“You do the cooking, I grow the grapes.” He swivelled his chair towards the window. “I know how much they are worth.”
Yia-yia gave Kat a little smile and patted Tony on the shoulder as she left. Kat picked up the tray and followed. She knew there was nothing she could say that would make a difference, either. Poor Uncle Tony would have to stay and bear the brunt of Pappou’s disappointment.
* * *
Keely pegged the last sheet on the line and turned at the sound of a vehicle coming down the drive. Cars came and went all day but this one was coming to the house. She hoped it was Euan returning. She’d been pondering her future at Levallier Dell ever since he had announced that Maggie was coming to stay. Now she’d come up with an idea and she wanted to test it on Euan.
She reached the laundry door just as he came around the corner from the carport. His hair was still damp from the sea and it stuck out in tufts from his head.
“Hello, Keely. I feel as if I can face the day now. Do you fancy joining me for a coffee?”
“Of course.” She was pleased to see he was in a better mood.
While he showered, she made him an open toasted sandwich with ham, tomato and some of the locally produced cheese she’d come to love. He only protested mildly that she didn’t need to cook for him, before he sat down and tucked into the food.
Keely cleaned up the few things she’d used and wiped down the already gleaming sink. After Euan had gone surfing, Flynn had left for the sheds and she had spent her time cleaning. She’d stripped her bed, aired the bedroom and cleaned the bathroom. She didn’t know when Euan’s sister was arriving but she wanted to make sure everything was ready. It was during her cleaning frenzy that she’d had her idea.
She brought her coffee and sat at the table with Euan. He looked at ease. From across the table, she could barely see the fine lines she knew crisscrossed his face.
“Thanks for this, Keely.”
“You’ve both had a long night.”
“I’ll be alright. The surfing is my way of letting go. Flynn doesn’t have that. Unless you count riding that blasted bike of his too damn fast. He worries too much. He used to surf with me when he was kid. He hasn’t been surfing since Lucy died. She had the knack of lightening him up.”
Keely tried to imagine how tough it would have been for Flynn to lose his mother. She couldn’t picture her teenage years without both of her parents being there. She also had two younger brothers, so there was always something happening at the Mitchell house. It was strange how she didn’t really miss them here though.
“I love the vines but surfing is my total release.”
Euan had his elbows on the table, his coffee cup clasped in both hands and his face turned to the glass door. Keely suspected that in his mind he was still on the water.
“When I’m on the board nothing else exists. There’s just peace and solitude.” He turned back and caught her studying him. Creases lined his face as he smiled. “When I’m out there, nothing bothers me.”
“I’m like that with my beads. Once I get going on a piece of jewellery, I forget about everything else. Time just disappears.”
“Everyone needs some kind of release. It’s healthy.” He picked up his plate. “Maggie will brighten Flynn up. When she’s here he drops some of that tough shell of his.”
The mention of Maggie reminded Keely of her idea.
“I’ve cleaned the bedroom for her.”
“She won’t be here for another week and you don’t have to move out. We’ll work something out in the front rooms.”
“Maggie won’t want the studio?”
“No. She doesn’t like it at all. Lucy and I lived there when we first bought this place. Maggie hated it then and she’s never changed her mind.” He chuckled. “Too rustic for her.”
Keely followed him into the kitchen. “Would it be okay for me to move in there?”
“You don’t have to.” Euan turned and the full force of his ice-blue eyes searched her face. “This is your home for as long as you want to stay.”
“You’ve been very kind and I would like to stay and help with the Divine Wine and Dine weekend. If I moved into the studio, it would give us all some space.”
Euan opened his mouth but Keely rushed on.
“I’d be happy to still help with meals but I could use the studio for my beads. It would be lovely to be able to spread out for a while and not have to pack up my work in progress. It’s so beautiful down there.”
“If that’s what you want, you’re most welcome but you don’t have to cook and fuss over us. Flynn and I have managed between us in the past.”
“If I don’t cook, I have to pay rent.” Keely stood her ground. She felt sure Euan wouldn’t want her to pay for her accommodation. “Anyway, I enjoy cooking. I didn’t get free rein at home much. My mother likes things done her way, even when she isn’t there.”
“Very well, mademoiselle, it’s a deal. Accommodation in return for cooking some meals.” Euan took her hand and bowed his head as if to kiss it, but instead he gave her one of his charming smiles.
Keely withdrew her hand, grateful there was no heat flooding her cheeks. She was getting used to Euan’s theatrics. “Flynn said to tell you Hugh would be over just before lunch.”
“Good. Now, I am going to shut my eyes for a few minutes, before we go and see if there’s any major damage.”
Keely watched him leave. He’d been very kind to her, cared about her, showed an interest in what she did and said. Already she thought of him as a reliable friend.
So many times he reminded her of her grandfather. A different generation of course, but it was his manner that made her realise why she was drawn to him. With Euan, she had the same secure feeling she’d had as a young child with her grandfather. She smiled; coming to Levallier Dell had been the right thing to do in many ways.
