“If we don’t try something new every so often, we won’t keep up.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being steady and reliable, Flynn. When people buy Levallier Dell wines they know the quality they’ve come to expect will be there. A lot of value is placed on that and we get a good price for that value.”
“I know. But the soil and topography at the Haystack Block are totally different. The grapes produce a different flavour.” Flynn looked at his hands. His knuckles were going white. He took another deep breath and relaxed his fingers a little. “Wine drinkers are trying all kinds of varieties these days. We need something new to show we’re moving with the times.”
“You’ve got your red blend. It should be ready to bottle soon. It’s promising to be very full bodied and ageable. It will be totally different to any of our other wines.”
“And what about the dry white blend?”
Euan put a piece of chicken in his mouth. He didn’t look up.
“All it needs is a label. I’ve got a few ideas—”
Euan put down his cutlery again and met Flynn’s look. “We usually make that decision together.”
“You said it was my baby.” Anger niggled in his chest. “You didn’t want to have anything to do with a blend.”
“If it’s got the Levallier Dell label on it, I want to know.”
“It doesn’t have any label yet.” Flynn wanted to shout: because I want to come up with something different and not keep the plain old label we use on everything else, but he pressed his lips firmly shut.
“You could sell it as a cleanskin. It seems to be back in fashion at the moment.”
“I don’t want to do that, Euan. It’s a good wine. The semillon has added the weight and flavour. It has sauv blanc aromatics but it’s got backbone. It’s ready to drink now.”
“We need next year’s vintage for the single varietal labels. The merchants want as much as we can supply. That’s why I’ve planted more sauv blanc. We can’t afford to dabble with other things.”
Flynn studied his father across the table. The lines were deeper on his face, his hair wispier. He looked thinner, older. They were both good winemakers. Surely Flynn had developed his passion at Euan’s knee. Flynn had been so excited when Euan had finally given in and let him create two blends but, as the months passed, he was disappointed when Euan showed little interest in their progress. Now he was wiping away Flynn’s dream. They had a dry white blend, the SBS, which showed great promise and Euan was telling him he couldn’t do it next year.
“Damn it, Euan.” He thumped the table and pushed back his chair. “You haven’t even tasted it. It’s a bloody good wine. There’s interest in these blends in the market and you’re dismissing it without a chance.”
Euan stood opposite him. His voice was low. “You’ve had your little experiment. Anyway, you’ve still got the red blend. I’ve let you have full control of that.”
“But the SBS is good, too.”
They glared at each other across the table. The silence was broken by a knock at the door. Kat waved from the other side of the glass. Flynn lifted his hand in acknowledgement.
“I thought you were taking Keely to town,” Euan growled.
“Kat is coming along for the ride.”
“You’re spending a lot of time with that girl.”
“That’s one part of my life you have no control over.” Flynn grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and let himself out.
“That looked a bit intense.” Kat nodded back towards the house as he followed her to her car.
“Euan and I don’t see eye to eye on everything.”
She stopped, stepped closer, peered at him. “You look upset, what is it?”
“Nothing I can’t sort out. Don’t worry about me. You sound like the one with the problem. What’s up?”
“Let’s not talk about it yet. I’m looking forward to that drink.”
They got into the little red sports car.
“We need to go via the studio to pick up Keely,” Flynn said as Kat started the motor. “Turn right after the house.”
* * *
Keely heard the vehicle and was already shutting the front door of the studio when Flynn stepped under the verandah.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes.” She bent to pick up her backpack. She was looking forward to going to Mary’s gathering. She’d had a satisfying afternoon sorting through her jewellery kit and she’d finished another bottle decoration. Now, as she followed Flynn around to the car, she was also looking forward to the drive with him.
She paused as she came to the back of the studio and saw the red sports car parked at the end of the track.
“Hello, Keely.” Kat waved. Her thick brown hair was swept up onto her head and covered with a scarf, and gold earrings gleamed from her ears, matching the bracelet that jiggled on the arm she rested along the back of the seat. She looked the picture of elegance.
“Hi, I didn’t realise you were…” Keely stopped as Flynn opened the door and indicated the front seat for her. “No, I’ll sit in the back.”
“That’s my spot.” He grinned. “I’m the thorn behind the two roses.”
“I don’t want to be a bother. I don’t have to go.”
“It’s no bother,” he said, clambering into the cramped space.
“Not all.” Kat patted the seat. “Hop in.”
Keely stepped into the little car but the seat was lower than she anticipated and she lost her balance. She fell the last distance to the seat with a thud.
“Careful,” Flynn said. “That caught me out earlier.”
“I’m the impromptu add-on, I’m afraid,” Kat said. “Flynn has kindly offered to give me an ear to confide in.”
“Is that what I’m doing? I thought you were buying me a drink.”
“That too.” Kat chuckled, put the car into gear and sped up the track.
“That’s if you get us there in one piece,” Flynn yelled.
Keely grabbed at her hair, which was flying in all directions and whipping around her face. So much for a leisurely drive!
