“David, you bully,” Mary chided.
“I’m sorry…I was only…” David looked positively mortified.
“I’m alright,” Keely mumbled. The spasms of pain eased a little and allowed her to breathe again.
“Can you stand?” Euan asked.
“For goodness sake, Euan, let the poor girl get her breath back,” Anna said. “She’s lost all her colour again. Take your time, Keely. I’ll make you a fresh cup of tea.”
“I should take her home,” Euan said.
“Nonsense, she needs to sit for a minute. Sean, put that kettle on.”
Keely felt like a rag doll being tossed about. Euan stepped back and the others started to leave.
“I’m sorry, Keely,” David said again and helped her to her feet.
“Please don’t worry.” She managed a weak smile. “I’m the clumsy one. I’ll be fine.”
The room emptied quickly. Keely’s tumble had finished off the evening, which had begun to deteriorate with the mention of Levallier Dell’s involvement in the Divine Wine and Dine weekend. Flynn and Katerina had been the first to leave. Then Sean helped his sister and her husband bustle his young nephews out to the car. Keely looked around and realised that Euan had disappeared as well.
“There you are.” Anna put a cup of tea in front of her. “I’ve put in an extra spoon of sugar. You could do with the energy. Now I think you should also take some pain relief.”
Keely went to protest but Anna cut her off. “You will probably be sore for a while now. I’ve had the very same op and tried to do too much too soon. Didn’t do any damage but I had a restless night with pain. A couple of tablets will give you a good night’s sleep.”
She left the room and shut the door behind her. Keely looked around the empty table. Behind her she heard the fridge begin to hum. She took a sip of the tea and wrinkled her nose. It was very sweet.
* * *
Euan walked back into the house. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets and his head was lowered so that he nearly walked straight into Anna, who was standing just inside the door, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
“I wondered where you’d got to,” she said.
“Just getting some fresh air. Keely had enough people fussing around her.”
“You seem to have taken her under your wing, nonetheless.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Euan clenched his jaw. Anna was a good mate but sometimes she overstepped the mark.
“What about your own child? When are you going to pay him some attention?”
“Flynn’s doing okay. And he’s not a child.” Euan stepped around Anna, moving on up the passage. He didn’t want to be reminded of his inadequacies as a parent. He knew them well enough.
She followed him. “He’s hurting, Euan.”
“He has to suck it up. He’s not a little boy anymore.”
“You’re right. He’ll be thirty-three next week or have you forgotten his birthday again? He hasn’t been a little boy since Lucy died. He turned into an adult overnight. Who do you think runs the place when you’re not here? He has to manage, then you come home and take over again as if you’ve never been away.”
Euan stopped just short of the kitchen door and turned slowly back to face her. “That’s enough,” he growled. “We’ll sort it out ourselves.”
“Will you, Euan? When? It might be too late if he heads off and works somewhere else. Flynn has been trying to prove to his one surviving parent how good he is and you take it all for granted. And not only that but he has to live with small-town gossip. Stories of your exploits fly around every time you go off, even if it’s only for a weekend.”
“You know as well as I do it’s more fiction than fact.”
“Well, now you’ve presented the rumour-mongers with reality on a plate.” She waved a hand towards the kitchen door. “Peg that works for Mary has told the whole district about the young woman you’ve moved into the house. Hugh’s gone off to Perth and your workers have added their bit, including the part about Flynn moving out.”
“Hugh’s taken his family to Perth for wedding shopping. Nothing to do with us, and Flynn’s been on his high horse over nothing again.” Euan felt no need to explain but he knew Anna was right. The more he’d tried to keep his life private the more interesting he’d made it for the busybodies of the district. Maybe that’s what Hugh had been hinting at before he left the other day. Flynn could look after himself, he always had, but Euan didn’t like the idea of Keely being tainted by gossip.
There was a bang from the back of the house and Sean’s heavy steps echoed up the passage.
