Keely gripped her coffee cup, absorbing the warmth. Her time was running out. After this weekend she would have no more need to stay at Levallier Dell and she could head north, where no one would know her.
* * *
Euan had just hung up the phone when Flynn came into the family room.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“Ken rang to see if Keely could teach today but she’s not up to it.”
“Is she okay?”
“Just tired, she says. I have to go into the village for a few hours. I said you’d be around if she needed anything.”
“You and I need to discuss the arrangements for the Divine Wine and Dine weekend.”
“I know. It will have to wait till later.”
“It’s this weekend.”
“I’ve got other things to do. I’ll be back by lunch.” Euan picked up the keys of the old Volvo then changed his mind. If he was going to meet Dianna, he wanted to do it in style. “I’ll take your new car for a run if you’re not using it.”
“Take it whenever you like. It’s a business car, not mine.”
Euan decided to leave that topic alone. It could prove useful to have a good vehicle on the place, after all. “I noticed the little red car is still here.”
“Kat stayed the night.”
Euan watched Flynn square his shoulders as if he was preparing for a fight. The party had gone well the night before. They’d had a happy, relaxed time. Even Noddy’s accident hadn’t been too bad but already Flynn was taking on his defensive manner again.
“I see.” Euan knew he had no say in what his son did with his personal life but he liked Keely and he had begun to hope she might be the one for Flynn. He sure as hell didn’t like the idea of one of Theo’s brood under his roof.
“No, you don’t see,” Flynn snapped. “Because there’s nothing to see.”
“Well, just take care. Theo’s a snoop and I wouldn’t put it past him to send his granddaughter to do his work for him.”
“What work? You’re paranoid where Theo’s concerned.”
“He’ll be up to something. He always is.” Euan knew he couldn’t put his finger on it but he didn’t trust Theo. There had been several incidents over the years and the land deal with Connor had been the last straw. Not that Euan blamed Connor. His back had been against the wall and Theo had made the offer via a third party so his real identity wasn’t known until after the deal was done.
“You haven’t spoken to Theo for three years, so how would you know?”
“He snuck around making that land deal with Connor, when he knew we wanted it.”
“He’s a shrewd businessman. If there’s a prime piece of vine land beside your property for sale, you buy it.” Flynn glared at Euan.
“We were going to buy it.”
“You had a loose discussion with Connor then you went interstate and, as usual, we couldn’t contact you. Connor needed to make a decision. Besides, we’d also been looking at the Haystack Block, which was a better deal in the end.”
They were going over old ground. “I’ve got to go.” It still annoyed Euan that he had missed out on the small piece of land along his boundary, even if the larger Haystack Block was proving to be good value.
“I hope you won’t be gone all day. We need to go over the plan for the coming weekend.”
“No doubt you’ll tell me what I have to do.” Euan didn’t want to think about it. He was anxious to get in to the village to meet Dianna. He wondered what was bringing her to his part of the world. At the door he stopped and turned back. “Damn foxes took some guinea fowls last night. I cleaned up the blood and feathers out in the drive but you’d better have a look around. Not a good look if we’re expecting customers.”
Flynn’s eyes blazed. “I don’t know why you keep them, just to feed the foxes.”
“They get rid of the garden weevil. There’ve been a few outbreaks but not here.”
Flynn shook his head. “They’re about as useful as your rose bushes that attract the bugs rather than help us to get rid of them.”
Euan felt the vitriolic barb as sharply as if it had been a real knife stabbing at him. He turned from the anger in his son’s eyes and walked away.
* * *
Theo shoved the diary back in his shirt pocket, rubbed his fingers back and forth over his chest and massaged the skin, trying to erase the ache. Things were not going well with the vines at River Dynasty. First the hail, which seemed to have done the most damage on his property alone, then a large outbreak of garden weevil and now Tony had just confirmed there was downy mildew on the vines close to the Levallier Dell boundary.
Things were going from bad to worse with that patch of land between him and Euan Levallier. Perhaps it was cursed. He was beginning to wish he’d never bought it. The opportunity had seemed too good to miss at the time. Connor was desperate to sell and Euan had been away somewhere out of contact. Theo had done Connor a favour, offering a good price for the land with immediate settlement. What he’d really like to get his hands on was Levallier Dell itself. The soil was perfect, especially for Euan’s cabernet franc vines, which produced high-quality wine year after year.
Theo stopped rubbing and picked up the coffee cup his wife had just brought in. She had given him a tongue lashing for making Katerina stay away. As if that was his fault. Their granddaughter was capable of making her own decisions, as she’d clearly pointed out. He still couldn’t believe she had turned down his offer to work for the family business. Evidently she’d rung and said she was staying with a friend for a few days.
He gave a wry smile. Hopefully, the friend was Flynn Levallier and so maybe all was not lost. If Theo couldn’t get Katerina to stay, perhaps Flynn could. Nothing like a bit of romance to make young ones change their minds.
* * *
The hire car pulled away with a toot and Dianna waved to the occupants. Euan strode forward and wrapped her in his arms. His lips found hers. Damn, how he’d missed her. He hadn’t realised how much until now when he held her close. Her gentle perfume was intoxicating.
