Page 17 of A Vineyard for Two

‘What are you doing here, Harper?’ His question took her by surprise. She wasn’t expecting it, not when he’d been talking about Hugh and his talent for entertaining.

He was looking at her as if he could see straight through her. She forgot how powerful his gaze could be. It sent shivers through her — the good kind.

‘Georgia asked me to come.’

‘Is that the only reason?’

‘What do you want me to say, Brookes?’ Harper asked, almost pleading with him. She didn’t know what to tell him. Too many years had passed. Had she missed him? Like crazy the first few years. She’d contemplating calling him, thought about coming back. She’d even gone as far as getting back in the car and getting onto the highway before turning back. As time passed, she thought about it less until she made herself believe that she’d moved on, that he had, too.

‘You just packed up and left Harper, without saying a word. Who does that?’

The tightness in her chest grew and her body warmed with each second in the room with him. She needed air; she needed to breathe.

‘I can’t do this right now,’ she said, turning around and running out the door.

The dog stood and barked as she ran past it and towards her car. She needed to get out of there. She needed to get away from Brookes. Why did she leave? That was the million-dollar question. She left because there had been no other choice, and it had nothing to do with her wanting to live a life in the city.

Brookes wanted to run after her. He wanted to grab her and hold her in his arms until she gave him a response. He wanted to kiss her stubborn mouth and never let her go. Instead, he remained still and stared at Rover, who stared back, his eyes pleading to come and comfort his master.

‘Come here, boy.’ Rover didn’t have to be asked twice. He trotted up to Brookes and jumped up with his paws onto his chest, and tried to lick his face. Brookes patted him and told him to get back down, then he knelt and rubbed behind the dog’s ears, then scratched his belly.

Why did he have to ask her that? Couldn’t they just talk like two normal people? But whenever they were in the same room together, all sense and logic went out the window. Even after six years, she still made him feel a certain way. No, it was that she simply made him feel, and that unhinged him. He didn’t like someone having that type of power over him. He should have been over Harper by now; she was making it clear that she was over him.

‘Dammit Hugh, you’ve really put us in a spot.’

Brookes imagined the old man having a chuckle somewhere. He had his reasons, even if Brookes didn’t understand them. He respected them. Hugh had left a piece of him for Brookes and Harper. He wasn’t going to let this place go into shambles. They’d have to make a plan, but they’d make it work. And there was a lot of work, but it was going to be the type of honest work he enjoyed, the type when after a hard day of physical labour, a glass of wine, a steak on the grill and a cheese platter were the perfect accompaniment.

He went outside and looked over the vineyard. There was a pond to the left and a large grass paddock with a few outdoor chairs and tables. He imagined people flocking here again, picnicking and sipping wine. There would be those who would stay inside in the cellar door learning about the various varieties as they tasted the season’s offerings. They could provide simple food for those who wanted to stay for dinner. A pizza oven. Simple, no fuss, and complemented a good glass of wine perfectly. Yes, he could see it all now. He imagined his picnic tables unfolded on blankets, couples drinking wine and feasting on charcuterie plates as their gazes lingered over the sunsets. Did Harper see the same thing? What did she want to do with this inheritance?

They really needed to talk.

‘Come on Rover, we better make the walk back. Still a lot of work to be done at Leo’s.’ Rover stood and trotted alongside Brookes.

A strange sensation came over him, and he stopped walking. Rover must have noticed his tension, as he stopped and growled.

Brookes looked around, but he couldn’t see anyone about and yet it felt like someone was watching him. Harper’s car was gone, and there was no one else in the vicinity. There was the sound of cars zooming down the highway in the distance, but nothing else. Strange. Maybe it was just Hugh keeping an eye on things from above.

‘Let’s go, boy, before I go completely nuts,’ Brookes said.

He left the same way he came, through the bush, letting Rover have a run as he threw sticks for him to chase. When they returned to Leo’s, he couldn’t see Harper’s car in the driveway. Maybe she’d gone into town after she left Mathers Vineyard. Their talk would have to wait.

Brookes went through the day’s tasks, making sure that the machinery was in working order. There were things to do all year round. Then he returned to work on his picnic tables. With Mathers Vineyard, he saw an even grander opportunity for them.

‘Did you speak with Harper?’ Leo came through.

‘We’re not exactly on speaking terms,’ Brookes said as he drilled a hole.

When the noise was over, Leo spoke again, ‘You own a property together now; you’re going to have to talk about it sooner rather than later. Have you thought about what you want to do?’

‘Thought about it, sure. It’s an incredible gesture. What I think, though, doesn’t matter, at least not right now.’

‘Talk to her, man.’

‘Yeah, maybe.’

Leo shook his head. ‘My sister is not that unapproachable.’

Brookes smirked. ‘She didn’t use to be. The city has changed her.’