Keely clenched her teeth at Anna’s tone. She could manage a coffee machine quite well. She’d worked at a cafe in her uni days but she wasn’t about to explain that to Anna, in front of all these people.
Sam was standing beside his grandmother, his feet planted firmly on the floor. He glared up at Keely.
“Go out the back with Keely, Sam. There’s a good lad.” Anna turned back to face her busy counter.
Keely smiled at him and held out her hand but Sam continued to stand, stony-faced, dangerously near his busy grandmother. In the kitchen, she could see his older brother, Tom, running around the table. She went through the door. Behind her, there was a yelp and a shout from Anna. Sam shot into the kitchen.
Tom stopped running and looked at her. “Hello.”
“Hello, Tom. What’s this your gran said about homework?”
“I had to draw a diagram but Sam scribbled on it.” His jaw stuck out and he glared past Keely to his little brother.
“I did not,” Sam yelled.
“You did.” Tom took a step towards Sam, who quickly moved behind Keely.
“Did you draw this?” Keely picked up a large piece of paper from the table. It was an intricate plan of some kind of machinery. “Can you explain to me what it is?”
“It’s the milking machine,” Tom said.
“From our farm,” Sam said. “But he didn’t put in any cows.”
“It’s a diagram. It’s not meant to have cows on it.”
“You need cows to get the milk.” Sam put his chubby little hands on his hips and underlined his words with a nod of his head.
“That’s right, Sam,” Keely said. “But Tom is right too,” she added, as Tom’s jaw jutted out again. “He is doing a technical drawing of a piece of equipment. Perhaps you could draw the picture of the cows to go with it.”
When Megan rushed into the kitchen fifteen minutes later, both boys were working on their respective pages. Tom was adding more detail to his diagram and Sam was colouring cows that Keely had helped him to draw. They both burst into excited descriptions of their work.
“Wow. Thanks, Keely.” Megan looked lovingly at her sons as they bent their heads to their work again. She flicked on the kettle. “Mum always has the boys on Tuesday afternoons while I’m at our staff meeting. She’s not usually that busy but some days I think they run riot. You’ve done a wonderful job.”
“They’re both very talented at drawing,” Keely said.
“Do you think so?” Megan made them both a cup of tea and sat down next to Keely, glancing at the boys again. “Tom is always drawing machines. Sometimes they’re the real thing, like the layout of the milking machine, but quite often they are fanciful creations from his head. Sam is more into animals. He likes being out with his dad, helping with the cows, but when he sits still long enough he draws too.”
“He’s got a good eye for drawing. I didn’t help him much. He did those cows almost by himself.” Keely sipped her tea and smiled. She’d actually enjoyed her time with Sam and Tom. They reminded her of her brothers when they were younger.
“You’ve obviously got the knack,” Megan said. “Which reminds me, I mentioned to my boss, Ken, that you would possibly be here for a while. He was most interested to know. Relief teachers are hard to find at the moment.”
“I’m not sure.” The brightness of the afternoon dimmed. “I don’t really…”
“Hi, Megan.” Flynn came through from the shop. “Are you ready, Keely?”
“Can’t you stay for a cuppa?” Anna came in behind him. “I’ve gone from knee deep in customers to no one. I could use a cup of tea.”
Flynn ruffled both boys’ heads. “No, sorry, still lots to do.”
“Now don’t forget about the teaching, Keely,” Megan said. “Ken said he’d need your South Australian registration details and info to run a police check.”
“A police check!” Flynn frowned. “What’s to know except Keely’s been listed as a missing person?”
“Nothing to do with that, brainless.” Megan chuckled and gave Flynn a playful tap on the head. “Anyone who works with children has them.”
“I’d have to get Mum to post my stuff from home.” Keely ducked her head, acutely aware of Anna’s sharp eyes on her.
“Why don’t you give her the school address, Megan,” Anna said. “Then it can go direct to Ken and he can get the paperwork started.”
Keely watched helplessly as Megan wrote on a piece of paper.
“I’ve got to get going,” Flynn said.
“I hope you’re not taking Keely on that bike of yours,” Anna said.
Keely faltered as she got up from the table. The thought of teaching was bad enough but she hadn’t imagined she’d be clutching onto Flynn on the back of his bike.
“Not this time.” Flynn jingled a set of keys in front of Anna.
“Well, I suppose one of those utes of yours is a slightly better option.”
Keely followed Flynn outside. The afternoon sun still held some warmth. She closed her eyes, turned her face to it and took a deep breath. Despite the underlying tension at Levallier Dell, she had been happy there but the mention of teaching had brought her back to reality. The truth was, Levallier Dell was not her home, no matter how hard she imagined otherwise. And, even if she avoided it here, one day she would have to earn an income again and that meant a return to the only job she knew, teaching.
“Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes. Flynn’s look was hesitant.
“Yes.”
“The car is up the street a bit. I couldn’t get a park nearby.”
“I’m alright. It was a bit stuffy in the kitchen, that’s all.”
He glanced at her again then set off. She had trouble keeping up with his long strides until he stopped abruptly beside a deep green LandCruiser with Levallier Dell Wines emblazoned on the side in gold and black.
