Chapter 20
CHAPTER
20
‘Would you consider renting the shop in the main street?’ Matt mentally crossed his fingers as he waited for a reply.
‘We had hoped for a sale.’ The voice down the phone sounded a bit disappointed.
‘Keith, you know I’ve been trying. But like everywhere else, the Ridge has had a tough few years. It’s starting to come back, but there’s still not many people looking to buy. And those who are want a cheap house or a working property.’
‘I know you’ve been trying. I have no complaints. And, to be honest, we’ve settled into retirement so well, I don’t really think about that old shop much. Only when the bills come.’
That was his opening. Matt took it eagerly. ‘Renting the place would cover those bills, probably with a good bit left over.’
There was a brief silence at the other end of the phone. Matt waited. He’d known Keith quite well before he and his wife closed their small stock feed business and retired to the coast. He wasn’t a man to be rushed or pressured.
‘What sort of figure were you thinking?’
Matt answered honestly. He wouldn’t cheat his client by setting the figure too low in order to help Bree. But at the same time, he wouldn’t let the price get above what was realistic.
‘That’s not a lot,’ Keith said.
‘True. But I think it’s the best we can hope for. It would cover the rates and so forth. I know this tenant. The place would be looked after. A prosperous place is easier to sell than something that’s been empty for a couple of years. And you never know. The tenant might even think about buying it once they get established. If it works out.’
‘There is that, I guess.’
They talked for a couple more minutes and ended the call with Keith saying he’d discuss it with his wife and call back in the next day or two.
‘There’s no hurry,’ Matt assured him as he hung up.
As he put the phone back on his desk, he wondered if he’d gone a bit too far. Bree hadn’t said she wanted to rent the store to set up a yarn shop. But the building was perfect. There was a big space where the knitting club could meet. It would be easy for out-of-towners to find. It did need some paint and a bit of TLC, but Jake was always available. Or, if Bree didn’t have the money to spend, Matt would help.
He’d wait until he heard back from Keith before he said anything to her.
He glanced at the time. He should shut the office now and collect Vicki, who was at a schoolfriend’s house. Sally was due to FaceTime this evening, and he wanted to make sure Vicki was home for that. He didn’t want to give Kim’s mother any excuse to complain. As he did at the end of every day, he brought Kim’s photo up on his screen.
‘Hopefully there won’t be any problems this time,’ he told Kim’s smiling image. ‘Next weekend is the library fundraiser. I know how much you loved those. Vicki loves them too, now she’s a little older. I’ll be taking her along for a little while. I’m taking Bree as well. You remember me telling you about the alpaca farmer? She’s been so kind to Vicki. Well, Deb nagged us into going to the dance together. You know how hard it can be to say no to Deb. Still, I guess it will stop her feeling out of place and give her a chance to meet some more of the locals. That’s all it is, Kim. I’m just being a friend to her.’
He reached for the mouse to shut the machine down, wondering if, for the first time ever, he had just lied to Kim.
***
Sally’s call came right on schedule. Vicki greeted her with her usual joy and settled down to tell her grandparents about school and the new book she was reading.
‘What about your knitting, sweetheart? Are you still doing that?’ Sally’s question seemed innocuous, but Matt wasn’t sure. In Vicki’s world, the knitting was so linked to Bree, it was possible Sally was trying to pry. The thought was unsettling and he hated himself for thinking it, but it would not go away.
‘I am, Granny, but I can’t tell you anything about it.’
‘And why not?’
‘Just because. Isn’t that right, Daddy?’
‘It is a surprise,’ Matt said carefully. ‘But you’ll like it when you find out, Sally.’
‘Shh.’ Vicki put her hand over his mouth. ‘Don’t tell her.’
Matt’s phone rang. He left his place on the couch next to Vicki to check it. Keith. That was quick. ‘I’ll step outside to take this,’ he told Vicki and Sally. ‘It’s work. I’ll only be gone a couple of minutes.’
It took longer than a couple of minutes, but Matt was satisfied by the time he hung up. Keith had agreed to renting his little shop, with hope of a sale some time in the future. They’d come up with a price which seemed fair to both of them. It was also a price that Matt hoped Bree could afford. The yarn shop wasn’t going to turn the Ridge into an art world hub, but it was another step towards prosperity. Matt was hopeful and optimistic as he put his phone into his pocket and went back inside.
