

‘I’m sorry, Vicki. But the answer is no. Not this time. There’ll be other school trips. Maybe you can go on one of them.’

‘But I want to go on this one!’ It was definitely a scream.

‘Vicki. Stop that. There’s no point screaming. The answer is no.’ Matt kept his voice calm and firm.

Vicki started to cry. She turned away from the desk and stomped back to her chair and her books. But even the alpaca books didn’t take the scowl from her face.

Trying to ignore her, Matt was rather grateful when the phone rang, until he looked at the caller ID.

‘Hello, Sally.’

‘Hello, Matt. How are you? And how is Vicki?’

‘We’re both fine, thank you.’

‘I know you asked us to let you know when we were planning to visit, so I thought I’d call and say we’re coming up this weekend. We thought we might take Vicki on a picnic. You too, of course, if your work isn’t keeping you too tied up.’

He’d actually meant that they should ask before visiting, but this was better than just turning up. Maybe he was starting to get his message through. However, he really wanted to spend some time with Vicki himself this weekend. The two of them. That might make up for saying no to the school trip.

‘I’m sorry, Sally, but we already have plans this weekend.’

‘Oh.’ The voice on the phone was suddenly icy.

Across the office, Vicki had slid out of her chair. ‘Is that Granny?’

‘Is Vicki there? If I can’t see her this weekend, can I talk to her? Please.’

He wanted to say no. He and Vicki needed to get past their disagreement of a few minutes ago. But it didn’t seem fair to either Vicki or her grandmother to say no. And he supposed that if he didn’t let them speak on the phone often enough, there would be more unexpected visits from Sally and Brian.

‘Yes. Of course you can.’ He held out the phone.

Vicki took it eagerly. ‘Hello, Granny.’

Matt went back to work, trying to keep half his attention on his daughter’s conversation.

A sudden loud squeal brought his attention back fully to his daughter.

‘Thank you, Granny! Thank you!’

After a couple more squeals, Vicki darted back to the desk and held out the phone. She was jumping up and down with glee. ‘Granny says I can go on the trip. She wants to tell you.’

Matt clenched his teeth as he took the phone. ‘Sally, what is Vicki saying?’

---