Chapter 2
Harper tossed and turned after she had finally made her way to the guest room and lay down to sleep. Calling it a guest room was too formal; it used to be her room, and it had changed little. The sheets were plainer and there was a vase of fresh flowers on the bedside dresser. When she’d opened the wardrobe, some of her old clothes still hung there. It felt like time had stopped and she had gone back six years. Had they really counted on her coming back? Leo hadn’t told her a thing, and she’d been none the wiser going to bed.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun streamed through the window. Someone yelled something incoherent, and she recognised her brother’s voice as he responded, then a mower roared to life, obliterating the chirping birds and outdoor chatter.
Harper reached for her phone and checked the time — half past seven — she had only slept five hours, but it felt like two. Her head hurt, but it wasn’t from the wine — she’d barely drunk a glass. It was more the fact that her mind refused to shut off; even in sleep, the dreams haunting her made no sense at all. She shouldn’t have come; it would be best if she left by sundown.
Getting out of bed, she grabbed the towel from the chair and went into the bathroom to freshen up. She showered, brushed her teeth, and dressed, trying to leave the minimal amount of mess behind her. She dabbed a bit of concealer around her eyes to camouflage the hollows, and finished off with a touch of lip gloss. It was out of habit, not necessity. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Leaving her bag on the edge of the bed, she glanced out the window.
The stretch of vineyard took her breath away. She never denied it was a beautiful sight, even in the winter months when the vines were bare. This morning the sun shone brightly, leaving glistening rays on the morning dew. In the distance, Leo was saddled on the ride-on mower moving through the vineyard. The grass had to be kept neat and short, for appearance, but also to keep the snakes at bay. She allowed herself a few more moments before turning away and making her way into the kitchen with thoughts of coffee. A note lay on the table.
Help yourself to breakfast.
Harper glanced around the kitchen counter in search of a coffee machine. There wasn’t one. She opened the pantry door and found some ground coffee beans. She put a heaped spoonful in a cup and waited for the water to boil. In the meantime, she snooped around, opening and closing drawers and cupboards. Not much had changed in the time she was gone.
What happened to Sara? Leo had been cagey when she mentioned Sara, and she hadn’t wanted to pry. Okay, so maybe she wanted to pry a little, but she knew that if her brother didn’t want to talk about something, there was no point in asking. Besides, it wasn’t any of her business since she didn’t live here anymore. He’d tell her when he was ready.
The kettle boiled, and she poured the steaming liquid over the ground coffee beans. The fresh aroma hit her immediately, awakening her senses before she got her first taste.
She thought back to last night. They had made small talk. Leo had emphasised that what had to be said involved the entire family and that meant they all had to be in one room, together. She wasn’t sure how he would achieve that, but he didn’t think it was going to be an issue. ‘You were the weakest link,’ he had said. That hadn’t left her with the greatest feeling at all. She wasn’t weak, and she had made the effort to come back because they wanted her to. Sure, she’d argued that it wasn’t necessary, but Leo had persisted until she finally obliged.
‘Look what the cat dragged in.’
Harper recognised the country drawl immediately. She turned and smiled as her aunt stood in the doorway, an Akubra hat on her head and a piece of grass in between her lips.
‘Didn’t think I’d live to see the day you would be standing in this kitchen again,’ her aunt said, embracing her tightly.
Harper hadn’t felt such warmth from anyone in a long time.
When they pulled apart, Harper noticed a tear in her aunt’s eye, before she could say anything her aunt moved away and opened the fridge.
‘How have you been, Georgia?’ Harper picked up her coffee cup and allowed it to warm her hands before taking a sip.
‘It doesn’t matter what day it is; the vines need their pruning. Bloody needy things they are.’
Harper laughed. ‘So, Leo is working you to the bone.’
‘What else is an old woman like me to do? I’m not exactly the crocheting type.’
‘There’s always chess, or dancing.’
