It took her four attempts to insert an IV line into Bob’s thready veins and administer the large dose of diuretic. Two hours later Bob looked a lot better. His breathing had improved, and he was up and down continually to the toilet, getting rid of the excess fluid.
Isabelle called Hugo again and gave him a quick update of Bob’s improving condition.
‘Tell Bob he can go home on the condition he calls you if he deteriorates. And make sure he knows to come in for a follow-up appointment first thing Monday morning. Good job, Belle. Enjoy your weekend.’
He hung up and Isabelle left the clinic feeling as if she had accomplished so much. She had managed to cope with most aspects of the job all week and there was a skip in her step as she walked home.
The only cloud on the horizon was Hugo’s obvious feelings for her.
*
Isabelle picked the kids up from school, grabbed a few things from the shop, and headed home. She wanted to celebrate her first week of fulltime work, but she was exhausted and couldn’t be bothered cooking.
She made a snap decision. ‘Let’s go out for dinner.’
Fletcher frowned like a wise old owl. ‘Can we afford that?’
‘Yes,’ Isabelle lied.
While the reduced rent was helping make a dent in her bills, she still had to watch her budget carefully. Once she got her first pay from the clinic, things would ease off considerably. By the end of the year she anticipated having savings in her bank account for the first time she could remember. Her father would be impressed. Not that she planned telling him.
‘Can we invite Leah?’ Fletcher asked.
Mietta clapped her hands together. ‘Yes, yes, can we? And Matt, too.’
Isabelle kept her face neutral. ‘Why would we invite Matt?’
‘Because he’s nice,’ Mietta replied. ‘Plus, he’s lonely. He doesn’t have a family and we could be his family.’
Mietta’s words shook her, but she had no idea how to respond. She realised Matt had captivated her daughter. She glanced at Fletcher, wondering how he was responding to Mietta’s request, but he was unperturbed, nodding his head in agreement.
‘Yeah, Mum, let’s invite Matt too. I want to talk to him about the mountain bike club. And we should thank him properly for getting rid of those possums.’
‘And for the kittens,’ Mietta added.
‘I’m sure he’s busy, but I’ll give Leah a call now,’ she said, reaching for her phone.
She wanted to see Matt, but there was no way she was going to make the first move. Inviting him to dinner would send the wrong message – to him, to her children, and to the gossiping Stony Creek community. Before they spent any more time alone, she’d have to sort out what was going on in her head and heart. It wouldn’t be fair to lead Matt on. She needed to make sure he knew where she stood. The problem was, first she needed to work out where that was. She’d never been so conflicted in her entire life.
Half an hour later, Isabelle, Fletcher, Mietta and Leah were sitting in the pub with drinks in front of them, the kids engrossed in their electronic devices.
‘How was your first week of work?’ Leah asked. ‘I bet it was a shock to the system having to work fulltime. How have the kids coped?’
Isabelle filled Leah in on her week, leaving out confidential medical details and not mentioning Hugo either. After only three days of working together, Isabelle had figured out that Hugo had nothing in common with Dan other than looks. She told Leah about Matt coming over and setting up traps for the possums, and Leah laughed hysterically when Isabelle relayed how Matt had found her flat on her back after having fallen off the ladder.
Matt. Solid, dependable, sexy Matt. Isabelle swirled her straw around her glass, listening to the ice cubes clink. She tried to suppress her feelings for him, but they kept bubbling up like an underground river, escaping to the surface without warning.
‘What do you think of Matt?’ Leah asked.
Isabelle stopped fiddling with her straw. Had Leah read her mind? ‘He seems nice,’ she said, hoping it was dim enough inside the pub so Leah couldn’t see her flushed face.
‘He’s big,’ Mietta said. Isabelle didn’t realise Mietta had been listening to their conversation. ‘Like a giant. But he’s gentle, like the beast,’ Mietta added.
‘Beast?’ Isabelle and Leah asked, in unison.
‘You know – from Beauty and the Beast. The movie,’ Mietta drawled, like they were slow to catch on.
They laughed at her accurate description of Matt.
‘Is it too soon?’ Leah lowered her voice so only Isabelle heard.
