Page 8 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

‘Look, Daddy. Miss Lou found me alpaca books.’

After meeting ‘the alpaca lady’ a week ago, Vicki had pestered the librarian, Lou, for books about alpacas. Lou had come up trumps, as she always did.

‘Daddy, did you know that an alpaca can be happy if it’s only got three legs?’

‘Ah. No. I did not know that.’

‘There’s one in this book. And pictures of it and everything.’ Vicki held up the book, open to a page of coloured photographs.

Matt didn’t actually see an animal with only three legs, but that didn’t matter. ‘It just goes to show that not everyone is the same, and we can all be happy, even if we’re a bit different.’

‘I’m going to tell Granny and Grandpa about the alpacas when they call me tonight. I can do that, Daddy, can’t I?’

‘Well, you know Granny and Grandpa like to hear about what you do at school. And with your friends. Maybe you shouldn’t tell them until the alpaca lady decides if she’s really going to come here to live. Not just yet.’

Kim’s parents kept in regular contact with Matt—or more precisely, with Vicki. It was hard for him. Every time he saw them, all the pain of losing Kim came back. But Vicki didn’t feel that. He’d never try to keep her grandparents away from her, even if, of late, things had become—

‘When are the alpacas coming, Daddy? I want to see them.’

That was the million dollar question. Well, not million dollar.

The Gums wasn’t that expensive.

‘I don’t know, honey. Ms Johnston may be looking at other properties. She might find a place she likes better than the Ridge. She might not come here at all.’

‘She’ll come. I know she will.’

Matt wished he had Vicki’s confidence. Since Bree’s visit, he’d had only one email from her, asking a few questions, which he’d been able to answer that same day. Then nothing. Should he send another email, giving her a gentle push? He’d been pretty hopeful, but he may have misjudged the woman with the amazing hair and startling eyes.

Vicki would be disappointed if the alpacas never came to town, just as he would be disappointed not to make that all-important sale. And, if he was honest, not to see Bree again. She had been interesting. Not that he’d ever say that out loud. If he did, it wouldn’t be long before the Wagtail Ridge grapevine swung into action. And it wasn’t that kind of interest. He’d found and lost the one woman in the world for him. That wouldn’t stop the ladies from trying to matchmake, and that thought filled him with dread—he would never find another woman like Kim. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate a female friend, and another woman in Vicki’s orbit would be good for her. Because Matt was certain of one thing. If those alpacas did ever come to The Gums, he would never keep Vicki away.

The phone rang.

‘Hello, Mr Ambrose—Matt. It’s Bree Johnston here.’

‘It’s good to hear from you, Ms—Bree.’

At the sound of the name, Vicki looked up, a wild grin on her face. Matt held up a hand to tell her to stay still.

‘Would it be possible to visit that property again?’

‘Yes—when would you like to come?’

‘Well, we’re actually already on the way. We would probably be there in about an hour, if that’s convenient.’

He briefly wondered who ‘we’ was. ‘Of course it is.’

‘Excellent. We’ll see you then.’

When he ended the call, Vicki was bouncing up and down in front of him. ‘Are the alpacas coming today?’

‘No, honey. That was Ms Johnston. She wants to take another look at the property this afternoon.’

‘She’s going to buy it, isn’t she, Daddy?’

‘I hope so, but she might not. And either way, there won’t be any alpacas there yet.’

‘Can I come with you to look at the place where they’re going to live?’

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