Page 22 of Learning to Love

"How about I buy it for you, and you pay me back?" He's like Daisy with a bone. Once he has something in his sights, he doesn't let go.

"I'll think about it." I try to shrug it off, hoping against hope he forgets.

"Don't think about it. It's settled. When we come back from O'Neill's Bay, we'll look at some car dealerships." Sam leans back with a smug look on his face.

This raises my hackles faster than you can saybroken radiator. He thinks he can hypnotize me with those eyes, and I’ll just fall at his feet and do everything he asks just because?

A road sign for Matakana speeds past, and I let a deep breath out. He's meeting my parents, and it's Christmas Eve. Chill, Ellie, chill. I turn down the radio volume. The tunnel gives way to native rainforest, and native rainforest merges into vineyards on sunny hills. "Have you ever been up here?"

"I've been through here many times, but not stopped. Seems like there are a few wineries nearby. One time we should come up here and check some out, do some tastings."

I like it that he comes up with future date ideas.

I turn off the highway onto a smaller road, then when I see the all too familiar sign for Ako Wines, I turn onto the long driveway. With one eye, I spy his reaction. He seems stunned and rightly so. My parents own a small winery North of Auckland. He may have even tried their wines and not known. I park up and let Daisy out. She feels right at home among the vines.

"So, what do you think?" I try to gauge his reaction.

"I don't know what to say. Is this your parents' place?" He's standing in the courtyard, taking in his surroundings like I've taken him to outer space not outer Auckland.

"Yes. Let's leave the bags for later." I grab his hand and lead him to the massive front door that I open without knocking.

"Anybody home?" I try to see everything through Sam's eyes. Though large, the house looks very shabby and worn. I'm sure I would ordinarily say it's a house lived in, but with fresh eyes it just looks a bit dirty and neglected. I'm suddenly nervous. Maybe bringing Sam home for Christmas Eve was not the best idea.

***

Sam

From the moment we turned into the Ako Wines driveway, I've been in a surreal movie with a dreamlike quality.

It's a winery. Ellie never told me her parents own a working winery. This is huge. Secondly just what the fuck is happening in this house? There are several clocks, and they all tell different times. Does my head in. I'm barely containing myself from going around and changing them all to the right time. Thirdly, I hate to say it, but it's untidy. Huge house, stuff everywhere. Makes me very anxious, like a sensory overload.

Ellie squeezes my hand. She can tell I'm uncomfortable. Her mum and dad come through a side door, and she hugs them tightly.

Her mum is crying."We missed you so much."

Ellie hugs them back just as tightly. "I missed you guys. I've brought Daisy to stay with you for a couple of nights… and more importantly, this is Sam."

"Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson." I shake hands with both, but Ellie's mum Martha comes in for a hug, surprising me.

Her dad claps my back. "We heard a lot about you, young man. We're very proud of you."

I laugh awkwardly and throw an imploring glance at Ellie.Help.

She throws me a lifeline. "How about you go pick up the bags from the car, and I'll sort out some food and water for Daisy?"

Ellie's dad Mike accompanies me. On our way to the car and back, I make small talk. "Ellie didn't mention you had a winery. I'd love to try your wine."

It seems I said the right thing because his face lights up with a grin. "Ellie's such a rascal. We'll give you a short tour, then you can have a tasting with dinner." Mike grabs my bag and I carry Ellie's bag.

Daisy settles in for the night after having some biscuits. I walk to the verandah and take in the sweet summer evening smell. Cicadas are chirping wildly, and vines are the only silhouettes you can see for miles in the twilight.

I'm dying to spend some time alone with Ellie. I've barely seen her in the past two weeks. I don't even know if we are going to stay in different rooms tonight. Are her parents old fashioned? I have this image in my head of having to make ropes out of sheets and climbing through her window to get to her.

Ellie is putting some gifts wrapped in brown paper under the Christmas tree in the lounge, beaming with undisguised happiness at being home with her family. She tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear, and my limited patience is now threadbare. "Ellie, do you want to show me around?"

Something in my tone makes her turn towards me, lips slightly open in surprise.

"Make it quick, dinner will be ready in five minutes." Martha’s words bring me back to earth with a thud.

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