Something in the Wine

by Tricia Stringer

  “They all look fine to me,” Hugh said. “No sign of mildew or wilt.”

  “We’ll have to watch them carefully.” Euan straightened up and looked at the trees marking the fence line between his vineyard and Theo’s. He walked along a little way until there was a gap to look through, then stopped and let out a slow whistle. Before him stretched rows of yellowing vines. “Bloody hell.”

  “Not a pretty sight, is it?”

  “Are you sure it’s not mildew?”

  “They went from green to yellow overnight.”

  Euan turned his back on the dying vines and surveyed his own beautiful green canopy. If anything happened to them…he couldn’t bear to think about it. He and Lucy had planted these vines thirty years ago.

  Something in the grass at his feet caught his eye. He poked at the blue object with his toe. It was a small notebook. He bent down, picked it up and opened the front cover.

  “Bloody hell,” he said again and strode towards his vines, inspecting them more closely.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Theo’s been on my land.” Euan waved the little book at Hugh. “This is his diary. He must have climbed through the fence here and dropped it. What would he have been up to?”

  “Maybe he was just checking to see if we had been poisoned as well.”

  “He could have seen that from the fence, and why would he care about my vines anyway?” Euan tapped the diary on his palm and cast another wary eye over his vines. “We’d better keep a close eye on things. Theo’s up to something and it had better not be harming my vines.”

  CHAPTER 27

  “I’ve made my decision.” Kat felt relaxed under Yia-yia’s comforting gaze. They were enjoying some peace and quiet after the uproar of Pappou’s accusations earlier in the morning. “Pappou will just have to live with it.”

  “He will come round. He’s got a lot on his mind at the moment.” Yia-yia took her hands and gave them a squeeze. “But what about your parents, Katerina? They are the ones who will be upset.”

  “Not as much as I thought. I rang them when I booked my flights. I spoke to Dad first. Once I’d explained my job, he thought it was a great opportunity. Mum was shocked at the short timeline. They want me to come home so we can spend some time together before I leave, but they took it well. It’s only Pappou who’s not happy.”

  “He had hoped you would work here. I would have liked that too but you must follow your heart, Katerina.” Yia-yia squeezed her hands again and went back to her baking. “Your Pappou only wants what’s best for all his family but sometimes he tries too hard to make things happen. He’s put a lot of time and money into the new cellar door and restaurant. He’s been very focused.” She nodded slowly. “With you out of the picture, he might be free to notice Peter’s Angela.”

  “Michael said something about that. Hasn’t anyone mentioned to Pappou that she might do the job?”

  “You are his favourite, Katerina. He would love to have you here but he will come round and he will understand this job in Singapore will make you happy.”

  “He seems so grumpy.”

  “He is getting older and he can’t do everything he used to. He doesn’t like the thought of losing control. Sometimes he is like a big lion, roaring and raging, but underneath he is really just a little pussycat.”

  Footsteps thumped along the verandah and the back door banged, followed by a thud and then another, as boots dropped to the floor. Kat frowned. She wasn’t so sure if Yia-yia’s metaphor was quite the right one for Pappou. Yet in some ways she was correct. He would never dare wear his boots into Yia-yia’s kitchen.

  Pappou burst through the door. “Have you seen my diary?”

  Yia-yia tsked. “Theo, you and that diary. Have you lost it again? I tell you to button it into your top pocket.”

  “I would if I had a button.” He flicked the flap of the pocket up and down.

  Kat could see a little tear where a button had been.

  “You’ve got plenty of shirts.” Yia-yia tugged at the shoulder of his shirt. “Take this one off and I will mend it.”

  “Not now.” He shrugged her hand away. “I need to go into town.”

  “I was going to get some groceries for Yia-yia,” Kat said. “Can I get a ride with you?” She wasn’t sure she should ask. In the mood he was in, she’d rather avoid him but she would be leaving soon and she didn’t want to go without making peace with her beloved Pappou.

