Karly didn’t want to get into a discussion about the only thing Pop would see in a woman Heidi’s age. ‘I’m just looking out for him.’
Heidi had bristled a moment ago and it eased. ‘He’s lucky to have a granddaughter who cares about him so much.’
‘You don’t have children?’
‘No.’ Heidi’s gaze shifted away but not before Karly glimpsed pain. ‘Anything else you want to know? I’ve been a widow for eighteen months, married for almost thirty years before that. I’ve just bought The Knick Knack Shop and, as you know, I sold my house so I can downsize. I can give you my blood type and licence number if you’d like?’
Shocked by the woman’s feistiness, Karly couldn’t contain her laughter and it bubbled out. Thankfully, Heidi grimaced before joining in.
‘Sorry, I’m not comfortable discussing my private life. I’m a bit of a hermit.’
‘I should be the one apologising,’ Karly said. ‘I shouldn’t interrogate you. It’s none of my business.’
‘It’s sweet both of you are so close. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think this thing between your grandfather and me will develop into anything. My life is here now I’ve bought the shop and he’s ready to spread his wings. But I value our friendship and we’ll probably keep in touch.’
Karly glimpsed a longing in Heidi’s eyes that surprised her. The woman wanted more than friendship. What was Pop doing toying with her?
‘For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen Pop date anyone in town so he must really like you.’
Heidi beamed and in that instant Karly could see why Pop liked her. When Heidi smiled, her face transformed from pleasant to glowing. ‘How do you feel about that?’
Heidi didn’t need her approval but when their eyes met, she could see their run-in from years ago front and centre in her mind.
‘You remember what happened at the picnic, huh?’
Heidi winced. ‘It wasn’t my finest moment.’ She hesitated as if unsure whether to say more before continuing. ‘I’d just got the results of my fertility tests proving I couldn’t have kids. I should never have gone to a picnic knowing every kid in town would be there.’
Karly often wondered if she had a biological clock at all because she’d never hankered for children the way other girls in her class had. With Summer and Nev childfree too, it wasn’t something she thought about often. But she could see how much the admission cost Heidi and understood now why the woman had reacted the way she had when Karly had attempted to snaffle an extra three lamingtons from Heidi’s platter. She’d gone ballistic, yelling at her for being a greedy brat with no manners. Karly had been twelve at the time and so shocked she might’ve cried a little.
‘That sounds tough,’ Karly said with a sympathetic smile. ‘And for the record, you were right. I was a greedy brat.’
Heidi gave a sheepish smile. ‘You remember what I said, huh?’
‘How could I forget? It’s scarred me for life.’ She tempered her teasing with a grin and Heidi smiled back. ‘I’m glad we had this chat.’
‘Me too,’ Heidi said. ‘It’s only taken us eighteen years to clear the air.’
‘Well, our paths haven’t exactly crossed much until now. And I have a feeling we might be seeing more of each other in the future if Pop decides to hang around.’
Her eyebrows rose. ‘Has he said something?’
‘No, but you never know.’
She had no right to give Heidi false hope, but she knew no matter how far Pop travelled he’d be back at some stage and who knows what could end up happening between Heidi and him?
She’d never had a grandmother, considering Nora lived in London and they only spoke on birthdays and Christmases. Pop’s ex-wife seemed nice enough but Karly barely knew her.
‘You’re looking at me funny,’ Heidi said. ‘Is everything all right?’
Knowing it was premature to start thinking of Heidi in granny terms, Karly nodded and pointed to the kitchen. ‘I think our gracious hosts are ready to serve dinner. Shall we?’
As Karly headed for the kitchen with Heidi alongside her, she allowed herself the luxury of thinking about Hudson again. What was he doing? Was he watching something on his laptop in the granny flat? Was he taking a swim?
A flush of heat swept over her as she mentally chastised herself for associating Hudson with swimming. Too much had happened between them for anything romantic to continue. If she followed up his offer and moved to Melbourne, they’d be business acquaintances, nothing more.
So why did she have a sudden urge to ditch dinner and head home to don her bathers?
CHAPTER