“There’s the spraying to do while the weather’s clear.” Flynn gripped the back of the chair and his voice began to rise again. “I’ve noticed a few spots of mildew on the chardonnay vines closer to the river, so I don’t want to put that off. There’re the barrels to move before the new ones arrive, which could be any day, and there’s blending to be done.”

Euan sighed. “Okay, Flynn. I’ll come down in a minute.” He stood up. “Why don’t you have a coffee while I get changed?”

Euan left and Flynn hesitated just inside the door.

Keely looked up from her phone. “I can make you one if you like.” There was a simple pod machine in the kitchen, easy to use like the one at home.

Flynn turned and she felt the full force of his gaze across the room. “That’s okay. I’ll do it.” He went round the breakfast bar. “Can I make you one?”

Keely looked down. She had only ever seen him angry before. She didn’t know how to deal with this polite Flynn.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

* * *

Kat took slow deep breaths to steady the rising anticipation she felt deep in her chest. Gradually, her breathing fell into step with the rhythmic flow of the priest’s voice, chanting the morning prayers, and she relaxed. This trip had been intended to give her space and time to plan her future. Her parents wanted her to be part of their expanding business and originally that’s where she’d intended her university studies would lead her. That had been her goal. That was until the previous November. She’d gone to Sydney to promote Australian wine at an international medical conference and met a wine exporter called Mal Wilson. Ever since then, she had been living an exhausting double life.

This trip had been an excuse to distance herself and make some decisions. Now, her grandfather wanted to talk with her. A quiet morning tea after church, he’d said, just the two of them to talk things over before the cellar door got too busy. He had plenty of workers but he still liked to be there, talking to the customers, keeping an eye on things.

From their previous conversations, he had obviously sensed her waning commitment to her parents’ winery. Unburdening her duplicity to Pappou would be a welcome release. He would understand her and help her to explain it to her parents.

They stood to sing the final hymn and she looked across and caught his eye. He winked at her and she couldn’t help but smile. An ally was just what she needed.