Kat shrugged at her uncle. She had tried.
* * *
Keely got off the bus at the central busport in the city and made her way towards Elizabeth Quay. She hadn’t visited the waterfront when she’d first arrived in Perth and had determined it would be her first port of call. It’d felt strange, checking in to the backpacker hostel again. She hoped this time she’d actually get to spend the night there. She smiled. It seemed ages since she’d flown in, ready to embark on her holiday, but only one month had gone by. Just as well we can’t see into the future, she thought. Who could’ve predicted everything that had happened in that time?
After spilling her story to Euan and Ken she had ended up going back and working two more days at the school. She’d been nervous at first, but everything had gone well – even Raff’s apology, where she discovered he liked to paint. After that he’d come with a mate after school each day and done some painting while she’d packed up the room. She’d been impressed by his talent with a brush and let Ken know.
Euan and Dianna had invited her for dinner each evening and Euan had said she could stay on at the studio for as long as she liked, but once her job at the school had finished she really had no more excuses to stay.
She’d accepted the connection she thought she’d had with Flynn had been nothing more than friendship. He’d gone a couple of days earlier to be with Kat, and Keely was doing her best to forget him and move on. It had been difficult enough saying goodbye to Euan. He’d been a great friend to her when she’d needed one most and she was very fond of him. She’d also enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Dianna. Keely was pleased to see their obvious happiness in being together.
Her phone pinged with a text message. She dug it out and smiled. It was from Marty. She’d let him know she was starting her journey up the coast. He and his mates were a lot further north already, in Carnarvon. He’d sent a photo of himself in front of a huge satellite dish and had said they were going to try kite surfing. She sent a reply. She didn’t know if she’d get there before they moved on but she hoped she’d catch up with them again at some point.
She wandered down near the water’s edge where a ferry was pulling in and then strolled on towards the bridge that spanned the mouth of the quay. There were things she had to do but it was such a beautiful day she was happy to delay her chores. She needed a few items from the supermarket before she began the next leg of her journey north, and she wanted to find something for Bec. It was her birthday next week and Keely thought she’d send her some kind of funny souvenir and perhaps even something for her brothers. Her mum had become worried again when Keely said she was heading north and she’d promised to check in daily. She’d also promised Euan she’d call from time to time.
Keely crossed the bridge and took a few photos of its structure from different angles. She needed to update her Insta account. It had been sadly neglected while she’d been in Margaret River. She gazed over the wide expanse of the river to the buildings of South Perth. Maggie had issued her with an invitation to stay with her in Perth but Keely had decided against it. She’d gathered from Euan that Flynn was still in Perth and she presumed he would stay with his aunt or with Kat. Either way, she’d decided to keep her life simple after all the trauma of the last few weeks. It was best if she didn’t see Flynn.
“Keely?”
She spun, surprised at the sound of Kat’s voice. She was beckoning to Keely from under an umbrella, outside the cafe beside the bridge. Kat was alone and Keely felt a pang of disappointment. She berated herself. Hadn’t she resolved not to see Flynn?
“I thought it was you. How amazing to see you. I had to leave Margaret River in such a rush, I didn’t think I’d get the chance to say goodbye.”
“How is your grandfather?” Keely asked.
“Much better, thank goodness. It was fairly scary for a while.” Kat patted the empty chair next to her. “Have you got time to sit?”
“Oh…yes, a few minutes.” Keely glanced around, then sat down under the umbrella.
“Isn’t it a beautiful day?” Kat stretched her long arms back over her head in a graceful movement. “I feel as if I’ve been cooped up for ages.”
“I suppose you’ve been spending time in the hospital.”
“Yes, you do a lot of sitting around and then feel exhausted. Thank goodness for Flynn. He kept me sane. He’s inside getting me another coffee. Do you want one?”
Damn, thought Keely. She had assumed Kat was alone. “No, thanks. I can’t stay long.”
“Hello, Keely.”
Her heartbeat quickened at the sound of his voice and she had to take a calming breath before she turned. Flynn came from behind her, carrying a coffee cup. He put it down in front of Kat but continued to keep his gaze on Keely.
“How did the job at the school go?” he asked.
“Well, thanks,” she said, without flinching. “Incredibly well, actually.”
The sounds of building from a nearby construction site ricocheted around them.
“So, you’re getting ready to continue your holiday north now?”
“Yes.” Keely looked over the water to avoid those sparkling blue eyes.
“We’re all embarking on something new.” Kat raised her cup in a mini-toast.
“Look, I’m sorry to rush off.” Flynn put his hands on Kat’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “Kat has just given me some great news and I’ve got to go and sort some things out.”
“I must be off, too.” Keely stood quickly. “It was great to see you both.”
Kat stood too and drew her into a hug. “It was great to get to know you, Keely. Safe travels.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Flynn stood slightly apart from them. He stared at Keely and she had to turn away, terrified he’d draw her into a farewell hug and she’d make a fool of herself. “Maggie was hoping to catch up with you again,” he said. “You should give her a call.”
“Of course…that’d be great.” She stumbled over her words.
