by Susan Lewis
‘If you were short you should have let us know.’
‘Anthony would never do that. Anyway, we’re not now, and I’m afraid I have to go because someone’s just arrived for a tasting. I’ll call again later so you can tell me how things are going with Shelley’s treatment.’
As she rang off she began setting out glasses, a spittoon and Tuki River napkins, until she was startled into surprise at seeing Zoe winding her way through the tables, holding Chloe by the hand.
‘Look who I found out on Te Mata Road,’ Zoe declared with an affectionate smile.
Charlotte looked from one to the other as they reached the counter. Chloe was boldly meeting her gaze, as if challenging Charlotte to make something of this. ‘What on earth were you doing on Te Mata Road?’ Charlotte demanded.
Defiantly, Chloe said, ‘I was running away.’
Charlotte’s eyes flicked to Zoe before she asked, ‘Where did you think you were going?’
‘To England,’ Chloe breezily informed her.
Charlotte looked at Zoe again, and almost without thinking clicked on her mobile as it rang.
‘Charlotte,’ Rowan cried, ‘I can’t find Chloe …’
‘It’s OK, she’s with me,’ Charlotte told her, and ringing off she went to take Chloe’s face in her hands. ‘You realise it’s a good job Zoe saw you,’ she said firmly. ‘You could have got into a lot of trouble …’
‘I don’t care.’
‘But I do. And so should you. You’re eight years old, you shouldn’t be out on the roads on your own, anything could have happened to you …’
‘I told you, I don’t care.’
Charlotte pulled her in closer. ‘What am I going to do with you?’ she murmured desperately. Thank god this was New Zealand and not England, less traffic and fewer perverts, but that still didn’t make it entirely safe. To Zoe she said, ‘Did she have a bag or anything?’
Zoe shook her head. ‘She was as you see her now, heading along the road towards the village.’
Envisaging the solitary figure, barefoot, wild-haired and directionless, Charlotte said, ‘How far had she got?’
‘Only just past Black Barn. I wasn’t sure …’
‘Hey! Is that you, Chloe Fantazma-goey?’ Rick shouted over from the bistro garden.
Chloe spun round. She adored her Uncle Rick. ‘Yes, it’s me,’ she cried excitedly, and promptly abandoning her mother and Zoe she dashed across the courtyard to be swung up high into the trees and offered her favourite drink, a cake, an ice cream or whatever her little heart might desire.
Knowing she couldn’t leave it there, but uncertain what to do for the moment, Charlotte turned back to Zoe. ‘Thanks for picking her up. I don’t know what she was thinking …’
‘Oh, we all did it when we were her age,’ Zoe laughed dismissively. ‘It was quite an adventure to run away, I always found.’
‘I shudder to think how far she’d have got if you hadn’t spotted her. Was she OK about getting into the car?’
‘No fuss at all. I think she was quite relieved, if the truth be told.’
Charlotte nodded, and deciding to put it aside until she’d had more time to think it through, she said to Zoe, ‘I thought you were in Auckland.’
‘Just got back. In fact I was on my way to see you when I happened upon Chloe. I have it in my calendar that one of the retreats is free for me to view this afternoon.’
Going to get the key, Charlotte said, ‘Have you seen Anthony today?’
‘Not yet, but I’m hoping to. We’ve got a lot to discuss about the 2015 vintage … Do you know when it’s being moved from the winery over to Wineworks?’
‘I’m guessing the whites will go any time now, but that’s Anthony’s department.’
‘Of course. I was just wondering if it might be worth Frank Ingershall getting some shots of it starting out on the next stage of its journey.’ After making a note for herself, Zoe said, ‘I should only be a few minutes at the retreat – Frank wants to see some visuals before he comes, so I’ll use my phone camera. I’ll bring the key back when I’m done, then how about we indulge in a glass or two?’
Charlotte blinked. ‘Of wine?’ she said stupidly.
Zoe laughed.
Charlotte did too. ‘My treat,’ she joked, amazed at how readily she’d accepted when she didn’t have the time for one glass, never mind two, and clicking on her mobile she took a call from Anthony.