CHAPTER 17
Kat watched Pappou from the verandah. Her cousin Peter and her uncle Tony were with him. The mid-afternoon sunshine was warm on her face. It was hard to believe that it had been so cold this morning. The men were inspecting the chardonnay vines and from the way Pappou was shaking his head and waving his hands, she didn’t think it looked good.
The local radio had reported hail damage in several places in the region. The severity of the storm certainly hadn’t been forecast and it had taken everyone by surprise.
It wouldn’t be good for their business if the damage was as bad as Pappou predicted. Kat had been given free rein to find out all she could about River Dynasty and how it worked. He wanted her to come up with a package to attract people to their cellar door for all kinds of functions, from conferences and weddings to birthdays and christenings. From what she had seen, a lot of the profits from River Dynasty had been used to set up the newer Ocean Dynasty property further south, and Pappou still had a large loan for the piece of land adjacent to Levallier Dell. His resources were stretched. If he lost the chardonnay, it would be a major blow.
Not only that, Kat knew she had to tell him the truth about her visit to Margaret River. There never seemed to be a right moment but her time was running out. Mal had rung. It had been so good to talk with him and, understandably, he wanted her answer. Never before in her life had she agonised so much over a decision. Michael had been right; she was usually tenacious when it came to making choices. It was just that this time there was a lot at stake.
She smiled as she recalled her ride with Flynn the day before, to visit his special project, as he called it. There was a man who knew what he wanted and went for it. He had bottled his first sauvignon blanc semillon blend and he was so excited about it. From what she’d tasted, he was doing a good job of it as well. He was like an adoring father who had asked her opinion on his baby. They had both agreed that the semillon gave great texture and intensity to the wine and the sauvignon blanc added tropical aromatics. It was a great blend and she’d said so.
Flynn had whirled her around the makeshift tasting room. It would have
been easy to stay in his arms and kiss him, if her heart wasn’t somewhere else. Flynn was a very attractive guy. But she could tell at that moment it was thoughts of his wine that put the sparkle in his eyes. He was passionate about his winemaking.
Of course, such people had surrounded her all her life. That’s how she’d developed a finely tuned palate and knowledge of wine herself but she wasn’t so interested in the making. Her passion was in matching the right wine to the right food or person or occasion. That’s why Mal’s offer was such a good one. A combination of her knowledge of wine and her marketing skills was required. Not only that, she’d fallen in love with him and he with her. Their few days and nights together before she’d left for Perth had sealed the deal for both of them as far as their feelings for each other were concerned. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Taking up Mal’s offer would mean saying goodbye to all this.
Pappou’s raised voice carried on the breeze. Her eyes flew open and she clicked her tongue. She knew what she wanted but family ties were very strong and she didn’t want to upset Pappou or her parents.
* * *
“Thanks for your help, Flynn.” Keely smiled as he put her bag down inside the studio door.
“No problem.”
She turned away from his piercing gaze and put her backpack on the kitchen table. In her haste, it fell sideways and several things slipped out, including a packet of loose beads.
“Ohhh, damn!” She reached out as they bounced every which way over the wooden floor.
Flynn crouched down and helped her collect her things. She managed to retrieve several of the beads but decided she’d do better with a broom later.
“This drawing is great, Keely.”
She looked up from the beads, to see him holding her open sketchpad. It must have slipped out of her pack with the other things. She busied herself pouring the beads back into their packet.
“I like to sketch people and places I see. It’s kind of like a journal of my travels.” She reached for the pad. “I don’t usually show people.”
“That’s Euan, isn’t it? It’s a very good likeness.” He handed it back. “You’ve captured something more than a face. It’s almost as if you can read what he’s thinking. I like the name you’ve given it.”
Keely glanced at the sketch she had named ‘Scarecrow’. “He’s got the kind of face that asks to be drawn.”
“Perhaps one day, you’ll show me the rest.”
“Perhaps.” She closed the sketchpad and placed it on the table. “Thanks again for giving me a hand, Flynn, but I don’t want to hold you up any longer.”
“Ouch. I’ve been dismissed.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“It’s not a problem.” He grinned. “I had to check the water was working alright again. We’ve fixed the pump so everything should run okay.”
Keely watched as he turned the taps on over the old sink.
“There’s an overhead tank for hot water but that’s still got plenty in it from when I was here. Come through to the bathroom and I’ll show you the tap system. It’s a bit archaic but it works.”
Keely followed him through the door leading from the kitchen to the back of the studio. One end was partitioned off with an old shower curtain. The other end was stacked with odds and ends of furniture and bric-a-brac in boxes. Flynn pulled back the curtain to reveal an old claw-foot bath, stained with rust, and drooping over it was a huge showerhead. Opposite was an equally rust-stained handbasin and beyond that there was a small door in the wall.
“That’s the toilet and this is the trick with the taps.” He gave instructions about moving a middle tap one way or the other, depending on whether you were bathing or showering. It didn’t look that tricky. Keely was sure she could work it out.
“The back door doesn’t open anymore. You can only use the front door for coming and going.”
He headed back to the kitchen with Keely trailing behind, when he stopped suddenly and turned.