“I’m going back to the flat when I’ve finished my coffee,” Kat said.
Flynn nodded. “I’ll see you there later.”
He turned back to Keely and there was longing in his look. She hurried away, unable to bear seeing his open desire for Kat.
* * *
“Let’s drink a toast.”
Flynn looked up from the backpack he was stuffing clothes into. “Make mine lemonade, Maggie. I’ve got to drive.”
“Tonight?” She was leaning against the bedroom doorframe, arms folded.
“I’m picking up the paperwork in Margaret River first thing in the morning and driving back here with it. By tomorrow afternoon, everything should be done.”
“What about Kat?”
“I won’t see her again. Her plane leaves in the morning.”
“Oh. Well, you and I can have a proper celebration of our partnership when you get back.”
Flynn slung his pack over his shoulder and followed her to the kitchen where she poured them both a drink.
“Euan said Keely had left Margaret River.” Maggie smiled at him as she passed him his glass.
“I forgot to tell you, I saw her in the city.”
“When?”
“Earlier this afternoon. She’ll probably give you a call.”
“How did she look?”
“Fine, I suppose. She was chatting to Kat. Why?”
They clinked glasses and both took a sip.
“Euan said she’d had a bit of a tough week but she’d come through it well,” Maggie said.
Flynn frowned. “She said she’d had a good week.”
“Where is she staying?”
“I don’t know. I forgot to ask.”
“Flynn!”
“What?”
“Sometimes I do wonder if you are your father’s son. You must have inherited all of the Irish work genes and none of the romantic French.”
Flynn looked at his aunt. Sometimes she talked in riddles. Where was
she going with this?
“It’s as plain as the nose on your face that you and Keely have feelings for each other.”
Flynn gulped down the last of his lemonade. He wished that what his aunt said was true. The part about him liking Keely was – but he knew the feelings weren’t reciprocated. She’d been quite cool towards him that afternoon.
“Flynn?”
He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Maggie, you are my aunt and my business partner but I’m not going to discuss women with you.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back here tomorrow afternoon.”
CHAPTER 35
Euan heard the car and placed a cup under the spout of the coffee machine. Dianna had gone to bed but he’d stayed up to wait for Flynn. Maggie’s phone call, to tell him Flynn was on his way with some interesting news, had piqued his curiosity and he also had other things he wanted to talk to Flynn about.
Euan had done a lot of reflecting in the last week. Dianna being here was one thing but hearing what Keely had been through and that she felt she had no one to turn to, not even her parents, was startling. Would Flynn feel he could turn to him in a crisis? Euan certainly hadn’t been much help to him when Lucy died, but he thought they’d got past that.
Since Flynn had come back from his travels, Euan thought they’d settled into some kind of routine. They didn’t always see eye to eye on making wine, but they managed. Euan respected Flynn’s opinion but somehow things weren’t right. He realised he was still keeping his son at arm’s length. He’d made plenty of blunders but the last week had made one thing perfectly clear: Euan didn’t want Flynn to leave Levallier Dell for good. What was the point of all the work, if not to share the future with Flynn?
Maggie had been right, as always. Euan needed to be open with Flynn about the business. They had to plan the future together so they both knew where they stood.
Flynn slid back the door and stepped into the room.
“Coffee?”
He spun around. “I didn’t realise you were still up.”
“Maggie phoned and said you were on your way. There are some things I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Can it wait?” Flynn dropped his pack by the couch. “I don’t want to argue but I would like a coffee. I’ve got some good news.”
Euan reached for another cup. It hurt to think that Flynn naturally assumed he was looking for an argument. He cleared his throat. “What is it?” He kept his tone light and interested and he made eye contact with Flynn.
“Theo’s selling that piece of land we wanted.”
“Why would he do that?” Euan leaned forward. Flynn had his attention.
“From what I can gather, he’s overextended.”
“He’ll want a lot of money for it.”
“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean? Do you know what he’s asking?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” Flynn looked over the kitchen bench. “How’s that coffee coming along?”
Euan took the cup from under the machine and passed it to Flynn. “Do I have to beat it out of you?” He picked up his own cup and went round to sit at the table. “How much?” He was already mentally checking their current overheads. Things were fairly tight, the new vehicle had been an unexpected expense, but they might be able to borrow enough money, if the price was right.
“Theo’s price is more than reasonable and he’s given me first chance but—”
“You’re kidding!” Euan slapped his hand on the table.
“There is a ‘but’. Theo has two stipulations.”
“What are they? He’ll probably want a quick settlement if he’s got cashflow problems.” Euan frowned. He hoped Kat wasn’t somehow one of the conditions.
“Yes, he wants to settle as soon as possible but the other thing is, if we buy, the land has to be in my name.”
“Why?”
“Come off it, Euan. You and Theo aren’t exactly the best of friends. It must have dented his pride to have to sell and he knew you’d want the land. I’ve already spoken to Maggie. Between us, we can come up with the money.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all organised.” Euan was disappointed Flynn had gone to Maggie instead of him with the planning of this deal. He would have to work hard to repair the damage to their confidence in each other.
