by Mandy Magro
Jake pointed to the back. ‘Over there. Ben’s already here, has been for the past hour. The poor bloke’s trying to keep up but I reckon he’s getting a bit of a sway on already.’
‘Take it easy on him, Jake, you know Ben’s not a huge drinker. We’ll order then make our way over.’
‘Right you are.’ Jake held up his beer, succeeding in spilling it again. He pulled an oops face.
Matilda stepped to the side just in time to avoid wearing it on her boots.
Jake gave her arm a squeeze. ‘Sorry, Tilly, my bad.’ He turned his attention to Ryan. ‘A word of warning … Kevin’s here. I saw him sniffing around some of the girls at the bar when I came in.’
Ryan’s forehead puckered. ‘As long as he doesn’t have anything smart arse to say and stays the hell away from me, I don’t have a problem.’
‘I’m guessing he’ll steer clear of you, bro … the bloke is all talk, no action. He’s scared of you.’
Ryan shrugged. ‘I’m not going to start anything, so don’t worry. Ten years ago I might have knocked the bastard out, but I like to think I’m older and wiser these days. It ain’t worth it.’
Jake held his beer up in cheers. ‘Good on you for being the bigger person, bro.’ He looked to Matilda. ‘Kevin did you a huge favour anyways, I reckon.’
‘You got that right,’ Ryan agreed.
Jake took another glug and then shrugged. ‘Right, I’m heading back from whence I came.’
Matilda chuckled as she watched Jake weaving his way through the tables, his swagger a little more pronounced with the aid of the alcohol.
‘Sorry about Jake, Til, he likes his beer, probably a little too much … and when he gets around his footy mates, oh Lordy.’
‘Oh, don’t apologise. He’s just having fun.’
‘Yeah, well, you might not be saying that later on when he’s sloshed and we have to rescue him from dancing on the bar, or a table, or from the floor, and somehow get him into a taxi.’
‘Sounds like you’ve done it a few times before.’
Ryan rolled his eyes. ‘I’ve lost count of the times.’
Matilda liked the way Ryan took care of his loved ones; it was a very commendable trait.
The line up for the food moved forwards and they were now at the counter. The young woman smiled and asked for their order.
Ryan impressively remembered Matilda’s without having to ask her again, and as well as ordering them both the same thing he also added a dozen oysters Kilpatrick for entrée. He let the woman know they were with Jake’s table, paid and then spun back round to face her.
She happy danced on the spot, her hands clasped beneath her chin. ‘Oh, Ryan, thank you. I haven’t had oysters in yonks.’
‘My pleasure. You deserve a treat after the week you’ve had, and no thanks to me I might add.’
She lightly slapped his arm. ‘Don’t you dare say that. You might have made a mistake, but you’ve also helped me through a hell of a lot. I feel blessed to have met you.’
Ryan leant in and kissed her on the cheek, his lips leaving her skin tingling.
‘Thanks, Tilly, that means the world. I’ve felt like an idiot, leading Troy straight to you, so I’m relieved you’re not holding it against me.’
‘You two are looking mighty cosy. Anyone would think you’re an item.’ A nasal voice made Ryan groan before he turned around.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘Hey.’
‘Hi, Ryan.’ The blonde woman cocked her head to the side. ‘Well, are you?’
‘Am I what?’
Matilda had never heard such a cynical tone in Ryan’s voice, and she noticed how rigid his body had become.
‘An item?’ The woman’s perfectly arched eyebrows looked as though they were about to disappear over the back of her head.
‘Sorry, but that’s none of your business, Pippa.’
So she had been right in guessing that the leggy, athletic-looking blonde throwing daggers in their direction had been Pippa. Good on Ryan for standing his ground. Tilly felt a little intimidated by the woman’s undeniable beauty, but she squared her shoulders and tried not to let it affect her. You gotta fake it to make it, and all that.
‘Okay, well are you at least going to introduce me to your new friend then?’
Ryan shrugged. ‘Sure.’ He motioned to Matilda. ‘This is Tilly.’ He nodded towards Pippa. ‘Tilly, this is Pippa, if you haven’t already worked that out.’
Tilly held out her hand.
Pippa defiantly folded her arms. ‘Hi, Tilly. I haven’t heard anything about you, which is weird in a small town.’
