The Peppercorn Project by Nicki Edwards

Author:Nicki Edwards [Edwards, Nicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760302283
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2016-05-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Matt was about to knock and enter when he remembered Isabelle’s door would be locked. He rang the bell, and within seconds footsteps scurried across the timber floorboards. The door opened, and Mietta stood there, beaming up at him. Warmth spread through him. She was the sweetest little girl.

‘Hi, Matt.’ Her head bobbed up and down, looking him over. ‘Why aren’t you wearing your policeman’s clothes?’

‘I don’t wear them every day.’ He put down the cardboard box he was carrying and squatted to Mietta’s eye level. ‘I didn’t wear them when I came over for dinner the other night, did I?’

‘Noooo,’ she drawled, ‘but I like it when you wear your policeman’s clothes.’

‘Perhaps I’ll wear them next time I come to visit,’ he said, standing up again. He was unsure whether to invite himself inside or not. There was no sign of Isabelle.

‘Do you sleep with your gun?’ Mietta whispered.

‘Noooo, I don’t,’ he mimicked, smiling when she giggled at him.

‘But what if the robbers come? Then you’ll need your gun.’

Matt chuckled. ‘We don’t have any robbers here in Stony Creek.’

‘Then if you’re not a robber, you can come in.’ She opened the door wider.

‘Why, thank you.’

He stepped inside the front door and closed it behind him, leaving his box forgotten on the front step.

‘You’re big,’ she said, staring up at him.

He smiled. ‘Yes, I guess I am.’

‘Like the Beast from Beauty and the Beast.’

He laughed heartily. ‘Yes, like the Beast. But I hope I’m not as mean as him.’

‘Oh, he wasn’t mean,’ she replied seriously. ‘He just didn’t know how to show his love to Belle.’

‘You’re right, sweetheart. The Beast loved Belle, but he didn’t know how to tell her.’

‘They lived happily ever after though, and that’s the main thing.’

‘That’s true,’ he agreed.

‘My daddy wasn’t as big as you. He was wiry.’

Wow, where had that come from? ‘Wiry?’ he asked. What an unusual word for a child.

‘That’s how Mummy describes him. Wiry.’ She repeated the word.

From behind the bathroom door, Isabelle called out. ‘Who was it, Mietta? Who was at the door?’

‘Is your mum in the bathroom?’ he whispered.

‘Yep! She’s taking a shower.’

Matt listened. Yes, indeed, Isabelle was taking a shower. He had a very pleasant mental image of her standing naked under the running water and he fought hard to control his thoughts, his emotions, his body.

‘Do you want to let Mummy know I’m here?’

Mietta bounded to the bathroom and burst in, swinging the door wide open. ‘Mummy! Matt’s here!’

The water shut off instantly. ‘Close the door, Mietta,’ Isabelle hissed, ‘and pass me my towel.’

There was no point pretending he wasn’t there. ‘Don’t rush, Issie. Enjoy your shower. I’ll go and put the kettle on and make myself at home.’

‘Okay,’ she yelled back.

Oh, how he wished he could see the look on her face. Seconds later, the shower started again. She probably still had soap or shampoo to rinse off. Again, the mental image was not one he needed right now, but he was a male after all. It was just as well Mietta was here.

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