Chapter 22

CHAPTER

22

‘Enough! I need to sit down.’ Rose was breathing heavily.

‘Me too.’ Mike took her hand and led her off the dance floor. ‘Shall we get a drink and some fresh air?’

They stopped at the bar long enough to acquire a beer for Mike and some cider for Rose. Then they quietly slipped out the front door of the hall. In the grassed area beside the children’s playground, the wooden picnic tables were deserted and the two of them dropped onto a bench.

‘That’s the most fun I’ve had in ages,’ Rose said as she sipped her drink.

‘What? You mean there’s no fun to be had in the big city?’

‘Plenty of it. But I’m getting too old.’

‘No, you are not.’ Mike turned to look her in the face. That look was … disconcerting. There was something in his eyes Rose hadn’t seen in a long time.

‘Wagtail Ridge is starting to grow on me,’ she said, looking away. ‘And Bree seems happier here than I’ve seen her in … ever, I guess.’

‘What about you, Rose? Are you happy in your high-rise apartment down there in Sydney? With your harbour view?’

‘How did you know? Oh. The grapevine has been at work again.’

‘I do believe there was some talk about it at the knitting club. And, well …’

‘Of course. Val was there. There must be an echo in the hall. She seems to overhear every conversation, even if she’s on the other side of the room. One of these days she’s going to get someone in trouble.’

‘Not this time. At least I hope not. And you haven’t answered my question.’

Rose sat still for a moment, staring out into the darkness, feeling the cold can of cider in her hand, listening to the rustling of the trees and the music and voices floating from the hall. She was very aware of the man sitting beside her; the strength of him and the warmth that seemed to flow from him. She dropped the glib answer that she had become accustomed to giving. ‘I’m not unhappy. I was always glad to see Bree. Her visits were the highlight of my week. But to be honest, since she left, I’m not so sure “happy” is the word I would use.’

‘And right here? Right now? Would you use that word?’

‘Maybe.’

Mike smiled. He had a nice smile, honest and open. And it reached all the way to his eyes.

A night breeze wafted over them, bringing with it a slight chill. Rose put down her cold cider and rubbed her hands together to warm them.

‘Are you cold, Rose?’ Mike took her hands in his and began to gently rub them. His skin was rough with hard work, but at the same time his touch was soft, and the shiver working its way up Rose’s spine had nothing to do with the temperature.

‘Do you want to go back inside?’

‘No.’ Rose allowed herself to lean into Mike.

He placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘Is that better?’

‘Yes. Tell me more about being a shearer. Do you work all year, or is it seasonal?’

Rose could have listened to Mike talk all night. His voice was deep and calm and beautiful. She wondered if he could sing. That could wait. Right now she was happy with his arm around her, one hand holding hers, and his voice in her ears talking about a life she would not have imagined until Bree had brought her into this strange new world. A world that involved camelids and a motherless little girl; women who brought cakes and goodwill to a knitting club and this man who seemed to fit into this world—and hers—with ease.

Their peace was finally interrupted by a crowd of people coming out of the hall.

‘The dance can’t be over yet.’ Mike glanced at his watch.

‘No. It’s just the kids leaving. Apparently they’re all having a sleepover so their parents can stay on.’

‘Speaking of which, do you want to go dance some more?’

‘I think I do.’

Mike stood up and took her hands in his as she got to her feet. ‘Rose. I hope this isn’t too much to ask and you don’t have to answer now, but when we are done dancing, I would like to drive you home. I would like to kiss you goodnight outside your front door. And then tomorrow, I would like to ring you and ask you out on a proper date.’

‘Oh …’

‘You don’t have to answer now. We can go and dance some more while you think about it.’

‘Yes.’

Mike hesitated. ‘Was that yes to dancing or …’

‘Yes to driving me home.’

‘And the rest?’

‘Don’t get too sure of yourself. But I think there’s a good chance of a yes on those as well.’

Mike’s smile would have put a Christmas tree to shame. He kept holding her hand as they walked back inside the hall. As she looked for Bree to tell her that she had arranged a new lift home at the end of the evening, Rose caught a glimpse of Matt and Bree coming back into the hall. Vicki was not with them. They turned towards the dance floor, their heads close together as they talked. Perhaps this evening held a pleasant surprise for her granddaughter too.

***

Matt could not remember when he had last been out this late. His watch was telling him it was after ten o’clock. The evening had flown in a blur of music and laughter. There had been food and drink too, but mostly this evening had been about the smile on Bree’s face, the sparkle in her eyes and the feel of her in his arms as they had danced together. He’d barely spoken to anyone else since Vicki had left with the other kids for their sleepover. For the first time since Kim’s diagnosis, he’d felt genuinely happy and really alive.

On the stage, the band finished a set with a flourish and the dancers applauded loudly as they struggled to catch their breath.

‘Thank you. Thank you.’ The band leader bowed deeply. ‘We’re going to take a quick break and replenish our beer supplies. See you soon.’

As the applause faded, the crowd swayed towards the bar.

‘I promised to help in the kitchen,’ Bree said. ‘Any chance you could get me a drink and bring it in?’

‘Sure. What do you want?’

‘Water. Or something soft. I’m driving.’

He was still holding her hand from the dance. He didn’t want to let it go, but as he did, her fingers trailed through his and his heart jumped.