“Whatever possessed you to bring such a young woman home?” Anna lowered her voice.
“She had nowhere else to go. She’s a guest.” Euan paused and looked directly into Anna’s dark eyes. “That’s all.”
Sean reached them just as they opened the kitchen door. Anna bustled into the room ahead of the men.
“Sorry I’ve been so long, Keely,” she said. “Oh, you’ve finished your tea.”
Euan followed her into the kitchen. Keely was propped at the sink. She had the water running fast, rinsing her cup. She glanced back at them.
“Yes, thanks. It was just what I needed. I’m feeling much better now.”
Even though her hair formed a veil over her face, Euan noticed the red flush on her neck that he’d observed several times before. Damn it, he thought. Perhaps she’d heard some of his conversation with Anna. When he’d first met Keely he’d thought she was troubled by something. He was hoping she’d find some peace at the River, not add to her worries.
“Ready to go then?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Anna and Sean fussed over Keely all the way to the car. She thanked them again for their hospitality, rejected their offers of help and climbed inside. There was a pained expression on her face as she sank back into the old leather seat. The sheet of tablets Anna had pressed upon her were clutched tightly in her hand.
Euan turned on the radio, not sure what to say. Keely tipped her head back and closed her eyes, saving him the trouble of conversation.
CHAPTER 12
The sun was just a hint of light in the eastern sky as Flynn made his way up the track towards the house. He hummed softly as he walked but at the same time his mind raced over the plans for the week ahead.
The blending they had done the day before had gone well. Euan had declared the sauvignon blanc semillon was ready to bottle. Flynn was relieved. Their ideas differed. Euan still liked to store the wine in oak once the fermentation was complete and it was a process Flynn didn’t feel confident with. Euan’s protracted time away had Flynn worried the wine had been left too long but everything appeared to be going to plan.
Flynn almost bounced as he walked. This was the best part of winemaking. After the nurturing, the harvest, the maturing, each stage fraught with possible problems, the bottling was, for him, the crowning glory, the moment when man and nature had done their best to create the perfect wine. He and Euan had, amazingly, come to the same conclusion. The wine should be bottled.
He dug his hands deeper into his pockets and stopped to look back towards the river. Normally he loved this time of day but it was a particularly cold morning.
The chardonnay from last season was ageing well. The last summer had been a cool one and the wine in the oak barrels had developed great texture and weight and was getting ready to come out of barrel. He was hopeful they would be able to reproduce it again with this coming vintage but there were no guarantees.
He stamped his feet and exhaled. His breath formed a small white cloud in the nippy air. Thankfully, they didn’t get frosts in their region but there was nothing as unpredictable as the weather. Anything was possible. He’d seen the damage the freezing conditions could do, during his time in South Australia. Frost was not good during bud burst.
Light shone from the kitchen as he approached the house. He hoped his father would be alone. There were severa
l things they needed to sort out before Hugh and the rest of the workers arrived.
Euan was standing behind the breakfast bar, a coffee cup in his hand. He waved it at Flynn. “Want one?”
“Thanks.”
Flynn glanced around before he sat down. The door to the bedroom across the room was still shut. He hoped that meant Keely wasn’t up yet.
* * *
Keely lay cocooned under the covers as the murmur of male voices rose and fell beyond the door. She wished she could stay in bed all day. She felt tired and groggy after a restless night trying to get comfortable. The spasms of pain across her stomach had kept her awake for a long time. Her pain-relief tablets were all gone and if it hadn’t been for Anna’s she may not have slept at all. Anna had been right. Keely should have taken the tablets straight away. When she’d finally dragged herself up to swallow them, the clock had shown two am. She’d tried to distract herself with her phone until she’d drifted off to sleep but now that she was awake again she felt washed out, like she had when she’d just left hospital.