‘Too soon for what?’ Isabelle asked, fidgeting in her seat. She frowned at her friend. ‘You’re not attempting to give those old matchmakers a run for their money are you?’
‘I might be,’ Leah said.
‘Oh Leah, I’m not sure. He’s a great guy but—’
A hand clamped down on her shoulder and squeezed. She spun around, startled to find Hugo standing there.
‘Are you telling Leah I’m a great guy?’ he asked, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
Isabelle glanced at Leah, astonished to see her friend’s eyes flashing and her cheeks flaming with bright red spots of anger. She looked like thunder.
‘Out to celebrate, I see!’ Hugo said, pointing to their drinks and ignoring Leah’s reaction.
‘I thought you were in Adelaide,’ Isabelle stammered.
Seeing him brought up the memories of their brief interlude at the creek again and her face burned with mortification. Leah was violently twisting her pearls around her neck and Isabelle was glad she hadn’t told her friend what had happened.
‘I was in Adelaide, but I decided to come back after you called.’
‘To see Bob Richardson?’
‘And to surprise you.’ He grinned, flicking his hair from his eyes.
‘You’ve done that.’ She sensed the eyes of those seated around the table staring at her, especially Leah’s. ‘I guess you two know each other.’
‘We go way back,’ Hugo replied off-handedly. He casually pulled out the chair beside Isabelle and sat.
‘Yes, we do. Way back,’ Leah repeated through gritted teeth.
Isabelle regarded Leah. Other than a thinning of her lips, the constant toying of her necklace and the snarky words, her face was an unreadable mask. What is going on here?
‘Hugo, this is my son Fletcher, and Mietta, my daughter.’
‘Hi.’ Hugo gave them a sidelong glance before turning his attention back to Isabelle. ‘Can I buy you a bubbly to celebrate your first week of work?’
He placed his hand across the back of her chair, brushing his arm lightly against her shoulders. She edged forward in her seat to avoid the contact, looked down at the empty glass in front of her and twirled the stem it in her fingers. ‘Thank you. Another glass of wine would be lovely.’
‘You did a great job this week, Belle. You should be proud of yourself.’
Mietta sucked in her breath and Isabelle caught Fletcher’s shocked expression. That nickname was reserved for Dan, and they both knew it.
‘Would you like anything to eat?’ Hugo asked.
‘We’ve already ordered dinner.’ Leah tapped her watch without looking at it. ‘And it’ll be here soon.’
‘Well, if you don’t mind, I’m going to order something to eat as well.’
‘Suit yourself.’ She shrugged.
Isabelle turned to Hugo. ‘Will you go and see Bob before Monday? I’m worried about him.’
‘Yeah, I’ll head out to his farm tomorrow morning. No need for you to worry.’
Leah coughed and made a strange sound in the back of her throat. Why was she acting so strangely? Isabelle glared at her, only to see Leah’s eyes staring at something, or someone, over Isabelle’s head.
With a sense of deja vu she turned to see Matt striding towards their table. His eyes grazed over her face and his lips curled upwards in a friendly smile. Isabelle’s stomach flipped at
the sight of him and a shiver raced up her spine. Every single time he caused the same reaction. She smiled in return. When his gaze shifted to Hugo, his brows pulled slightly together. It was a miniscule movement, but she noticed. She also noticed the way something dark flashed in his eyes and his lips thinned. Isabelle shifted in her seat, painfully aware of Hugo’s arm still resting on the back of her chair. She did not want Matt, or the kids, to get any wrong ideas.
Leah jumped up from her seat and waved cheerfully. ‘Hey Matt, I’ve already ordered dinner for you. So glad you could join us!’ She kissed his cheek and gave him a quick hug.
When had Leah ordered for Matt? They hadn’t known he was coming. Who invited him? Isabelle rubbed her head where a mild headache was forming. Going out for dinner after a big week wasn’t such a good idea after all.
‘Hugo dropped by. But he’s not staying,’ Leah said. If Hugo was in any doubt of what Leah meant, her hands-on-hips stance sent a clear message.
‘Aren’t I?’ Hugo asked, scowling at Leah and tossing his head back.
