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“I’ve actually never made this before,” Sam admitted, taking his first bite. “Hey, it’s actually pretty good. Although upon reflection, it probably was not a wise idea to make you something I’ve never made. I should have stuck with something I know I’m good at. Luckily, the gamble paid off.”
“Yes, it definitely did. I’m very impressed.”
Sam grinned. “I’ll have to make you my slow cooked lamb shoulder. That’s my signature. So, do you have a name for your jewellery business?” he asked, changing the subject.
Swallowing her mouthful, Hazel replied, “Rosie Wilder. I wanted a person’s name, but not my own. It was my gran’s name before she got married.”
Sam smiled encouragingly as he took another mouthful of rice.
Hazel’s phone buzzed next to her. She could see it was a message from Josie with a picture attached.
“I think Josie has a logo for me. Do you mind if I look?” she asked.
“Not at all. Can I see?”
Hazel unlocked her phone and saw the image. Rosie Wilder was in a slightly cursive font with some colourful wildflowers beneath.
“Oh, I love it.” She pushed her phone across the table.
“Agreed. It has the feeling I thought of when you told me the name, wild flowers and… stuff.” Sam shrugged as he laughed.
Hazel shook her head and grinned.
After they’d cleared the table and washed up, Hazel had perused Sam’s bookshelf and found a small deck of cards. They’d been playing numerous games since dinner.
“Oh, how about Go Fish? Did you ever play that?” Hazel asked.
“Yeah!” Sam exclaimed. “I haven’t thought about that game in so long.”
Hazel began dealing the cards. She paired two sevens before asking, “Do you have a nine?”
Sam jokingly grumbled a little as he passed his card over.
“Tell me about your family?” Hazel picked up another card.
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
“I have a brother and a sister. Harry and Dana.” Sam paired two red kings. “Harry is a little older than me. He has a wife, Miranda, and they have three kids. Harry’s a stockbroker. They live in a penthouse in the city.”
Hazel eyed him over the top of her cards. “Eight?” she asked.
Sam shook his head as she slipped another card into her deck.
“And Dana?”
“Dana, where to begin,” Sam mused. “Dana is the youngest. She’s high up in some beauty company. She lives in Melbourne with her fiancé, Mitch. He’s a hot shot corporate lawyer. He seems arrogant.” Sam shook his head. “Dana’s hot and cold. Sweet one minute, then stormy and temperamental the next.”
“How about your parents?”
At that, Sam sighed. “Ah, well, Dad’s great. Mum, not so much. She’s very into herself. Selfish. She wasn’t the most loving parent. There was always a drama that involved her, or that she’d initiated. Sorry, am I giving you too much information? I’m probably turning you off.” Sam cocked his head to the side.
Hazel gave him a wide grin. “Not at all. Do you have any questions for me?”
“Yes. Sorry if this is a sensitive subject.” Sam paused before asking rather bluntly, “Do you know your father?”
“Nope. They broke up after Mum found out she was pregnant. He wasn’t really interested in raising a child. Apparently, he died when I was one or two. I never really thought about him, to be honest. My Mum’s parents died when I was younger as well. It’s always just been the two of us. But Serena’s Dad, he was like my Dad too.” Hazel peered out the dark window, gazing at the outside lights shining in the garden. She really should stop by and see Serena’s parents. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Sam ask for the next card.
