“That’s fair enough. Is he coming here?”
“Yes. Said he’s got something to show us.”
They both looked up at the honk of a funny-sounding car horn.
A look of surprise swept over Pete’s face. “That sounds like Dad’s old car.”
Taylor stood up and followed him. At the door she turned back and took her keys from the desk.
Pete gave her an amused look as she locked the door but he didn’t say a word. She followed him round the side of the building. Ed was grinning and waving to them from the front seat of a small red sports car.
“Is that your dad’s Triumph?”
“Yes it is.” Pete strode to the driver’s side and ran his hand along the door. “I didn’t think it worked.”
“It didn’t.” Ed opened the door and unfolded himself from the seat. He looked from Taylor to Pete. “This is why I wanted you out on Saturday evening. I tracked down the guy who maintained it for Dad. I couldn’t get it to start so we towed it to the winery workshop. He brought it back to life.” Ed put his hand on Pete’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. It must have been me that didn’t lock the gate properly after him. I was in such a rush to get the Triumph back to the garage before you came home. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference. The police said the truck came in the early hours and Felicity supplied the key.”
“I know but I should have told you as soon as the wine was stolen. You were blaming yourself for not locking the gate.”
Pete gripped Ed’s shoulder. “It doesn’t matter, Ed.”
Taylor batted at the tears that filled her eyes. She thought of Gemma all the way over in Ireland and feeling unwell. It must have been more than a sniffle for her to mention it. She would ask Pete if she could use the office phone to ring her sister later.
“Let’s go for a ride.” Ed ran around and held open the passenger door waving for Taylor to get in.
“Thank you, Edward.” She slid into the seat. She felt as if she was almost sitting on the ground.
He shut the door and leaned in. “You can call me Ed. I don’t mind.”
She smiled up at him. “Thanks…Ed.”
“You drive, Pete.”
“Are you sure? Where will you sit?”
“I’ll perch in between you on the back of the seat. We can only drive inside the winery anyway. It’s not registered.”
After a jerky start Pete managed to turn the car around.
“Flatten it,” Ed shouted as they headed off back towards the cottage.
Taylor let out a yell as Pete accelerated along the track. The wind whipped her hair around her face. She lifted a fist into the air. “Neil’s Triumph, as smooth as a fine red wine.”
CHAPTER
57
Taylor paced the floor in Ed’s kitchen as the two brothers read the business plan in the lounge. Ed had cooked but she’d offered to clean up while they read. She’d stacked the dishwasher, washed and dried the extra pots, wiped down the benches and now she was left with nothing to do. All she could hear was the occasional rustle of paper from the other room. She badly wanted them to like her ideas, for all their sakes. She picked up the glass of wine she’d carried with her to the kitchen. Pete had opened another bottle of their reserve cab sauv to accompany the steak Ed had cooked.
Taylor stopped pacing at the murmur of voices and took a few silent steps closer to the door. She jumped as Pete appeared in the doorway.
He grinned at her. “We’ve read it.”
“What do you think?” She looked from one to the other as she followed Pete into the lounge.
“Interesting,” Ed said. His face didn’t give anything away.
“I like it.” Pete gave Ed a poke in the shoulder. “We both do.”
“There’s a bit of fine-tuning to do.” Ed started flipping through the pages.
“Of course,” Taylor said. “These are my thoughts based on your information but it’s got to be your plan.”
“I like the idea of buying our own harvester instead of the Wrattonbully vineyard.” Pete sat next to his brother.
Ed gave a soft snort. “You would.”
“You agreed with me a minute ago.”
“Don’t get your undies in a twist. I do agree but if we’re to do it without an investor it could be tricky.” He looked steadily at Taylor.
“You’ve money put aside and I’ve some other ideas. It might not be possible to achieve by next vintage but definitely the one after that.”
“This idea of getting extra tanks to process other people’s fruit could work but once again it comes down to money.” Ed tapped his finger on the page.
