Matilda Next Door - Kelly Hunter Page 0,60
stars for all his many blessings, including the baby on his doorstep who’d finally brought them together. ‘Hey, there,’ he murmured. ‘Do I know you?’
‘You certainly do. I’m the clever woman who just married you.’
‘Would we use the word clever in that context?’ he teased gently, because they did that now, loved and laughed and made new memories to paper over the old. The names Silly Tilly and Mad Henry had become terms of endearment. ‘Possibly not.’
‘I know a rare treasure when I see it. Trust me.’
‘I do.’ All that practice had paid off. ‘Can do, will do, love you.’ His new mantra, one to live by every day.
‘Oh, I like that. Say it again.’
‘Can do, will do, love you.’ So much. ‘I’m the luckiest man in the world.’
The End
Want more? Check out Maggie and Max’s story in Maggie’s Run!
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If you enjoyed Matilda Next Door, you’ll love the next books in….
The Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series
Book 1: Matilda Next Door
by Kelly Hunter
View the series here!
Book 2: Maeve’s Baby
by Fiona McArthur
Buy now!
Book 3: Serenity’s Song
by Cathryn Hein
Buy now!
Book 4: A Nanny Called Alice
by Barbara Hannay
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Enjoy an excerpt from
Maeve’s Baby
Fiona McArthur
Book 2 in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong series
Keep reading below or buy now!
Email from Lacey James to Maeve McGill:
You should move to Wirralong, Maeve. How can I describe it? It’s beautiful, with auburn and rust-coloured leaves from the deciduous trees that float like flakes of red confetti onto the open grass. Changeable weather that’s fun. Cool breezes yesterday; warm, wear-no-sleeves weather today. With puffy, fluffy clouds that skitter across the cobalt skies above like cotton candy escaped from the bag.
Autumn brings dahlias and camellias and chrysanthemums to the gardens here, along with the rampant flush of glorious second-growth roses at Maggie Walker-O’Connor’s wedding centre.
Have I told you about Wirra Station? How it rose from a run-down homestead into a dreamy stage for the most iconic and picturesque weddings. The success of Maggie’s venue impacted the town. And the townspeople.
Unlike other rustic gold-rush villages down the southern tip of mainland Australia, Wirralong thrives. We haven’t scattered our inhabitants like tumbleweed into oblivion—because weddings are big business.
Wedding parties waltz around the town’s boardwalks, spreading new life into our previously struggling shop owners’ tills. There’s even a Smart Ladies’ Supper Club where you can meet the business and professional ladies in town.
And the Outback Brides Coffee Shop is the place for lunch. Of course, the doctor’s surgery, where you’ll work if you take over my job, is busy with all these new families. The word has spread of Maggie’s weddings all over Victoria.
You should move to Wirralong, Maeve.
It’s a friendly little town. A great place for taking stock. A haven to pick yourself up from being knocked down. A great place to find inner, amazing, super-strength with friends like me who will stand by you.
Oh, and … There’s this amazing property up for sale and you should buy it, Maeve.
*
Jace
They met on the street outside the Wirralong Family Doctors Surgery. Two big men, mid-thirties, athletic and confident with wide smiles. One carried a shy three-year-old with curly red hair and dimples. Auburn hair like her daddy’s.
‘We finally got here.’ Jace Bronson grabbed Ben Brierley’s hand and squeezed hard. ‘Can’t believe you’re a father. Two sets of twins and one due, and only since I last saw you!’
‘Not all our own work. The boys were Holly’s sister’s, and we adopted them after she died, but they’re ours now.’ He smiled at the little girl. ‘And you’re Jemima? Hello, gorgeous. Have you come to see Daddy’s new surgery, today?’
A solemn nod, but no words from Jace’s daughter. People passed, smiled, said hello to Ben, and smiled at Jace and Jemima.
‘So good to see you, both.’ Ben slapped his friend on the back. ‘It’s kid city at my house. Tom and Pat are nine and Layla and Amber turned two last week. I’ve found heaven, that’s for sure.’
Jace shook his head. ‘I pull my hair out with one.’
‘Bet you wouldn’t trade her for the world.’
Jace squeezed his daughter tight against him briefly and the little girl slipped both arms around her daddy’s neck. ‘Not a hope.’ Jace looked away. ‘It’s been two years and we’re getting good at juggling, aren’t we, Jem?’
‘I take my hat off to all single parents. You’re doing a great job.’
Jace could see Ben meant that. His friend understood how badly Jace wanted Jemima to grow up