‘How’s the schooling gone today?’ he asked over the hum of whatever was going on in the background.
‘Not much progress,’ she replied, going to brush some jacaranda pods from the tables. Should she tell him about the pervert comment, and the attempt to run away? He always hated hearing about problems with Chloe, and they only ended up causing even more tension between them.
How had Polly Greenborough’s marriage fared?
‘I’ve organised a couple of hours tomorrow so I can help out with the teaching,’ he said. ‘Will I know what to do?’
Amazed and thrilled, she said, ‘I can show you. It’s not hard, she’s only eight, remember?’
With a smile in his voice he said, ‘Any news from Mike Bain?’
‘No, but I’m expecting to hear from a special ed psych any time. He or she will probably want to come to the house to assess how she’s doing.’
‘OK, we should both be there when that happens.’
Relieved that he wanted to be, she said, ‘It’ll make a lot of difference to Chloe if you are. She tried to run away earlier.’
‘Are you serious? What happened?’
‘She decided she wanted to go to England, so she crept out of the house and I didn’t realise she was gone until Zoe brought her back about ten minutes ago.’
‘Where is she now?’
‘At the bistro with Rick.’
Sighing, he said, ‘So what’s all this about England? Where’s it coming from?’
‘I don’t know, but she’s mentioned it a few times lately.’
‘Have you checked her online activity? You need to keep a close eye on it …’
‘I don’t need lecturing, thank you.’
‘Sorry.’
‘I have to go, someone’s just turned up for a tasting.’
‘OK. You can start serving the 2014 Cabernet Franc.’
‘There’s none here.’
‘I’ll get some to you. I won’t be back until seven, by the way. Will and I are going for a tasting at Gimblett Gravels,’ and the line went dead.
After making friendly chat with two couples from Holland, and selling them a bottle each of Pinot Gris, Charlotte was about to disappear into the office to catch up on the day’s emails when Zoe returned.
Minutes later they were at one of the tasting tables with two glasses and a bottle of Reserve Chardonnay between them, surrounded by trees and vines and the incessant buzz of cicadas while watching Chloe helping Rick to lay tables over at the bistro.
‘I can’t remember the last time I did something like this,’ Charlotte sighed wistfully. ‘I’m always so busy trying to sell the wines that I hardly ever have time to relax and enjoy them.’
‘This,’ Zoe declared, holding up her glass, ‘is my favourite of yours. Actually, it’s a favourite, full stop.’
Charlotte smiled. ‘We haven’t had as much trouble selling this as we have the Pinot Gris, but there again we don’t have as much of it. Anyway, the problem’s solved now, thanks to you, and before we know it we’re going to be up to our eyes in the 2015 trying to sell that.’
‘I promise I’m going to do my best for you,’ Zoe said earnestly. ‘There are quite a few ideas I’m working on already. The brochure should definitely help lead the way, but it’s only a beginning. We need to take a good look at your social media profiles. I guess you don’t have time to engage much …’ She stopped as Charlotte put up a hand.
‘How about we have a few minutes not about wine, other than to drink it?’ Charlotte proposed.
Zoe broke into a smile
. ‘I’m up for that,’ she replied, reaching for the bottle and refilling their glasses. ‘So what do you want to talk about?’
Charlotte took a breath as she thought, although she knew the answer already. ‘How about you?’ she suggested. ‘I know you’re brilliant at what you do, because everyone says so, but who is the woman behind the professional?’
Zoe simply shrugged. ‘There’s not much to tell about me really. I’m an only child, grew up in Bunbury, south of Perth. My parents split up when I was twelve – Daddy was rich – mining – so Mummy got a great settlement. As soon as I set off on my Europe experience after uni she travelled as far as Italy with me and never came back. She’s still in Tuscany, not far from Florence, and I generally go to see her for a few weeks during our winter, her summer. Daddy died about ten years ago and left me quite comfortably off, but the bulk of his estate went to his new family.’
Charlotte was watching her closely, thinking of what very different worlds they came from.