‘No you’re not! You weren’t invited to this celebration dinner,’ she retorted, folding her arms across her chest.
Isabelle rubbed her eyes, shocked and confused at Leah’s bluntness.
Hugo stood, shoving his chair under the table with a thud. ‘I guess I’ll head off then.’ He glared at Leah.
The two men stood side by side, looking like David and Goliath. Matt held out his hand first. ‘Good to see you again, Hugo.’
‘Yeah, you too, Matthew.’ They shook hands politely. ‘Enjoy your dinner everyone,’ Hugo said. ‘I’ll see you at work on Monday, Belle.’ He leaned down to kiss her cheek again and she pulled away so he ended up kissing the air beside her head. His powerful aftershave and the smell of peppermint swirled around her.
‘Call if you need me to help you with Bob,’ she said.
‘No worries, will do.’ Hugo flicked his hair back and walked to the bar.
Matt sat in the seat vacated by Hugo and turned to talk to Fletcher.
‘What the hell was all of that about?’ Isabelle hissed.
Leah scowled. ‘I told you before, Issie, you don’t want to get mixed up with Hugo Thompson.’
‘I happen to work with him. It’s not like I can avoid seeing him.’
‘Be careful, that’s all I’m saying. He’s trouble.’
‘In what way?’
‘Does there have to be a particular way? Guys like Hugo are cut from identical cloth.’
Her belly clenched at the memory of the way he’d touched her at the creek. Maybe she’d been right to be wary of his attentions. She swallowed nervously. ‘What’s that supposed to mean? He’s been nothing but friendly so far.’
‘He’s always friendly when he wants to take a woman to bed.’
Isabelle gasped. So there was a reason for the warning sounds which kept going off in her head whenever she was around him.
Leah leaned forward and fixed serious eyes on Isabelle. ‘I’ve known Hugo all my life and he was always up to something dodgy or sleazy. I’m sure he kissed every girl in our year level at school – except me. And lately there have been rumours.’
Isabelle narrowed her eyes. ‘What sort of rumours?’
Leah looked around and lowered her voice further. ‘Drugs.’
‘You think he’s on drugs?’ Isabelle whispered.
‘Not on drugs. Dealing them.’
‘But he’s a doctor!’
‘Exactly. Which means he should know better.’
*
Matt felt like he’d arrived late to the party and missed a vitally important piece of information. Seeing Hugo sitting beside Isabelle, his arm draped possessively over the back of her chair, caused something hot to bubble up inside him. He had no claim over Isabelle, but he did not want Hugo Thompson coming in and staking his entitlement like a gold digger marking out his territory.
Matt had met Leah and Hugo when he first arrived in Stony Creek, but he had no idea there was so much obvious animosity between them. Whatever it was, the scene between them now was not pretty. It was clear Leah did not like the man one little bit. Matt had also overheard Leah’s warning to Isabelle to be careful. Of what? In the next sentence, he heard the word ‘drugs’ and his ears pricked up further. Was Leah suggesting Hugo did drugs? He wanted to ask, but now was not the time, not in front of the kids.
Matt hardly knew Hugo, but he wasn’t the kind of guy he’d normally be mates with. Hugo was a sweet talker, and the conceited hair flick was odd, but that didn’t mean he was on drugs, and he didn’t look or act like he was. Matt’s brain was in a jumble. Had he misheard Leah? Maybe she was talking about someone else. The best thing to do would be to put the whole thing out of his mind or he would have Leah criticising him for playing the city cop again.
Their meals arrived, including an extra for Matt. He smiled his thanks, first to Leah, then Jane. Both women gave him a cheeky grin. What were they up to?
Leah raised her glass in a toast. ‘Congratulations on making it through your first week at work.’
Isabelle relaxed back into her seat. ‘You make it sound like I wasn’t going to survive.’
They clinked their glasses together and Matt noticed Isabelle’s hand shook slightly when she gave him a friendly smile.
‘How was school this week,’ he asked, turning to Fletcher. He needed to stop looking at her.
‘All right, I guess.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s getting better.’
‘Made any new friends?’
