Learning to Love

Chapter 21

Sunday afternoon brought Kadence back to Trev’s familiar cottage and as had been accustomed, she waved to the window where she knew Edna would be peering out with her beady bird like eyes. She didn’t bother looking to see if Edna waved back and continued up the steps and knocking. on his door.

Once again, her phone dinged with a message from Dee, inviting her to dinner at the pub and while she felt bad for turning her down again, she now had a long-standing appointment with Trev she was committed to see through. He’d helped her out twice in her short time of being here and she wasn’t about to let him down.

Trev opened the door with a smile and gestured for her to enter. As they stepped into the kitchen Trev turned around and admitted, “I wasn’t sure if you’d be up to coming out here tonight after yesterday.” His concerned grazed washed over her, “But I suppose no one ever could walk away from Bessy’s special Anzac biscuit recipe.” He finished grinning.

Kadence laughed as they both heard her stomach give a loud grumble, “I guess my stomach can’t resist even the sound of them.”

Once they were settled outside overlooking his sculptured garden path and took in a big sniff of the pretty scent the roses drafted in the wind. “No wonder you love sitting out here,” she commented, “I’ve always dreamed of having a garden just like this.”

“You didn’t have one back home?” Trev asked, and Kadence was surprised to find she actually wanted to talk about her home life, or lack thereof; with this kind man.

“Actually, my home never really felt like home, if that makes any sense,” her brow furrowed, and she gave herself a little shake. “My mum didn’t have a green thumb, but when she married, they had a gardener who maintained the property. They mainly had bushes that could be sculpted and kept at precise angles as opposed to an actual garden bed with flowers and dreams.” She pulled herself up short at the disclosure of even mentioning dreams but at Trev’s raised eyebrow, she found herself continuing on.

“My mum and her husband both wanted me to be a lawyer like he was, follow in his footsteps so to speak, but I had no interest in any of that. Being a single child, whose mum spent more time following her career and a step-father who was rarely around, made me long for a big family and to nurture children who like myself may just need someone else there as a guide.” She shrugged knowing it probably sounded stupid.

“Sounds like you found your calling and made something good out of an unfortunate up-bringing. Takes a lot of character to do something like that.” Trev observed, and she felt a smile flicker of pride glow through her. “I’ve heard a bit of chatter around about your classroom and it sounds like you’ve made a big impression on the kids here already.”

Kadence smiled, and they sat there quietly with there coffee and biscuits for a little while longer, enjoying the twittering of the lorikeets in the trees.

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As Kadence round the bend towards her house, she was surprised to see Matt’s car parked out the front and felt a little bubble of warmth flutter in her belly. ‘Stop it’ she mumbled to herself, but she couldn’t swipe away the little smile that tugged at her lips.

She watched as Matt pulled his big frame out of the ute and paused momentarily enjoying the view, looking away blushing when he caught her staring.

Walking with a smug grin on his face, Kadence fumbled with the keys in her hands as she balanced the now empty quiche dish and dropped the keys. Bending down to pick them up, she didn’t notice Matt had bent to do the same thing and as she lifted her head back up, she felt the back of her head collide with something solid.

“Ouch,” Kadence stood back and rubbed the back of her head, but as she turned to look at Matt, she noticed the blood now dripping down his nose and his hand attempting to stem the flow onto the porch.

“Yep, ouch indeed,” he tried for humour but mortification over-ruled and Kadence was now fumbling even more to try and get him into the house, so she could check the damage. “Did you do karate or something?”

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so, so sorry.” She said as her face took on a red tinge. Shoving the key into the lock, she ushered him down into her kitchen where she grabbed a wad of tissues and thrust them into his blood-soaked hand.

Matt automatically went to tip his head back, but Kadence rushed over, placing her hand on the top of his head and guide it back down, advising him he had to lean forward and pinch the bridge of his nose to try to stem the flow. The current that ran up her arm, making her draw her hand away and take an additional step back for good measure. Judging by the look on Matt’s face, he obviously felt it too.

Looking around, she searched for something to say or to at least do to make herself useful, then realised, he’d just randomly shown up at her house.

