by Lily Harlem
The thought of ripe, juicy berries made Olivia’s mouth water. And as they passed rows and rows of bushes bursting with fruit, she was hopeful they’d get work.
Evan pulled into the dusty parking lot and the others followed.
“Do you think I should go and ask?” Olivia said. “We look a bit of a motley crew, perhaps I’m the least intimidating.”
“Good idea,” Raul said.
Harry looked at Evan.
“Yeah, why not,” Evan said as if reading Harry’s mind. “’Cause if you ask, Harry and they recognize you then it might get weird.”
Harry nodded.
“Right, back in a minute then.” Olivia wandered toward the shop, slipping her jacket off as she went.
The heavy, fruity scent of berries filled the air. Stacked all around were punnets of blueberries and raspberries. A freezer held ice cream and a bar area appeared to have juice on tap.
She took off her shades and paused for a moment, letting her eyes adjust after the sunshine. A woman was at the back of the store. She wore a flowery headscarf and apron and appeared to be stacking punnets.
“Excuse me,” Olivia called.
The woman looked up, then straightened, pressing her hands into the small of her back. Her face was lined with age and weather, though her eyes were bright and a smile came quickly. “Well good day to you.”
“Hi.” Olivia smiled and gripped her jacket. “I was—or rather my five friends and I—were wondering if you had any casual labor going?”
“Oh, are you English?”
“Er yes.” Olivia paused. “I am.”
“From London? Near the queen?”
“A little way out of London.”
“But you go there, right?”
“Sometimes.”
“My sister went there once, to stay with her friend Mildred Rowbottom. Do you know her? I think she’s from Brixton.”
Olivia held in a giggle. “No, I’m afraid not. But London is a big place.”
“I guess it is.” She wiped her hand on her apron. “Casual labor you say, picking?”
“Yes, if you need help with harvesting, I’ve got working hands.” She held up her free hand and wiggled her fingers. “And five willing and able guys out there.”
“Five.” She laughed but it was more of a cackle. “You lucky girl, you. I’d be happy with one in working order.”
Olivia smiled. “So you could do with the help?”
“At this time of year always; my man is next to useless, hooked on Jeopardy.”
Olivia wasn’t sure what Jeopardy was but she pulled a sympathetic face.
The woman looked at a small wrist watch. “It’s nearly twelve now, but I’ll pay each of you half a day, thirty dollars, if you pick till six, then you’re in luck—we’re having a corn roast this evening so you’ll get fed too.”
“Really? That’s absolutely fabulous, thank you so much.”
“You talk like the queen. You sure you don’t know her?”
“Positive.” Olivia grinned. “Where do you want us to start?”
“The blueberry fields. I’ve got several pickers on raspberries today, and only my girl, Anya, on blue. She’s a gem, find her on the east side of that there field to the left and she’ll get you set up.”
“Perfect, thank you, we’ll see you later at the corn roast.”
“You will. Though if you’ve got allergies or any of that modern intolerance stuff we don’t cater for it.”
“No, we’re all good, not modern at all.”
Olivia strolled out of the shop and over the lot, her hips swaying and triumph filling her chest.
“Well?” Raul asked.
“We’re in.” She grinned. “Six hours picking blueberries for thirty dollars each.”
“Cool.” Evan nodded.
Harry looked up at the perfect blue sky. “It’s going to be hot work out there.”
“It’s going to be your first day’s work ever, mate.” Evan rolled his eyes. “But if you can’t handle the heat—”
“I can handle the heat.” Harry scowled.
“Yeah right. You’re already moaning about it.”
“I can and I’m not, okay? But if you’ve got a problem, go find a shady corner and we’ll work for your supper.”
“I’ve walked around half of bloody Australia. You really think this is hot?”
“Hey, guys, come on.” Olivia reached into her storage box for her water. “We’re all working okay, and it’ll be enough cash to feed us for a few days. Not only that, they’re having a corn roast here tonight and we’ve been invited to supper.”
“Really?” Harry said. “Why?”
“Because they’re nice people and we’re going to work hard all day for them.”
“Si, this is good.” Raul clapped. “A night off for me, no cooking.”
‘It is good.” Olivia grinned. “Better than we could have hoped, so come on, we need to find Anya.” She paused to recall the instructions. “She’s on the east side of the blueberry field to the left.” She nodded. “This way.”
With the Harleys all lined up in the shade, they walked past the shop. Olivia noticed the elderly woman peering out at them.
Mason caught Olivia up. “Well done for securing the work.”
She grinned at him. “She thinks I know the queen. I suspect that’s one of the reasons we got it.”
He chuckled. “Your accent, huh?”
“Yes. It’s lucky you or Lucas didn’t go in, she wouldn’t have understood you.”
“Or she’d have thought we were William Wallace descendants and we’d have been treated as royalty.”
“Possibly.” She pushed through a gate and spotted a pile of crates. “Let’s grab some of these and go find Anya.”
The field was huge and sloped upward at a steep gradient. The blueberry bushes were set in neat rows with several feet between them. The plants appeared well established, as if they’d been there for years.
