Rose's Vintage (19 page)

Rose breathed a tiny sigh of relief. He didn't know about her logging into the winery accounts. But she'd had no idea he'd blow his top about the cafe. She'd stupidly thought he might be pleased at her showing some initiative. ‘I – I was just trying to help. I thought it would bring people to the cellar door and give them another reason to visit here. I'm sorry for not telling you, but Philippe gave me the coffee machine and that started the whole ball rolling. I'm a qualified chef! I wouldn't poison people. I've kept a record of everything I've spent, and, look—' She strode over to the windowsill where the jar containing the cash from Ferment had been sitting. ‘We had to use a bit of the money for groceries, but the rest is here. The credit card and EFTPOS takings are over at the cellar door. It's all for you.' Rose thrust the jar at him, eyes flashing with her own anger now. ‘I only wanted to help; I know how tough things are at the moment.'

‘Well, I certainly don't need your charity, nor your help.' Mark ignored the proffered money. ‘I'll thank you not to go behind my back in the future, nor to interfere where you're not wanted.' He stormed out of the barn, slamming the door behind him.

Rose sank onto the sofa, miserable and bewildered.

Arrogant sod.

Hot tears sprang to her eyes and she rubbed them savagely away.

So much for thinking he'd be pleased with me for helping out. How could I have been so stupid as to think he liked me, even a little bit?

What a fool she felt for her silly schoolgirl crush now. It would have been fair enough if he'd been angry at her going through the accounts, but for this?

If Mark was going to be such a complete arse, she may as well spill everything to Henry after all and let him do what he wanted with the information.

It took all Rose's nerve to go back to the house to prepare dinner. Mark was nowhere to be seen, thankfully, and the kids didn't notice her subdued manner as she served them.

Astrid looked at her questioningly. ‘Are you okay?' she mouthed over the top of Leo's head.

Rose nodded and managed a weak smile, but she knew it wasn't terribly convincing. As soon as the meal was over, Rose retreated to the barn, collapsed onto the sofa, curled her legs under her and numbly hugged a cushion to her chest.

What on earth had she been thinking, imagining a future for herself in the Shingle Valley? What a complete fool. Why did she always act without thinking things through? Her impulsiveness had got her into trouble again. When would she ever learn?

She heard scratching at the door, then a whine. Heaving herself off the sofa, she went to see what it was. As she opened the door, the dog leapt up at her, licking the tears from her face.

‘Oh, Barnsie,' she sobbed. ‘At least
you
like me.'

She walked back to the sofa and he jumped up next to her, burying his muzzle in her lap. Feeling utterly miserable and desperately alone, Rose stroked his head as she stared blankly at the wall.

CHAPTER 18

T
he next morning, as Rose pulled on her running gear, the memory of Mark's anger surfaced. Her heart sank as she recalled the humiliating confrontation, and she closed her eyes, as if that could make it all disappear. She didn't want to leave the barn, but knew she couldn't hide in there forever. Summoning her courage, she resolved to face whatever the day might bring.

As she pounded up the curving path that wound over the hill towards the Trevelyn sisters' property, Rose decided she didn't feel much like heading back to Kalkari quite yet and instead carried on, crossing the Trevelyn vineyards, skirting the dry soil between the vines and keeping to the grassy edges. Before long, she reached the back of a small stone cottage and spotted a bent-over figure in the vegetable garden that butted up against the house.

‘Hallooo!' the old lady called out.

Damn. Now she'd have to stop.

The old lady raised her hand in a wave. Rose came closer, noticing the ropy muscles and age-spotted skin of the woman's arms as she pulled at the weeds among the cabbages.

‘Hi there. It's Miss Trevelyn, isn't it? I'm Rose,' she said, pausing to catch her breath. ‘I'm working over at Kalkari, for Mark. I've seen you in the pub and at the markets.'

‘Yes, love, I know who you are. And call me Violet, please. A pleasure to meet you, dear. How are you getting on over there?'

‘Well, if you really want to know, not so good at the moment.' Unexpectedly, Rose found tears forming in her eyes and she brushed them away roughly. ‘Things have all gone a bit pear-shaped. I think I've well and truly put my foot in it, and I don't know how to put it right.' She felt a tumult of emotions: sadness, anger and loneliness hit her like a punch to the stomach.

‘Why don't you come on inside and you can tell me all about it over a nice cuppa?' The old lady looked at her with kindness. There was something about the old woman that made Rose want to confide.

‘That'd be nice, thank you,' Rose sniffed.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim interior, she saw that it was neat as a pin, and cosy, with a rag rug on the flagstoned floor and a round table at the kitchen window. Motioning for her to sit, Violet retrieved milk from the fridge and heaped loose leaves into a pot.

‘So. Where did it all start?'