“Do you need a car to go to Mary’s tonight? You could borrow the LandCruiser.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure about the roads yet. There seem to be a lot of twists and turns between here and Margaret River. I’d probably get lost in the dark.”
“I can drive you. I might go in for a drink with a few mates tonight.”
“Thanks, Flynn. I’ll let you know.”
He went on through the front door then turned back again.
“If you want to move back to the house at any time, you can. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Thanks,” she said. Then she added, “I think,” under her breath as he walked away along the river path in the direction of the sheds. She never quite knew what to make of him. Today he’d been helpful and shown a more affable manner.
She sighed and turned back to the room behind her. Excitement took over and she forgot about Flynn. This place was hers until she moved on.
She carried her bag into the bedroom and ran her hand over the beautiful patchwork bedspread. It was nearly all white with little touches of deep burgundy and green and was quilted with an intricate pattern of stitches.
She’d brought the sheets down earlier and made the bed. Now she opened her bag, pulled out her clothes and put them in the little cupboard. She had her own room at home but it was small and the house was never empty of people with five of them living there and friends and family calling in.
“Damn.” After all her good intentions she’d forgotten to call home the night before. She retrieved her mobile from her bag and saw there’d been a text from her mother. She dashed off a quick reply saying she’d ring tonight.
Not now. She wanted to settle in to her new surroundings. There was still some time before she needed to go back to the house to organise the evening meal. She took out her bead container and began to play with different combinations. She had several ideas but craved some new inspiration. Perhaps she would go with Flynn into town and attend Mary’s gathering of jewellery makers.
* * *
“Flynn, I really need someone to talk to.” Kat’s voice wavered.
Flynn pressed his phone to his ear. “How about we go in to the pub? I’ve offered to drive Keely in to Margs to a meeting at Mary’s. We can go for a drink while she’s there.”
“Thanks, I have something important to ask you.” There was a hint of desperation in her voice.
“Sounds mysterious. I’m always up for a bit of intrigue.”
There was silence for a moment then Kat was back. “Sorry. I thought I heard Pappou calling. What did you say?”
“Nothing. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“No, don’t come here. I’ll come and get you. Seven you said. See you then.”
She was gone. Flynn looked at his mobile then shoved it back in his pocket. Kat was usually so self-assured. He wondered what was bothering her.
“Are you going out?”
He turned to face Euan.
“Yes. I’m taking Keely into that jewellery thing at Mary’s. We ate earlier. Your meal’s in the microwave.”
“We could get used to this kind of treatment.” Euan opened the door and peered at the chicken in mango sauce.
“Perhaps we should consider getting a housekeeper.”
“You’re full of ideas to spend money, aren’t you?”
“I was joking.”
“About the housekeeper, maybe, but you have spent a lot of money in the last month or so. New signs, gravel driveway, new car…”
“It’s not wasted money, it’s investing in the future of our business.”
“We’ve always managed fine with what we’ve got.”
Euan sat at the table with his meal and Flynn pulled up a chair. They needed to have this conversation. Now that Keely was out of the house, maybe they’d get the chance. He took a calming breath.
“I know we have, Euan, but times have changed and we have to change if we want to remain competitive.”
“Our wines speak for themsel
ves, you know that. The distributor only said the other day it’s hard to find an Australian wine that has such good persistence with food as ours, and our sauvignon blanc is sought after.”
“And that’s why you had trouble selling it?”
Euan put down his cutlery. He’d hardly touched his meal. “I didn’t have trouble selling it, Flynn. They wanted me to commit to more than we’ve got.”
“You said yourself it’s better to run out and keep demand high.”
“If I want this guy to keep buying I have to supply him with more.”
“We could try another market. You know I’d like to try a different variety and you’ve filled our last remaining hectares with more sauv blanc vines.”
“They do so well at the Haystack Block.”
Flynn put his elbows on the table and clenched his hands together. They’d bought the second piece of land several years earlier after he’d returned from Europe and come home to stay. He’d pressured his father then to expand. It had been a good opportunity and Euan had given in when he’d lost the property between Levallier Dell and River Dynasty to Theo. The Haystack Block was the other side of Margs but complemented the land they had at Levallier Dell. They had more sauv blanc and semillon vines there, which Flynn was using to make a blend. SBS was very popular in their region, and they’d planted merlot, which they’d never had before. Getting those vines in the ground had been one of the few wins Flynn had had with his father. It was new for them but not groundbreaking for the region. He’d hoped to have more control over what happened on the Haystack Block but Euan’s back-door tactics had blown that idea away.
“You know I’ve been looking at planting something different. Something that would be totally new for us and for Margaret River.”
“Why change what we’re good at, if it’s what the market wants?”
“The market wants all kinds of wines.” Flynn gripped his hands tighter. Now that he’d managed to get Euan to talk, he didn’t want to spoil the moment by losing his cool. Neither of them were good at talking without emotion taking over.
“Of course it does.” Euan smiled and began eating again. “But we can’t supply everything.”
Something in the Wine Page 15
