Page 88 of The Knitting Club at Wagtail Ridge

‘No buts. I said we’ve got it. I’m not just being helpful.’ He chuckled deeply. ‘With no other volunteers to do the washing up, it gives me a chance for some alone time with Rose.’ He winked.

What was with everyone winking?

Rose didn’t wink, but her message was blatant. ‘Why don’t you and Matt go have dinner together?’

‘Nan …’

‘Actually.’ Matt appeared at her side. ‘That’s a good idea. As Vicki is with Kelly, why don’t you and I go to the pub for dinner?’

‘No. Not the pub,’ Deb said, the only other person still in the room. ‘Jake has the night off. I’m going to be flat out cobbling something together for the regulars.’

Bree knew that was a lie. Deb did meals that were nearly up to Jake’s standard and she did them with ease.

Matt looked at Bree and shrugged. ‘I could cook us something at my place.’

‘Excellent idea.’ Rose almost pushed them out the door.

When it shut behind them, Bree turned to Matt and raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question.

He laughed. ‘I know what you mean. But there is something I do have to ask you.’

‘What?’

‘Technically, I guess your mother is my solicitor now, not you.’

‘That’s right.’

‘So,technically, if you were to come to my place for dinner, there wouldn’t be any ethical consideration if we were … or I was …’

‘No. There wouldn’t.’ Her voice dropped to a whisper.

‘I have realised something important. I feel sorry for Sally, and I am doing my best to understand and help her. But I can’t let her anger and hurt interfere with Vicki’s life. Or mine either.’ His voice slowed and dropped. ‘I do very much like the idea of spending the evening with you. At my place. I’m not in Jake’s league, but I’m sure I can get us something. If you’ll come.’

‘You did pretty well last time, so I guess I’ll give it another try.’

They took their time walking back to the house behind the real estate office. Matt didn’t hold her hand, but Bree felt that they couldn’t get much closer as they talked about that evening’s event and her plans for building her business.

When they got to the house, Matt poured them each a glass of wine and they set about making dinner. Bree wasn’t a particularly good cook; at best, she would describe herself as competent with simple things. She’d never enjoyed cooking. Living in Sydney, it was too easy to get food delivered, or to go to one of the many cafes and restaurants around the office when she was working late, as she did most nights. Living alone, her meals were quick and simple fare. Matt, however, more than made up for her lack of skill.

She sat on a stool while he moved around the kitchen, deftly putting together a salad. He even made a dressing for it, mixing the oil and vinegar in an old honey jar and giving it a good shake.

While Bree set the table, he heated the grill and cooked some chicken, which was golden brown and smelled delicious as he carried the plates into the dining room.

Bree took her place at the table, but before joining her, Matt went to the bookshelf and the photo of Kim. He looked at it for a moment, then slid it onto another shelf, among a collection of framed pictures. Then he moved a photo of Vicki into the vacated place.

‘Matt, you don’t have to do that. Not for me.’

‘I know. But it’s not for you. It’s for me. This horrible business with Sally has made me understand one thing. She can’t move on and it’s destroying her. It’s destroying her future with Vicki too. And I’m risking the same thing. I have got to let go too.’

‘But only when you’re ready.’

‘I wasn’t ready. In some ways, maybe I’m still not. But—’ He sat down opposite her and reached across the table to take her hand. ‘I had one remarkable woman in my life. I never thought I’d meet another, until you walked in the door with your crazy hair and your alpacas, your odd eyes and your wonderful heart. It’s not the same as before, with Kim. It’s not better or worse. It’s different. And it’s good. Very good. I want this—you—in my life. And Vicki’s too.’

Bree’s breath caught in her throat. She looked at his handsome face, his deep, soulful eyes, and felt everything in her life shift. ‘I like the sound of that,’ she whispered.

Their fingers remained entwined.

Bree looked at the meal set in front of her. ‘This looks good,’ she said.

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