* * *
Anna waved to them from the front gate as Kat cruised past. She did a quick U-turn and pulled up in front of Anna. Keely felt her hair slowly settle around her like leaves after a whirlwind. A quick glance in the side mirror gave her a glimpse of the wild tangle on her head.
“Hello, you three. What are you up to?”
Flynn jumped out and opened Keely’s door. “Keely’s off to creative business at Mary’s and Kat and I are going to the pub.”
“That sounds like a good evening for everyone,” Anna said.
Keely was trying to push her hair back into some order and reach for her backpack at the same time.
Flynn offered his hand to help her out. She struggled up onto the footpath and stood next to Anna, clutching her pack to her chest with one hand and trying to tidy her hair with the other.
“You need to tie your hair up when you travel in an open car.” Anna smiled at Kat, who was now removing her scarf.
Keely grimaced through her hair and adjusted her hold on her pack. She would have worn one if she’d known.
“How long will you be at Mary’s?” Flynn asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“The pub’s just down the road from Mary’s. Do you want to come down for a drink when you’ve finished?”
Keely didn’t want to play gooseberry but she did think a drink with Flynn would be nice.
“No, Keely can come here,” Anna said before Keely could speak. “You’d be better to leave the car here too. I’ll look after them both till you get back.” She made a shooing motion at Flynn and Kat. “You two go off and enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about Keely.”
Keely resisted the urge to shrug Anna’s hand away as she was patted on the back, gritting her teeth instead.
“Megan left the relief teaching forms for you. She said your paperwork had arrived from SA. You can fill them out here i
f you have to wait for Flynn,” Anna said.
Keely felt trapped. Flynn waited, Kat’s arm slung through his.
“Thanks.” She forced a smile onto her face. “I’ll wait for you here.”
“I nearly forgot.” Flynn dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “Would you give this to Mary, please. It’s the hard copy of our Divine Wine and Dine menu. Tell her I’ve emailed the original too.”
Keely took the paper and he set off down the street with Kat.
“Do you want to come in and tidy up?” Anna asked.
“No thanks,” Keely said. “I’ll be fine. See you later.”
She hurried off down the street and turned the opposite way to the other two, towards River Rainbow, where a cheery light was shining into the darkening street. Anna was the Levalliers’ friend but Keely didn’t like the way the older woman tried to organise everyone. She presumed far too much for Keely’s liking.
CHAPTER 18
“So here we are. You’ve got your drink and I’ve brought my listening ear.” Flynn tugged at his ear and Kat couldn’t help but smile. He really was a nice guy. If she hadn’t met Mal she may easily have fallen for Flynn, taken up Pappou’s offer and settled in Margaret River.
She sighed. “Are you happy living here, Flynn?”
“That’s your big question?”
“Not really. I just don’t know where to start.”
“How about the beginning?” He reached over and squeezed her hand.
Kat felt the warmth of his touch but there was no more to it than that. No tingle up her arm or butterflies in the stomach, like she had when she was with Mal. Flynn was a friend. She relaxed a little. A friend with a listening ear. She grinned.
“Well, I was born during a particularly good vintage, much to my father’s delight…” She paused as Flynn stood up. “Where are you going?”
“If you’re going back that far we’ll need more drinks.”
“Sit down.” She grabbed his arm and they both laughed as he tumbled back into his chair.
“Now come on, Kat,” he said. “Enough procrastinating, spill your guts.”
She took a sip of her drink and put the glass down carefully in front of her. “I’ve been offered a job. I need to start in a month… in Singapore.”
* * *
There were three other women sitting around the table when Mary ushered Keely through to her back workroom. They were chatting over the top of the classical music playing from a sound system and the table was spread with cloths and tools, wires, beads and gems.
“Girls, this is Keely.”
They all looked up and under their scrutiny she wished she’d accepted Anna’s offer to tidy up. These women all looked so fresh.
“Bella is on the end, Claire next to her and Letitia.”
Each woman waved in turn.
“I’ll go and shut up the front of the shop now,” Mary said. “The girls will look after you.”
“Come and sit here, Keely.” Bella patted the empty chair beside her. “We’ve saved you a bit of space. We tend to spread out.”
Letitia reached across to pull in some of her things. She was younger than the others and her wrist sparkled with an intricate aqua-blue bracelet.
“That’s gorgeous,” Keely said. “Did you make it?”
Letitia held her arm closer for Keely to see. “Yes, I like working with fine detail and gems.”
“Her eyes are better than mine.” Claire peered at Keely over the top of her glasses.
Keely bent to get a closer look at the bracelet. It was made up of tiny bead flowers and the centre of each flower was a gem.
“Are they aquamarines?” she asked.
“Yes.” Letitia looked at Keely appreciatively. “You know your stones.”
“I use them from time to time but I’ve never made anything like that.”
“I prefer the beads,” Claire said. In front of her was a partly made necklace. It had a large, flat green bead in the centre and assorted smaller green beads either side, some with just a hint of mauve in them.
“And Bella is the nature lover.” Mary stepped back into the room. “Most of her pieces have shell or feathers or bark in them.”
