Free The Peppercorn Project by Nicki Edwards

held herself made Matt wonder if she was in fact much stronger than she appeared. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t help but notice her tanned legs below her skirt, or the way her T-shirt hugged a perfect figure. It was a long time since any woman had caused this reaction in him, and it took him by surprise.
    Damn those old matchmakers! It was their fault. They had put these thoughts into his head the minute they mentioned she was single. He dragged his eyes away and shook his head, willing himself to come to his senses.
    Isabelle. He murmured her name softly as he walked away and tried to ignore the spring in his step.
    Belle. He was certain it was French for ‘beauty’.

Chapter 8
    Relief billowed around Isabelle as soon as she caught sight of Fletcher. He was okay. She tried to ignore the aching hurt in the centre of her chest.
    ‘Fletch.’
    He looked so forlorn the pain in her heart squeezed like a vice. He was not okay at all.
    Leah grabbed her arm. ‘Let me talk to him first.’
    ‘Good luck.’
    Moments later, Fletcher’s features softened, before his lips curled upwards and a grin spread across his face. Leah must have said the magic word. Bacon!
    Fletcher approached and gave her an awkward hug. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I blew our chance, didn’t I?’
    The poor kid. His emotions were all over the place. She hugged him back. ‘Maybe not.’
    Fletcher looked quizzically at her.
    ‘Come on, let’s walk and talk.’
    ‘That’s what Dad used to say.’
    ‘Yeah, I know, buddy. Which is why I’m saying it now. Just because Dad’s gone doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten him.’
    Isabelle and Fletcher walked back in the direction they had come, following behind Leah and Mietta. Isabelle marvelled at the way her daughter skipped alongside Leah, holding her hand as if she’d made a new best friend. Isabelle knew how Mietta felt. Leah was a breath of fresh air. If they won the competition and came to live here, Leah’s friendship would be good for all of them.
    ‘You’re not moving here to forget about Dad are you?’
    ‘No, Fletch! I’ll never forget your dad. I’m not doing this to run away or hide from reality, I’m doing this because it might be the best way for us to get back on our feet again. I know you don’t get it, but there’s no money left. After Dad died, our only source of income was gone. With me not working, we have no money.’
    ‘But you said we have Centrelink.’
    How she hated living on welfare payments, even though that was their only option.
    ‘We do, but it’s not enough to live on, not enough to pay our mortgage.’
    Fletcher was silent, deep in thought. ‘If we move here, I’ll miss our house.’
    ‘So will I, Fletcher. But it’s just a house. Without Dad, it’s not a home anymore.’
    His shoulders slumped. ‘I know.’
    He sounded so miserable, Isabelle’s already broken heart threatened to crack open wider. She touched his arm. ‘One day we’ll have a home again, I promise. Maybe even here in Stony Creek.’
    ‘But we’ll never be a family again.’
    Stunned, she stopped walking and stared at him. ‘We’ll always be a family, Fletch. Whatever the future holds, we will always have each other.’
    ‘Are you going to get married again?’
    She laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. Where had that question come from? ‘I have no intention of getting married again.’
    ‘Never?’ Fletcher was insistent.
    Isabelle pulled him close, pleased he didn’t jerk away from her this time. ‘Honestly, buddy, I have no idea. It’s still too soon. I’m still in love with your dad.’ With her other hand she touched Dan’s ring that lay at her throat, feeling the comforting solidity of the warm silver between her fingers. ‘I tell you what, if I ever fall in love again, you’ll be the first to know. How does that sound?’
    Fletcher nodded. ‘Okay. Unless I give my approval, you’re not allowed to love anyone else. Deal?’
    He sounded so serious Isabelle had