Expecting Miracle Twins (14 page)

W
ELCOME
to Willowbank.

The white-painted sign stood proudly in a bed of blue and white agapanthus on the outskirts of town.

‘
Ta-da
! This is my home town.’ Mattie grinned at Jake. ‘Not exactly a bustling metropolis.’

She drove on down the wide main street, divided in the middle by a strip of well-tended lawn with willow trees and brightly coloured garden beds. Either side of the street, rows of old-fashioned timber buildings housed a mix of traditional shops and trendy new fashion stores and cafés.

‘I like it,’ Jake said.

Mattie shot him a sideways glance. ‘You don’t have to be polite.’

‘No, I mean it. There’s something special about being in the bush. And this is the quintessential Australian country town.’

‘Complete with the quintessential clock tower right in the middle.’ Mattie laughed, pointing.

Jake grinned. ‘And the quintessential old-timers, passing the time of day on a seat in the sun.’

‘There’s my old primary school,’ she said as they passed a playground filled with yelling, laughing children.

‘And the School of Arts where you stood on stage to recite
The Man from Snowy River
.’

‘How did you know?’

‘I went to a country primary school too, you know.’

‘Of course you did.’

They shared a smile and Mattie felt the tummy-tumbling happiness that she always felt when Jake gave her a certain look.

They were on their way to Gina and Tom’s for lunch. This evening they would stay with her parents and they would discuss wedding plans. It was all incredibly exciting.

‘Slow down,’ Jake said as they left the main part of town and drove past houses on acreage.

Mattie slowed and felt a catch in her throat when she saw the
For Sale
that had caught his attention.

‘That’s the McLaughlins’ place,’ she said, excited by the eager intensity in Jake’s face. ‘I heard they were retiring to the Gold Coast.’

‘Do you know the house? Have you been inside?’

‘Years ago. In primary school I was friends with their daughter, but I lost touch when she went away to boarding school. As I remember, it’s a lovely old house.’

From the street, they could see a graceful federation-style home, set well back from the road and fronted by attractive gardens. Stately old gum trees shaded the lawn and a row of liquid ambers provided a screen from the neighbours.

‘The land runs down to the river,’ Mattie said. ‘And there’s a little jetty.’

‘It’s perfect,’ Jake announced as if he’d already made a decision.

‘Do you mean you’d like to live here?’

He smiled. ‘Possibly.’ Reaching out, he traced the out
line of her ear with a fingertip. ‘What do you think? Should we come back tomorrow and check it out?’

Mattie gulped. ‘Are you serious? Do you really think we could live here in Willowbank?’

‘Why not?’

‘Would you be able to find work here?’

He grinned. ‘Couldn’t we live off the royalties from your books?’

‘If you don’t mind starving in a garret.’

He chuckled. ‘Never mind. Every district has environmental issues. If all else fails, I’ll set up my own business.’

Mattie rewarded him with a kiss. It seemed too good to be true that she and Jake might settle here, close to her friends and family, in this house that she’d always admired.

A new thought struck, making her gasp. ‘I’ve just remembered.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, gosh. Oh, wow!’

‘Mattie, for heaven’s sake, what is it? Tell me.’

‘There’s a little cottage on the property, down near the creek. Old Mr McLaughlin, the grandfather, used to live there. I remember how he used to sit on the porch, looking out over the water.’

They stared at each other, eyes wide, and then they spoke in unison. ‘Roy.’

Next instant they were smiling, laughing, hugging each other with excitement.

‘Would you really want Roy to live with us?’ Jake asked as she nestled her head on his shoulder.

‘It would be perfect. I’d love it.’

‘God, I love you.’ He nuzzled her cheek. ‘How did I ever get this lucky?’

Jake kissed her and the kiss was scrumptious and lasted for ages, but eventually Mattie pulled away. ‘I’m afraid we’d better get going. We don’t want to be late for lunch.’

She turned off the main road and headed down the winding road that led through a grove of pines to Gina and Tom’s farmhouse.

As they emerged onto the sun-dappled drive in front of the house, Tom was already coming down the steps with a grin as wide as a watermelon slice and little red-headed Jasper curled in his arms like a sleepy ginger-topped possum.

‘So good to see you,’ he said enthusiastically, kissing Mattie’s cheek and shaking Jake’s hand and congratulating them both, yet again, on their engagement.

Mattie gazed fondly at Jasper and found it hard to believe that he’d been inside her for all those months. ‘How is he, Tom?’

‘Settled at last, thank heavens, but he kicked up quite a stink this morning.’ Tom grinned and his eyes glowed with unmistakable pride. ‘He didn’t want to miss the party.’

‘And Mia?’

‘Sound asleep. She’s the model child.’

‘The darling.’

Jake retrieved the hamper of gourmet delicacies that he and Mattie had scoured Sydney’s delis to find and they went inside the big farmhouse kitchen, which was fragrant as ever with wonderful baking smells.

More laughter and congratulations followed as they greeted Gina.

‘And Jake must meet Lucy,’ Mattie said, beckoning her petite blonde friend closer. ‘Jake, Lucy is Willowbank’s favourite vet but, more importantly, she’s going to be one of my bridesmaids.’

Lucy was smiling as she shook Jake’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said demurely, but her eyes were sparkling as she turned to Mattie. ‘Very impressive,’ she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

Gina beamed at everyone. ‘We only need Will here now and we’d have everybody together.’

‘He’ll be back from Mongolia in time for the wedding,’ Mattie told her. ‘He’s going to be Jake’s best man.’

Lucy’s sudden shocked gasp cut through the group’s excitement. Everyone turned to stare at her and bright colour flooded her face.

She gave a self-conscious shrug and an awkward smile. ‘Sorry. I…I hadn’t heard that Will would be in the wedding party.’

‘Is that a problem?’ asked Jake, looking puzzled.

‘No.’ Lucy was recovering quickly, but her cheeks were still bright pink. ‘No, of course not. It’s no problem at all.’

Mattie wished she’d explained to Jake that Lucy and Will had a history. They’d been best friends at high school and they’d gone away to university together. Mattie had wondered if their friendship might grow into something deeper, but it never had.

She had never suspected any unfinished business between them. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

Lucy, however, was clearly determined to make everyone forget her slip. ‘It’s so exciting that the wedding is only three months away, Mattie. I can’t wait to help you with the planning.’

‘It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?’ Gina agreed. ‘I do love weddings.’

‘I can just see it now.’ Lucy smiled dreamily. ‘Mattie will look so beautiful.’

‘Jake will look beautiful too,’ Gina added with a cheeky wink.

‘I say this calls for a drink,’ Tom announced before the girls could get too carried away.

‘Great idea.’ Lucy was back to her usual bouncy self. ‘I’ve brought a bottle of bubbly. Let’s crack it open.’

The cork popped loudly, icy wine flowed and glasses clinked.

Happy voices cried, ‘Here’s to Mattie and Jake!’

Mattie caught Jake’s eye. Months ago, she’d dreamed of a lovely gathering like this, where she and her best friends and Jake were together. She’d thought it was impossible.

Now, Jake sent her a smile and she read the clear message in his flashing dark eyes. They were a team and, together, everything was possible.