“Euan, I can’t breathe.”
He dropped his arms and took both of her hands in his. “Sorry.” He bent forward and gave her another kiss, gently this time. “I’ve missed you.”
Her hazel eyes were bright with humour. She squeezed his hand. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“What brings you here? I didn’t think you’d ever come this far south.”
“The features editor was suddenly taken ill. We had a whole section planned for next month’s edition on Augusta and the whales. I got told to get on the plane. I’ve managed to get the crew to stop over here for a night, instead of Perth. So…” She spun around and flung out an arm. “I want to see more than a car park. Show me this wonderful Margaret River you rave about.”
Euan’s thoughts raced. Where would she stay, what would they eat, how could he make the most of the time? “I want you all to myself.” He certainly didn’t want to spoil the day by introducing her to his grumpy son but he’d have to take her home eventually.
“You’ve got me.” She smiled and nodded over his shoulder. “I like your car.”
He turned to look at the gleaming LandCruiser with the Levallier Dell name adorning its side. “It’s new…”
“Come on, then.” She pulled at his arm. “Take me on tour.”
“Alright, but we’ll save Levallier Dell till the end.”
“Saving the best till last.” Dianna linked her arm through his.
“Mais certainement, mademoiselle.” And he kissed her again.
CHAPTER 23
Keely followed the path from the front of the studio down along the edge of the river. The day was sunny and warm and the well-worn track led her to a small wooden landing jutting precariously from the bank. Up higher was an old seat in the shade of some large trees and beyond that an old stone shed. Opposite her, on the other bank, the trees and shrubs crowded down to the water but on this side the vegetation
was cleared a little, to allow access to the crude jetty below.
She had decided on a walk before she went up to the house, delaying the reality of seeing Flynn and Kat together. She hesitated again. The seat looked very tempting; a place to sit and enjoy the solitude for a while.
She turned at a sound behind her to see Flynn heading down the path. She started towards him.
“Stop where you are.” His words were urgent and his voice low. He held both hands up, palms out.
She was surprised by his gruff manner and took a half step more before a movement on the ground a few metres in front of her made her freeze. A large snake was edging its way across the path away from the river.
“Just stay there,” Flynn murmured. “He’ll go on his way.”
Keely watched with morbid fascination as the snake meandered slowly back towards the bush. It was in no hurry and seemed oblivious to their presence. Its head searched the ground in all directions and its body rippled over the bumps and leaf litter until it blended with the dappled colours of the bush beyond the track, where finally, to her amazement, it disappeared altogether.
Flynn came towards her but she kept her eyes locked fearfully on the spot where she’d last seen the snake, in case it suddenly reappeared.
“That was a big one,” he said. “Must have been down for a drink. They can get very aggro at this time of the year. It’s best to leave them alone.”
Keely looked from the bush to Flynn. Suddenly her knees felt like jelly.
“Are you okay?” He put a hand under her arm. “Come and sit down.”
She let him direct her further along the path, to the old seat.
“I guess you don’t like snakes,” he said as they sat.
“I’ve never seen one before. At least not in the wild.”
“It’s not exactly the wild around here.” Flynn chuckled.
“No, but it’s a real place.” Her words tumbled out, not making sense. “I mean…I’ve only ever seen them on television or in a zoo.”
“We have our fair share. It’s best to avoid them, if you can.”
Keely shuddered and looked across the river. It was so pretty here. She hadn’t anticipated sharing it with a snake but it was the country, after all.
“I came to see if you were alright,” Flynn said. “Euan was worried about you.”
“There’s no need. I’ve got a few sore patches but I’ll be fine.”
Flynn looked out across the river. “This is a good place. I sometimes come here to think.”
Keely relaxed against the old seat. “You’re very lucky. Levallier Dell is a beautiful property.”
“Yes, it is.” He continued to gaze into the distance. “It’s just that it was more fun when Lucy was alive.”
“You were younger then. Everything’s more fun when you’re young. No responsibilities. Perhaps you’re just taking it for granted now. Sometimes you need to look with fresh eyes.” Keely was studying the river. This would be a wonderful scene to sketch.
“Life isn’t as bright without Lucy.”
“You still miss her?” Keely snuck a quick look at Flynn. He was hatless and his hair fluffed out around his head. She resisted the urge to reach out and touch it.
“Some days more than others. She’s been gone a long time. After she died…life changed, Euan changed. We were both grieving of course, but instead of supporting each other Euan shut himself away. Some weeks I hardly saw him. When I eventually finished school I was glad to get away.”
“But you came back?”
“Lucy loved Levallier Dell…she loved me and she made me laugh. But life goes on. Euan’s a different man but at least he’s functioning again and this is home.”
Keely looked back at the river. “Our families are so different.”
“Yours would be bigger.”
“I have two younger brothers. But I mean our parents are so different. Mine are both teachers and everything runs according to a plan. We don’t…” Keely hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I don’t know, we just don’t talk about things like you and Euan do.” She picked up a stick and twirled it in her fingers.