“Where to start looking?” Olivia said.
“East you said.” Evan nodded to the left.
“Oh yes, that way then.” She pointed upward. “I should have guessed it would be the hard way.”
They marched up the hill, and she wished she’d changed her leathers for her sweats.
Raul plucked a bunch of berries into his hand and held them out to her. “Eat some, this is lunch.”
“I guess.” She glanced at the shop, which was now in the distance, then took them. “Thanks.”
Sweetness burst on her tongue, and a memory of being in the garden with her parents and eating homemade blueberry meringue came to her. It was a speciality of her mothers and she made it every summer when they had a barbeque.
“Yum.” She helped herself to a few more from a nearby bush, and as she ate scanned the area.
“We’re looking for a woman, right?” Lucas asked.
“Yes.”
“Over there.” He pointed. “You probably can’t see.”
“No. I’m not as tall as you.”
“Come on, this way.”
They headed in the direction Lucas had pointed.
A tall black woman in a vivid orange dress watched them approach. She continued to pluck berries from the plant at her side and drop them into a crate without watching what she was doing.
“You do the talking again,” Evan said.
“Sure.” She set a smile on her face. “Hi, are you Anya?”
“Yes.” She had large dark eyes with long lashes, a straight nose and wide pretty mouth. Her hair was braided tight to her head. Two large gold hoops hung from her ears.
“We’ve been sent up from the shop, to help harvest.”
She glanced over Olivia’s shoulder. “All of you?” She had a strong accent.
“Yes.” Olivia paused. “Is that okay?”
“Yes, good. Okay. Regina usually leaves me to pick on my own. I am too good.” She tutted. “Work fast so get no help.”
“This is a huge field.”
“I know. And there are four more just as big.” She brushed her palms together and stepped away from the bush. “I am glad of the help.” She nodded at the crates they were all carrying. “And good you have brought them, saves you walking back down. But when you fill those, you will have to. Put berries in shed behind shop, get empty crate and start again.”
“We can do that,” Harry said. “No problem.”
She looked at him, eyes narrowed. “I hope so.”
“Is there water around here?” Olivia asked, holding up her empty bottle.
“Yes, this way. I will show you. From here, it is not far.”
They followed Anya to a large shed. There was a tap on the outside wall and they all filled their water bottles.
“In here.” Anya slapped her hand on the shed. There is toilet and shower. Also sleeping area.”
“Sleeping area?” Olivia asked. “Who sleeps here?”
“I do, and two of the other girls.”
“Oh, I see.”
“It is how it is.” She disappeared for a moment then came back with six peaked caps that had Granfield Fruit Farm embroidered on the front. “You will need these. Come, I will show you where to start.”
Five minutes later and all of the guys had a row to work on. Harry, Evan and Raul peeled off their tops, though Lucas and Mason kept theirs on, likely because they didn’t have any sunscreen and their skin was paler than the other guys.
Olivia pulled on a cap and gathered a crate. “Where do you want me?”
“Opposite side to my plant, see if you can keep up.” Anya grinned, showing perfect white teeth.
“I’ll do my best, but you’re the pro.” Olivia laughed as she began to pluck the fruit from the stem. “So where are you from, Anya?”
“South Africa, it is where my family are.”
“I’d love to go.”
“Tourists love Africa for the wine and safari but that is not like my home.”
“What is your home like?”
“Not a place for white people holidays.” She laughed but the sound was strained. “It is very poor. The land is dry, it is dangerous for us there.”
“Is that why you’re here? Because it’s dangerous?”
“No, I am here to earn money. I send it back to my parents and they spread it over the village, for the elderly and sick.”
“And it goes a long way, the money you earn here?” Olivia paused to look at Anya again. Not only was she very beautiful, she was clearly selfless.
“Yes, my father is the village elder. He encouraged me to leave even though it broke his heart. He said I have the right spirit in my soul to undertake this challenge.”
“And how long have you been fruit picking?”
“I come here each summer and work for Regina, three years now. In the winter I go south, help there. But I prefer it here. Regina is nice lady and very fair.”
“So you don’t go home?”
“No. That is not possible.” She paused. “Perhaps one day I will see my family again.”
Olivia guessed Anya was in the country illegally but didn’t like to mention that. “Tell me more about your home? What is the name of your village?”
Anya smiled and continued to pluck berries at a rapid rate. “Kaskum, it is small, about fifty families. Most herd goat, though a few have cattle and sheep. Many of the men fish too, on the lake, when there is water.”
“You said it was dangerous. Why is that?”
“Sometimes men come through the village looking for what we have, although we have nothing. Other times the drought comes and there is no food for the animals and in turn no food for us. It is a hard life, not like here for rich Americans.”
Olivia looked over at Harry. He had a look of concentration on his face as he carefully plucked off berries and added them to his crate.
“This is good for me. There is food, water, work.” She glanced around then leaned closer. “No leopard about to eat me.”
“You have leopards where you live?”
