We Can Laugh Together Too (Walnut Grove Trilogy) Read Free Page B

need new blood when he eventually retires.
Doc Massey certainly won’t be able to cope on his own.”
    “I confess I’d already thought of that. I really like the
area, and the clients are especially nice.” He chuckled, and Livi blushed.
“When my contract here finishes, I’ll definitely sound them out. We shall see.”
He clapped his hands together. “But enough about my troubles and misfortunes,
that’s not why we’re having dinner; we’re supposed to be celebrating an end to your problems. How’s Isidoro working out?”
    “Beautifully,” Livi responded warmly. “He’s a natural with
the horses. All I’m doing now is helping him turn out in the morning and fetch
in in the afternoon. He’s even willing to check around last thing at night, but
I’ve convinced him it’s no inconvenience for me, after all I’m only a couple of
minutes from the barn. It’s nice to know I can depend upon him should I need
him though.”
    Their food arrived and they both tucked in. It was
delicious. Matt refilled their wineglasses. “Their daughter might work out as a
friend for Chrissy too; they appear to be about the same age.”
    “She seems a nice girl,” Livi agreed. “Her name’s Katia.
Next week I plan to resume the school run in the car so I’ve offered to take
her as well, and Chrissy seems happy with the arrangement. Living as we do,
outside of town, she’s never had a friend close at hand, so your recommendation
could result in yet another success.”
    Matt fixed her with his cornflower blue eyes and gave her a
roguish smile. “Glad to hear it.” Then he suddenly became serious again. “But thank
you. . .”
    “What for?” she asked, surprised.
    “For coming out with me this evening. It’s so refreshing to
spend some time with an intelligent, pretty lady.”
    Livi opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his hand to
stop her. “No, let me finish. I’m not trying to come on to you, I know you’ve recently
lost your husband, but I like you, I like you a lot. I admire your tenacity, and
I really appreciate your company and, hopefully, your friendship. No strings
attached, I give you my word.”
    Livi didn’t answer immediately, so he reached across the
table and touched her hand. “Please, say something.” His eyes held her gaze,
and for a fleeting moment, it was if she could see into his soul.
    Not for the first time, she felt an unmistakable tug of
attraction towards him. She realized just how lonely Matt was, how lonely she
was too. She needed a friend, someone who knew and accepted her circumstances, and
someone she could just talk to. Something about the man sitting opposite
her made her resolution waver. She sensed both their pain.
    She smiled. “Of course we can be friends, we are already
aren’t we?”
    The meal finished, Matt drove Livi back to the farm. The
roads were quiet and throughout the journey they chatted comfortably together. He
parked outside the house and they stepped out into the warm late evening to
wander slowly across to the barn to check on the horses.
    Before the accident, Will had built a garden complete with
fountain in front of the house, but six months ago, following his death, Livi
had turned the water feature off. Earlier that day, she had turned it back on,
and now the chuckle and murmur of water was alluring. Tears briefly stung her
eyes.
    The horses were fine. They retraced their steps to the house
and Livi opened the kitchen door for the dogs to come outside, then they sat on
a wooden bench and watched as the final vestiges of evening faded into night, the
western sky still showing a fast diminishing swirl of violet. A mocking bird called
sweetly to his mate from a nearby tree. Livi was startled by a thought that
everything seemed just right.
    At last, Matt smiled and pushed himself slowly to his feet.
“Time to go; I know you get up early in the morning. When you start the school
run next week, maybe we could meet up sometimes and have breakfast.”
    Livi