Chapter 37
Harper walked through the house, looking out each window. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It was ridiculous because acres of vineyard surrounded the house. And with the long driveway, there was complete privacy from the main road. While her paranoia was justified, it was unrealistic.
‘Want to talk about it?’ Zoe asked.
She didn’t want to talk about her car or the eyes staring at her or the fear creeping up her spine. She needed something to get her mind off it. ‘How was Georgia when you went to see her this afternoon?’ Harper changed the subject as she leaned against the kitchen sink.
‘Frustrated. She’s bossing the nurses around, and I think they’re as eager for her to leave as she is. I’ll go back later again to drop off some treats.’
‘And her illness?’
Zoe sighed. ‘That’s the topic that never gets discussed. She put her foot down and we don’t have a choice but to abide by her wishes. It’s her life.’
‘She’s still so young. It doesn’t seem right.’
‘No, it doesn’t. But she’s mentally capable of making her own decisions, so we have no authority to go against her wishes.’
‘How about you? How are you holding up with everything?’
She realised it was the first time since she’d been here that she asked her sister that. God, she was selfish.
‘You know me. I just go with the flow,’ Zoe said.
Harper smiled. There was something hidden behind that answer. She had no right to pry, but she didn’t want to leave it at that either.
‘That doctor at the hospital was cute. Has he asked you out yet?’
Zoe laughed. ‘I don’t date.’
‘Why not?’
She shrugged. ‘Too much effort for not enough reward.’
‘That’s very cynical. What happened to the Zoe who fell in love with love?’
She smiled, but this time the smile didn’t reach her eyes. ‘She fell out of love.’
Harper reached for her sister’s hand. ‘I’m sorry, Zoe. I didn’t know.’
‘It’s alright. It would have been nice to have my sister here to talk me through it, but that time has passed. It was a few years ago now. It doesn’t matter.’
Her words stung. How much had she missed over the last six years? ‘I’m sorry, Zoe. I’m so sorry I haven’t been here for you over the years.’ And she meant it, and deep down she promised she’d do better.
‘Been and gone. It’s in the past now.’
‘You shouldn’t turn your back on love, though. You’re young, smart and beautiful. There’s someone out there waiting for you to stumble on.’
‘Maybe. More importantly, though, you and Brookes, why do you keep fighting it? That man has it in for you.’
‘That was a long time ago, Zoe. Brookes and I are after completely different things.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘You keep telling yourself that, but the only person you’re fooling is you.’
Maybe, Harper thought. But that’s the way it had to be. She needed to change the subject again.
Harper folded her arms. ‘Do you think Georgia will really sell half the estate?’
Just then, Leo walked in and he must have heard the question, because he was quick to respond. ‘We need an influx of cashflow to keep it running. The last few years, well, let’s just say there have been more bad years than good ones.’
She stepped aside as he washed his hands.
‘Is there something we can do?’ Harper asked.
‘Getting an investor on board is the best strategy at the moment.’
‘Leo, do you really want someone who has no idea about running a vineyard to meddle in your grape growing and wine making?’
‘If it means having sufficient cashflow to continue running this place, then yes.’
‘What about Mathers Vineyard? Couldn’t that be sold to get this place a boost?’
‘The stipulations of the Will state that Mathers Vineyard cannot be sold.’
‘I just don’t get it. Why leave a property to someone and continue to control ownership from the grave?’
‘I’m sure Hugh had his reasons.’
‘What about if Mathers Vineyard started generating an income? Could we transfer it here? I mean, how much are we talking about, Leo?’
‘We need about a hundred thousand to start with. If we want to get the business rolling, we might need five times that amount. That’s why getting an investor on board would help.’
‘It would, but it would also mean outside interference. Do you really want that?’
‘At this point, it doesn’t matter what we want. It’s about what this place needs.’
‘What if I could help?’
‘Do you have a spare half a million lying around?’
‘Not half a million, but enough that could make a difference.’
He shook his head. ‘I can’t make a decision without Georgia. You’d have to speak with her.’
Harper had an idea. She wasn’t certain it would work, but they should at least give it a try. She hated the idea that someone else would run this place, even if she wasn’t the one living there. There was no way the family estate could go to someone else. There was too much history there.
This trip was turning out to be much more than she’d bargained for. And every time she was ready to leave and return to the city, something stopped her.