Page 32 of A Matter of Trust

He loved what they’d done with the walkway along the creek, the different shops opening out onto timber decking. The entrance off the main street was marked with a beautifully painted sign designating it The Creek Walk, with a picture of a pelican perched on the extended stroke of the K in creek. The pelicans weren’t anywhere to be seen as Morgan approached the group hovering outside the Hot Bread Shop with its folk art rendered sign.

The two children spotted him first and came to meet him with welcoming grins, Gabby taking his free hand as if she’d been doing it all her life. Edward darted him a shy smile and walked beside him, occasionally glancing at the gift bags with curious eyes.

Without conscious thought, Morgan sought out Becca, finding her talking seriously with Thackery Harmsworth. She was wearing a pretty yellow blouse and light brown woollen trousers with a darker brown cardigan. Not fashionable but practical in this climate.

Thackery was dressed slightly less outrageously today in jeans, sheepskin boots and a jacket covered in sewn on patches. His hair was roughly fixed in a bun and his vivid eyes looked down at Becca with a tenderness that caught at something in Morgan’s chest.

Beside him was Dan, neatly dressed in eighty’s style brown corduroy trousers and jacket over a fair isle knitted sweater. Morgan would have bet money Thackery had done Dan’s shopping at the local thrift shop. The result, he had to admit to himself, was good and Dan was happy enough watching the ducks on the creek.

Thackery saw Morgan first and nodded, bringing Becca’s attention around. Her smile widened and then quivered as her gaze drifted over the three of them. It paused at Gabby’s hand in his and he wondered what she was thinking behind those obscuring glasses. Was she pleased at the obvious rapport he was developing with Gabby, and with Edward, or did it threaten her somehow?

‘Hi, Morgan. Good of you to come.’

‘I’m pleased to be here.’ He could see his parents inside the shop now, seated at a large table by the window.

Becca gathered up the group and shepherded them into the shop and seated them around the table, placing Morgan between the two children. Morgan recognised Marcia Kavocik beside the counter talking to a talk, dark haired man in jeans and a leather jacket. He seemed vaguely familiar.

‘It’s Tony Field. OMG. He is the best,’ Gabby hissed.

The whole group turned to look.

Edward wrinkled up his nose. ‘Don’t be stupid. Why would he be here?’

Grace answered in her measured tones, picking up the menu card. ‘He came for the wedding. You would have seen him there.’

Becca finished settling Dan and turned to Morgan. ‘Ashleigh got married.’

Ashleigh. She was one more person he’d lost touch with over the years of his self-imposed exile. Not that they’d been close. He’d had no close friends here. Not the kind who would invite him to weddings. When he’d left, only Becca had tempted him to look back. He’d fought it, and the results had been disastrous.

‘It was a lovely wedding. Tony Field was the best man, all dressed up in a gorgeous suit.’ Gabby said it with a dreamy look in her eyes. Morgan had a horrible thought his daughter might have been imagining herself in the role of bride. Maybe with Tony Field. Luckily, Tony looked pretty well occupied.

Becca gave their order to the girl at the counter and returned to the table, checking Dan was okay on the way back. He was trying to think of something to say to her to open an innocuous conversation when they were interrupted.

‘Morgan Cavanaugh?’

He returned Tony’s smile and shook hands automatically. Marcia hovered, winking at the children as she slid a plate of beautifully decorated cupcakes and their drinks onto the table. Gabby was so enthralled at the sight of her hero close up she didn’t glance at the cakes. The rest of the group murmured greetings, Edward’s being muffled by a mouthful of bright orange cupcake.

Morgan pulled himself together. ‘Hi, Tony. I hear you’re doing great things on the acting front.’

The soapie star smiled, one corner tucked in. ‘I’ve been doing okay. I see you haven’t hung about with settling down. Two kids already?’

An uneasy silence invaded the group and Tony jumped as if bitten and shot a confused glance at Marcia who was smiling too wide, her hand suspiciously close to Tony’s wrist. She’d turned out gorgeous. Morgan couldn’t blame Tony for looking at her like she was the best kind of cake.

Becca was looking green and wide eyed, a flush building on her cheeks. Morgan wasn’t game to look at his mother. He kept his smile fixed. ‘Sorry, Tony, no such luck. We’re here to celebrate a couple of birthdays. I’ve recently returned from several years in Africa.’

Fortunately for everyone, Gabby jumped in, digging out a bright pink notepad and pen from her mini backpack. ‘Can I have your autograph, Mr Field?’

‘Sure you can, honey.’ With good humour he crouched down beside the excited girl and scrawled something on the blank page. ‘Here you go.’

‘Can I have a kiss? That would be so awesome.’

With a laugh and a quick glance at Marcia, Tony complied with a peck on her cheek before retreating to the back of the store.

‘I can hardly wait to tell my friends at school.’ She sighed and touched her cheek. ‘He is soooo gorgeous.’

Edward screwed up his face. ‘You are so creepy. Why would you want a kiss from an old guy?’

‘I’m never washing my face again. Besides, you’d be the same if it were Jimmy Maddox.’

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