“That would go hand-in-hand with some streamlining of our processes though,” Pete said.
“Still means money,” Ed said. “And I would like to have a holiday in China. I don’t see that factored in.”
“Yes it is.” Taylor took his plan and flicked to the appendix at the back. “It’s a market exploration trip.”
Ed’s face slowly lit with a smile.
“You haven’t mentioned much about starting up our icon wine.” This time it was Pete who gave her the enquiring look.
“That’s tied in with my loose idea to display the Triumph but I need a bit more time to think it through. By the time your wine is ready to drink I’d like to see us have some kind of display of the Triumph attached to the cellar door.”
“Maybe we’ll need a bigger cellar door.” Ed nudged Pete.
“Maybe. Letting people rent the quarters outside vintage could work.”
“There would need to be a few improvements.” Taylor folded her arms. “Like fixing that front door.”
“That adds character,’ Pete said.
Taylor ignored him. “None of the improvements would involve a big outlay.”
“I don’t know if we want people traipsing through the place.”
“This needs more work.” Taylor picked up their copies. “Now that you’ve written all over these I can go back to the drawing board and refine it again.”
“I’m excited by this.” Pete stood up and gave her a hug. “I like the job description you’ve outlined for the office manager.”
“Yes,” Ed chipped in. “Sounds like it may have been written with a particular person in mind.”
Taylor jumped at the sound of a phone ringing.
Ed frowned and rose to his feet. “No-one rings on the landline these days.
“It could be for me,” Taylor looked around for the phone. “I hope you don’t mind. I’ve been trying to contact my sister. I gave her your number for tonight.”
“Go for it.” Ed said. “It’s in the office off the kitchen.”
Taylor dropped the plans back on the side table and made a dash, anxious to get there before the phone stopped ringing.
“Another drink?” Pete suggested.
“Good idea.” Ed put another log into the combustion fire and headed to the kitchen. “I’ve got a shiraz from up the road we should try.” He came back with the bottle and fresh glasses. “The phone must have been for Taylor. I could hear her talking to someone.”
“She’s hardly mentioned her sister before.” Pete settled back in the chair. “I didn’t think they were close.”
“I remember she said her sister was a doctor and lived in Ireland. That’s all I know.”
Pete gripped the glass Ed offered tightly. He still felt a bit sensitive about Taylor being Ed’s girlfriend first. Although he had no doubt about the strength of his feelings for her and he was fairly sure she felt the same way about him.
“She was never my girl, you know.”
Pete looked up. Ed was staring at him, his look intense.
“There was nothing much between us from the start.”
Pete took a sip of the wine. “Not bad.”
Ed did the same. “Not as good as yours.”
They both sipped again.
“I’m glad you two met,” Pete said.
&
nbsp; Ed glanced at him, a puzzled look on his face.
“If you hadn’t then I may never have met Taylor. I can’t imagine life without her.”
“That sounds like a commitment.”
“It will be, if she’ll have me.”
Ed reached his glass across and tapped Pete’s. “Good luck. If it’s any consolation I agree with you. You two are like an old married couple already.”
Pete chuckled. Ed hadn’t seen them sitting by the fire before they’d come out for tea; a chair drawn up, a beer in hand, and their socked feet resting on the hearth. He’d felt content despite all the drama of the last few weeks.
“This business plan, we should have done it back when Mum and Dad died, you know,” Ed said.
“Past history now.”
“I’m the one with the business degree. I should have been the one to get it organised.”
“Don’t beat yourself up.” Pete stared into the flames of the fire. “We’ve both made mistakes.”
“You’re happy with the plan?”
“It will need some tweaking but the basic ideas are good. What about you?”
“It’s a good start.”
“So no more talk of selling to Mr Zhu.”
“I wouldn’t have sold everything you know. I thought you’d be prepared to give up a percentage to get me to stay.”
Pete looked steadily into his brother’s eyes. “I know.”
