“Can I help with anything?” she asked.

Euan was up to his elbows in frothy water at the sink. “We’ve got everything ready for the hordes to come and ravish…including the fatted calf.”

The glasses he’d dried clinked together as Flynn lifted the crate that held them. “If you’re going to have that kind of attitude towards potential customers, perhaps you’d better stay at the sheds tomorrow.”

“I think we’re just about done here.” Maggie smiled at Keely.

“We’re done, alright,” Euan muttered. “And by Sunday night we’ll be done over.”

Flynn put the crate back on the table with a crash. Several glasses wobbled precariously but righted themselves without falling.

“It’s one weekend,” he said. “It’s not as if we’re going to do this all the time.”

“That’s why you bought all those bottle bags. For one weekend?” Euan nodded sharply at a pile of deep green napkins on the table beside Flynn. “And the extra cartons and the serviettes with our name on them?”

“The cartons will get used regardless. There was a better deal per bag for the number I got and we needed serviettes anyway. I guess I was hopeful we might do it again, at some stage.”

“We’re certainly not. We don’t want strangers hanging around our house yard, and the best way to taste wine is to sit one-on-one with the winemaker. You can’t discuss wine properly when you’ve got people queued up.” Euan turned back to his washing.

Flynn’s shoulders slumped and he sighed as he bent to take up the tray again. “Don’t worry, when word gets around about the grumpy old bugger running this place, no one will come anyway.” He carried his tray off in the direction of the cellar door.

Keely picked up one of the serviettes. Levallier Dell Wines was printed inside a black frame across one corner. They looked smart. She glanced up and saw Maggie’s concerned look as she watched Flynn leave.

Keely had that sinking feeling that her excitement over the coming weekend may be short-lived.

Euan wiped his hands on a towel. “I think I’ll go for a surf and clear my head.”

“Can I borrow a vehicle to pick up the groceries?” Keely asked.

There was a moment’s silence. Euan glanced at her in surprise, as if he had forgotten she was there.

“We can take my car and I can give you a hand.” Maggie gave Euan a glare and picked up her keys. “The air is far too stuffy here.”

* * *