“You know about that?”

“Pappou has been pestering me to take it on.” Michael dropped his pen on the desk. “He has no idea of the work involved in running this restaurant. Anyway, he hasn’t mentioned it for a while. Then you turn up, the prodigal granddaughter, and he kills the fatted calf. I put two and two together.”

“You’ve travelled overseas, Michael. Are you happy stuck here, working for the family?”

Michael contemplated the question, his deep brown eyes pools of thought. His hair was closely cut over a perfect olive complexion and when he wasn’t frowning, like he was now, he was quite handsome. This was the first time they’d had a chance to talk alone and she wondered if he had a girlfriend. His brothers and most of his cousins were married.

“I don’t feel like I’m stuck here, as you put it,” he said. “I could have kept wandering Europe or even other parts of Australia but I was ready to come home. This business is a good opportunity. People come from all over the world to sample our wines and now we can also provide them with world-class food.”

“Now you’re sounding like Pappou. Did you get a choice? Don’t you feel trapped?”

Michael frowned again. “No. This is a family business. We all work together. I guess you don’t feel quite a part of it yet because you’re tied to your mother’s business. Is there work for you there?”

“Oh, yes. Pappou thinks it’s only a small estate and I guess, compared to what he has here, it is, but I could have plenty to do there if I wanted.” Her last words trailed away.

“But maybe there are other things. You’re young, Kat. Perhaps you need time to decide what you want. Travel like I did, see the world before you settle down.”

“My parents have a path mapped out at home for me and now Pappou has one here.”

“I’m sure your parents could manage, and Peter’s wife, Angela, would take on the marketing here. She’s a bit shy of Pappou but I know she’d do a good job.”

Kat let out a long sigh. “They all expect me to do what they want.”

Michael snorted. “The little cousin I remember never let anyone boss her about. How many times did we have to rescue you from scrapes? You would always do what you wanted and we had to keep an eye on you. Mumma! Look out if a hair on your head was harmed. Remember that time you wanted to go to explore the caves? You set off on your own when the adults wouldn’t take you. Peter and I followed you to make sure you didn’t get into trouble and we got the blame for taking you.”

“I was a little girl then.”