Keely looked from the gleaming car to Flynn’s smiling face.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s very nice.” She knew little about cars. She was simply thankful it wasn’t the bike. He looked relieved. She couldn’t imagine why Flynn would be the slightest bit interested in what she thought about his car. “I didn’t realise you had a car.”
“It’s new.” He opened the door for her. “I’ve only had it a month. It’s been in having the signage painted. Euan’s car is old, we’ve got work utes and I prefer my bike but we don’t have anything decent for guests and customers to travel in.”
Keely sank into the comfy seat. The new-car smell enveloped her then she recalled her first arrival at the gates of Levallier Dell and the gleaming sign, along with Euan’s reaction to it. This was a very nice car but if Flynn had only had it for a month, Euan probably didn’t know about it. From the way Flynn was acting, she suspected it was going to cause more angst between the two Levallier men.
Keely fastened her seat belt. She might be wrong but somehow she thought the road ahead was looking bumpy again, in more ways than one.
* * *
“Pappou, I’m not sure that I’m the right person for the job.” Kat and her grandfather were in his office. Papers and plans were spread across the desk in front of them.
“What do you mean, Katerina? You have a university degree, your mother has told me what you have been doing for her little winery and besides, you are my granddaughter. So, you see, you are exactly the right person for the job.”
“But one of the boys could…”
“Bah!” He clicked his fingers. “None of them have the flair for it. Besides, they are already busy with other jobs. A business this size does not work without people managing many things. It is not like that little place in the Yarra Valley your parents call a winery. There is work at River and Ocean Dynasty for everyone.” He opened his arms wide and beamed at her.
“Pappou, I’d love to…”
He threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I knew you’d do it.”
She
struggled out of his embrace. The time had come to confess. WA was not her future, in fact her future was probably not anywhere in Australia. “I’m not accepting. It’s a wonderful opportunity…” She faltered under his expectant gaze.
“Ah, but I’m rushing you, aren’t I? You are on holiday. How are you getting along with Flynn Levallier? He’s a hard-working young man.”
Kat was surprised by his change in conversation. “He seems like a nice guy…”
He put up his hand as his mobile rang. “You need time to think things over. Take a few more days and we’ll talk again.” He pulled the phone to his ear. “Yes, Tony.” His face creased into a frown. “No, don’t do anything. I’ll be right there.” He shoved the phone back in his pocket. “There’s a problem in the tasting room. You have a look at things here. Take your time. We’ll talk again later. I have to go.”
She sank into a chair and looked at the desk in front of her. Over it, she could see through the window to the vines, which she knew spread in every direction all around her. Poor Uncle Tony. Pappou might say that everyone had a bit of the business to manage but he still controlled everything.
Things weren’t turning out as she’d planned. The main reason for her holiday had been to unburden herself to her grandfather. Tell him of her plans and enlist his help to convince her parents. Now she was ensnared in an even bigger trap. Pappou wanted her to be part of his business. She stood up and paced the room. She loved it here but it was not where her future lay. She stopped and gazed out through the window again. The trouble was, when Pappou wanted something, he nearly always got it.
* * *
“So, you went ahead and bought it?”
“We don’t have a decent vehicle between us, Euan.”
The two men were standing just outside the kitchen window. Keely could hear every word.
“The Volvo is fine.”
“It’s falling apart and not suitable if we’re trying to impress customers.”
“I didn’t know we were.”
Euan had met them under the carport when they’d driven up in the new car. The tension between Euan and Flynn had been palpable. Keely had gathered her things from the offending vehicle and hurried inside. Now she stood at the bench quietly preparing the meal. She didn’t want to eavesdrop but before she could get out of the kitchen, the door slid open and Euan strode inside.
“Margaret River has changed.” Flynn followed him through the door. Neither of the men noticed Keely. “Bloody hell, the whole Australian wine industry has changed. If we don’t change with it, we’ll go under.”
“Things aren’t that bad. We can still manage as we have been.”
“We’re too big now to be boutique and the big players are looking at us. You know there are companies who would buy us out now, if we’d let them. They’re just waiting for us to go under. Theo next door would be the first to wave money at us.”
Keely could see the profiled outline of Euan’s taut jaw. Flynn had his back to her. She didn’t move. She didn’t want to be part of this scene but she had nowhere to go.
Euan lowered his voice. “Don’t mention that man’s name in my house.”
Flynn slapped the table. “That’s just it, isn’t it? Your house, your vineyards. We’re supposed to be partners but I have no say.”
“What is it you want, Flynn?” Euan slid onto a chair at the table and Flynn pulled one up beside him. They both had their backs to her now but they were between Keely and the bedroom, and there was no way for her to move without them seeing her.
“We’ve got to compete. We need a long-term business plan instead of the hand-to-mouth way we’ve been doing things. Our range needs expanding. We need a better online presence and we’ve got to open our doors and let the customers see and taste what we do here, first hand.”
“A cellar door,” murmured Euan. “That won’t sell all our wine.”
“It gets people in and then we can sign them up to online sales. That cuts out the middle man and increases the profit margin.”
“It’s not always about the money, Flynn.”