“So, just a casual visit or is this a spontaneous house inspection?” she asked airily.

Matt gave a quick flick around with his eyes and turned his smile back on her, making her stomach drop into her boots; oh, the things this man could do to her with just one look. “Looks good to me. I’ll give it a pass, but next time I expect coffee and biscuits.”

“Oh,” Kadence smiled, “I think I have you covered there,” she flicked on the kettle and pulled out the tin of Anzac biscuits Trev had given her. “Here’s something I prepared earlier,” she said with a wink and a mischievous smile of her own.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Matt reached up to grab one but paused as he took a look at the dried blood on it. “On second thoughts, I might just wash up first.”

Kadence was about to give him the directions but remembered he owned the place and had probably been in here a number of times, so she just gestured for him to make his way through the house.

When he returned the kettle had just finished boiling and she made his coffee; black with two sugars, and a cup of camomile tea for herself, no sugar because she was sweet enough already.

“It’s such a beautiful night and you have a magnificent view of the milky way from the back patio, why don’t we take out drinks and biscuits out there?” When Matt agreed; like he was going to turn down having a little extra time with her, they sat at her two-seater setting with the table between them.

“So, why did you really come out tonight?” Kadence asked before she could lose her nerve.

Matt watched her side profile for a few moments, soaking in the moonlit beauty beside him. “I just wanted to check in and see how you are after yesterday at the rodeo?” He watched her flinch, but she covered it so quickly it was as thought he had imagined it.

“Oh, you know.” She shrugged as though it had no affect on her. He remained silent, deciding it best to wait her out, because he knew there was more to say. He watched as her shoulders sagged and she finally drew her eyes over to look at him, “I guess, I just can’t help but wonder if I made things worse running in there. I could have got us all killed by that bull. You included.” She let a breath out and looked back out at the stars, “What if you didn’t make it in time?”

Matt felt the depth of her concern and reached his arm across, resting his hand on top of hers and gave it a little squeeze. “You made the right call at the time, and I did make it. You don’t need to worry about the what if’s.”

He saw the first tear slide down her cheek and followed its path down on her lip where she bit down on it and watched as she sucked her lip into her mouth, and he fought to control the groan he could feel in his throat. He wanted nothing more than to bite and suck on her lip, instead he stood and walked over to stand in front of her. Lifting both her hands up, he pulled her onto her feet; his eyes taking in every inch of her face from her unsure eyes, the pale freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose and her moist tear stained lips. Wordlessly, he pulled her to him and held her close until the sobs recede, and she was no longer shaking.

When Matt pulled Kadence into his arms, she melted instantly. His warmth mixed with a heady scent of hay and just man entered her senses and she didn’t think she’d ever be capable of walking away. She was embarrassed about the sudden onset of tears that overcame her; but she knew it wasn’t just all about the rodeo experience, it was about Richard too. How could she have been so wrong about him, and when did he start to become this bully? It had to be drugs, there was no doubt about that from the glazed look in his eyes, but there was no way she could stay and put up with that kind of treatment. If it happens once, it can happen again.

Taking a step back, yet still within his arms; Kadence wiped the last of the tears from her eyes mortified as she looked at the tear stains covering the shoulder of his shirt. “Sorry,” she nodded towards the wet patch; Matt watched as her cheeks glowed a faint pink before reluctantly letting her go.

“Anytime,” Matt gently smiled at her, trying to catch her eyes with his.

Kadence stepped away and picked up her tea and took a sip only to find it had turned cold. Screwing up her nose, she practically shouted at Matt as he brought his own mug up to his lips, “Stop, it’s cold!”

Kadence’s outburst made Matt jerk the mug away only to slop some coffee down his shirt. “s**t. Lucky it’s not hot then, hey.”

“Sorry!” Kadence said staring at the dark stain on Matt’s white shirt, “I’ll go wet some paper towel, then flick the kettle on so you can have a new one.”

“Nah, she’s right,” Matt brushed his hand down his front, “I think I’ve had enough coffee for one night and I’d better shoot off and do one last check of the animals before it gets too late.”

“Okay, then.” Kadence tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice, “I’ll just bring the mugs in and walk you out.”