“Guess what?” Taylor burst back into the room her face all aglow.
“What?” Pete and Ed said together.
“I’m going to be an aunty.” Taylor clapped her hands. “Gemma’s having a baby. Well, two actually. She’s having twins. And they’re going to move back to Australia so she can be close to family. She thinks Mum and Dad might hang around a bit more if they’ve got grandchildren.”
Pete stood up and wrapped her in his arms.
She looked up at him with shining eyes. “Pinch me. I’m so happy I must be dreaming.”
He kissed her instead.
Ed poured another glass of wine and offered it to Taylor. “We’d better drink to that.”
Taylor took a sip and nearly choked.
“What’s wrong?” Pete gave her back a gentle rub.
“That’s not what I had before?” She stared aghast at her glass.
“I should have warned you, Pete’s cab sauv is all gone.” Ed held his glass up. “This is a shiraz. It’s a bit rough around the edges.”
“A bit,” Taylor gasped.
“You don’t have to drink it.” Pete went to take her glass but she kept hold of it.
“That’s okay,” she said. “I’m going to have to learn all these different wines if I’m working in a winery.”
“Yes.” Pete winked at her. “Yes, you will.”
CHAPTER
58
Taylor had just put down the phone when Pete stepped into the office.
“Are you busy?” he asked.
“Not very. There could be lots of things I’m not doing. Noelene’s going to call in this afternoon after she’s done her shopping and show me the ropes.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“My suggestion.” Ed came in from his office. “Felicity was efficient but she didn’t leave any handover notes.”
“Funny about that,” Pete said. He looked back at Taylor. “I was hoping to steal you away for a while.”
“What for?”
“I’m giving the new cab sauv its last plunge. I thought you might like to help.”
Taylor jumped up. “I’d love to.” The phone rang. “Oh, but–”
“You go,” Ed said. “I can manage the phone for a while.”
“Thanks, Ed.” Taylor gave him a grateful smile and linked her arm through Pete’s. “Let’s go. My boss is a slave driver. I can’t be away long.”
“You bet I am,” Ed called behind them.
Outside it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and only a slight breeze stirred, tossing some autumn leaves across the ground.
“Do you want to change?” Pete asked.
Taylor had put on her yellow jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt to work in the office. “I’ve got flat shoes and I’ll take off my scarf.” She’d become pretty efficient at plunging, hardly splashed a drop anymore.
They made their way around to the old shed and Pete opened the door.
“So this is the last time we have to plunge the NS18?” In spite of getting better at it, Taylor had to admit she’d found it hard work and she had only done a small amount compared to Pete and Antoine. She hoped it might be one of the things she could change about the way Pete processed the wine.
“It gets pressed next and then we’ll barrel it.”
“How long till it’s bottled?”
“Two years.”
“It’s a long time to wait for an end product.”
“But worth it.” Instead of picking up the plunger Pete turned to her and took both her hands in his. He locked his gaze with hers.
She closed her eyes and leaned in ready for his lips to reach hers. It was almost this very same spot where they’d first kissed. Taylor pursed her lips together to stifle a grin. That had ended badly for Pete.
“I don’t have much,” Pete said. “This wine was the most special thing I had. Until you came along.”
Taylor opened her eyes. He looked so serious she wondered what on earth he was going to say next.
“I want to share it with you, Taylor. Me and everything I have. Will you stay here and be–”
Taylor pressed her fingers to his lips, cutting him off. “Wait a minute.” Her heart raced, not from excitement but from fear. She was so happy but she didn’t want anything to spoil it. She hadn’t known Pete all that long and it had sounded like he was about to propose. “I want to stay here with you. But can we take things slowly?”
“I’m not my brother. I’ve fallen in love with you, Taylor. That means forever to me.”
“And for me. I…well, I’ve made a few blunders in the love stakes and… I want to be sure.”
Pete looked crestfallen.