“What, yell at each other you mean?”
“No. You both love this place. When you’re passionate about something, it’s bound to lead to differences of opinion as well as joy. I’m sure you both want the best for Levallier Dell and your wines.”
“I suppose…”
They were silent for a moment, both gazing at the water as it drifted past.
“Your parents are teachers.” Flynn broke the silence. “Don’t chalkies all talk shop when they’re together?”
“I prefer not to. Besides, they’re both primary teachers. They wouldn’t…they don’t…I just can’t talk about teaching with them.” Keely drew squiggles in the dirt at her feet with the stick and thought about the way her parents shared the happenings of their day. They always managed to laugh even if they’d had a tough class. They just wouldn’t understand hers. “Neither of them are into art. I used to like fishing but Dad always takes one of the boys these days. We have little else in common. I love them and I live under their roof but we don’t share our lives outside our home.” Keely twisted in the seat a little to look at him. “You and Euan are more like brothers than father and son.”
“You think so?”
“My parents are more formal. Dad would have a fit if I called him by his first name, like you do Euan.”
Flynn smiled at her. “That’s probably Lucy’s influence. She thought names and their meanings were very important so you should use them. Flynn is of Irish Gaelic origins and means son of a redheaded man. If I had been a girl, I’d still have been Flynn. Evidently it’s also a suitable female name but I’m not sure if a girl would want a name that means she was supposed to be a son.”
Keely laughed. “You’re so lucky.”
“Why?”
“I looked up my name meaning once. It’s Irish too, and means beautiful and graceful.” She laughed again. “My parents didn’t know that when they picked it. They really mucked up there.”
She glanced at Flynn then looked down. His eyes held a look she didn’t understand. He probably felt sorry for her. She’d almost begged him to say ‘no, they didn’t muck up, you are beautiful’. Heat crept down her neck. Just for a short time she’d felt relaxed in his company, but he had only come to find her because Euan had been worried about her. What was she doing here?
She jumped up. Flynn got up too. She half turned to him. He placed a hand on her arm and his eyes searched hers.
“Keely…”
She winced as his grip tightened on her bruised elbow.
“Sorry…” He let go as if she were a hot potato.
“I’d better get going,” she said. “It must be lunchtime.”
“You don’t have to get the lunch.”
His words drifted behind her as she hurried up the path without looking back. In her mind, she saw Flynn’s face close to hers again. What was that look? Had it been surprise? Her heart thumped in her chest and her hands trembled. He would be surprised if he knew she was falling in love with him. She couldn’t allow herself to be such a fool. Kat was the one who had his heart.
* * *
Euan had taken Dianna for lunch at a new winery further north. He liked their wine and he’d heard the food was good and that had proved correct. They’d consumed some delicious seafood over a bottle of SBS and he had to admit it was a fresh, vivacious drop. Not bad for a blended wine. They sat in the corner of the balcony, which gave them a view over a neatly manicured lawn to a small lake.
Euan poured the last of the wine into their glasses and tilted his towards Dianna’s. “Officially, welcome to Margaret River.”
“I am beginning to understand why you like this corner of Australia.” She stretched her arms luxuriously towards him, like a cat. “The scenery is beautiful, the wines are magnificent and the food is to die for. Who wouldn’t want to live here?”
Euan rai
sed an eyebrow. “Who indeed, ma chère.”
“Are you implying I wouldn’t?” She rested her elbows on the table, put her chin on her clasped hands and tilted her head sideways.
Euan held her gaze as he took a sip of his wine. “We come from different worlds, you and I.”
“We do. However, when you left this time I had hoped you’d miss me enough to come back.”
He put down his glass and reached forward. Taking her hands in his, he gently pulled them towards him and brushed them with his lips before he met her eyes again. “I did miss you. But you are tied to your world and I to mine.”
“Love overcomes many obstacles.”
Euan looked down at her soft hands, still clasped in his weathered grip. He had believed he’d never know the feeling again but he had realised, during his last visit to the east, that what he felt for Dianna was more than a convenient friendship. It was love. He just wasn’t sure whether she felt the same. The logistics of combining their two lifestyles permanently were huge.
“You have your magazine and I have my vines.”
“I do admit it would be hard for you to move them.” Her pretty hazel eyes had a playful glint and her lips curved up in a smile. “And, if I’m to believe what you tell me, they are some of the best in the west. So…I’ve decided to make some changes with my work.”
Euan studied her carefully. He felt too vulnerable to declare his feelings straight out. It was not like her to play games and yet…he managed a small smile and raised an eyebrow again, desperately trying to quell the rising hope he felt. “Are you saying you love me, ma chère?”
“Is this your French charm?” she mocked. “You wine me and dine me then expect me to do the proposing.”
Euan needed no more encouragement; he pushed his chair back and took her in his arms.
* * *
“I think we’ve got everything under control.” Flynn looked from Kat to Keely. “Let’s open a bottle from Levallier Dell’s new Haystack label…Scarecrow Dry White.”
Something in the Wine Page 21
