Rose's Vintage (20 page)

‘Dunno. I think I might be looking for a new job soon.'

‘Don't be silly! The kids love you and the place is running like it's a train on the rails. It'll all blow up, don't worry too much.'

‘I think you mean blow over,' said Rose. ‘And I'm not so sure it will.'

Rose didn't have long to wait before running into Mark again. Late that evening, she heard the front door slam and the clatter of footsteps in the stone hallway. She looked up as she heard him come into the kitchen. He looked shattered. He was obviously still jet lagged.

‘Hey, Rose.' Mark looked at her uncomfortably.

‘Hello,' she said, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.

‘Look, I'm sorry about going off at you last night. I understand now that you were trying to do the right thing. Dan filled me in and said that he'd been the one to suggest it in the first place. I completely overreacted. I'm sorry. I'm tired and, well, look, there's a lot of other stuff going on that's nothing to do with you – not that that's your problem or fault.'

‘Uh, sure, okay. I'm glad it's all been cleared up.' Rose turned back to the range, where she'd been attempting to scrub off years of accumulated grot, taking her frustration and anger out on the steel wool. ‘I really was trying to help.'

‘I know that now, and I appreciate it, really I do. Things are a bit tough at the moment.' He paused. ‘I had a call from Isabella last night. I wasn't expecting it. She's back in Sydney, and she wanted to see the kids. That's where we were today. It's been really hard for them, especially Leo. He didn't say a word in the car all the way home. I'm worried about him.'

Rose hid her shock. She had thought Isabella was in Spain. ‘Oh, poor Leo. What about Luisa? How long is Isabella staying for? Is she coming back here?' Rose wasn't sure she wanted to meet Isabella, not if everything Astrid and Mrs B had said was true.

‘I'm not sure.' Mark poured himself a glass of wine from a bottle on the sideboard and slumped in a chair. ‘Luisa's okay. It's terrible, but I don't think she really remembers her mum; she was so little when Isabella left. She was all over them today and I think it was a bit much for both kids. They've each got reasons to be wary of her: Luisa because she doesn't really know her, and Leo because he does remember and can't understand her leaving, nor forgive her for it. It devastated him. I wish I knew what to do. Oh Christ, it's such a goddamn mess.'

Rose was surprised that Mark was opening up to her, especially after the way he'd yelled at her the night before, but she guessed he didn't have too many people he could unburden himself to.

She didn't get a chance to talk further with Mark, as Astrid and two tired kids trooped into the kitchen in search of bedtime drinks.

Rose's mind was whirling. She had to admit to a ridiculous jealousy that Isabella might be back in Mark's life. Ridiculous. She had no right nor reason to be jealous at all. But for the second time in as many days, she felt that her job and happy existence at Kalkari were under threat.

While Mark had been overseas, she'd been enjoying a small – desperately illogical, she knew – fantasy of him returning and telling her how much he'd missed her, with visions of him sweeping her into his arms, and this had kept her spirits high while she'd cooked and cleaned, frothed cappuccinos and wiped up cake crumbs. She was left feeling like a complete idiot for entertaining such romantic imaginings. They clearly had no basis in reality, especially when he'd been so awful to her almost as soon as he'd returned.

At what age does a person stop having stupid crushes?
she wondered glumly.
You'd think I'd have grown out of such things.

flower

verb

to produce flowers or blossom, as a plant; to come into full bloom

CHAPTER 19

A
few days later, Mark joined Rose on her morning run. The air was cool, but held the promise of a warm day to come. Everywhere she looked, green leaves were curling and unfurling, bringing the gnarled old vines to life. It was hard to be miserable for long in such beautiful surroundings. ‘Finally over the jet lag then?' she gasped.

‘Yep, slept like a log last night. I definitely need to get back in shape though – can't have you getting too far ahead of me.'

‘As if,' retorted Rose, secretly liking the thought of being able to outpace Mark.

As they jogged back to the house, Mark surprised her further. ‘I've got to go back to the city next week. My distributors have lined up a few meetings and there's a dinner on Saturday night. Would you like to come? I reckon you need a break; you've worked hard around here, and I'd also like to properly apologise for tearing a strip off you the other day.'

‘Oh.' Rose shrugged. She wasn't sure she'd entirely forgiven him. ‘Well, you did upset me. And as I said, I was only trying to do the right thing.' Rose mentally crossed her fingers behind her back. She really
had
been trying to do the right thing in this instance.

‘I know, Rose, and I'm truly sorry.' Mark looked at her with such a sorrowful gaze that Rose's remaining hurt melted away. Guilt crept in to take its place.

‘Okay, yes, I'd love to. That's a very kind offer. It'd be great to visit Sydney again.' Rose smiled, then thought of something. ‘What should I wear to the dinner?'

‘A dress of some sort should do,' Mark said dryly. ‘I'm sure you'll be fine, whatever you wear. It's at Oceania, right on the water. I think you'll like it.'

Excited at the prospect of a trip away and a posh meal out, Rose beamed. Much as she had grown fond of the valley, she wouldn't mind a change of scene.

Their jog over, she sprinted to the barn to change before getting started on breakfast.

Leo was still very quiet; he ate his toast with great concentration. But Luisa burbled away, asking when her mummy was coming back. Leo flinched every time he heard his sister say ‘Mama'.

‘Don't worry sweetie, she'll be back to see you before you know it,' said Mark distractedly, as he scarfed down a bowl of cereal. His hasty breakfast over, he grabbed a mug of tea and headed out to check on the vines, which were at the crucial point of flowering.

When Mark had left, Rose filled Astrid in on his invitation.

‘Oh, you are lucky! I'd love to go away for a few days. So what are you going to wear?'

‘I don't know. I didn't exactly stow a ballgown in my backpack, did I?'

‘Don't worry about that. I've got something you can borrow. Now you're so skinny, it'll fit like the glove – no chance of it going near me anytime soon.' Astrid looked down at the gentle curve of her stomach.

‘Pull the other one, I'm twice the size of you,' protested Rose.

‘Which other one? You kid me, no? Have you looked at the mirror lately?' said Astrid.

Sure enough, when Rose slipped the dress over her head, it fitted perfectly. It looked pretty good, she had to admit, even with bare feet, a make-up-free face and scraped-back hair.

The following Friday, after an early start, Mark and Rose arrived at their hotel. Promising to collect her later that evening, Mark left her to settle in as he headed off to meet his Sydney distributors. Rose kicked off her shoes and twirled around the immaculate room before collapsing on the bed and burying herself in the soft pillows. She pulled back the gauzy floor-length curtains and looked out to a sparkling forty-fifth-floor view. The Opera House, its white sails glowing in the searing light, was way below her, and on her left the steel arches of the Harbour Bridge. In between was a wide expanse of sparkling blue water. What heaven!

Hanging up the dress that Astrid had lent her, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. It was definitely time to do something about her hair, which had grown wild and untamed in the months she'd been in the valley and now snaked down her back in a straggly, unkempt mess. A quick call to the concierge fixed her up with an appointment at a nearby salon later that afternoon.

She had a few other things to sort out first though. She might now be the same dress size as Astrid, but unfortunately her feet were far larger. She'd decided to treat herself to a new pair of shoes, even if she couldn't foresee a time when she'd need to wear them again. The concierge pointed her in the direction of Pitt Street Mall, and she headed off to look around. No doubt about it, new shoes were guaranteed to make a girl feel good.