Between the Vines (35 page)

“It's the most important one on the page,” Taylor retaliated. Ed's negativity was wearing thin. “No-one else can answer that one for you.”

Ed squeezed his lips together.

She picked up the picture of the men planting the vines and propped it against some wine bottles. “This might help. You're a bit more than five years on from when it was taken but I thought it might help you remember.”

Pete shut out Ed's grumbles and tried to focus on the page in front of him. Noelene and Taylor had left them to it but it wasn't the business plan he was thinking about, it was Taylor. Not just because everything she'd said had made sense but because of the way she'd said it. She'd been so professional, thorough and caring in her presentation. She'd obviously done her homework. He'd found himself studying her as she spoke. He loved the sound of her voice, the curve of her lips, the way she absentmindedly flicked stray hair from her eyes.

He thought back to her determined words before the others came. There was no relationship between her and Ed. She didn't love his brother. If she hadn't gone on to explain why she was in the cellar door today, if Noelene and Ed hadn't turned up when they did, he might have…

“Bloody hell.” Ed's explosion broke the silence.

“What's the matter?”

“She might as well ask what colour our underwear is and what we ate for breakfast. This will take hours.”

“Just do the first page so we can give it back to Taylor. The rest we'll do later.” Pete studied Ed's brooding face. “I think we need this if we're to have any chance of making a future for Wriggly Creek – together.”

“I've told you Zhu has made an offer.”

“You don't have to accept it.”

“I need to make a change.”

Pete still couldn't believe Ed would sell out on him. “I thought Wriggly Creek was your dream, like it was Dad's, and like it is mine, but I'm not going to stand in your way if leaving is what you really
want.”

Ed held his gaze a moment, his expression unreadable, then he looked back at the paperwork. “Let's get this done. I've got other things I should be doing.”

Pete studied his outline. Ed was proud, he acted tough but Pete was sure he was covering something. There was more than the Chinese offer at stake here. Hopefully this idea of Taylor's might shake out whatever was really bothering Ed.

Taylor dropped the papers she'd been reading on the table and tugged the sleeves of her jumper over her hands. The sunshine wasn't providing the warmth in the room like it used to. Ed and Pete had called in to collect their meal the night after the planning meeting. Both had left their first page with her and made garbled promises to deliver the rest soon. That had been Tuesday night, today was Thursday. She hadn't crossed paths with them yesterday and in the evening they'd called in for their meal and left with it. There was little more than a quick smile from Pete and a half-nod and grunt of thanks from Ed.

So much about what they'd written for where they imagined Wriggly Creek and themselves in five years' time was the same. Of course Ed had prefaced his with the message that he was planning to sell but for the sake of the document he was ignoring that prospect and imagining staying on. Taylor shivered and tucked her hands between her knees. It worried her that Noelene was putting such store in her being able to get the brothers to see they both wanted the same outcome. That was the easy bit really. It was the how that differed and they were poles apart with that.

She really needed them to give her the rest of the information, the facts and figures, projections, markets, production and equipment details before she could go any further and that wasn't forthcoming yet.

She glanced across at the meat thawing on the sink. She had plans for a chicken and veg casserole tonight, a meal she could easily create a vegetarian portion from before she added the chicken. She shook her head and berated herself under her breath.
Antoine appreciated her food and she was happy to eat vegetarian. She knew she should leave the ungrateful Starr brothers to their own devices. She had an image of Cass saying more than that.

She pushed back from the table and paced the room. Something kept her here. Even though she'd first come looking for Ed and that was over almost before it began, she'd stayed. Wriggly Creek had got under her skin and not only that, she had to be honest. It was Pete. His ruffled curls, his dreamy eyes, his ready smile. Taylor groaned. How could she trust herself? She'd got it so wrong with Ed.

“Hello?”

She sucked in a breath. Pete was at her door.

She put a hand to her chest. “Calm, be calm,” she whispered.

He knocked. “Taylor?”

She stepped around the open wooden door and peered through the screen. “I'm here.”

He pulled the screen open, his face a mask of worry.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, not exactly.” He turned his lips up in a smile. “I keep asking for your help. I'm sorry to do it again but Antoine and Ben are busy and Ed's…I don't know where he is.”

“I'm on the payroll now. You know I'll do whatever's needed.” She smiled at him. “Unless it involves spiders.”

He frowned again. “I'm sorry.”

“I'm kidding.” She looked at his furrowed brow. “I know you wouldn't intentionally put me in that position.”

“No. There won't be spiders.” He scratched at the curls on his neck. “Can you help Noelene in the cellar door? She's very busy today. It's looking like being another big Easter weekend.”

“Of course. Where's the week gone? It's Good Friday tomorrow.” Taylor had forgotten all about the stash of chocolate eggs and hot cross buns she'd put away. If it was just her and Antoine they'd have a bit of eating to do. “I was going to head to the cellar door soon anyway. I love working over there with Noelene. I just have to
stop by the lab and I'll go straight over from there.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

Taylor was rewarded with a huge smile from Pete. She had to look away a moment. Her heart thumped in her chest. When he smiled it was as if the world lit up. He hovered a moment, then left. She put the meat in the fridge, collected her hat and jacket and set off. The sunshine was weak today. Scattered clouds left little room for any warmth to shine through. The chilly breeze ruffled the leaves of the vines, now mainly yellow with splashes of orange and red. She passed Pete's cottage. Like the rows of vines behind her the leaves on the NS18 vines were also changing to the colours of autumn. She'd loved the green but the variation in colours now was more picturesque.

She was humming as she approached the winery office. Not the weather, or even Frosty Felicity, was going to dampen her mood today. At the front corner of the building she paused. She could just see the back of a sleek black car parked close to the trees by the road rather than in the car park.