It didn’t take long to procure two bottles of water at the bar, where the library fund jar was looking pleasingly full. The people of Wagtail Ridge didn’t have a lot of money, but they were a generous lot. When he joined Bree in the kitchen, Rose and Mike were also there. Mike was wielding a dishcloth like a professional, while the two women did their stuff with tea towels. The pile of clean dishes on the side bench was growing rapidly. Despite the work, the three of them were laughing and the feeling in the room was more like a home than a community event.

‘Do you have another of those tea towels? I’m happy to help,’ Matt offered.

‘You could take over, mate, if you don’t mind.’ Mike lifted his arms out of the sink and shook the water off. ‘I was just thinking it was time to take Rose home. If you’re ready to go?’ This last was directed at Rose, who discarded her tea towel with something that Matt might almost call a girly blush.

‘I am.’

Mike dropped his arm casually around Rose’s shoulder. ‘’Night.’

As they left, Matt took the vacated place at the sink. ‘How do you feel about that?’ He spoke casually and avoided looking at Bree, instead plunging his hands into the warm, soapy water.

‘Good. I think. I’ve known Mike for a couple of years. The place where I used to board my alpacas used his crew as well. He seems like a good guy. And it’s nice to see Nan looking happy.’

‘She’s been alone a long time?’

‘A few years now. I wouldn’t want to see her alone for the rest of her life. Neither would Pops, I’m sure.’

Matt carefully placed a dripping plate into the rack. Those same words could easily be applied to him.

He could hardly believe he was thinking such thoughts.

‘Do you think Rose will stay in Sydney? She’s been spending a lot of time up here.’ It was a safe topic.

‘I kind of hope she might think about moving up. There’s plenty of room at The Gums. But then again, I’m not quite sure how we’d go living together. Don’t take that the wrong way—I love Nan. She’s probably my best friend. But I think two grown women living together can be difficult when both have been used to living alone. Especially if Nan and Mike have a thing going.’

Matt reached for another pile of dirty plates. ‘I might have a possible solution for that.’

Bree stopped wiping and leaned against the kitchen bench. ‘I’m listening.’

Matt outlined his conversation with Keith Thorne about the shop two doors down from the supermarket.

‘You told me you’d like your own shop. This has a lovely big front room. Much better than the hall for the knitting club. It would be easier to find than The Gums—for people wanting to do alpaca walks or buy wool. The cottage at the back is a reasonable size. Although …’ His voice trailed off as Bree remained unresponsive. ‘I guess for Rose it would seem pretty small and shabby compared to her Sydney apartment.’

‘And how much did you say the rent was?’

He told her. ‘He’s hoping to sell the place. I suggested that rent money is better than no money, and the place will be better looked after if someone is there. I may have suggested that whoever rents it might want to buy it in the future, but that was just a vague hint.’ He stopped talking, but still there was no reaction from Bree. He could almost see the brain behind those amazing two-tone eyes working. ‘I’m sorry if I overstepped the mark, but it seemed there was an opportunity there that might work for both of you. Just forget I spoke.’

Bree grabbed her tea towel with a determined movement. ‘Get washing up there, Matt. We have somewhere to go.’

Fifteen minutes later, cleaning-up duties had been handed over to the next volunteers and Bree was almost dragging Matt towards the door. It was a very short walk to the closed shop in the main street. One of the town’s few streetlights was just outside and the yellow glow lit the big plate-glass window and hid some of the flaws in the paint. Bree shaded her eyes and pressed her nose up against the glass, like a kid checking out a sweet shop.

‘I can’t see much.’

That wasn’t surprising. ‘That path down the side of the shop leads to the back and the cottage. But you wouldn’t see much there at this time of night. You won’t even have the streetlight—’

Before he could finish speaking, Bree had started walking down the side of the building. With a smile and a sigh, he followed.

‘Is there a storeroom?’ Bree asked.

‘Yes. That’s part of the shop section. The cottage behind has two bedrooms. It could use a bit of fixing up.’

Bree dismissed that with a wave of her hand. ‘I don’t know if Nan is even thinking about moving. I know she finds Sydney a bit lonely these days. There’s no community there like there is here. And I guess it also depends on what she and Mike are doing right now. All that aside, I love it for me. The shop, I mean.’

She stopped and faced him. The dim light fell on her face. She was a picture of excitement. ‘It is exactly what I was looking for. And the rent is so cheap, which I suspect is your doing. Thank you, Matt.’ For the second time, she raised herself on her toes to kiss his cheek. As she did, his hands went around her waist. When she dropped back to her normal height, he didn’t let her go.

Matt wanted to kiss her. He was shocked and nervous at the same time. There had been no-one but Kim for years—and then the years without her. He had never thought he’d feel like this again, but here it was. He wanted to kiss Bree and he wanted to do it without feeling guilty. And without comparing her to Kim. Bree deserved better than that.

Before he could be overwhelmed by guilt and second thoughts, he pulled her close and their lips met and he was kissing her. He was kissing beautiful, free-spirited, slightly crazy Bree Johnston, with her love of alpacas and her mismatched eyes and her mane of ridiculously curly hair.

She tasted of joy and light and life. And she was kissing him back.

He pulled her tighter and her body curved to fit against his in its own unique way. He was carried away by the wonder of it all.

At last she stepped back. ‘I think I should go.’

He wanted to say no. He wanted to tell her to stay. But the words wouldn’t come. In just a few moments, everything had changed. He had changed. It was something he wanted—no, needed—to explore.

‘Bree. Don’t—’

She shook her head. ‘Goodnight, Matt.’

This time she didn’t kiss his cheek. She smiled such a smile that he felt as if the sun had risen at midnight. Then she walked away into the darkness.