“We had to act fast. It’s a great opportunity.”
“I’m amazed that Theo offered it to you. Perhaps Kat influenced him. There are others around he could have sold it to.”
“It turns out it was his idea. Evidently, he quite likes me.” Flynn gave a soft snort. “I think he had plans for me to marry Kat.”
“I told you he was up to something, that wily old bugger.” Euan blew out a quiet breath, glad that hadn’t been a condition of the sale. “Mind you, he didn’t have to drag you. You fell for his plan, hook, line and sinker.”
“What do you mean?”
“You and Kat.”
“What about us?”
“You’ve been quite an item.”
“No, we haven’t. We’re mates, nothing more. She’s got a job in Singapore and a boyfriend to go with it.”
Euan put down his cup and inspected Flynn’s face. “But you spent all that time together.”
“Friends do. She needed someone to talk things over with.”
“And she stayed here a couple of nights.”
“In the spare bed.” Flynn stood up. “Damn it, Euan. Not everyone’s like you with a woman in their bed every five minutes.”
Euan flinched. “Keep your voice down. Dianna is sleeping.”
Flynn’s hand flew to his forehead. “Wait, did you really think me and Kat were…”
“Are you telling me you weren’t?”
“Of course not. I told you we’re just good friends.”
Flynn glared at Euan for a moment, then he sighed. “Dianna seems nice. I hope she knows what she’s letting herself in for.”
Euan scratched his head. He had a lot more bridges to build than he’d realised. “Flynn, sit down. We need to talk.” Euan could see the indecision in his son’s face. “Please, I know it’s late but I want us to sort things out. I don’t want to fight with you. This is your home. More than anything, I want you to stay here. Levallier Dell is a family business…father and son.”
He felt a little surge of relief as Flynn sat back in the chair and picked up his coffee. They were silent for a moment then Flynn held his cup over the table and grinned.
“There’re some first-rate sauvignon blanc and semillon vines on that block,” he said. “And after Theo’s accident with the poison, we’ve got room to try another variety.”
“Surely we’d replant with semillon.”
Flynn held his gaze. “I’ve been doing some research and I’d like to plant a different variety, something we haven’t tried before.”
“What about pinot noir then? We don’t have a sparkling.”
“Maybe, but I’ve got an idea for something else.”
Euan felt a quick stab of annoyance then swallowed his pride at the excited look on his son’s face. It wasn’t going to be easy to give Flynn more control but he had to try. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ve been searching for something unique. A wine that no one else grows in our region. I’ve been reliving my time in Europe, the wines I enjoyed there…”
“And?”
“I’d like to try albariño.”
Euan almost choked on his tea. “Unique alright. It’s probably not even albariño, it’s savagnin. Lots of growers lost money trying to make that variety work. Surely it’s not worth the risk.”
“The true albariño vines are growing in Australia now.” Flynn met his look with a steady gaze. “I’ve been talking to my mate in South Australia. The one who offered me a job.”
Euan’s jaw clenched. He waited.
“They grow the true albariño at his family’s winery in the Adelaide Hills and…” Flynn’s eyes lit up and his f
ace split in a wide smile. “They’d be happy to let us take some cuttings to get started.”
Euan hesitated. The look he saw on Flynn’s face reminded him of his own when he and Lucy started Levallier Dell. He nodded his head. “Why not? It would be a new challenge.”
“We could do it together and I’ve already got an idea for a label.”
“That’s counting your bottles before you’ve grown the grapes, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” Flynn’s look turned cagey.
Euan didn’t press him but lifted his mug instead. “Whatever we plant I’d say the future of the family business is looking good.”
Flynn tapped his cup against Euan’s. “Here’s to the future.”
CHAPTER 36
Keely knocked on the door of Maggie’s apartment. It would be good to see her again, before she caught the bus the next day. Now that she’d made her travel plans, she was feeling quite excited about the prospect of finally heading north.
“Hello, Keely. Come in.” Maggie stood back and waved her through an entrance hall and into a magnificent high-ceilinged sitting room.
Keely took in the elegant decor. It was as if she’d stepped into a home magazine. “What a beautiful apartment.”
“I’m very comfortable here.” Maggie led the way across the room. “I thought we’d sit out on the balcony. It’s a glorious afternoon.”
Keely was glad she’d worn her skirt. She’d only bought it that morning. It was made of soft pink crimpy fabric and flowed down to just above her ankles. She’d topped it with a lacy white blouse. It felt good to be out of jeans for a while. She sat in a patio chair decked out with pretty cushions in pinks and greens and took in the view of the Swan River and the city on the opposite side.
“You’ve had your hair cut,” Maggie said.
“I’ve been a bit indulgent this morning.” She ran her hand softly over her hair, which still reached below her shoulders. The hairdresser had praised her for not succumbing to a fringe. He’d raved over her bone structure and brushed her hair back from her face. She’d liked what she’d seen in the mirror. “It’s just a trim. I thought it might be easier to manage for the heat up north.”
Something in the Wine Page 31
