Keely stayed behind the door, waiting for them to leave. The music boomed in the background, masking the partying voices. Her emotions surged from embarrassment to anger. She stepped into the empty room, strode across to the kitchen and picked up the paper plates she’d bought for the birthday cake to be served on. No longer the beautiful chocolate cream cake she had made but Anna’s strawberry and hazelnut creation. Keely gripped the plates tightly. Right now, she’d like to push Anna’s face smack into the middle of it. The meddling old bat; she knew nothing about Keely. And what did she mean about the way Keely looked at Flynn? She kept her feelings to herself.

Outside, the music stopped and she could hear Euan’s voice calling the crowd to attention. She went through the office door to join the party. Damn Anna and her snooping. Keely’s earlier enjoyment had evaporated.

“We won’t hold you up for long.” Euan’s voice carried across the room. Keely edged around the group in front of her and found a spot close to where Euan stood near the food table, with Anna’s cake covered in candles and Flynn beside him.

“We’ll be brief. I’d just like to thank you all for coming to celebrate Flynn’s thirty-third birthday…” There were a few whoops from the crowd. “He was in South Australia when he turned twenty-one and we didn’t have a party.”

“Make the most of this one, Flynn,” called a voice. “You may not get another till you’re fifty!”

There were chuckles from the crowd.

“Thanks for that, Bennie.” Euan shuffled his feet then continued. “I was about Flynn’s age when Lucy and I came to Margaret River and started Levallier Dell. So Flynn has been part of this place since before he was born—”

“So unlike you he’s a local.” It was Bennie’s voice again and there was more laughter.

Euan waited for quiet and went on. “I want to say how proud I am of his achievements.”

Keely watched both Levallier men closely. Neither looked comfortable at being the centre of attention. Though Flynn was taller, the facial likeness was striking. Even their lopsided stance was the same.

“He has an affinity with the vines and is a talented winemaker.”

The crowd was very quiet. Euan looked straight ahead but Keely saw the quick look of surprise that flashed across Flynn’s face before he shifted his weight to his other leg and looked down.

Euan went on. “It’s good to see so many friends here to share the celebration with us.”

“And good that we’ve been fed some decent food,” a voice called from the back; not Bennie this time, but people laughed.