Learning to Love

Chapter 3

Matt pulled into one of the few parking bays in front of the shop / post office and shut off the engine.

Kadence met Matt around the front of the ute as he gave her a quick run-down of the local area.

“As you can see this is the only grocery shop in Scarlett’s Rock which also has a small postal service inside, the owner is one of the local gossips and delivers everyone’s mail personally. She’ll be very interested to be one of the first to welcome you into the town; but try not to give too much away unless you are happy for the whole town to hear about it. Just behind us, we have Dinkie’s Café, lover of Australian Poetry, you’ll understand when you see the menu.” He turned and grinned at her. “Your cottage isn’t actually too far from here, so I hope you brought some joggers now your car is currently out of action, but Dee will always make herself available to help out whenever possible.”

Kadence pictured Dee’s bright smiling face with her smattering of freckles and mousy brown hair and knew without a shadow of doubt she’d be the mothering type.

“Now I only have a couple little things to pick up but I’m in no rush if you want to get a full shop done.” Matt walked her over to the trolley bay. “Oh, and don’t worry about getting bacon, eggs, bread or fruit, Dee has a welcome basket of those goodies already at the cottage for you.”

“Oh my goodness, how generous. She didn’t have to do that.” Kadence gasped in delight. Could that woman be anymore, perfect?

“Just don’t tell her I ruined the surprise, or I’ll be cleaning their chicken coop for weeks.” Matt laughed, and she wished she could hear those husky tones a little longer.

“I could be persuaded to keep quiet,” shocking herself at the flirtatious comment and spun around and grabbed hold of the trolley, avoiding Matt’s quirked eyebrow.

In companionable silence the walked the aisles, collected bits and pieces, separating Matt minimal collection of groceries in the front section of the trolley. When they were finished they made their way towards the checkout and Kadence felt a set of eagle eyes piercing into her from the old lady at the checkout. So this must be the local gossip, Kadence thought as she felt her hands become slick on the trolley’s bar, she glanced at the name tag: Edna.

“Afternoon, Edna.” Nodded Matt as though nothing out of the ordinary was taking place. And she guessed in some ways it was just any normal day… for them.

“Matt,” replied Edna’s short wasp like voice; her eyes never leaving Kadence for a second.

Matt finished piling his groceries on the counter and cleared his throat to get Edna’s attention back on him, but Kadence knew this woman wouldn’t be distracted so easily.

“Take it she’s the new teacher and Dee has you running errands again,” she spoke to Matt as though Kadence wasn’t standing right beside him but further down the aisle somewhere.

“The one and only. She had a bit of car trouble and Trev chose to stay with the car since I needed to get groceries anyway. But I would like to formally introduce Kadence Mitchell;” he remembered hearing her surname from the details she gave Ray, “And you’re the first one besides Trev and I to meet her.” He winked at the older woman who practically turned to putty in his hands and handed over his card to pay for the now neatly stacked groceries she’d scanned and bagged.

Edna spun her eagle eyes back around to Kadence and she watched them soften momentarily. “Let me officially welcome you to Scarlett’s Rock, then. How long are you planning on staying?”

Kadence risked a quick glance at Matt for reassurance, but he kept his head down putting his now paid for groceries back into the trolley. She cleared her throat and spoke as she started stacking her own groceries on the counter to help settle her nerves. “I’m seconded for 6 months, at this stage.” She spoke with a confidence she didn’t feel. This felt worse than any job interview she had been part of.

“Hmph,” was all Edna replied and turned back to Matt. “How’s Bi?”

Matt seemed startled at the sudden change of subject and Kadence was glad the limelight was no longer on her. “Bi’s good, excited for her new venture into sheep. We just finished stacking the shed and I had to duck out for groceries before dinner at the pub.” Matt turned to face Kadence, “Dee will most likely drag you along with her, to get the town’s introductions out of the way.”

“Oh, ok. I wouldn’t want to interrupt or anything,” she trailed off.

“Nonsense, the grubs good and saves you cooking your first night in town.” Matt smiled at her and she felt herself fall totally under his spell.

“Right, that’s $214.65 there,” Edna cut in sharply, eyeing the two of them cautiously. Kadence wondered if she could feel the sudden tension in the room Matt had created with that one gorgeous smile.

Kadence whipped out her wallet while Matt packed her groceries back into the trolley and Edna took note the lack of ring on her finger. With thanks over with, Matt directed Kadence and the trolley back out towards his ute.

“Well, that was relatively painless. I don’t quite think you were what she was expecting somehow.” Matt’s brow furrowed at the lack of interrogation that had occurred but didn’t want to question it any further, made Edna was biding her time for whatever reason.

“For you, maybe.” Kadence muttered as she helped load the groceries and once again Matt asked her to start the car while he put the trolley back.

He’d just pushed the trolley into the bay when he felt a presence behind him and spun around quickly to find Edna standing close by. He clutched a hand to his heart and let out a breath, “Scared me there you did Edna.”

“There’s no ring on her finger so she’s not married, but just be careful with that one Matthew; she’s not planning on staying.”

Matt went to jump in and let her know her warning wasn’t necessary, but she wasn’t done yet.

“I feel like she’s hiding something. A smart girl like that doesn’t come all this way for nothing, she’s either running or hiding.” And with that she walked away back to stand behind her counter but wouldn’t take her eyes off Kadence’s side profile as she gazed out the window, patiently waiting. Matt wished he could come straight out and ask, but he knew these things would take time and trust. It’s amazing how all it takes is someone to vocalise your inner thoughts, and his inner though from seeing that slashed tyre in the back of her car; was that she is running.