Between the Vines (32 page)

Her smile brightened and she wiggled out closing the door behind her.

Edward sat back in his chair. He had some calls to make but mostly all he had to do was wait. He was confident Peter would come round to his way of thinking now. He still couldn't believe Peter had picked the NS18 behind his back but he did understand why. Edward dragged his fingers through his hair and winced as he snagged a knot. He hadn't showered this morning. He'd make the calls and go home to freshen up. He picked up his phone and scrolled to Angus Archer's name. He didn't anticipate it would be a congenial call.

Pete went through the paces, pouring the wine, explaining its qualities, smiling at the customers. He felt like a man possessed. Burning just below the surface of his carefully constructed facade was an anger so strong it hurt. Edward had betrayed him, not only him but their parents' dream. Pete heard his brother's words again. ‘I'm selling my share of the winery.'

Pete had first option of course but Ed knew he didn't have the kind of money needed to buy his brother out. Ed had gone ahead and found a possible buyer. Mr Zhu who had visited Wriggly Creek was interested. Pete had initially thought it was Ed's way of getting
back at him over the new cabernet except he had to have been working on this deal with Zhu for a long time.

Finally the steady stream of visitors dwindled to none. As soon as the door shut on the last customer Noelene rounded on him. Her sharp gaze locked with his.

“What's the matter?”

Pete picked up a rack of glasses. “What makes you think anything's the matter?”

“Stop right there.” Noelene put her hand on the glasses forcing him to put down the tray. “You've been like a bear with a sore head. It's a wonder the customers bought anything from you. Vintage is almost finished. I know you're tired.” She peered even more closely at him. “You look terrible but usually you're jubilant at this time of year.”

Pete shrugged. He wasn't ready to talk about this.

“Is it Taylor?”

He pursed his lips feeling the tension in his body. He was trying so hard not to think of her. He'd let his guard down, let himself fall for her, then he'd found her with Ed, hand-in-hand. “No.”

Noelene's eyes narrowed. “What then?”

Pete's shoulders sagged under her piercing look.

“Is it the new cabernet you're still fighting over?”

“It's more than that. Ed and I want different directions for the winery. He's changing everything.”

“How?”

“He's selling his share of the winery to some Chinese company who knows nothing about us.”

Noelene glanced towards the back door then back at Pete. “I see.”

“Of course you would.” He felt the anger that had abated during the afternoon surface again. “You always take Ed's side.”

“Do I?”

Pete picked up the tray of glasses again. Noelene still pinned him with her piercing look but she didn't try to stop him from carrying
them to the back room. He ran the water and began washing. He had a stack of glasses to get through. At least it was a job where he didn't have to think. The front door banged. He heard voices. None of them were Noelene's. Finally a voice called out hello.

Pete dried his hands and stepped out to the front room. Four people stood on the other side of the counter but there was no sign of Noelene.

Taylor eased into the kitchen, closing the heavy door to the winery silently behind her. The two coffee cups she and Ed had left this morning still sat on the table. She could hear the sound of Felicity's nails on the keyboard. Ed's office door was open. Taylor tiptoed over and peered around the frame. The room was empty.

She fancied a cup of coffee again now. One that she'd drink this time. There was a clunk from the front office. The sound of the main door opening and then closing. Taylor froze with the kettle in her hand. She could manage Felicity if she had to but she didn't know how to deal with Pete or Ed at the moment.

“Hello, Noelene.” Felicity's voice almost purred.

“I've come to see Edward.”

“He went out a while ago.”

“Do you know where?”

“He didn't tell me. I heard the back door and his office is empty.”

“I see.” Noelene's tone was dismissive. “Thanks.”

“Do you know what's going on?”

“With what?”

“Edward and Peter. They've both been acting strange.”

“It's nearly the end of vintage. They're tired.”

“No,” Felicity persisted. “It's more than that. Something's not right between them and you know who I blame?”

“No but I'm sure you're going to tell me.”

“That witch, Taylor.”

Taylor sucked in a breath. That's what happened when you listened in on other people's conversations, you heard things you didn't like. Another of her mother's sayings. Now Taylor worried she
might make a noise and they'd discover her.

“That's unkind.”

Taylor sent Noelene a little vote of thanks.

“It's true. Ever since she's come here there's been trouble between Edward and Peter.”

“Rubbish.” Noelene's tone was sharp, matter-of-fact. “There was always going to be trouble between those two one day. They've managed to keep it below the surface but it's been bubbling along waiting for the moment to explode. Nothing to do with Taylor.”

Taylor eased the kettle back onto the bench. At least Noelene sounded as if she was a genuine friend.

“Are you sure Edward's not here?”

“Look for yourself but I heard him go through the door into the winery.”

Taylor tensed.

“I'll go through that way.” Noelene's voice came closer. “See if I can find him.”

Taylor made a dash for the door, yanked it open and spun to face the kitchen as if she was just coming in.

Noelene stopped at the sight of her. “Hello, Taylor. Have you seen Edward?”

“No.” Her face felt hot. “I was going to make a cup of coffee.” She waved at the cups on the table. “Didn't get a chance to drink mine this morning.”

“You don't happen to know what's going on between Edward and Peter, do you?”

Taylor started to shake her head but she had the feeling Noelene could see straight through her. “Maybe…some of it.”

“How about I make us a coffee and you tell me what you know.”

Taylor sat down. She felt Noelene was giving a command rather than making an offer.

Felicity stuck hershead around the corner.

“Oh,” she said. “I heard voices. I thought you'd found Edward.”

“No, but we're all good here, thank you, Felicity.” Noelene's voice
was firm. “You can go back to work.”

Taylor watched the young woman's eyes narrow and her lips purse. Her look was lost on Noelene whose back was turned but Taylor felt the full force of her glare. Felicity lingered a moment then spun on her high heels and left them to it.