Georgia laughed. ‘Me and my two left feet. No, I’ll leave that for the younger generation. And the crocheting group kicked me out for using my foul mouth. I’m happy with my vines.’ She looked up and did the sign of the cross, then touched the wooden table. ‘Pray help for a good season and what we have in store is going to be the talk of the town.’
‘We?’
Georgia hesitated. ‘The three of us. Leo, Brookes, and little old me.’
Harper swallowed hard, then took a sip of the coffee that was now drinking temperature. When she didn’t respond, Georgia continued, ‘You haven’t seen him yet, have you?’
Harper shook her head. She had hoped to avoid the encounter. Running into Brookes was not part of the plan. She had hoped that if she came in late, stayed only a day or two, there wouldn’t be a chance she’d run into him at all, but that had been foolish thinking. ‘No, I probably won’t. I’m going to have to leave tomorrow.’
‘I thought you came for a longer visit?’ Georgia said with a downcast eye.
She was the one person Harper didn’t want to disappoint. She’d been like a second mother to her since her parents passed. ‘I am. I was. I probably shouldn’t have come,’ Harper said, taking the last sip of coffee before rinsing it under the tap and putting it in the dishwasher.
‘Harper Eloise McGregor, this is your home. Always has been, always will be, no matter what you keep telling yourself. No one asked you to leave, and you do not need to be invited to visit. That is your choice. It always has been. I respect that. You have your reasons, but never, for one second, insult me in that way and say such things as you shouldn’t have come as if to say that you are not welcome here.’
She didn’t know how to respond. It was as if her voice was stuck in her throat.
‘Harper, you made it all this way. You are not leaving tomorrow.’ With that, her aunt walked out of the kitchen without another word. The decision was made. Harper was staying, whether she liked it or not. Georgia was never one to force anything on anyone, but when she spoke, people listened. The family listened. That’s just the way things worked in the McGregor household and had worked for a long time now.
Harper had been worried about seeing the family, especially Georgia, her no-nonsense aunt. There was always an inkling of a feeling that she’d disappointed the older woman, that leaving had hurt immensely. Of course, she never showed it, and even over the years, she’d remembered birthdays and holidays, and called just to say hi. She was the only family they had left. If Harper was going to stay, she might as well make herself useful.
Back in the guest room, she found an old pair of blue jeans that were a little loose in all the right places, a T-shirt that wouldn’t mind getting dirty, and she dusted off a pair of work-boots that looked like they had been waiting for the owner to return to. Just maybe, a part of her was glad for it.
The sun was going to be a scorcher on this late winter’s day, and she grabbed a wide-brimmed hat. She wasn’t sure what exactly she was going to do. It had been a long time since she’d worked the vines and hoped that her knowledge and abilities didn’t dissipate over the years from lack of practice.
Outside, Harper followed the noise. Leo had transitioned to the other side of the vineyard. Her gaze shifted, and she saw Georgia pruning a vine closer to the house. She looked like she was singing as she gently handled the plant, picking off any dead or damaged areas and throwing them in a bucket by her feet. The noise of the ride-on grew closer and as she went down the verandah steps, Leo pulled up beside her.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Helping out.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You working the vines?’
‘It’s not like I haven’t done it before.’
‘There’s a rake over there. That freshly mowed grass needs some work. We’re looking to adjust the irrigation system tomorrow. We’ve been having issues with water pooling when it rains.’
Harper smiled as widely as she could. ‘Done. Let me know if there’s anything else.’ Then, releasing the tension, she walked towards the rake. Leo may not have wanted her help in the vineyard, but he had pushed her to come back. She wasn’t going to just sit around and wait for God knows what.
‘Tyler is coming this afternoon. We can talk then,’ he called as she was walking away.
Harper turned. ‘And Zoe?’
‘She had plans in town this morning. She’ll be back later.’
Her siblings, all under one roof again. It had been so long. She wasn’t sure whether she should be nervous or excited. There may have even been a little fear in the pit of her stomach. And then there was Brookes. The longer she stayed, the higher the chance that she would run into him. The one thing she hoped to avoid.