‘How would you like to come and live with your grandpa and me?’
The words were spoken as Matt stepped through the doorway. The tablet was turned towards the sofa and Sally would not have seen that he was back.
‘You mean like a holiday?’ Vicki sounded eager.
‘Yes. A holiday. You know we have a swimming pool for the summer. And there’s a movie theatre. And bookshops and lots of fun things to do. And don’t forget the beach is close. And if you had fun here, you could stay as long as you wanted to. You could even go to school here. It’s a lovely school and you’d make lots of friends.’
Matt crossed the room and took the tablet from his daughter’s hands. ‘Vicki, can you go to your room, please.’
‘Daddy? Did you hear what Granny was saying? I can go have a holiday with them. Can I, Daddy?’
‘Honey, please go to your bedroom. Granny and I have to talk about something.’
‘But Daddy—’ tears began spilling from his daughter’s bright blue eyes, ‘—what did I do wrong? I was just talking to Granny.’
‘It’s all right.’ He had to force his voice to be calm, because everything was far from all right. ‘You haven’t done anything wrong. Now, you go to your room and read while I talk to Granny. I’ll be along in a second to explain.’
Her little face screwed up against her tears, Vicki left.
‘What was that?’ He lifted the tablet to glare at Sally. ‘What the hell were you doing?’
‘Now, Matt, don’t get angry. I was simply thinking it would be nice for Vicki to come and stay with us for a while. It’s hard having to drive all the way up there to see her.’
‘All the way up here is only a couple of hours, Sally. It’s not that far. And this is her home. She lives here. With me.’
‘But it would be good for her to live with us for a while too. Here in the city. There are so many things she’s missing out on up there in the bush.’
‘Sally, you are the one who is missing something here. I’m sorry, but you have to back off. Vicki is my daughter, not yours. She lives here with me and I’ll raise her as I see fit. As Kim and I planned.’
‘But she’s my granddaughter. You never even married Kim. Vicki’s as much my family as she is yours. Maybe even …’ Sally’s voice trailed off, as if those last few words were a step too far even for her.
As far as Matt was concerned that line had already been crossed. ‘Sally. I’m sorry, but I’m going to ask you not to call Vicki again.’
‘What. You can’t—’
‘As her father, I can. I don’t want to, but right now she is in her room crying her eyes out and it’s because of you. It’s her I’m concerned about. It seems to me that you are trying to take my daughter— my daughter—away from me, and I will not allow that.’
‘You can’t keep her away from me. You just can’t. I have rights.’
‘You can still see her, but only when I am with her. And only when it has been prearranged. Do I make myself clear?’
‘You make yourself very clear.’ Sally spat the words and then she was gone.
Matt stared at the end-of-call message, wondering if he’d done more harm than good. Since Kim’s death, Sally had changed. Despite all the mother-in-law jokes, he and Sally had always had a friendly relationship. Sally hadn’t been pleased when Kim had moved to the Ridge to be with him, and so soon after their meeting. But their relationship had been cordial until Kim was diagnosed. After that, all any of them had cared about was Kim. And protecting Vicki. Grief took people in different ways, but he was genuinely and deeply concerned about Sally. It was as if she was losing touch with reality. As if she was trying to get Vicki to replace the daughter she had lost.
He laid the tablet down on the table and stared at his phone. He thought about calling Brian. They could still talk. Sally’s husband loved her, Matt knew that. Surely Brian could see what was happening? It was clear he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—control his wife’s behaviour. Maybe Matt should suggest again that he get Sally some help.
Another muffled sob from the bedroom dragged him away from those thoughts. Right now, Vicki needed him.
Kim, how am I going to explain what just happened?
She would have known exactly what to do. What to say. She always had. But she was gone and he was utterly lost without her. He had to find a way.
Love her, Matt. Love her with all your heart and you’ll both be fine without me.
Kim had said that to him on their last day together. She’d died a few hours later, taking all his hopes and plans for the future with her.
We’re not fine, Kim. But I’m trying.
Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hall and knocked on Vicki’s door.