Taylor pushed open the door to the office. A big man in a suit straightened up from leaning over Felicity's desk. Felicity glanced past him to Taylor, a surprised look on her face.

“Hello, Taylor.” Felicity's voice was a little too loud. “Taylor's been our extra help over vintage, Mr Archer.”

The man flicked a look at Taylor. She could tell by his expression he discounted her as of no importance.

“I'll let Edward know you called.” Felicity spoke loudly as if for Taylor's benefit rather than his.

He gave a sharp grunt in response and made his way outside.

Taylor watched him walk in the direction of the car. Black car, big man, bald head: was he the one who'd been looking over the fence at the NS18 grapes just before they were picked?

“Who was that man?” She looked back to Felicity.

“A business friend of Edward's.” Felicity turned away, dismissing
Taylor. She began to rearrange things on her desk. A sheaf of papers slipped from her fingers and fluttered across the floor.

Taylor left her to it. A small grin turned up the corners of her mouth as she let herself through the lunchroom door into the lab behind. Flustered Felicity. She was compiling a good list of ‘F' words for the office madam.

Edward entered the cellar door from the front. There were three groups at the bar and another couple standing off to the side looking at the photos on the wall. He made his way behind the counter to help Noelene and baulked at the large numbers of glasses waiting to be washed.

“You've been busy,” he said as she finished explaining the cab sauv to the customers.

“It's been like this since I opened the door. Did Peter send you?”

“I haven't seen him today.”

“Oh well, doesn't matter. Do you want to wash dishes or serve customers?”

“I'll serve.”

“Of course you will.” Noelene lifted a tray of glasses and smiled at the cab sauv drinkers. “Edward is one of the Starr brothers I was telling you about. He'll help you with any wine purchases you'd like.”

“Are you the winemaker?” one of the group asked.

Edward pulled his face into a smile. “No, that's my brother but we work closely together. It's a family business.”

The banter rolled easily off his tongue. The room was full of happy customers, he didn't want to scare any off, besides, it was no hardship to smile here. He usually enjoyed the cellar door. This was where he felt most comfortable. He was good at talking to people. He mightn't make the wine but he knew how to talk about it, how to sell it.

When they left, the group had bought the equivalent of three dozen between them. He was happy with that. He wiped down the
bar and checked the tasting stock. Noelene came in with a tray of clean glasses.

“Thanks,” she said. “It's good to have another pair of hands.”

“Always a pleasure working with you, Noelene.” Edward turned one of his big smiles on her.

She gave his shoulder a playful slap. “Save your charm for the customers. It's wasted on me, Edward Starr.” She put the clean glasses away.

He put more bottles in the remaining fridge. They still hadn't got around to replacing the one that had died months ago. The whole counter area could do with a remodel but that was another expense.

“How's that business plan writing coming along?”

He straightened up. “Getting there.”

“You are taking this seriously, aren't you Edward?”

“You know how busy things are. I don't have hours to spend on it right now.”

“But this plan might be the chance to salvage everything, get Wriggly Creek and you and Peter back on track.”

Edward stretched his neck from one side to the other.

“You've worked yourself into a corner haven't you?” Noelene glared at him.

“What do you mean?” He tried to evade her searching eyes.

“You don't really want to sell everything? You're trying to frighten Peter into doing things your way. You've always been able to manipulate him and you thought you could bluff him into selling part of his share to get you to stay.”

Edward swore in frustration. Noelene had always been able to work him out, just like his mother, only she wasn't his mother. No matter how much he tried not to think about his parents he couldn't help the reminders that he missed them. “You don't know what you're talking about. You always take Peter's side.”

Noelene laughed.

“I don't find it funny,” he snapped.

“Of course you wouldn't.”

“It's as if I'm invisible.”

Noelene's smile disappeared. “You're hardly that.”

He put both hands on the counter and pressed against it. “I've busted my butt keeping us afloat but no-one cares about that. I'm the one who gets out and sells the bloody wine. Even here at the cellar door everyone wants to meet the winemaker. Peter would stay with his nose in a barrel all day if we let him.”

Noelene went to speak but the front door opened and happy voices announced the next lot of customers.

She greeted them with a smile. “Welcome to Wriggly Creek. Is everyone tasting today?”

Edward took a deep breath and moved away for a moment. The vine-planting photo caught his eye. It had been hung on the wall near the head shots of his family. He turned at the sound of Taylor's voice from behind the counter. She must have come through the back door as the customers came in the front. She could help Noelene.

No doubt hanging that blasted picture was Taylor's idea. She glanced in his direction. He made for the door. When he reached it he looked back over the customers' heads. Taylor was chatting happily as if she'd been selling wine all her life. He tugged open the door and let himself out into the chilly day. Everything was going pear-shaped.

Taylor inhaled the spicy smell of warm hot cross buns which mingled with the savoury of egg and bacon pies. Her mouth watered. She'd woken early and after tossing and turning she'd given up on sleep and snuck into the kitchen, closing the passage door behind her. She'd decided to cook but if she couldn't sleep in, at least Antoine should get the chance.

She ran water in the sink and started washing the dishes she'd used for cooking. Easter had arrived so suddenly. She didn't want to acknowledge the swift passing of time. There wouldn't be much for her to do soon and no excuse for her to stay. She hoped at least her legacy would be to help the Starr brothers develop a business plan that might keep them and Wriggly Creek together.

She'd asked Ed and Pete to come for breakfast and they'd both agreed. Even though they hadn't stayed to eat the chicken casserole she'd made last night for dinner she'd been heartened by their response to breakfast. Noelene had been invited too but her husband was home for a couple of days. Taylor had offered to cover her Saturday cellar door shift and to her surprise Noelene had accepted.