‘Yeah. Everyone’s really cool actually.’
‘Do you reckon any of them might want to get on board with the mountain biking club?’ Matt asked.
‘Yeah, a couple of them are super keen.’
‘Fantastic. We should get started soon then,’ Matt said.
‘We still haven’t got a bike,’ Isabelle interrupted, laying a hand on his arm.
He gripped his glass instead of reaching out to ease the frown forming between her brows. ‘I haven’t forgotten,’ Matt said softly.
‘Oh. Okay.’ The flush in Isabelle’s cheeks spread down her neck.
Mietta wriggled in her seat, desperate for her chance to talk. ‘Okay, princess, it’s your turn. How was your week?’
As Mietta spoke about her week at school, Matt marvelled at her similarities to Isabelle. Her blonde hair bounced around her face, her hands waved around as she spoke, her blue eyes sparkled. She was animated and full of stories. Like Isabelle, it was obvious she made friends easily and people liked being around her.
‘And finally it’s your turn, Issie,’ Matt said. ‘How was your first week at work in your new job?’
He listened intently, asking the odd question, but mostly remaining silent as Isabelle filled him in on her week. He was pleased she made barely any mention of Hugo. Perhaps it was coincidental he had shown up at the pub.
Something snaked up Matt’s spine. He did not believe in coincidence.
*
Their dinner finished when Mietta yawned and knocked the remains of her drink flying. She began to cry when she saw the fizzy drink had mostly landed in Matt’s lap. Matt called for Joe to come over to clean up the spill.
‘I’d say that’s our signal to leave,’ Isabelle said, standing and taking Mietta’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry about the mess, Matt, Joe,’ she said, as she touched the older man lightly on the arm.
‘It’s all right, love. It’s good to see you and your little family out with your friends.’ Joe gave her a big grin.
The women hugged first, then Leah sidled up beside Matt and leaned towards him. ‘Why don’t you offer to walk her home?’ she murmured.
Matt raised his eyebrows and stared down at her. Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
‘Are you playing matchmaker?’
‘I’m helping things along.’
‘Meaning?’
‘I know you’re besotted and I can see she’s falling for you. I’m speeding things up.’ Leah gave everyone a
cheery wave and walked out the door, leaving Matt speechless.
‘Thanks for joining us for dinner, Matt,’ Isabelle said.
‘It was lovely. Um, I’ll walk you home if you like.’
‘Thanks, but there’s no need. It’s only around the corner. I’m sure Fletcher can protect us if we run into any trouble.’
‘You’re right. I’m sure he can,’ Matt replied. He touched her arm and felt the smooth warmth of her skin beneath his fingers. ‘I was wondering if I could pop over and see you tonight.’ He checked his watch. It was still early.
Her brows furrowed, but he saw her curiosity was piqued. He was about to explain why he wanted to come over when his phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at the screen. It was Geoff.
He held up a finger and shot her an apologetic look. ‘Sorry, I need to take this.’
‘Mate,’ Geoff said, ‘I think you might need to head over to the hall. We’ve got trouble.’
Chapter 28
‘What’s up?’ Matt asked Geoff when he arrived at the hall minutes later. He had run the whole way from the pub, no doubt leaving Isabelle confused about his hasty departure.
‘Have a look in there,’ Geoff said, pointing
The last time Matt had barged into the building, he was holding Fletcher by the arm. Matt stuck his head around the corner of the door and withdrew in surprise. The room was full of people, their voices animated and angry. There were at least fifty of them gathered.
‘What the hell’s going on?’
Geoff shook his head. ‘No bloody idea, mate. I was heading home from the pub myself and saw all the cars. I thought I’d investigate and this is what I found.’
Matt frowned. ‘There’s no crime against people meeting together.’
‘Well no, obviously not, but have a listen to them. There’s a lot of rage in that room. I called you for back-up. Thought we should head on inside and make our presence known.’
Matt raised his eyebrows. ‘Now who’s thinking like a city cop?’
Geoff puffed out his chest. ‘I want to keep the law and order here in my town as much as you do. And I don’t like it when a group of angry residents are having a meeting and I’m not privy to what that meeting is about.’
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