“No, but we have to make a profit or there won’t be a winery for us to fight over.”
Euan’s shoulders slumped. From behind, he suddenly looked small in comparison to Flynn.
“You said the trip to Sydney didn’t go as well as you’d hoped,” Flynn said. “Perhaps it’s time you shared all the details.”
Keely reached for the bench to change her position and knocked a glass. It went crashing to the floor. Both men turned, startled. She bobbed down quickly to pick up the pieces and hide her embarrassment. Chairs scraped on the slate floor.
“Careful.” Euan bent down beside her and helped her pick up the shards of glass. “I know I keep apologising to you for our boorish behaviour but I am sorry.”
They both stood up. Flynn was just behind Euan. He was watching her carefully and a tiny grin hovered at the corners of his mouth.
“Please don’t worry.” Keely put the glass on some paper and turned to go.
“Please, Keely,” Euan entreated. “I do mean it. Flynn and I have become so used to living alone…”
“It’s fine, Euan. This is your house.” She stepped around both men. “I’ve just got to go to the bathroom…I’ll be back to finish the meal in a minute.”
She closed the bedroom door behind her, leaned against it and let out a long breath. What was it about the Levallier men that unnerved her? Since she’d met them, it was as if she was back to her teenage days of blundering and blushing every five minutes. There was a low murmur of voices from the other room, then silence. Keely went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face.
* * *
By the time Keely had set the table and cooked the stir fry, both Euan and Flynn had showered. Flynn stoked up the pot belly’s fire and Euan opened a bottle of wine.
They ate their meal and kept the conversation clear of vineyard issues. Euan asked Keely about the doctor’s visit and how she’d filled in her day. Keely was keen to keep the mood light and as they settled back in their chairs after the meal she enthused over her second visit to River Rainbow.
“I knew you’d like it. Mary has a goldmine there. I think she has a magic spell on the place.” Euan chuckled. “Once you go in you have to keep going back.”
“How much does it cost to make one of these?” Flynn was running his fingers under the bead decoration draped over the wine bottle they’d just emptied.
“Not a lot, it’s more the time factor.”
“They’re different. Tourists are always looking for some little thing to take home. It’s hard to find things that are unique.”
“These aren’t unique. You can buy them in homeware shops.”
“But not like these, made by you with Margaret River beads.”
“You think I should make more?”
“Yes, and I’ve got just the outlet for you.”
“Be careful, Keely.” Euan stood up to clear the table. “I sense a plan forming in that busy mind of Flynn’s. He’s always up to something.”
“Someone has to plan ahead.” Flynn’s tone was light but Keely tensed. She didn’t want their relaxed evening to be spoiled.
“It must be the French grandparents’ genes.” Euan winked at her. “Flynn certainly didn’t inherit this need for organising from his mother or me.” He carried the dishes to the sink.
“Lucky you’ve got me, then.” Flynn turned the full gaze of his blue eyes from the beads to Keely. “Now, how many of these could you make in two weeks?”
“Flynn,” Euan warned from the kitchen.
“I’m not sure but…”
“We’ve got the Divine Wine and Dine weekend you see. We could sell them at our cellar door.”
“Flynn, that’s less than two weeks away and Keely is a guest.”
Flynn flung an arm over the back of his chair. “I’m sorry, Euan’s right, I shouldn’t be asking you to do anything extra.” He smiled at Keely. “But I hope you’ll
stay and enjoy the fun.”
She smiled back and they both ignored the snort that came from the kitchen. There was something about the enthusiasm she had seen on Flynn’s face that intrigued her. His normally wild hair had been tamed a little by a brush and sat neatly around his tanned, unblemished face. Despite his often-serious appearance, she could see the crinkles around his eyes and mouth that creased easily into a smile. She had enjoyed having a conversation with him where neither of them tripped over their words, and when he smiled…Keely picked up the beaded wine cover. What was she thinking? Flynn had been a moody pain in the butt since she’d arrived. Just because he was being nice to her now didn’t mean he wouldn’t be grumpy again the next day.
“I’d like to stay…”
A gentle knock on the door startled them all.
Flynn stood up and they could see Kat beyond the glass. He slid open the door.
“Kat, come in.”
“I’m sorry. I hope I’m not interrupting. I was out walking and…”
“Walking?” Flynn took her hand. “You’re freezing, come over by the fire.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you doing out walking at this hour?”
Flynn led her to the fire then stood behind her and rubbed her arms with his hands.
“Sorry, I hadn’t intended on coming this far.”
“Are you alright?” Flynn put his arm around her shoulders.
The landline rang and Euan answered it. His look went straight to Keely. She could hear her mother’s sharp tones from across the room. He held out the phone. “It’s your mother.”
Keely looked around for her mobile. She must have left it in the bedroom.
She put the phone to her ear. “Hello, Mum.”
“Why aren’t you answering your mobile? I’ve tried several times to call you.”
“Sorry, I left it in the other room.” Keely knew it was going to take a while for her mum to stop panicking every time she couldn’t reach her.
“Don’t forget to ask her to send the papers you need,” Flynn said.
Something in the Wine Page 11