‘Hi, Pippa, and on the contrary I’ve heard plenty about you.’ Matilda smiled as big and as bright as she could. She noticed Ryan hiding a smirk as he gently and subtly kicked her boot.
‘Oh have you?’ Edging closer to him Pippa ruffled Ryan’s hair as though she owned him. ‘So nice of you to fill the newbie in on me, Honeybun.’
Ryan stepped back from her. ‘Don’t call me that, Pippa. You have no right.’
Pippa’s conceited smile instantly faded and she looked to the floor. ‘I’m sorry, you’re dead-on, I don’t have any right whatsoever.’ As if forcing tears she squeezed her eyes shut, sniffled a few times, then looked back up at Matilda. ‘I’m so sorry for being so rude, I’m still dealing with the break up.’ She held out her hand. ‘Shall we start afresh?’
Although not totally believing Pippa’s sudden turn around, Matilda accepted the handshake to avoid any more tension, at the very least for Ryan’s sake. ‘Sure.’
Ryan smiled. ‘Thanks for the apology, Pippa. Appreciate it.’ He placed his hand on Matilda’s back. ‘We have to go and meet up with Jake and Ben, so we’ll catch you a bit later on, hey.’
Pippa didn’t move. ‘Yeah, sure, but before you take off can you promise to have a drink with me later, Ryan? There’s something pressing that I really need to talk to you about.’
Ryan didn’t hide his exasperation. ‘Really, Pippa? Tonight? Can’t it wait?’
‘When you hear what I have to say, you’ll understand it can’t.’
Ryan stared at her for a few long moments, and then sighed. ‘All right, okay, but just one drink.’
Pippa was suddenly joyous; all signs of her emotional upset now gone. She clapped her hands together and wriggled on the spot. ‘Yay, thank you.’
With her plate practically licked clean Matilda leant back in her chair to ease off some of the pressure around her belly. Although they were all lovely, especially Ben who was quiet yet oh so funny, she was glad Jake and his group of mates had woofed down their meals and gone back to the public bar to keep drinking, and Ben had left to catch up with his brother and family at another table, leaving Ryan and her to themselves.
Ryan smiled at her from across the table. ‘Full?’
‘Yes. I shouldn’t have eaten it all, but it was so divine I couldn’t help myself.’
‘I told you the food was good here, even though it’s been ages since I’ve eaten here it’s still the same, if not better.’ He gestured over her shoulder. ‘Looks like Greg’s heading our way.’
She sat bolt upright, a flood of nerves filling her belly.
‘Don’t stress, Til, he’s a really nice bloke and easy to talk to. You’ll be right.’
‘But what if he doesn’t like me? I won’t get the job.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. How can anybody not like you?’
She grinned. ‘Pippa doesn’t.’
‘Yeah, but Pippa wishes she was you, that’s why. She’s just jealous of you.’
Matilda didn’t know how to take that, and before she could think about it, Greg was standing beside her, looking down at her as though he were a million miles away. She was about to ask if he was okay, when he seemed to regroup and flashed her a kind smile before turning his attention to Ryan on the other side of the table. He was different from what she’d been expecting. He had the shock of copper hair and was built like a house, but unlike Jim he was very
handsome with a smile that would make anyone feel welcome.
‘Hi, Ryan. I saw you both come in, sorry I didn’t greet you then. I’ve just been out back chatting to Jim. For a bloke that doesn’t like to natter much he had a fair bit to say, let me tell you.’
Ryan shifted a little in his seat. ‘Oh, no worries, Greg.’
Matilda observed the two men briefly exchanging strange looks and she prayed to God Jim hadn’t told Greg about her messy life. It would be against police regulations for him to say anything, wouldn’t it?
Greg turned to her. ‘I gather you’re the lovely lady I’m about to hire as my new barmaid?’
Matilda smiled warmly, liking him instantly. She held out her hand. ‘Hi, I’m Tilly. I’d love the job but don’t you want to interview me first?’
Greg gently shook it, his hand swallowing hers whole. ‘Nah, Ryan’s recommendation is good enough for me.’ He motioned to the chair beside her. ‘Do you mind if I join?’
‘Not at all.’ She quickly flashed Ryan a smile and he gave her the thumbs-up.
