Page 6 of A Vineyard for Two
‘I’ll drive,’ Georgia said.
Georgia drove a Mustang, bright yellow with shiny rims. It was the same model Harper remembered, and it still looked brand spanking new, and the upholstery smelt as if it had just driven out of the dealer room floor.
‘What’s your secret?’ Harper asked as they drove out the long driveway and onto the main road.
‘Secret to what, hon?’
‘You know…all this? The car, the lifestyle.’
‘Zero fucks given.’
Harper almost choked on her own saliva before she started laughing.
Georgia kept going. ‘I like to get a rise out of people. Most folk are too tight-lipped, tight-arsed, and tightly wound up. Life’s too short. Unfortunately, most of us learn it too late. Zero fucks is a recent term I’ve grown fond of. I heard it somewhere, and I liked the sound of it. Mind you, the crocheting club never quite appreciated it as much.’
‘I like it.’ She wished she could adopt the mindset.
‘Thought you might,’ Georgia said smiling.
It was a strange sight, with the white-haired lady speeding down the highway in a bright yellow Mustang. The locals would have been used to it by now, but anyone driving through or new to the area would get a shock.
‘Anyone else drive this thing?’
‘Are you kidding? It’s my baby. No one else is getting behind the wheel for as long as I’m around.’
‘I could see Leo doing burn outs.’
‘Oh believe me, hon, he’s tried to sweet talk his way to grabbing hold of these keys, but to no avail. After about a year, he gave up,’ Georgia said and at the large roundabout took the turn towards Stanthorpe centre.
‘He gave up too easily.’
‘He knew what was good for him,’ she said. ‘Now tell me everything. What have you been up to? I’ve tried following you on social media, but you don’t reveal much besides the food you like to eat. And I doubt you even eat it all because you’re skinnier now than you were six years ago.’
Harper laughed. ‘I’ve been on a social media diet.’
‘Something happened?’
‘You could say that. My job comes with a certain level of risk that doesn’t necessarily blend well with sharing too much on social media.’
She didn’t want to talk about it. Not now and not with her aunt. Maybe it was one of the other reasons that Leo had persuaded her to come. If things were perfect in her life, then maybe she might have been stronger with rejecting the invitation. Invitation was probably too kind; it had been more of a directive.
‘I’m all ears,’ Georgia said.
‘Thanks Georgia, but…’
‘You don’t want to talk about it.’
‘No.’
‘Well, at least you’re here now. We can talk later. Let’s get some supplies. I want to make a delicious steak for dinner and some apple pie for dessert.’
‘I wish I had your energy.’
‘It’s all in your frame of mind, and hard to deny it when you love what you do.’
Georgia was right, and it made Harper wonder when she had stopped doing what she loved and started doing what she thought she had to do.
They left the car in the parking lot and started at the grocery store. Harper hadn’t expected much to have changed in six years, but she noticed the subtle differences. More stock and variety on the shelves, more visitors on the streets, but the country vibe remained. People seemed to smile more and move a little slower than in the city.