Page 65 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

The weight on his shoulders shifted a little. It was still there, almost crushing him with fear and anger, but it was not quite as heavy as it had been earlier that afternoon.

‘What grounds did they give?’

He could see Bree’s mind spinning up to full speed. ‘They say I’m trying to cut off their access to her. That I won’t let them see her. So they are asking for the court to step in.’

‘And did you?’ Bree must have been—no, correction—obviously was a good lawyer, and tough too.

‘I did. But they pushed me into it.’

Matt described Sally’s increasing interference in his and Vicki’s lives. Saying it out loud, each incident seemed such a small thing. Insignificant. But clearly Bree didn’t agree. Her face got tighter with every minute. And when he told her about the phone, she shook her head firmly. She took him by the shoulders and looked him squarely in the eyes.

‘From what you’ve told me, they are the ones who are being unreasonable. That business with the phone could be seen as putting Vicki at risk through unsupervised access to the internet. It’s not going to be pleasant, fighting this, but the courts are not going to take Vicki away from you and give her to her grandparents without very good reason. And nothing you’ve said even comes close to that.’

The door burst open and Vicki came running in, full of chat and wonder at how different the alpacas looked. Matt swept her into his arms for a cuddle. He wanted to hold her so tight that no-one could ever take her away from him. Because there were other reasons the court might rule against him. Things Bree knew nothing about. Things he couldn’t bring himself to even consider.

But if Sally was willing to go that way, he might lose Vicki forever.

CHAPTER

25

Bree was ready to go back to the law, just for a few hours. To help Matt.

But first, she had a call to make. She hadn’t spoken to her parents for a couple of weeks, but now she needed to ask a favour of them.

‘Hello, Bree. How are you?’ There may not have been censure in the voice, but Bree heard it anyway.

‘I’m fine thanks, Mother. How’s Father?’

‘He’s well, thank you.’

‘That’s great.’

‘And how is your business venture going? The … alpaca farm?’

‘It’s going well, thank you, Mother. I’ve had the herd shorn and the first fleeces are off being spun now. The yarn will be ready in a couple of weeks. Would you like me to send you some? I know you don’t knit, but perhaps you’d be interested to see what it’s like.’

‘Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.’

The civilities properly handled, Bree got down to the purpose of the call. ‘Mother, I have a favour to ask. To help a friend here in Wagtail Ridge.’

Silence on the other end of the phone.

‘He’s having a custody issue. There’s nothing to it, no grounds at all. I think a firmly worded letter will put an end to it. I will write that for him. But—’

‘You need to put it out under the firm’s letterhead to give it weight.’ Her mother had always been one to cut right to the chase.

‘Yes. I know I’m not technically part of the firm any more, but it would help.’

‘Actually, you are still part of the firm.’

‘I am?’

‘Of course. It’s a family firm and you are still part of the family, even if you have deserted us. And you remain a solicitor. It seemed pointless to remove you from the firm. When you are ready and decide to return, everything is here waiting for you.’

Bree bristled. Even now, her mother refused to believe she wasn’t coming back. Margaret could not understand anyone wanting a life other than one of wealth and power, even if it was at the cost of their hopes and dreams. And she’d never believed Bree was capable of making her own decisions and running her own life. A lawsuit—yes; her life—never. It was clear that Margaret expected Bree to fail and come running back to her parents. She shouldn’t be surprised and it shouldn’t hurt. But it did. Every time.

Bree put the pain and anger to one side. An argument wouldn’t help Matt, and she had long ago given up any hope of changing her mother’s opinions. ‘Then are you willing to have me use that position to help my friend? It would be pro bono.’

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