There were other things that had kept her awake. The snatches of words she had overheard the night before replayed in her mind. It was mortifying to think she was the centre of local gossip. She’d hardly seen anyone before the meal at Anna’s and yet there were stories circulating about her, embarrassing stories. She blushed and eased herself gingerly off the bed. She had to move on before she caused the Levallier family any more grief.
It was a chilly morning again. She carefully pulled a windcheater on over her pyjamas and opened the door to the family room.
Euan and Flynn were sitting at the table. She could tell by their surprised looks neither of them had been expecting to see her.
“Good morning.” Keely took a deep breath and slowly straightened her shoulders.
“How are you?” Euan rose quickly. “Can I get you some breakfast?”
“I’m fine.” Keely gritted her teeth as another spasm tugged at her. “I don’t need anything, thanks. I just wanted to thank you for your kindness. It’s been great to have such a lovely place to recuperate but I should get on with my travels. I wondered if anyone was going into town. I’d like a lift to the bus.” She stopped, pressed her lips together and breathed in through her nose.
Both men stared at her for a minute then Flynn spoke. “I could run you—”
“You don’t have to go yet.” Euan’s words cut him off. “You don’t look too good.”
“I’ll be fine, I just…” The pain surged across her stomach and Keely reached for the back of a chair to steady herself.
“This is nonsense.” Euan strode across the room and helped her to sit. “Flynn, make Keely a cup of tea. We need to talk.”
“Please don’t fuss. I’ll be fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Euan dragged another chair close. Heat burned her cheeks and she looked down. Her unbrushed hair fell across her face and through the strands she could see a dirty mark down the front of her windcheater. I must look a wreck, she thought and bit her lip.
“Here.” Flynn put a cup beside her and began to move away.
“Stay, Flynn. You’re a part of this,” Euan said.
“It’s nothing to do with me.”
“Yes it is. Sit down.”
Flynn hesitated then slowly lowered himself to a chair.
Euan turned to her. “First, I must apologise for last night,” he said. “I think you inadvertently overheard a conversation between Anna and myself that would have upset you.”
Keely wanted to protest but, as always, she could feel the heat spreading down her neck. She rubbed at the mark on her windcheater.
“I don’t know how much you heard but I am guessing the part involving the rumours about you. Flynn and I have to take responsibility for that.”
“What!” Flynn jumped to his feet.
Keely took a quick look from Euan to Flynn. Euan’s face was calm but Flynn’s was taut with anger.
“Don’t drag me into this.” He gripped the back of his chair.
“We’re both responsible for the rumours about Keely.”
“That’s ridiculous. I haven’t spoken to anyone about her, except to tell Anna you had someone staying.”
“It’s not what we’ve said. You know what this place is like. It’s what we haven’t said. I brought Keely here and didn’t introduce her to Hugh or any of the workers. Not that she was well enough but they’d have seen her about the place. Add to that you moving into the studio and I guess it’s made for a good story.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Keely mumbled.
“Yes, it does. I don’t care what they say about me but it’s not fair on you.” Euan waved a hand at Flynn. “Sit down again.”
Keely could see the rigid outline of Flynn’s jaw. He was so like Euan.
“Please,” Euan said softly this time.
Flynn walked slowly around the chair and sat down on the edge of it.
“Hear me out, both of you.” He turned to Keely again. “I think you should stay until you’re fully recovered.”
“I’m—”
He put up a hand. “I know you say you are but I don’t believe you. The fall you had last night was a bit of a setback. Better that you rest a few more days, perhaps see the local doctor and get the all clear, then you can leave. One of us will drive you back to Perth if that’s where you want to go.”
Keely wavered. She should move on but he was right, she didn’t feel that well. How had she got herself into this mess? What had happened to her finding a fresh start in WA? She’d wanted a new direction, to take more control of her life, but her plans kept changing. In spite of all that, she liked Levallier Dell. Her thoughts strayed to the warm bed she’d just left.
“Flynn, you need to move back into the house,” Euan said.
“That’s not going to change things.” Flynn shook his head.