Greg folded his hands on the table. ‘So, Tilly, can you start Monday at two for an eight hour shift?’
‘Of course I can. Do you have a uniform you’d like me to wear?’
‘We have shirts with logos, I will give you a couple when you get here Monday, and for the bottom half just wear a black skirt or pants, whatever you’re most comfortable in, along with closed-in black shoes.’
‘Great, consider it done. Do you know how many hours a week you’d like me for?’
‘Roughly thirty hours a week, give or take. It all depends on how busy we are and what functions we’ve got on. It also depends on how flexible you are with the work you do when you’re here. Do you mind helping out in the kitchen sometimes?’
‘I love cooking, so not at all. And I’ve done a bit of housekeeping, so if you need help with the rooms I can do that too.’
‘Excellent.’ A group of rowdy blokes at a table nearby seized Greg’s attention. His warm smile was replaced with a frown. ‘Hey, Kevin, people are still eating in here, and most of them are families. So if you want to get loud now you lot have finished your tea, how about heading into the bar and showing some common decency, hey?’
‘I didn’t see him there,’ Ryan said, almost beneath his breath.
Matilda twigged; this Kevin bloke was Ryan’s cousin. She gave him the death stare as she turned back to Ryan, although she was appreciative that he had removed a woman like Pippa from Ryan’s life. She felt extremely protective of Ryan.
Kevin and his rowdy mates looked embarrassed. ‘Sorry, will do.’ He glanced at Ryan and raised his beer, his smile a little sarcastic.
Ryan folded his arms across his chest as he eyeballed him, his jaw clenching.
Kevin stood up and took off towards the public bar.
‘I think he might be a little scared of you, Ryan.’ Greg chuckled. ‘So he should be, doing that with your ex.’
Ryan finally raised his beer. ‘Amen to that, Greg.’
Greg turned to Matilda. ‘Sorry about that, part of the job is keeping young lads in line.’ He grinned and rolled his eyes. ‘I was one of them once so I know they don’t mean any harm, but you have to give them a bit of a talking to sometimes.’
‘Don’t apologise, I’ve worked behind a bar so I know how it gets.’
‘Oh, you have, have you? That’s a plus. You know how to pour a beer then?’
‘I might be a bit rusty, but just like riding a bike I think it’ll come back to me pretty quickly. I know how to make some mean pub grub too. My mother was a cook and she taught me all she knows.’ Matilda realised she’d just referred to her mum in the present tense, but she wasn’t about to correct herself. It was nice to sometimes speak like she was still alive.
Greg’s forehead wrinkled as though in deep thought, before he answered her. ‘I’m on a winning streak by the sounds of it. This girl keeps getting better and better. I’m lucky you came across her that night, Ryan.’
Ryan sculled the last of his beer. ‘Tell me about it, Greg, she’s a keeper, that’s for sure.’ He held the empty schooner up. ‘Do you want another vodka, lime and soda, Tilly?’
Taken aback by Ryan’s forwardness, it took her a few moments to realise what he was saying and that her glass was empty. Gee whizz, she had drunk that one fast. She would need to slow down or she wouldn’t make it to midnight. ‘Oh, yes please, but let me shout.’
‘Nope.’ Ryan stood. ‘Back in a sec.’
Greg swivelled in his seat to face Matilda. ‘So what do you think of Moonstone Valley, Tilly? Do you reckon you’re going to stick around for a while?’
‘I love it so far, and now I have a job, yup, I think I will.’
Greg looked mighty chuffed. ‘Good, that means I’ll have you here long term.’
‘As long as you’re happy with my work, I will be your loyal employee for as long as I’m needed.’
‘I already know I’ll be happy with you, Tilly. Trust me when I say, once you settle in, you won’t want to live anywhere else. We’re blessed to live in such a pristine part of Australia.’
Ryan was right. Greg was so damn nice. Matilda couldn’t believe how much her luck had changed since leaving Shadow Creek Station. And although wonderful, life was never all roses, so it made her wonder when things were going to go belly up. ‘I can certainly see how people come here and never leave. It’s so pretty and everyone has been very welcoming, especially Ryan and his family, taking me in the way they have.’
