Chapter 43
Four weeks later
Harper smiled as soonas she passed The Big Apple in Thulimbah. She left the window open with her hair blowing in the wind. Only three days earlier, she’d handed in her resignation. There were no questions, only sincere understanding. They didn’t have to know that it had been her intention all along. The situation with David just provided her with extra motivation to change course.
When she pulled into the driveway at the family estate, Georgia was sitting on the veranda, wearing a straw hat and sipping on a drink. Her aunt smiled and waved as soon as Harper got out of the car. Georgia looked much better than she had when she first got out of the hospital, there was colour back in her cheeks and the cheeky spark in her eye. Under strict doctors’ orders, she was to take it easy. From the phone calls with Zoe, it was a full-time job keeping her away from the hard work.
‘The boys are in the vineyard,’ Georgia said.
Harper went towards her, and they embraced. ‘No surprise there. How are you feeling?’
‘They’re torturing me with all this rest. Zoe even arranged for the crocheting ladies to visit tonight. What in heaven’s name have I done to deserve that cruelty?’
Harper laughed. ‘You’re going to love it. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.’
‘Not if you want to keep your fingers.’
‘Alright, well, no crocheting for me then. I’ll just hang out and watch.’
‘How long are you here for? I don’t want you stopping your life just because you feel guilty for me.’
‘No guilt. I’m staying for good. Mathers Vineyard needs an assistant innkeeper.’
Just then, she heard someone come up behind her. She turned to see Brookes standing at the bottom of the stairs. Sweat trickled down his cheek and there were dirt stains on his hands and clothes. He wiped his forehead, leaving a trail of dark grey across it.
‘Hey.’
‘Hey.’
‘Did I hear that right?’
Harper nodded and smiled. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’
He swept her up in his arms and kissed her on the lips. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was finally home.
Shades of pink,orange and purple painted the afternoon sky as the vines swayed to the spring breeze, letting the leaves whistle their own tune, as Harper leaned into Brookes, feeling his embrace. ‘We did it,’ she said feeling his lips on her head.
‘All thanks to Hugh.’
She pulled away and reached for a slice of camembert from the picnic table, noticing the inscription, Brookes Taylor, in cursive writing just above Mathers Vineyard logo. Looking beyond the meadow, dozens of groups sat or lay around the fold-out picnic tables enjoying the majestic beauty the vineyard offered. ‘Hugh had it all figured out.’
‘He didn’t miss much,’ Brookes said slipping a piece of cheese in her mouth. ‘It took you a little bit longer, though.’
She slapped him playfully on the chest. ‘It all worked out in the end, didn’t it?’
‘Yeah, I guess it did,’ Brookes said leaning in to kiss her lips.
Rover growled beside them. Harper reached to scratch the top of his head, settling him.
She didn’t know what tomorrow had in store, but right now, they had the vineyard and inn, they had each other, and she’d cherish each day that they were blessed with together. All that mattered was right now, and the rest they’d figure out one day, and one moment, at a time.