Page 46 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

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‘Daddy, it’s nearly time for knitting club.’

‘I know, honey, give me a couple more minutes to finish this. It’s important.’ Matt’s fingers kept moving over the keyboard. Finally he hit print. The machine in the corner of his office reluctantly came to life, and after a couple of minutes of clunking and whirring, it eventually spat out a few sheets of paper.

No doubt eager to get her father moving, Vicki collected the paper and handed it to him. Matt examined it. A similar poster to those already in his window advertising properties for sale, but this one had no photographs, just details of the land and buildings and price. He’d be taking it with him shortly when he went to the property to conclude his arrangement with the sellers and take some photographs. There were also some forms for them to sign. All part of a day’s work.

‘You know I can’t come knitting with you today. I have to go and visit a new property for sale.’

‘But I am still going. You said I could.’

‘Of course you can, and if I’m not back when you finish, you go home with Lou and I’ll pick you up from her place.’

Vicki nodded vigorously, hopping from foot to foot in her eagerness to be gone.

Matt stifled a laugh. ‘Now, let me see. Where did I put that thing …’ He slid open a desk drawer. ‘No. Not here. Maybe in the other drawer.’ He reached for the next handle.

‘Daddy, pleeeeease!’

‘Just a minute, Vicki. You need this. Ah.’ He made a great fuss of pulling a gift-wrapped package out of the drawer.

‘Ooh. Is that for me?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Matt held it out.

Vicki grabbed the parcel and began ripping it open. She let the paper fall to the floor as she held up the cream knitted scarf. ‘Oh, that’s so soft.’

‘It is. It’s my one and only knitting project, ever, and it’s for you.’

Vicki wrapped the scarf around her neck. Matt had to admit it looked pretty good. He’d finished it over a couple of nights while Vicki was in bed. It had been remarkably easy to follow the simple pattern and he hadn’t made too many mistakes. Compared to the one Vicki had knitted for him, it was a masterpiece. But that wasn’t what mattered. The two items were equal in the love that lay behind them.

‘Thank you, Daddy.’

‘My pleasure, sweetheart. All right. Are you ready to go?’

‘Can I wear my new scarf?’

‘Yes, and you can show it to everyone at the club.’

‘I’m knitting one for Granny now.’ Vicki picked up a tote bag from the sofa in the corner of the office. ‘But I’m not going to show it to you until it’s finished.’

‘I’m sure Granny will love it.’ Matt ushered her out of the office and locked the door behind them. He wasn’t sure Sally would ever wear a scarf like the one that was wrapped around his own neck, full of holes and dropped stitches and other mistakes, but he loved his, because Vicki had made it. He might take it off when he met with clients, but it would be back on when he picked up Vicki at the end of the day.

‘Will Granny be at knitting club?’

Matt hoped not. He hadn’t heard from Sally for a few days. ‘I’m not sure, honey. Granny hasn’t been feeling well. We might not see her quite as much in the next few weeks.’

Vicki’s face fell and her eyes filled with tears. ‘She’s not sick like Mummy was sick, is she?’ The little girl’s voice quivered.

‘Oh, no. No, honey. She’s not sick like that at all.’ Matt gathered Vicki into a hug, cursing himself for the careless words. He’d wanted to prepare her in case things with Sally worsened but now he’d frightened her. ‘Granny’s just a bit tired. She’s been doing too many things. She needs to rest for a little while then she’ll be right as rain. But you will see her soon.’

Vicki nodded and smiled, but he could see she wasn’t convinced.

When they arrived at the hall, Matt looked around hopefully, but Bree wasn’t there. Instead, Rose was setting up the tea and biscuits for the knitting club.

‘Hi, Matt, Vicki.’

‘Isn’t Bree here?’ Vicki asked.

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