Page 59 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

‘Good. I think. I’ve known Mike for a couple of years. The place where I used to board my alpacas used his crew as well. He seems like a good guy. And it’s nice to see Nan looking happy.’

‘She’s been alone a long time?’

‘A few years now. I wouldn’t want to see her alone for the rest of her life. Neither would Pops, I’m sure.’

Matt carefully placed a dripping plate into the rack. Those same words could easily be applied to him.

He could hardly believe he was thinking such thoughts.

‘Do you think Rose will stay in Sydney? She’s been spending a lot of time up here.’ It was a safe topic.

‘I kind of hope she might think about moving up. There’s plenty of room at The Gums. But then again, I’m not quite sure how we’d go living together. Don’t take that the wrong way—I love Nan. She’s probably my best friend. But I think two grown women living together can be difficult when both have been used to living alone. Especially if Nan and Mike have a thing going.’

Matt reached for another pile of dirty plates. ‘I might have a possible solution for that.’

Bree stopped wiping and leaned against the kitchen bench. ‘I’m listening.’

Matt outlined his conversation with Keith Thorne about the shop two doors down from the supermarket.

‘You told me you’d like your own shop. This has a lovely big front room. Much better than the hall for the knitting club. It would be easier to find than The Gums—for people wanting to do alpaca walks or buy wool. The cottage at the back is a reasonable size. Although …’ His voice trailed off as Bree remained unresponsive. ‘I guess for Rose it would seem pretty small and shabby compared to her Sydney apartment.’

‘And how much did you say the rent was?’

He told her. ‘He’s hoping to sell the place. I suggested that rent money is better than no money, and the place will be better looked after if someone is there. I may have suggested that whoever rents it might want to buy it in the future, but that was just a vague hint.’ He stopped talking, but still there was no reaction from Bree. He could almost see the brain behind those amazing two-tone eyes working. ‘I’m sorry if I overstepped the mark, but it seemed there was an opportunity there that might work for both of you. Just forget I spoke.’

Bree grabbed her tea towel with a determined movement. ‘Get washing up there, Matt. We have somewhere to go.’

Fifteen minutes later, cleaning-up duties had been handed over to the next volunteers and Bree was almost dragging Matt towards the door. It was a very short walk to the closed shop in the main street. One of the town’s few streetlights was just outside and the yellow glow lit the big plate-glass window and hid some of the flaws in the paint. Bree shaded her eyes and pressed her nose up against the glass, like a kid checking out a sweet shop.

‘I can’t see much.’

That wasn’t surprising. ‘That path down the side of the shop leads to the back and the cottage. But you wouldn’t see much there at this time of night. You won’t even have the streetlight—’

Before he could finish speaking, Bree had started walking down the side of the building. With a smile and a sigh, he followed.

‘Is there a storeroom?’ Bree asked.

‘Yes. That’s part of the shop section. The cottage behind has two bedrooms. It could use a bit of fixing up.’

Bree dismissed that with a wave of her hand. ‘I don’t know if Nan is even thinking about moving. I know she finds Sydney a bit lonely these days. There’s no community there like there is here. And I guess it also depends on what she and Mike are doing right now. All that aside, I love it for me. The shop, I mean.’

She stopped and faced him. The dim light fell on her face. She was a picture of excitement. ‘It is exactly what I was looking for. And the rent is so cheap, which I suspect is your doing. Thank you, Matt.’ For the second time, she raised herself on her toes to kiss his cheek. As she did, his hands went around her waist. When she dropped back to her normal height, he didn’t let her go.

Matt wanted to kiss her. He was shocked and nervous at the same time. There had been no-one but Kim for years—and then the years without her. He had never thought he’d feel like this again, but here it was. He wanted to kiss Bree and he wanted to do it without feeling guilty. And without comparing her to Kim. Bree deserved better than that.

Before he could be overwhelmed by guilt and second thoughts, he pulled her close and their lips met and he was kissing her. He was kissing beautiful, free-spirited, slightly crazy Bree Johnston, with her love of alpacas and her mismatched eyes and her mane of ridiculously curly hair.

She tasted of joy and light and life. And she was kissing him back.

He pulled her tighter and her body curved to fit against his in its own unique way. He was carried away by the wonder of it all.

At last she stepped back. ‘I think I should go.’

He wanted to say no. He wanted to tell her to stay. But the words wouldn’t come. In just a few moments, everything had changed. He had changed. It was something he wanted—no, needed—to explore.

‘Bree. Don’t—’

She shook her head. ‘Goodnight, Matt.’

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