Page 63 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

Anger fought with fear for a place in his mind. His hand was shaking as he reached for the phone. His call was answered on the third ring.

‘Brian. What the hell is this?’ Matt’s anger was in charge now.

‘Matt? What is what?’

‘This letter. About Vicki. What …’ Words failed him.

‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’

Matt forced himself to calm down. Brian was a good bloke. The letter smacked very much of Sally—and her increasing instability. ‘I have a solicitor’s letter in front of me. About Vicki. I suggest you go and talk to your wife, Brian. You have got to stop this. For all our sakes.’ He ended the call and put the phone down.

As he was reaching for the letter again, the front door opened and Vicki bounced in. He picked up the letter and returned it to the envelope.

‘Hi, Daddy.’

‘Hi, honey.’ Matt raised a hand to Kelly, who had walked the kids back from school. Kelly waved in reply without coming in and continued across the street.

‘Have you finished work yet, Daddy?’

‘Almost.’ Matt slid the envelope into a drawer. He didn’t need to read it again—the words were already seared into his brain. ‘I have a special treat for you later.’

‘Ooh. What?’

‘How would you like to go to Bree’s place and talk to the alpacas again?’

‘Yay.’

‘And Bree and her nan have invited us to stay for dinner. How does that sound?’

‘Can I take my knitting to show her?’

‘Yes. Now, I’ve nearly finished work. Why don’t you read for a little while until I’m done?’

Vicki turned away, then hesitated. ‘Daddy, will I miss Granny’s call if I go to visit Bree?’

Tonight there was supposed to be a FaceTime session for Vicki and her grandparents. ‘I’m afraid you will, but that’s all right. Granny and Grandpa will understand.’ He hoped they would get the message when he didn’t answer their call. Hoped that might give them cause to rethink the action they were taking.

While Vicki entertained herself with her book, Matt sent a quick text to Bree.

Do you mind if we come a bit early? About 4? Will explain when I see you.

The reply came a minute later.

Sure. Come whenever you like. Is everything okay?

Everything is fine. See you later. X

Only as he hit send did he notice that last character. He had put it in without thinking, his mind still grappling with the shock of the letter. It was too late now to call the message back. He wasn’t too sure he wanted to, and even if he did, its significance was nothing compared to the issue he now faced. He put it out of his mind.

When he and Vicki left the office, Matt left the envelope locked in his desk drawer, where there was no risk Vicki might stumble across it. They walked through to the house behind his office and when they went inside, Vicki dived into her room to find her knitting and her alpaca books. Matt left her to it and quietly carried the iPad into his room, where he switched it off. There would be no FaceTime calls until he had figured out what to do about the letter.

The afternoon dragged by. Matt spent the time making sure that Vicki was occupied, but kept one eye fixed on his phone, waiting for some message from Brian or Sally. There was nothing and at last it was time to go.

Vicki chatted happily during the drive to The Gums, for which Matt was glad. He didn’t have the attention to carry a conversation. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen when he got to Bree’s place, he only knew that he wanted to be there.

Bree met them on the veranda.

‘Bree!’ Vicki gave a squeal and flung her arms around Bree’s waist. Bree laughed her lovely birdsong laugh and hugged Vicki back.

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