“There we are.” Noelene placed two cups on the table and took a seat opposite Taylor.

Taylor wrapped her fingers around the cup. Today had been the first time she'd felt cold since she'd arrived. Thin grey clouds had hidden the sun most of the day and now in the late afternoon there was a chill in the air.

“Let's keep our voices low.” Noelene nodded her head towards the wall behind Taylor. “We don't want madam's flapping ears hearing any more than she already has. She always adds two and two to come up with six.”

“I probably don't know much more than you,” Taylor began. “I think it's mainly over Pete picking the special cabernet grapes.”

“I noticed they were gone when I walked up here. I thought Edward had lined up machine harvesters for that.”

“He might have.” Taylor paused as she recalled Pete's request she not tell Noelene about the hand-picking but it was done now. “Pete wanted to hand-pick it.”

“It's a wonder he didn't call me. I could have helped.”

“I guess he knew it was your day off,” Taylor said quickly. “And he had plenty of pickers.”

Noelene raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

“I think he was happy with how it all worked out but…” Taylor wasn't sure how much to say.

“But?”

“Ed didn't know it was going to be picked on Wednesday. He was away from the winery all day as it turned out but he was fairly angry when he got back and saw it had been picked.”

“I'm sure he would have been. He did have some ideas brewing.”

“More than some.” Taylor felt the need to defend Pete. “Ed's
been meeting with some Chinese businessmen. I'm not sure what he's meeting with them about but I am sure he's trying to keep it from Pete.”

“So it's true.”

“What's true?”

Noelene didn't answer. She sat back and shook her head. “Those boys. I blame Neil and Pearl. If they were still here none of this would be happening.”

“I thought their plane crash was an accident.”

“It was. A terrible, terrible accident. But every now and then I feel angry at them for dying. Especially when I see their two boys struggling.”

Taylor sipped her coffee. She wasn't at all comfortable with this conversation.

“So.” Taylor jumped as Noelene tapped the table. “What's to be done?”

“I don't know if there's anything that can be done,” Taylor said. “They have diametrically opposing ideas on how to run this business.”

“I don't agree. They have some common ground. They both love the place. They're proud of their parents' achievements. They both want to produce good wine. I don't know what Ed thinks he's up to but I can't imagine him walking away from Wriggly Creek.”

“Why would he do that?'

“Pete seems to think he's selling his share to the Chinese. I don't believe it.”

They both sipped their coffees.

Taylor thought about the other wineries she'd visited. She wondered if the same things went on behind the scenes there. The seed of an idea began to form.

“What is it?”

Noelene's question surprised her. “Nothing.”

“You looked brighter all of a sudden. You've thought of something.”

“I might be wrong.”

“About what?”

Taylor rubbed her hands together to keep the warmth now that her cup was empty. “I think what Ed and Pete need is a business plan.”

“Good idea.”

Taylor's little glimmer of hope faltered. “Surely they'd already have one?”

“Maybe they do but it's not working for them. Is it something you could help them with?”

“Oh.” Taylor suddenly felt silly. “I haven't done a lot of business work since I left the charity job a few years ago.”

“But you must have some idea if you studied business at uni.”

“Ed did too.”

“But he's too close to it.” Noelene jumped up. “You're right.”

“I am?” Taylor eyed her doubtfully.

“They need a business plan and they need it to come from someone who's not involved in the business but someone who cares about both of them.” Noelene fixed her sharp stare on Taylor. A stare that radiated hope.

Taylor shook her head. “I don't think I should–”

“You're the perfect person. You've got the knowledge, you've had the chance to see how the winery works, you've spent time with both Ed and Pete.”

Taylor's cheeks warmed up.

“By that I mean you understand what motivates them, what they want from the business.”

“I'm not sure I do really.”

Noelene came around the table and grasped both of Taylor's hands in her own. “Yes, you do. I'm a firm believer in people coming into other people's lives for a reason. You may be the only person who can stop Edward and Peter from destroying their family business and each other in the process.”

Taylor pulled her hands from Noelene's. “No.” This was not what she wanted. She'd moved to Coonawarra to find new love and a change of lifestyle. She wasn't anyone's saviour. “Anyway, I doubt
they'd listen to anything I said. Neither of them are speaking to me at the moment.”

“Oh, that's just ridiculous. How old are they? Truly Taylor, after all you've done for those two they don't deserve you.”

Taylor felt like her stomach was full of sludge. A heavy weight pressed inside her. She now knew what she'd been trying to hide from herself these last two days. There was no reason to stay. She had to move on. Look for work in another town; maybe over the border in Victoria.

“That's kind of you, Noelene. I can't help but feel I am partly responsible. I came here because Ed and I thought there was something between us. I was wrong. When I broke it off with Ed I should have gone then. Now it's so complicated. I'm better off out of it.”

“What about Peter?”

Taylor lifted her gaze to Noelene who was still standing beside her, one hand on the back of her chair.

“What about him?”

“Surely you can tell he's in love with you.”

Taylor felt her eyebrows shoot up.

“And it's obvious to me that you have feelings for him.” Noelene folded her arms across her chest and grinned. “You two. I should lock you in a room together. I reckon there'd be enough sparks for you to sort it out.”

“What are you sorting out?” Felicity bustled into the kitchen, took a cloth from the sink and began wiping down the bench.

“Nothing that you need be concerned about.”

“I'm finishing up for the day.” Felicity moved to the table. She leaned across in front of Taylor and started wiping. Once again her breasts were in danger of falling out over the top of her low-cut shirt. Taylor suddenly had a new name for her, instead of Frosty Felicity she should be Flaunty Felicity.

“No need to flash your boobs,” Noelene snapped. “There's no-one to impress here.”