  “If you want.” He strode across the kitchen in his slippered feet. “I have some things to do in the office first. And I want to find my diary. It must be here somewhere.” He gave Yia-yia a final glare before he left.

  She sighed. “That diary of his, sometimes I would like to have it permanently attached to his body. When he misplaces it, he’s that raging lion again.” She smiled and patted Kat on the arm. “I will make you a shopping list.”

  * * *

  Flynn looked up from his phone and stared out the window, across the yard and beyond to the vines, which were brilliant green in the light of the morning sun. His mate, Tim, had emailed him the details of the management job coming up at his family’s Adelaide Hills property. They wanted a ‘hands on’ winemaker to join the management team and develop an emerging label. If he couldn’t do it at Levallier Dell, maybe he could do it somewhere else. He had some serious thinking to do once this weekend was over.

  A movement off to the right caught his eye. Keely was coming towards the house from the direction of the studio. He glanced back at the job description he’d printed. Working in South Australia might have more than one advantage although he wasn’t sure what she thought about him.

  He still felt bad about his behaviour when she’d first arrived. He thought he’d made it up to her but just when she seemed to relax in his company, she would suddenly act like a startled rabbit. He wondered if there was still something he was doing that upset her. She had thrown herself into helping with preparations for the weekend but Flynn never felt as if he could get beyond polite conversation. Not that she was obliged to do more than that, especially if she had a boyfriend. He frowned. It was something they’d never discussed but perhaps she was keen on the Marty guy she’d spent the day with.

  She slid the door open. “Hello.” Her smile lit up her face. Not for the first time, he noticed how beautiful that smile was. A smile that he thought was brighter when it was just the two of them, or was he imagining it?

  He closed the email with the job description he’d been reading and shoved his phone in his pocket. “Hope you slept well.”

  She paused in the doorway, her smile changing to a cute kind of puzzled look.

  “We’re working you hard.” He grinned. “The least we can do is provide a good night’s rest.”

  “Oh, yes…thanks.” Keely made her way to the kitchen. “I hope it’s okay to be here now. I wanted to check the pavlovas again and work out how to serve the taste plates. I’m not keen on using paper plates for that.”

  “Do whatever you like. I’ll get out of your way.”

  “That’s okay. I’m just double checking. I’ve never done any catering on such a large scale as this before.”

  Keely had thrown herself into the preparations for the weekend with enthusiasm and Flynn found himself wishing it was more than those preparations that kept her here. He’d been pleased to hear she was staying another week so she could help out at the school. Not that she’d mentioned it to him. She’d remained tight-lipped about her visit to see Ken until after they’d eaten the night before, when Flynn had heard her quietly ask Euan if it would be okay to stay on a bit longer.

  “Lucky Maggie’s here to help. I’m sure the food will all be fine.” He picked up his cap, disappointed that Keely was busy looking in containers, and didn’t say any more. He hovered for a minute. Her long dark hair fell like a silky veil down her back and he had the urge to caress it with his fingers. Instead he shoved his hands firmly in his pockets. “She’s out in the cellar door. I’d bett
er see if she approves of my arrangements.”

  “I’m here.” Maggie came through from the front of the house. “And of course I approve of what you’ve done…both of you.”

  She gave Flynn a look and nudged him as she went past.

  “Isn’t it wonderful of Keely to take on the food side of things? She’s done such a good job of the menu,” Maggie said. “You just tell me when you need help, Keely. I am at your service. Is there anything else that you need?”

  Keely gave his aunt a shy smile. Flynn felt a sudden flood of remorse. Maggie was right. It was a huge job Keely was doing for them and he kept expecting her to do more.

  “We’re using bamboo plates for the pork rolls and the pavlovas,” Keely said. “But I’d like something sturdier…more elegant perhaps, for the Margaret River charcuterie boards.”

  “I’ll leave you to it, then.” Flynn edged towards the door.

  “Flynn, you can’t go.” Maggie gave him that look again and started opening cupboards. “I’m sure Lucy had an assortment of suitable platters. Do you still have them?”