Rose felt comforted by the old lady's concern. ‘Well, I don't know if you heard, but I opened up the cellar door on the long weekend and ran a bit of a cafe, offering coffee and cakes. I thought Mark would appreciate even the little bit of money we made, and to be honest, it gave me something to do. I had no idea he'd react the way he did. He totally flew off the handle when he found out. I know I should have told him about it before I went ahead with it, but, well, he was away and I thought it'd be a really nice surprise for him to come back to. But now it seems like the worst thing I could have done.'

‘Come on now, love, I'm sure it's not as bad as all that. He always was a proud one, that one. I've known him since he was a boy, since his parents ran Lilybells,' Violet replied.

‘But that's the biggest winery in the valley! I didn't know Mark had grown up there; he's never said.' Rose was taken by surprise. ‘Why isn't he still there? What happened?'

‘His dad was a brilliant winemaker but not such a brilliant businessman, and the finances got on top of them. They sold up just after Mark finished high school. They didn't tell him until he got back from spending a year away in France. I don't think he's ever forgiven them for it.'

Suddenly a lot of things made sense to Rose. No wonder Mark didn't like things happening behind his back and was so touchy about anything to do with money.

‘That must have been really hard on him. Now I know why he loves this place so much. It's in his blood.'

‘He left the valley and didn't come back for years. His parents moved away too. Went to the coast to run a hotel, I think.'

‘What brought him back here?'

‘I'm not too sure really. Kalkari had been up for sale for quite a while, but there weren't any takers. It was just so rundown, the vines were a mess, even the house was in a state. He came back here with his bride, Isabella, rebuilt the winery and replanted many of the old vineyards. They're just coming into their own now. Mark my words, Kalkari will be one to watch before too long. A shame, though, that Isabella took off the way she did. Haven't seen him smile much since she left. That also might explain him flying off the handle; he's probably a bit sensitive at the moment.'

‘Hmm, maybe,' said Rose. ‘How long have you lived here?' she asked, curious as to how Violet knew so much about the goings on in the valley.

‘Vera and I are valley born and bred. Our parents farmed this land, and when they passed on, they left it to us. There've been grapes grown here for more than seventy years. We're just the midwives to the grapes. This land doesn't so much belong to Vera and me, as we do to it. I think you might find you belong here too, Rose,' she said. ‘I've seen you out and around early in the mornings, and from what Brenda tells me, those kids are pretty fond of you as well.' There was a look in her eyes that was as old and all-seeing as time.

Rose took a big gulp of tea. She wasn't sure what to make of Violet's comment. It was nice to hear that Mrs B approved of her, but how could the old woman possibly know where she belonged?

‘Did you never marry?' Rose regretted the blunt question almost as soon as she'd asked it, but Violet didn't seem to mind.

‘There was someone once …' Violet's voice trailed off. ‘Didn't amount to anything. And so here we are; two old birds still flapping around.' She cackled to herself. ‘More tea, love?' She picked up the pot and waved it in Rose's direction.

Rose glanced at her watch. ‘Oh heavens, I really should get back. Thanks so much for everything – for listening, and, well, you know.'

‘Any time, love. It's nice to have a bit of company, and don't you worry about Mark. He'll see sense soon enough. You've done nothing that's very wrong from what I can tell.'

Rose got to her feet, remembering ruefully that she had actually done something very wrong by agreeing to spy for her brother in the first place. Feeling comforted by her chat with Violet, but reminded of her torn loyalties again, she headed off on the path back to Kalkari.

Rose ran into Astrid on her return. ‘Any news?'

‘Thommo's due back next week – earlier than I'd expected.' Astrid bit her lip, looking worried.

‘What are you going to do? Are you going to tell him everything?'

‘I guess. I'm scared, Rose.' Astrid unconsciously cradled the almost imperceptible swell of her belly protectively.

‘I know, honey, but sometimes things don't turn out as badly as you think they will,' Rose said, hoping to reassure her. ‘Hey, you'll never guess who I met this morning,' she said changing the subject.

‘Who?'

‘Violet Trevelyn.'

‘That witch lady from down the valley?'

‘Hey, she's not a witch!'

‘Yes, she is – she and her sister are strange, don't you think? They remind me of the three crones from
Macbeth
– well, except that there are only two of them of course.' Astrid gave a snort of laughter.

‘If you say so, but she was sweet to me.'

‘Did she give you a potion to put Mark in a better mood? What's going on there, anyway? I heard his voice coming from the barn last night, and when he came back into the house he looked so angry … By the way, he took the kids out in the car earlier and said he wouldn't be back for dinner. That's not like him at all, especially as he's been away so long. I thought he'd be straight over to the winery, not off on a day out.'

‘Oh God, Astrid, he found out about me opening up the cellar door again, and he was furious. I know I should have checked with him first, but I really didn't think he'd be this cross.'

‘Oh, so that's what it was. What are you going to do?'