Page 53 of A Vineyard for Two

She felt herself going red, but she wasn’t going to cower. ‘Since I found out my favourite aunt landed herself in hospital.’

‘It could have been stress related,’ the doctor said.

‘See,’ Georgia said. ‘I’m fine.’

‘You’re staying,’ Harper said. ‘I’ll take care of whatever has to be done at the house.’

‘But you’re going back to the city.’

‘Not anymore.’

And that’s how she found herself driving back to the family vineyard, trailing behind Zoe, and wondering what any of this meant. Georgia needed her, and she had to set her personal feelings aside. She was coming back for Georgia, nothing else. She’d call work and deal with whatever fires she had to from here. Family had to come first.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Brookes slammed his hands against the steering wheel. Why was he such an idiot? Why was he chasing her? If she didn’t want to stay, he wasn’t going to make her. What would be the point? She’d resent him if she agreed. No, if she was to come back, it had to be on her own accord. He’d done everything he could to try and get her to stay.

He was in town now. He might as well get himself a coffee and something to eat. The fridge was bare, too. With Harper around and the revamping of Mathers Vineyard, he’d forgotten about the bare necessities for his own place.

‘Hey stranger.’

He turned to see Lisa following him into the local Aldi.

‘Hey,’ he said, but didn’t stop to make conversation.

‘I saw Harper left this morning.’

‘Lisa, what are you trying to say? Just say it.’

She looked a little hurt and took a step back. He hadn’t meant to be so brusque. ‘Look, I’m sorry, but it’s been a tough morning. I shouldn’t have gotten so grumpy.’

‘Want to talk about it? We could grab lunch?’

He smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Thanks Lisa, but I’m going to have to pass.’

‘You’re going to have to get over her one day.’

‘Maybe,’ he murmured as she walked away. One day wasn’t going to be today.

His phone beeped in his pocket. He was going to ignore the call, but Leo might need something.

‘Hey, where are you, man?’

‘In town. Need anything?’

‘Yeah, you know how Georgia had this entire dinner planned out for tomorrow night for some wine connoisseurs and potential business partners, well, she’s in hospital and the doctor won’t let her out until they’ve run a dozen tests, so probably at the end of the week if we’re lucky.’

‘Is she okay?’

‘They think she might have just fainted, but given her age, they don’t want to take any chances. I’m guessing yesterday’s light headedness might have something to do with it.’

‘What can I do?’

‘I’ll text you supplies. She’s made an entire menu. If you can grab what we need, we can work out the rest.’

‘Have you told Harper?’

‘Yeah.’

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