  Euan stuck his head in the door. “Flynn, you’d better come and look at the sign I’ve put up at the front gate. I think it looks okay but you might have other ideas.”

  Before anyone could answer, Euan had gone. Flynn clenched his fingers. Why couldn’t his father just make a decision, like he did for most things that went on at Levallier Dell?

  “I’d better have a look at this board,” Flynn said. “If it’s not right, we may not get many customers anyway.”

  “Take Keely with you.” Maggie placed a hand on Keely’s shoulder and gently propelled her towards Flynn.

  He looked from Keely’s startled expression to Maggie’s beaming smile.

  “Keely’s worked hard and done all the food,” Maggie said. “She has an investment in this as well.”

  “Yes…come if you want,” Flynn mumbled. It was only a board at the gate, for goodness sake. Both Euan and Maggie were turning it into a major event.

  * * *

  They travelled the short distance to the front gate squashed into the front of the tray-top ute. Keely was acutely aware of the brooding silence between the two men, and of Flynn’s warm shoulder and hip pressing into her with every bump.

  She wished she’d just left them to it. Maggie had almost pushed her out the door. Perhaps she wanted the house to herself. Keely had tried to keep away as much as she could but it wasn’t possible to avoid spending time in the house, with all the organising there was to do.

  Euan pulled up just inside their gate and they all got out to inspect the signs.

  The new Levallier Dell sign still gleamed, as it had when she’d first arrived. In some ways it seemed so long ago and yet the two weeks had passed so quickly. She felt a pang of regret, knowing her time here was coming to an end. In spite of the two prickly men inspecting the board by the fence she had enjoyed her stay. It had been the healing experience Euan had promised. She pushed away her niggling fear of facing a class again. Once the weekend was over she would deal with that. She wasn’t going to let it spoil the next few days.

  Euan had created a sandwich board with Divine Wine and Dine and the Levallier Dell name at the top and Come in for a light meal served with our award-winning wines underneath.

  “It should be fine.” Flynn helped Euan lift it to the roadside. “If we put it here each day, it will be clearly visible.”

  A vehicle came along the road and pulled up sharply, its wheels sliding to a halt in the gravel.

  It’s attracting customers already, Keely thought, smiling to herself, then spun in surprise as a voice shouted, “Euan Levallier!”

  Theo was striding towards them. “Euan Levallier,” he shouted again.

  Kat was scrambling out of the passenger door. “Pappou!”

  Theo ignored his granddaughter and came to a stop barely a metre in front of Euan. “What did you do to my vines?”

  Keely could see the muscle twitching in Euan’s rigid jaw. Flynn stood up straight beside his silent father.

  “They’re dying. What did you do?” Theo’s finger stabbed the air in front of Euan, who maintained his silence.

  “Theo?” Flynn’s voice was calm. “What’s going on?”

  “Ask your father! I have four rows of vines poisoned. Four rows that edge the Levallier Dell boundary. He’s jealous I got that land before he did and he’s poisoned them.”

  Keely drew in a breath. Theo was wrong. There was no way the Euan she knew would do something like that.

  “He wouldn’t hurt your vines, Theo.” Flynn’s tone was calm. His words echoed Keely’s thoughts. “Would you, Euan?”

  Keely was watching the confrontation from the side. And she saw the cold look Euan gave Flynn, before he turned back to Theo.

  “You’re a fool,” Euan murmured.

  Theo shifted from foot to foot. His fists were clenched and his eyes blazed.

  “A fool, am I? At least I stay and run my business properly, not like some hobby.”

  “I don’t have to listen to this rubbish.” Euan turned his back on Theo and began to walk away.

  “It’s the truth. Everyone knows Flynn does all the hard work.” Theo raised his voice another notch. “You can walk away but this is not the end of it.” Theo stabbed the air with his finger again.

  Euan stopped, put his hand in his trouser pocket and turned back. “Be careful what you do, Theo.” His voice was low. “And don’t set foot on my land again. I was going to send this back later but you might as well have it now.” He pulled his hand from his pocket and tossed a small notebook at Theo’s feet then strode through the gate to his ute.

