Chapter 31
Brookes wanted to comfort Harper; to hold her and make all the pain go away. She refused to come inside and instead got back in her car and drove off. He stood there with Rover with the dust settling before them.
He patted Rover and went back inside, trying to keep his mind occupied working on the next job. The tradies had done what they could and after a quick check; he was satisfied nothing required any rework. It was rare these days, but he’d gotten lucky. The rest he would do himself. The structural engineer had come through and gave her tick of approval, which was a massive relief. He’d stayed positive for Harper’s sake, but at the back of his mind the ‘what ifs’ had kept him up at night.
He checked his watch. Leo was probably busy, so he tried Pete on the off chance that he might have some time off. He did, and he was happy to meet. Brookes had enough time to tire Rover out, shower, change and get over to the golf course. When he arrived, Pete was already waiting for him on the green.
‘I’m surprised the wife let you out?’ He came up to him and they shook hands and embraced in a bro hug.
‘She went out with the girls on Friday night and spent half the day in bed yesterday while I took care of the kids. I can’t remember the last time I was so tired. She might not work full time at the café, but her job with those three is ten times harder.’
‘So you left her for a round of golf?’
‘She was practically shoving me out the door,’ he said. ‘And warned me there’d be hell to pay if I wasn’t back to help with dinner.’
‘Well, we better get started then,’ Brookes said, slapping him gently on the back, then picking up his clubs and moving onto the first hole.
He didn’t get down to the golf course as often as he would have liked, and today was a combination of getting his mind off things and putting things into perspective.
‘You’re off your game, mate,’ Pete said when they reached the third hole.
He was behind by four points, which was unusual because he usually came up ahead by a mile. ‘Must be something wrong with the clubs.’
‘You sure it’s not what’s going on up here?’ Pete said, tapping his index finger on his forehead.
‘Am I that transparent?’
‘How long have I known you, mate? Ten years, longer. You and Harper were a thing. You had plans to marry her, and then she left. Those feelings don’t just switch off.’
He had wanted to marry her. He was going to propose. He’d been planning just the right way to do it. She didn’t like surprises; however, it was the one time he wanted something extra special for her. She hadn’t given him the chance. She broke off their relationship and left without a real explanation before he had a chance to ask. He hadn’t told too many people about his plans to propose. Pete. Leo. Georgia. No one else knew, not even Harper. When Brookes didn’t respond, Pete continued,
‘You still love her, don’t you?’
Brookes concentrated, positioning himself to take a swing on the fourth hole. He pivoted, swung and hit the ball. It went flying across the course until it fell somewhere near the green. Finally, a decent shot. ‘It doesn’t matter how I feel. She’s not staying.’
‘Have you told her?’
‘I’m not making a fool out of myself.’
Pete smiled, paused and took his shot. It looked like it might have landed not far from where Brookes’ ball lay.
‘You know, when I fell for Nat, I made a fool out of myself for months. She wouldn’t even give me a second glance until I professed my feelings a half dozen times. I don’t think she took me seriously.’
‘Well mate, you were punching far above your weight.’
‘Thanks, nice to know what you think of me,’ Pete said and laughed. ‘Yeah, I definitely scored in that department. Anyway, my point is, you got to tell her how you feel. How else is she going to know?’
‘She knows. And it doesn’t matter.’
‘Sometimes you gotta tell them straight.’
‘Her boyfriend showed up.’
‘I heard it was an ex-boyfriend.’
Brookes laughed. ‘So, you’ve already heard the story?’
‘You know how fast news travels around here. Everyone knows everything before you do.’
‘Ain’t that the truth.’
‘So, you can’t use that as an excuse.’
‘It doesn’t matter how I feel, Pete. Harper doesn’t want to stay here, and I sure as hell won’t be moving to the city.’
‘Well, that just tells me you’re both stubborn as a constipated bull.’
‘I haven’t seen one of those before.’
‘You don’t want to.’
They reached the green.
‘Looks like yours is closer.’
Brookes positioned himself again and got ready for the putt. The ball went in.
‘Nice one.’
Pete did the same.
‘Why does it have to be one or the other?’ Pete said.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘It’s a three-hour car trip not two days on a donkey, mate. If she was living on the other side of the world, then yeah, it might be hard. But Harper is in Brisbane. It’s reachable. There are weekends.’
‘I don’t want weekends.’
‘You don’t want to compromise.’
‘There’s nothing to compromise on. Harper doesn’t feel the same way.’
‘Has she said that to you?’
‘Not in so many words. Her actions say enough, though.’
Pete raised an eyebrow.
‘You heard about that, too?’
‘The only person who you are fooling is yourself, Brookes. Don’t leave it too late, otherwise you might lose the love of your life forever.’
The only thing he was certain of was that he wasn’t going to force Harper to do anything. She had to decide for herself. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t make the offer more attractive to her.
They played a few more holes, making small talk. Brookes’ game didn’t improve much more as they progressed, but he felt some of the tension pass. By the end of hole nine, Brookes was on a 42 and Pete on 37. Drinks were on Brookes. They sat down and he grabbed two beers. They clunked and sipped before staring at the sports screen.
‘There’s another rumour going around,’ Pete said.
‘I tried to avoid rumours.’
‘You and Harper back at it.’
‘I think this heart-to-heart requires another beer.’
Brookes got up and grabbed two more.
When he returned, Pete was on the phone, ending a conversation with his wife.
‘Kids are playing up. Wants me to pick up some ice cream for the rhubarb pie. As if they need more sugar to sweeten them up.’ Pete said as he took the beer Brookes past.
Brookes always liked the relationship Pete had with Nat. They were polar opposites, but they worked well in a synchronised fashion. It was a combination of mutual respect and understanding. Each one played to their strengths and supported each other’s weaknesses. Sure, they had their marital woes. He couldn’t imagine anyone not having them after a decade or two of marriage, but they had each other.
He had imagined something of the sort for him and Harper once. Harper would do what she wanted to do, and he would support that, but they would be together. The passion that was there the other night would still be there as they grew older. He wanted to ravish her; to share his dreams with her; he wanted her opinion, and he wanted her in his bed. He had loved her then, and he loved her now, but the passion he felt, the yearning, was much stronger than he’d anticipated was possible. It didn’t matter how many dates he’d gone on, how many women he’d bedded, and there hadn’t been as many as some assumed. He compared them all to Harper. For a while, he’d thought there was something wrong with him and he fought the feelings, focused on everything else that was important in his life.
‘She wants to sell it,’ Brookes said. Saying the words out loud ignited a fire within him.
‘You obviously don’t.’
‘Hell no. She’d have to shoot me point blank for that to happen.’
‘That’s a bit dramatic.’
‘I see an opportunity. I’m not going to jeopardise it. I’ll buy her out if I have to. Sell the house, get a mortgage.’
‘You think that would cover half?’
‘Maybe, I don’t know. The market has been up recently. Funnily enough, the ex that paid her a visit here is in real estate, should have asked him straight out.’
Pete laughed. ‘Is he still around?’
‘Apparently, he left this morning. Not sure what she saw in him, completely not her type.’
‘You mean not you?’
‘He didn’t really know her.’
‘But you do.’
‘I thought I did.’
They sat for a while longer after they finished the beer. Chatted loosely about the vineyard, about Georgia, about Pete’s business and plans for the future. He was happy and Brookes was happy for him.
After Pete left to return to his family, Brookes remained seated, staring at out onto the golf course. His thoughts drifted back and forth between Harper and Mathers Vineyard. He had a vision, and he wanted to realise it. No, he was going to realise it, with or without Harper. He just hoped that she would stick around to see it.