‘I guess I’m lucky he left me anything,’ Zoe continued, ‘because I never used to see him. His wife didn’t like to be reminded that he’d had a life before her. Still, that’s wicked stepmothers for you, they can have a hell of a lot of influence and mine certainly did. How about you?’
Reflecting back to her own early years, Charlotte said, ‘I never felt wanted by my adoptive mother, but tell me more about you. Have you ever been married?’
Zoe’s eyes went down. ‘I still am, but we haven’t been together for the past eighteen months. He found someone else and … Well, he broke my heart.’
Charlotte could tell by the tremor in her voice that she wasn’t over it yet. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘That’s a horrible thing to go through.’
Zoe shrugged. ‘Some people face a lot worse. How about you? Have you ever had your heart broken?’
Remembering how she’d once felt sure that Jason the builder was the great love of her life, Charlotte said wryly, ‘I thought it had been, once, but with hindsight it was just bruised. Losing Anthony would break my heart.’ Had she said that as a warning, or simply because it was true?
Zoe’s eyes were on hers. ‘I’m sure it would,’ she agreed, ‘but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Do you?’
Charlotte said, ‘I hope not, but I’m afraid things haven’t been great between us lately.’ Why was she telling Zoe this? She’d barely even admitted it to her mother.
Zoe was still watching her. ‘That’s what he said when I asked him about you.’
Startled, Charlotte couldn’t think what to say. Anthony had discussed her with Zoe? The idea of it was making her light-headed, angry, ready to explode even, yet here she was having a similar sort of conversation. ‘He told you our marriage was in trouble?’ she finally managed.
‘Those were not the words he used. What he said was that you’ve both been under a lot of pressure since taking on the vineyard, and he’s afraid that you might regret it.’
Charlotte swallowed dryly.
‘Do you?’ Zoe prompted.
‘No, of course not,’ Charlotte replied hastily. ‘I just wish … I guess I wish we had more time to spend with the children, and with each other.’
‘I’m sure it’ll happen once this rough patch is over.’
Charlotte took a breath. ‘As long as that’s all it is, a rough patch,’ she murmured, and seeing Rick on his way over with Chloe she went to fetch another glass. What else had Anthony told Zoe about their marriage, she was wondering as she returned to the table. And why had the subject even come up?
As though reading her mind, Zoe put a hand on hers as she said, quietly, ‘I’m sure everything will turn out fine, on all fronts,’ and with Chloe and Rick now in earshot the subject was changed.
Anthony could hear the shouting and screaming even before he was out of the car.
‘What the hell’s going on?’ he demanded, running in from the terrace to find Chloe throwing anything she could get her hands on about the room.
‘I don’t know what happened,’ Charlotte shouted, shielding Elodie and Cooper as Chloe raged and seethed and slammed fists and feet into anything she could reach.
‘Chloe!’ Anthony barked, signalling for Charlotte to whisk the little ones upstairs.
‘Don’t touch me!’ Chloe yelled as Anthony tried to grab her. ‘You’re not my dad. You can’t do anything …’
‘Calm down,’ he urged. ‘Stop shouting and tell me what’s wrong.’
‘You are,’ she screamed, ‘and her and her and him,’ she spat after Charlotte and the others. ‘You’re what’s wrong,’ and grabbing Cooper’s bike she hurled it at Anthony with all her might.
Catching it, he thrust it aside, but wasn’t quick enough to grab Chloe as she raced up the stairs after Charlotte. He was behind her like a shot, but as he reached the landing she snatched up her tennis racquet and began swinging it at him.
‘Get the children in the bedroom,’ he shouted to Charlotte.
‘Stay away from me,’ Chloe threatened, backing up.
Seizing her, he tried to tear the racquet from her hand and winced as it caught him in the face.
Wrenching free, Chloe dashed for the stairs. ‘I’m going to kill you,’ she warned, ‘I’m going to kill all of you,’ and moments later he heard her rummaging in the cutlery drawer.
‘Anthony,’ Charlotte whispered.
‘Go back inside,’ he urged, pulling their bedroom door closed. God alone knew what he was going to do if Chloe came back armed, but as long as she didn’t harm the others …
‘I’m going to get you now,’ Chloe seethed as she came to the top of the stairs. ‘You’re going to be sorry you were ever horrible to me.’