  “My diary,” Theo spluttered. “He stole my diary.”

  Kat put a hand on his arm. “I don’t think Euan would have—”

  “Bah!” Theo flung off her arm, bent to pick up the little book, then toppled as he tried to straighten up.

  “Pappou!” Kat grabbed his arm. Flynn and Keely both rushed forward but Flynn was closer and managed to help keep him on his feet.

  “What’s wrong, Pappou?” Kat asked.

  “Nothing. I’ll be alright.”

  “I think you’d better sit down.” Flynn directed Theo towards his car.

  Keely heard Euan’s ute start up. She watched as he turned the vehicle and drove back down the drive. Flynn was beside Theo’s car talking earnestly to Kat, and Theo sat inside looking at something, probably the diary.

  Keely wondered how Euan had ended up with that. She glanced once more at the welcoming sign and then walked slowly back down the drive. What a strange lot they were. She’d spent two weeks here and felt no closer to understanding them at all.

  CHAPTER 28

  It was mid-afternoon when Keely heard a sharp crack resonate through the air. She looked up from the table in the studio, where she had all her beadwork laid out. There was quite a bit to take up to the cellar door and they still hadn’t worked out how they were going to display it. The last two days had been a frenzy of finishing off pieces in readiness for the weekend.

  Another crack split the air and she went outside to investigate. Over on the ridge among the cab sauv vines, she could see Jack giving his whip a workout. She watched him until he looked in her direction and she waved. He folded his whip and came to meet her.

  “Hello, Keely. I’ve come to collect the last of the temporary fencing I put up for the sheep. Couldn’t resist giving the whip a workout.”

  She smiled at the old man and noticed the string around his trouser legs again. She couldn’t help flicking her gaze around the grass at her feet. It was a warm afternoon.

  “You’ve moved house since I was here last,” he said. “It’s good for the old place to be used again.”

  “I’ve done some work on your sketch. Would you like to see it?” She didn’t usually show people her sketches but if Flynn did want to use Jack’s portrait for his red label, it was important to her that Jack liked it.

  “I would.”


  He followed her to the door and bent to undo his laces.

  “Don’t worry, Jack. The floor in here is very basic.”

  He hesitated, then took off his hat and stepped inside. Keely turned from her sketchbook as he let out a long low whistle. He was standing by the table. “You have been busy. These look very pretty. I’m not an expert on ladies’ things but I reckon there’s a few who’d like these.”

  “We’re going to have them for sale at the cellar door over the weekend. I was just trying to work out how I could display them.” She opened her sketchbook and held it up for Jack to see. “Here you are.”

  He turned from the table and looked at the sketch. She held her breath, waiting for his response. His old weathered face studied the portrait for a moment, then he let out another low whistle.

  “You’ve made me look quite distinguished. Not bad for an old man. Thank you, Keely. You’ve even got the whip just right.”

  She looked down at her sketch. It was of Jack’s head and shoulders and she had deliberated over how to include the whip. In the end, she had drawn it clutched in one hand and draped over his shoulder.

  “Flynn used my portrait of Euan on his dry white label. He might want this one for his red blend, if it’s alright with you.” She tried to read his expression. “What do you think?”

  Jack lifted his chin and his face twisted into a smile. “I think I’d be honoured.” He gave the portrait one last glance, then moved back to the bracelets and wine-bottle covers she had laid out on the table.

  “Euan’s a smart bloke. He’s done lots for this area. He deserves to have his face on a bottle of good wine. I’ve been around a bit longer. I guess that earns me a spot as well.” He ran a finger over one of the bracelets, then went to the window and looked out. “I’ve known Euan since he started this place and the crack of my whip kept those jolly birds away. Euan had to clear out lots of trees to plant his vines. He and Lucy dug out their roots with a pick and shovel back then. But they planted far more trees than they removed, species that bloom with the grapes. Euan has always produced quality wine and Flynn follows in his footsteps. They’re decent people.”