“I was into weaving before I got into the jewellery phase.” Bella held up a plaited bracelet with small pieces of shell and tiny sea-green beads.
“Between us, I don’t think there’s a form of art or craft we haven’t tried at some stage.” Mary chuckled and the others all nodded in agreement.
“Now come on, Keely,” Bella said. “Your turn. Show us your wares.”
Keely hesitated. These women were obviously very talented. Her bracelets were no match for their work. She fumbled with the ribbon that tied her bundle of cloth together.
“Talk about pressure,” Mary said. “Don’t mind us Keely, just tip it all out.”
The ribbon came free and Keely unrolled the cloth and pulled out one of her finished bracelets.
The other women all leaned in for a closer look.
“That’s gorgeous,” Letitia said.
“It’s three dimensional. I love the way there’s no symmetry to it,” Claire said.
“That style lends itself to using shells and stones,” Bella added.
Mary spread a necklace in front of her. “You and I have similar taste, I think Keely.”
They admired Mary’s work and very soon they were all busy with their pieces, chatting and laughing. Keely relaxed and immersed herself in the happy atmosphere. She didn’t know the people that the four women talked about but there couldn’t have been anyone left in Margaret River they hadn’t discussed by the end of the night. Keely finished her bracelet and had started another before it was time to pack up. Reluctantly she folded her things away. She would have been happy to keep going – being with these women had been motivating. Even better was being able to go and select things from Mary’s shelves as she needed them. She couldn’t wait to get back and add her new purchases to her collection.
They gathered at the door of Mary’s shop to say their goodbyes.
“Sometimes, Letitia and I meet during the day at my place if you’d like to join us, Keely,” Bella said. “I have a little cottage near the river end of town. Mary will give you directions.”
“Unfortunately, some of us have to work for a living,” Claire said.
“Make more jewellery, dear, and you could live off your creative earnings.” Letitia’s tone was pompous and they all laughed.
Keely and Mary waved as the other women headed for their cars.
“Your bracelets really are quite unique, Keely,” Mary said. “The other girls sometimes put their finished pieces in my shop to sell. As you can gather, there’s not a living in it but we do okay. If you ever want to do the same, I’m sure your range would be popular.”
“Thanks.”
“How are you getting home?” Mary asked and a large yawn escaped her. “Sorry.” She patted her mouth. “I love getting together with the girls but it makes for a long day. Do you want me to drive you? My car’s out the back.”
“No, thanks. I’ll be fine. Flynn is in town and Anna said I can wait for him at her place.” She waved and took a few steps up the footpath. Mary went back into her shop and Keely could hear the sounds of the door being locked behind her.
She went as far as the corner, stopped and looked along the street towards the pub. Loud voices, laughter and music carried on the breeze. She should just walk on and join Flynn and Kat but she realised there was another pub opposite. Flynn hadn’t said which pub they were going to and she didn’t want to be wandering in search of them. She could send him a text. She took out her phone then realised she didn’t have his number and tossed it back in her bag.
“Damn.”
She gave one more wistful look in the direction of the pubs then turned off along the side street. Anna’s shop was in darkness but the outside light was on for her to find her way to the back door. She sighed. The jewellery group
at Rainbow River had been such a lot of fun and she’d forgotten about the teaching paperwork for a while.
“What are you standing out here in the dark for?”
Keely jumped and spun around. Sean was standing on the path, his hands on his hips.
“Oh.” She breathed out. “I’ve just finished at Mary’s. Your mum said I could wait for Flynn at your place.”
“You’d better come in then,” Sean said. “Flynn could be a while. He and that bird from River Dynasty have got their heads locked together in a corner of the pub. They’re so engrossed they’ve hardly noticed anyone else. I’ve been down having a final drink before exams with some mates. Flynn barely knew who I was.” Sean grinned. “He’s only got eyes for her.”
He pushed open the gate and led the way down the side of the house. Keely followed with heavy steps. The shine was quickly evaporating from her night.
It was more than an hour later when Flynn burst through Anna’s door. “Are you ready, Keely? Sorry we’re so late. Kat has the engine running.”
“If we’d have known, Keely could have slept the night here, Flynn,” Anna said.
Keely stood up from the table where she’d spent the time sipping a cup of tea and dithering over the forms while Anna and Sean prepared pastries for the next morning’s baking. Sean was on a high. School days were nearly finished forever for him. What a wonderful feeling that must be. Every stroke of the pen on the papers Megan had left stripped one more layer from the barricade Keely had built between her and her teaching. She should just say no but faced with their determination, and in Megan’s case desperation, she couldn’t summon the courage.
To make things worse, she’d had to listen all over again as Sean had told his mother about Flynn and Kat’s close encounter in the pub and then sit through Anna’s pronouncement that Kat was the best thing that could happen to Flynn. Now, here was Flynn bouncing through the door as if he’d won a million dollars.
“Sorry, Keely,” he said again.
She pulled a smile. “I’ve been well looked after.” She thanked Anna for the cuppa and handed over the papers she’d picked up.
“I’ll be seeing Megan tomorrow. I’ll give them to her,” Anna said.
Something in the Wine Page 16