‘Chloe, put it down,’ he cautioned. ‘Whatever you’ve got behind your back …’
‘It’s a gun.’
Knowing it couldn’t be, he was about to try and grab her when she whipped her hands in front of her and shouted, ‘Bang!’
Anthony started, and stared in disbelief.
‘It’s a banana,’ she laughed.
Whether it was shock, or plain relief that it really was a banana, he had no idea, he only knew that he was tipping over the edge into laughter too.
‘I had you scared, didn’t I?’ she giggled.
He didn’t deny it. ‘Why were you so angry when I came in?’ he asked, wishing his own state of mind could swing as fast as hers.
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It’s just everything. I hate it here and I want to go home.’
‘But this is your home.’
‘No it isn’t.’
‘Chloe …’
‘Bang!’ she shouted, wielding the banana again.
‘Please talk to me, tell me what’s upsetting you.’
‘Bang!’
‘You know that’s not an answer …’
‘Bang! Bang! Bang!’ and turning on her heel she ran into her room and slammed the door.
‘I should go after her,’ Charlotte said, coming on to the landing.
‘Bang!’ Chloe yelled at the top of her voice.
Charlotte turned to Anthony.
‘What started it?’ he asked, touching a hand to his bruised cheek.
‘I don’t know. One minute she was lying on the floor playing with Cooper and his cars, the next she was kicking his garage and him and …’
‘She was kicking him? Is he all right?’
‘Yes. Shaken up, obviously.’
‘Couldn’t you have stopped her?’
‘I got him away,’ she snapped. ‘You saw the state she was in, I couldn’t control her.’
Sighing, he said, ‘Let’s give her some time to calm down. You go and settle the others and I’ll clear up the mess she made downstairs. After that we need to talk about getting some professional help.’
‘Do you seriously think I’m not already on the case?’ she whispered furiously. ‘I’ve made at least a dozen calls, and these appointments aren’t easy to get. There are waiting lists, kids with
bigger problems apparently, and even if we get her in you know what’ll happen. It’ll be just as useless as before, and frankly you’re not helping.’
His eyes closed as she slammed the door, and wishing himself a thousand miles away he took off downstairs to repair what damage he could.
I’m in my room with Boots listening to the others moving about, going up and down the stairs, in and out of the bathroom, putting Cooper and Elodie to bed. At least Elodie’s stopped bawling now. She makes a horrible racket, waaah! Waaah! Waaah! And Cooper’s no better. He shouldn’t have grabbed the car off me, it just made me mad and it’s not like he doesn’t have fifty thousand others. What’s wrong with letting me have that one?
Everything’s wrong with it, because I’m a nobody who doesn’t deserve any toys or treats or food or friends or any of the things other people have. The only friends I’ve got are in chat rooms, but I still haven’t plucked up the courage to speak to any of them. I will tonight though. I’m going to find the one I was on the other night where they called my creepy dad a pervert, and make friends with them. They might know who he stole me from and then I should be able to make contact with my real parents to let them know where I am.
I’m still using Anthony’s iPad and no one has asked me for it yet, so it must mean that they want me to have it. They just better not try to make me see one of those doctors again, the ones who keep asking questions and pretending like they care, when they don’t know me, and even if they did they still wouldn’t care. I can’t stand them. I hate them so much that I hit one once, and I’ll do it again if one comes near me.
I wonder if I’ve got any real brothers and sisters.
I wish I could go home to my real mum and dad. I’ve got to find a way.
Everyone was in bed. The house was perfectly still as Charlotte sat at her laptop reading from Polly’s blog:
I’m sorry I haven’t written anything here for a few months, but thank you for so many kind messages wishing me well and hoping my silence might mean that things are improving. I only wish I could say they were, but after Roxanne tried to burn the house down we had to go and stay with my parents while the damage was repaired. She was very sorry, of course, and for weeks after she was on her best behaviour, until something upset her – I’ve no idea what it was – and she took it out on my youngest by pushing her down the stairs.