“Maybe not, but it’s ridiculous you living in that old studio when you’ve got a perfectly good room here in your own house.”
“Please do, Flynn. I feel bad that you moved out because of me.” Keely met his eyes before he looked away. Was he embarrassed? Anyway, whatever the aloof Flynn thought, it was time to make a stand and do what she wanted.
“Okay,” he said, “but I’ll have to do it later. We’ve got a full day planned.”
Keely clasped her hands tightly together. “You’ve both been caused some inconvenience because of me.”
“You don’t want to take any notice of gossip.”
“Euan, you’ve been very kind,” she said. “I would like to stay but only if I can do my share. I don’t know anything about vineyards but I can manage meals and cleaning. If I stay, I insist on helping where I can.”
Euan’s clear blue eyes watched her intently. What was it about him? It was almost as if he could tell what she was thinking. She dropped her gaze as her resolve wavered.
“So it’s settled then,” he said. “No more talk of leaving until you feel one hundred per cent.” He patted her hand, then picked up his cup and carried it to the sink.
“We’ve still got things that need to be decided.” Flynn followed Euan back to the kitchen.
“Later, Flynn. You said yourself we have lots to do today. We can talk again tonight.”
The two men paused for a moment. Like two roosters, they eyeballed each other with their chests pushed forward and their hands on their hips. Flynn was slightly taller than Euan and he had more hair but their build was very similar, tall and lean and with obvious strength of body. Then, suddenly, Flynn turned away, grabbed his beanie from the table and pulled it down hard on his head.
“I’ll see you in the cellar,” he said.
In his haste to escape, he hit the edge of the glass door with his knee. It thumped loudly and made the whole door vibrate. Keely smiled, a welcome release to the tension. At least she didn’t have the monopoly on clumsiness.
CHAPTER 13
Keely stepped through the front door of Anna’s Kitche
n. It was buzzing with people lined up at the counter and Anna was busy serving them. Keely waited to one side and looked at the sweets on display behind the glass counter nearest her. Anna had all sorts, from scones and muffins to little glazed fruit tarts and cakes filled with cream. They looked tempting but Keely didn’t feel hungry. She was still a little tender from the doctor’s prodding fingers.
Euan had dropped her in town earlier for her check-up. She’d had to sit quite a while in the busy surgery before someone could see her. The doctor had been thorough. A woman only a little older than Keely, she’d been chatty, wanting to know all about the op and how she’d ended up in Margaret River. The doctor had pronounced progress was good, the dressings had come off and the wounds were healing well, but she suggested Keely should continue to take things easy for a few more days.
Her next stop had been at River Rainbow. She’d spent a bit there again. Thank goodness she’d been able to unblock her card once her phone was returned.
She smiled at the memory of the delightful half-hour she’d just frittered away with Mary. Finding someone with a knowledge of jewellery-making was a pleasure for both of them. Mary had started telling her about a jewellery group that met at River Rainbow but when Keely had realised the time she’d apologised and hurried off to Anna’s. Euan had arranged for Flynn to collect her from the cafe when he came into town in the late afternoon. She knew he hadn’t been happy about it and she didn’t want to give him cause to be annoyed if she wasn’t there when he arrived.
She looked around. More customers came into the shop but there was no sign of Flynn. A yelp erupted from behind the counter.
“Sam, you’re in Gran’s way,” Anna snapped.
“Tom hit me,” a small voice wailed.
Keely leaned over the counter. “Can I help, Anna?”
Anna’s harried look changed to relief. “Oh, Keely dear, that would be wonderful.”
“What would you like me to do?” Keely walked around the counter, uncomfortable with the scrutiny from customers caused by Anna’s gushing response.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand the workings of the coffee machine, dear.” Anna patted Keely’s hand. “Do you think you could keep the boys amused out the back? Tom’s meant to be doing homework. I’m on my own here till Sean gets in and it’s suddenly got busy.”
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