“Ah, just look at that color,” said Josh, holding up a glass of Pinotage. He and Lucy were sitting under an ancient oak tree on a chequered blanket. The nearby flowers were humming with bees and the grounds of Mountain Shadows had never looked more beautiful.
“Well, this was quite a year,” he said.
“A good vintage?” Lucy arched an eyebrow playfully. “Voluptuous, I’d say, elegant and refined with a structured finish.”
“My, my. Listen to you. A big expert now, are we?” he teased.
“I think that being kidnapped and locked in a trunk should give me the license to be at least a little pretentious, don’t you?”
“You couldn’t be pretentious if you tried. It’s one of the things I love about you.” He leaned over and kissed her.
“Did I tell you about my meeting with the social worker regarding Mikey?” Lucy asked, her face becoming serious.
“No, what’s the latest?”
“Sarie Smit has a cousin who lives in Cape Town. It seems that he and his wife have done fairly well. He’s a civil servant and she’s a nurse. They haven’t been able to have a family and then would like to take on Mikey and his little sister. I told her about Mikey’s learning difficulties and I said that you and I would be prepared to contribute to any special education he needs. Is that all right?”
“It’s more than all right,” said Josh. “That kid has been through so much it’s the least we can do.”
“Fifteen years for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder.” Lucy shook her head. “It still hurts that Sarie felt that my life had no value.”
“Try not to dwell on it. Tragedy and poverty can twist people.”
“So can money and power,” she said.
“Well, Hans Bekker is a goner. It will be such a relief not to have to contend with him anymore. Total, bottom-feeding scumbag,” he said.
Currently, Hans Bekker was in prison awaiting trial for Lucy’s kidnapping. It had taken a ten-day manhunt and a handsome reward offered by the de Langes to flush out the two thugs who had kidnapped Lucy. Eventually, their whereabouts on a lonely farm had been given up.
The entire saga had caught the attention of the public, both in South Africa and in The United States. Although the media interest was intrusive, Lucy also knew it afforded her protection. From prison, Hans Bekker had sold his story to a major tabloid newspaper. He claimed the Palmer family had pressurized him to have Lucy murdered.
“It still bothers me that Victoria and whoever aided her may not stand trial for their involvement. There’s no proof they hired Bekker and it’s just their word against his.” Josh sighed.
As yet, the South African authorities were unable to gather sufficient evidence to extradite the Palmers or formally charge them. With their impressive legal team, they had so far been able to stonewall the investigation into their involvement. It was likely that these delaying tactics would continue indefinitely.
“Well, the Palmers are off our backs and so is Sun Valley. I refuse to worry about the rest.”
“I agree,” said Josh. “Let’s change the subject. You know, this right here is the perfect spot.”
“Spot for what?” Lucy rolled her eyes.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about,” he said mischievously.
“Oh, Josh, you know that I can’t make wedding plans just yet. There’s so much I need to do. First, I need to go and see my family, I have missed them so much. And with the setting up of the new reading and remedial center at the school. And with all of this publicity going on…”
“I get it, I get it,” he said, holding up his hands. “We don’t have to get married tomorrow. It’s just that, I nearly lost you, Lucy. I nearly lost the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t want anything or anyone to ever come between us again.”
“The best thing that ever happened to you?” Lucy looked skeptical. “Even with all of the drama I brought here?”
Josh looked at her so deeply and lovingly that she felt herself beginning to blush. “Do you see all of this?” he said, gesturing to the gardens, the house, and the vineyards in the distance. “There was always a piece missing at Mountain Shadows, and it was in the exact shape of Lucy Shepherd.”
***
“What do you think, Tom, eight or twelve weeks to harvest?” Josh and his lifelong friend stood in the vineyard in the slanting light of early morning. Tom picked a grape and rolled it between his fingers
“Let’s see how long the heat lasts. If it keeps up like this, we’ll be ready in six weeks, maybe seven.” Tom’s shirt was already stuck to his back in perspiration.
“Your affinity with grapes outstrips anyone I’ve ever met,” said Josh.
“Ah, my father was even better. He could smell if a grape was ripe, didn’t even have to look at it. He taught me everything I know.”
“Your father was a good man, Tom.”
“So was yours.”