“I’m not going anywhere. It feels right to me. I just need a bit more time to make sure. Then you can ask me.” She peered at his sad face. “Can you cope with that?”
“If it’s what you want?”
“You is what I want.” She hugged him tight. “I’m sorry I can’t say more than that for now.”
“Okay. I can wait.” He kissed her and let her go. “I’m a winemaker, I know what patience is.” He sighed. “I also know we need to get this plunging done. Antoine will have the press ready to go.” He took up the plunger and climbed up onto the plank.
Taylor leaned her arms on the cement edge of the tank and watched. It was hard to imagine this wine had to go into a barrel for two years before it could be drunk. How could he trust it would come out all right at the other end? She watched Pete’s strong arms lift and push the plunger, his face intent on his work. Her heart went out to him. He’d put himself on the line for her and she’d knocked him back. Why couldn’t she make up her mind like he had? It was what she wanted after all. Someone who she truly loved and who loved her back. Someone she could share her life with. She already felt she knew Pete well. They had so much in common. Her resolve deepened. Like a barrel of wine she had to trust it would turn out okay.
She put her foot on the step, steadied herself and climbed on to the plank. Pete was halfway across. He looked back at her, surprise on his face.
“Can we do it together?” she said. “So in two years’ time when we drink it together we can look back on this moment.”
“You’ve changed your mind?”
“No. I’ve made up my mind.”
He lifted the plunger as she stepped up to him but instead of taking the elbow he offered she reached for the handle. It rose higher, upsetting her balance. She waved a hand in the air and let out a scream as she felt herself falling. She felt Pete’s fingers slide across her hand but she slipped fr
om his grasp.
Taylor hit the lukewarm liquid and slid below the surface. Her feet scrabbled on the slippery bottom and she rose to the top as Pete’s hand gripped her arm. She stood in the liquid up to her chest gaping up at him.
“Are you all right?”
She was horrified. “I’ve ruined your wine.”
He hiccupped. “It’ll be fine.”
She peered closer. He was laughing at her.
She gritted her teeth. “I’d like to get out.”
He moved to the side and helped her slide up onto the plank. She lay there a moment listening to him laugh. She pushed herself up, slid her feet over the edge and rounded on him.
“We are definitely changing from this manual plunging.”
“No we’re not.” He reached over and plucked a grape skin from her hair. “It’s part of the process that will make this wine so special.”
Taylor glared at him. She ran her tongue around her mouth, pushed out a grape skin and spat it to the ground. She froze. There was a flavour, almost imperceptible. She licked her lips, ran her tongue around her mouth again and grabbed Pete’s arm. “I can taste it.” She started to laugh. “I can taste the blackberries.”
Pete pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. “Mmmm. So can I.”
A chuckle burst from both of them forcing them apart. Pete scooped her into his arms.
“I reckon you’re going to need a long shower or you’ll be the colour of a good red for a while.”
Outside the wind chilled her through her wet clothes. Taylor rested her head on his shoulder and let him carry her. She had a fair idea her yellow jeans would never be that colour again but it didn’t matter. She didn’t care about anything but being here with Pete. She was sure about that. Wriggly Creek was home and she planned to stay.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The inspiration for this story developed on visits to the beautiful Coonawarra wine region of South Australia. There are such a variety of wineries and cellar door experiences and so many different wines to sample, all in the name of research of course, however there’s far more to wine than just drinking it.
To get a feel for what happens when producing a good wine and find out what is special about Coonawarra wineries, I had some interesting chats with Wendy Hollick who co-established Hollick Coonawarra in 1983 and John Rymill who is following in his great-great-grandfather’s footsteps producing wine at Rymill, Coonawarra. I would like to thank them both for their willing and thoughtful support with my research. I also listened to many passionate winemakers from other wineries who helped to round out the picture, however, words cannot express my gratitude to my son Jared and his partner Alexandra for their fantastic help with the background for this story.
Between the Vines Page 33