‘Yes, I’m one of those come-here-and-never-leave people. You’re right, you couldn’t have picked a nicer family. I’m a very good mate of Ryan’s father, so I’ve had a lot to do with them over the years, and they’re certainly a kind, generous, genuine lot.’ His smile faded and he shook his head. ‘Such a shame losing Regan the way they did. They didn’t deserve that kind of heartache, or what happened after it. So very sad, it was.’ He nodded to where Ryan was standing with his back to them at the dining-room bar. ‘After twelve months of not stepping a foot in here, it’s good to see him back. We were all worried he would never come round to believing that not everyone thought he was responsible.’
Responsible for what? His sister’s death? His brother-in-law’s? Both?
Matilda wanted to ask the hard questions, but it didn’t feel right to ask a virtual stranger who clearly thought she knew the whole story. So, not wanting to make her new boss uncomfortable, she played along. ‘Yes, they are a wonderful family and it’s horrible they lost Regan. My heart breaks for them.’
‘I reckon you might have something to do with Ryan coming in here tonight. There’s something different about him that I can’t quite put my finger on, in a good way.’ He reached out and patted her arm. ‘So good for you, whatever you’ve done to achieve that, because Ryan has been a tough cookie to crack. Trust me, we’ve all tried.’
‘I’m not too sure I have anything to do with it, but thanks anyway.’ If it were such a big deal and it was because of her, Matilda felt wonderful that she might have been able to help Ryan, just like he had been helping her take steps forwards in life. She glanced over to where he was paying for their drinks. ‘You know, it’s weird, but I feel like I’ve known him for a lifetime already.’ Her voice was quiet, as if she had said it to herself.
‘Only some of us are blessed to come across another soul in life we connect with so quickly, Tilly. It’s rare, so make sure you grab hold of it. It’s such a shame when we let it slip away from us and realise how lucky we were when it’s all too late.’
Matilda remained silent, not knowing what to make of that. She dared not turn and look at Greg because she swore she heard raw emotions in his words. She was afraid she would see tears in his eyes and not know what to do. She hated seeing people cry.
Greg cleared his throat, then continued. ‘He’s one of the good ones, our Ryan. The poor bloke has been through hell and back, and his self-centred ex keeps rubbing salt into the wounds.’
<
br /> Matilda turned back to face him. ‘Yes, I met her when we were ordering dinner. She doesn’t seem too nice.’
‘She doesn’t know the meaning of the word,’ Greg said with a shake of his head. ‘Ryan deserves a good woman by his side, and she is certainly not that.’ He looked at Matilda as if to say she could be that woman.
She nodded slowly, wishing it could be her, but knowing there were many obstacles to overcome before they had any chance of that happening. ‘Yes, he does.’
A few silent moments passed. Greg grabbed a coaster from the centre of the table and began twirling it between his fingertips. ‘Have you been down to Sapphire Beach yet?’
‘No, not yet, but I plan to. My mum always spoke so fondly of it.’ She smiled sadly. ‘That is why I want to spread her ashes there.’
Greg suddenly looked at a loss for words. He shook his head, dropping it before eventually bringing his sorrow-filled gaze back to Matilda. She almost swore she could see tears gathering in his eyes and it melted her heart.
‘You’re still so very young to have to deal with the loss of your mum, Tilly. I’m sorry to hear of her passing. Cancer’s an absolute bitch, excuse my French.’
‘Thank you, but …’ Matilda sat back, her brows creasing. ‘How do you know she died of cancer?’
‘Oh, um.’ Greg rubbed his chin. ‘Jim must have mentioned it to me when he called in a little while ago.’
‘Oh, yeah, I told him the other day.’ Matilda thought it a weird conversation for two people to have about someone they didn’t even know, but everyone was different, she supposed. ‘Yes, cancer is an absolute bitch.’
Greg smiled but Matilda noticed his Adam’s apple was bobbing. Had she said something wrong? Maybe he’d lost a loved one to cancer, sadly many people had.
Ryan joined them with a drink in each hand and Greg took his arrival as his cue to leave. ‘Right, you two love …’ He stalled, stumbling over his words. ‘I best leave you to enjoy your night.’
‘Okay, Greg, talk later, mate.’ It sounded more like a question than a goodbye.
‘Yeah, give me a call sometime tomorrow, Ryan. There’s something I need to have a chat with you about.’