“Yes, they are sly and mean. And when they get the taste for people’s blood, that is it, they become man-eaters.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“Yes, it is. Never trust a leopard and never turn your back on a leopard.”
“I’ll remember that.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes. Olivia tried her best to keep up with Anya but she was super-speedy.
“What is the name of the man with you? The tall one with dark skin?” Anya held up her arm. “Not as dark as me.”
“That’s Raul.” She glanced at him. He was working close to Lucas and they appeared to be chatting. She was pleased. Their friendship had really grown since they’d gotten in the habit of fishing on the island together.
“He is handsome.”
“Yes. He is.” Very, she added silently.
“My mother wishes for me to marry nice boy, and then go back to my village with money and babies. It is her dream for me to have handsome husband at my side.”
“It’s a good dream.”
“We all must have them, don’t you agree?”
“I do.” Olivia popped several blueberries into her mouth and hoped Anya wouldn’t mind. Her stomach was hungry.
She said nothing. “Where is he from?”
“Raul. He’s from Barcelona. He’s a chef.”
“Ah, a good job.” Anya paused. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
“Yes.” The word came out fast as a sudden spear of possessiveness went through her. “He does.”
“Oh.” Anya seemed disappointed. “In Barcelona?”
“Er no. Here. I’m his girlfriend.”
Anya paused. “I am sorry.” She looked over at where the guys were working. “I would have thought you would be the girlfriend of the handsome one, with the hair here.” She tapped her jaw line. “He is movie-star handsome.”
“He is. Yes. He also has a girlfriend.”
“In Hollywood?”
“Yes. I think so.”
“You think so?”
“I mean. Yes, he has. In fact, they all have girlfriends. None of them are single.”
“It is most strange that they are not here, these girls. If one of those handsome men was mine, I would not let him out of my sight.” She pointed at her eyes with two fingers. “I would keep them close so I could see everything.”
“I agree. But they’re all very loyal, honest men. Quite trustworthy.”
“That is good to hear. Many American men are cheaters.”
“Are they?” She was plucking blueberries at a frantic pace and dropping them into her crate. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Chapter Eleven
By six o’clock, the heat had left the sun and the blueberry bush shadows were lengthening.
“I’ll take your last crate, Liv.” Harry picked up the full box of berries at her side.
“Thanks.” She put her hands on her hips and rotated the base of her spine. “My back aches.”
“Go take a shower.” He nodded up the hill, in the direction of the shed. “I’ll bring your stuff up from the bikes.”
“My shower gel is in there, help yourself,” Anya said. “There’s a towel too.”
“Really?”
“It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and the water will be warm.” She smiled.
“Are you sure?”
“It is my way of saying thank you. I’ve enjoyed having a friend to talk to.”
A lovely warm feeling filled Olivia’s heart. She and Anya had talked about so many things over the afternoon, and she, too, had relished female company, and that of someone with such a different background.
“It’s been fun,” Olivia said. “Will you be at the corn roast?”
“Of course, and my two friends who have been picking in the other field.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Anya smiled and picked up two crates.
“Hey, I’ll take one of them.�
�� Evan was quick to reach one from her.
“But I—”
“How often do you get help up here?” he said. “Don’t say no.” A grin spread on his face. He’d caught the sun and his skin was an even richer golden color.
“I thank you,” she said, seeming to be mesmerized by his blue eyes. “Very much.”
He plonked her crate on top of his and heaved them both up against his bare chest. “Don’t mention it.”
Lucas strolled past holding three full crates and Raul two. They were still in deep conversation. She caught the words Vegas and poker and wondered what they were plotting.
“I need more water.” Mason held up his empty bottle. “Us Scot’s aren’t used to this heat. Give me the rain and cold any day.”
Olivia laughed. “You’re doing okay.”
“Aye, I am.” He started up the hill with her.
The shower was indeed basic, little more than a shack. But the water had been heated by the sun in a large barrel overhead and Anya’s shower gel was lemon scented. Olivia allowed the water to soak away the dirt from her skin and emerged feeling refreshed and wrapped in a towel.
The label on her leather trousers stated they’d cope with a delicate wash so she’d rinsed them along with her t-shirt and underwear. The night would be warm and she was sure they’d be dry by the next day if she found a sunny evening spot for them.
“You done?” Mason asked from where he leaned against the shed, one leg bent up and facing the seemingly endless rows of berry bushes.
“Yes. Much better.”
“You’ll be here when I come out?”
“Of course.”
He grinned and pushed from the side of the shed. He wandered past her, stripping off his t-shirt as he went.
She enjoyed the view of his wide shoulders, lean waist and colorful upper arm before he disappeared. She lay her clothes over a fence to her left, then stood where Mason had, gazing into the distance.
Two huge birds circled high in the sky, and a plane trail went from north to south. The light breeze was welcome on her warm skin, and she sipped from her drink bottle, enjoying the space and the peace.
The water went off and she guessed Mason was done.
A few minutes later he emerged with a dark-blue towel wrapped around his waist and his clothes, like hers, rinsed.
“Here,” she said, taking them from him. “This is a good drying spot.”