“Thanks.” Josh kicked at the dirt with his boot. Eventually, he cleared his throat. “Tom, while there’s no one around, I want to talk to you one-on-one. A lot has happened this year, some of it great, some of it awful.” Josh looked at him. “You do know that Sun Valley Wines is up for sale, don’t you?”
“Yes, I did know. I suppose all the bad publicity is scaring potential buyers away.”
“That’s exactly it. All this controversy has driven down the price somewhat, but I imagine only for a while. I think that it’s time that you and I looked toward the future. The future of your kids and hopefully mine and Lucy’s. Before someone else gets their hands on it, I think we should buy Sun Valley.”
“We?” Tom looked puzzled.
“Yes, we.” Josh clasped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Tom, your father gave his life to this farm as did mine. Your brothers and sisters all left Mountain Shadows to pursue their fortunes elsewhere. But you remained here, giving all your energy and expertise to this place. Let’s face it, Tom.” Josh’s voice trembled slightly. “It’s time. Your family goes back as long as mine in this valley and you deserve half ownership.”
Tom buried his head for some time, and when he looked up, his eyes were misted with tears. “We’ve always been treated fairly on Mountain Shadows and I’ve never felt that skin color or anything else divided us.”
“I know, but times have changed. Besides, I may know my wine, but when it comes down to it, you are the finest nose on this farm. And my talent lies more in business: logistics, marketing, and development. These are the skills I learned in my corporate job and I would like to apply them here.”
“But can we afford it, buying Sun Valley? Things have been a little tight recently.”
“Look, I’ve been thinking a great deal about this winery and how it needs to change going forward. My dad did amazing work, expanding our business model and diversifying. The problem is in doing so he overstretched us financially. My dad was a visionary, but he wasn’t perfect. I had a long chat with Bill Hagerman the other day. Not only was he my father’s best friend, but you won’t find anyone with more expertise in the business side of wine-farming. For a ten percent share, he’s willing to come on board as an investor and silent partner.”
Tom looked thoughtful. “The de Langes have been the sole owners of this farm for nearly a hundred and fifty years. Are you sure your Dad would want this? What about the rest of the family?”
“I’ve spoken to my family and they agree with me. We have to finish what my father started. In order to survive, we have to move with the times and create new opportunities. The way I see it, it’s far better to bring a partner on board then to wind up having to sell the place because our stubborn pride got in the way. With Bill on board, plus the fact that it’s unlikely that we’ll have any more mishaps, I think the bank will approve a mortgage.”
“The extra water supply would make us more secure, and the yield, can you imagine?” Tom’s eyes had a faraway look.
“They also have some damn fine equipment they have to offload. It would contribute to our storage and fermentation capacities,” said Josh.
“Kind of a gamble, isn’t it?” Tom smiled broadly. “Count me in.”
***
The old farmhouse was quiet. Lucy waited until Josh was sleeping soundly beside her. She climbed out of bed, gathered her laptop and phone, and padded downstairs to the kitchen table and then got to work.
An hour later, and she was ready. Her Facebook and Twitter posts were written and edited. There is no damn way, she told herself, that I will go forward with my life while there is still a shadow hanging over my name. It won’t be fair to Josh, the children we may have, or to myself. I may be impulsive, headstrong, and hot-tempered sometimes, but I am not a liar. And besides, it was safer if the entire truth was made public. Perhaps from now on the scrutiny can be focused where it really belongs: on the Palmers.
Well, Victoria, you were smart, but not that smart. She thought back to the meeting she had endured at the Hotel in Cape Town. Victoria had insisted on Lucy placing her phone on the table and made sure that it was switched off. What Victoria hadn’t known was that Lucy had hidden a second phone, on silent but switched to record, in the flower arrangement on the table between them. She had recorded the conversation as a kind of insurance policy, only to be used should the Palmers renege on the deal. Well, renege they certainly had.
Now Lucy wrote her statement. She was careful to keep it factual and restrained. No histrionics, just the facts. In straight points, she laid out the Palmers’ bullying tactics and their interference in both her family and Josh’s affairs. She tagged several prominent journalists and bloggers and attached the sound file for proof. Their entire conversation had been clearly recorded.
With a deep breath, she pressed post, and with a clear conscience, she headed upstairs to join the man she loved in the big, four-poster bed.
By the time the sun had risen over the Swartberg Mountains Lucy’s post had been shared a total of 104,324 times.
The End.