Chapter 4
The winter nights in the Granite Belt were cold, but the sun during the day still had the potential to burn. Harper was glad she’d put on the wide-brimmed hat to cover her face. Her hands were dirty, and the soil had gotten stuck under her nails. It had been a while since she’d done this sort of work — an honest day of work. It was hard labour but strangely satisfying. Had it always been that way, or was it because she had been away for that long that now something that was mundane had transformed into a novelty? She was going to enjoy the moment, regardless.
She pulled out weeds and removed dead and decaying vines, handling each one with care so not to hurt the healthy ones. Leo had been hesitant at first to let her touch them, but she had insisted. She might not have touched a vine in years, but thankfully the knowledge of what to do had stayed. It was like riding a bicycle, and after all, she had done it for the first twenty-eight years of her life.
‘You look very relaxed here, my dear.’
Harper turned to see Georgia standing over her. She hadn’t heard her aunt walk up. Had she been lost in thought that much?
‘It’s hard not to relax here.’
Georgia smiled. ‘Have some lemonade. Home made with our own lemons. The trees were very generous this year.’
Harper took the glass and had a sip. There was a slight burn to her throat. ‘Georgia, there’s something more than lemonade in this.’
The old woman smiled cheekily. ‘It’s after ten o’clock. It’s not illegal.’
Harper laughed and took another sip. ‘It’s deliciously refreshing.’
‘And there’s more where that came from.’
‘I think this is enough for me,’ Harper said. ‘Otherwise, I might need a midday nap.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ Georgia raised her arms. ‘The Italians do it, as do the Spanish. Nothing wrong with us, Australians doing it too.’
‘You’re absolutely right,’ she said and took another sip.
‘I’m going into town in a bit, if you want to join me,’ Georgia said.
Her hands hurt a bit and after two hours in the sun she could use a break, and it would give her one-on-one time to chat with Georgia.
‘That sounds great. Let me just freshen up. But Georgia…’ Harper started to say.
‘I haven’t taken a sip. I’ll see you in the car in twenty minutes.’ Georgia, as usual, had to have the last word.
It tookHarper eighteen minutes to clean up and put away the tools she’d been using, shower off the dirt and sweat, and brush her hair so she didn’t look like a scarecrow herself. She quickly dressed, grabbed her purse and was standing by the car when Georgia came out of the house.
‘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 leftthe 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.
Harper pushed the trolley while Georgia filled it up. They were often stopped in the aisles for a quick catch up. People knew Georgia well and not just for her bold eccentricities. A few people recognised Harper too, and she made polite conversations and told everyone she was just in town for a few days. Some looked her up and down, others stared at her for a little too long for comfort, and at one point she felt as if someone was glaring at her, but when she turned, there was no one there. It could have just been a bout of paranoia, and she brushed it off. As they reached the fresh seafood counter, Georgia decided that a prawn entrée was a good idea. ‘How many people are you expecting to feed?’
‘Everyone is hungry after a day in the vineyard, and they all appreciate a good meal. I try to cook something special at least once a week. Keeps me busy and everyone coming back for more.’
‘Well, they say that the road to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think that might apply to most people.’
‘It seems so in this family.’
‘Will Sara be there?’
Georgia pursed her lips, and her eyes glazed over as if she was thinking about something. There was a hesitation in her response and Harper knew she wasn’t telling her everything. ‘Sara is out of town right now.’
Harper knew not to probe further. When Leo was ready, he would speak up about Sara. Until then, she had to remain patient. She was looking forward to seeing her siblings again, but at the same time there was an apprehension there too. It had been a long time. Would they be more like strangers or long-time friends? Would there be awkwardness, or could they converse and laugh like old times? She may have gotten a warm reception from Georgia, but her brother had put up his own barrier when she’d arrived. She didn’t know what to expect from Tyler and Zoe.