Right As Rain Read online

  She hoisted the case into the boot of her car and he placed the box beside it.

  “I can manage the rest,” she said.

  “I’m happy to help.”

  She flicked him a quick smile and hurried back inside. They made several trips until finally her car was full.

  “Thanks, Adam,” she said as she slammed the back door on a precarious pile of jackets and hats. “I’ll come back and pick you up at six.”

  “Thanks for the offer,” he said, “but I’ll stay here. Have a quiet night. It’s time for me to think about heading back to Melbourne. Do some touristy things on the way.”

  “When are you leaving?” Mackenna felt a pang of regret. She didn’t want him here and yet she didn’t want him to go.

  “I’ll pack up tonight, maybe get going in the morning.”

  There was sadness in his eyes.

  “Is your grandfather worse?”

  “No, he’s holding his own, but I need to move on. It’s been great seeing where you live but I think it’s time for me to let you all get back to normal without having to entertain the Kiwi. Say thanks and goodbye to Hugh for me.”

  He climbed the steps to the verandah. Mackenna took two paces to follow. She suddenly felt very bad about her offhand manner. She’d been behaving like a callous bitch.

  “Please stay a bit longer, Adam.”

  He paused but didn’t turn.

  “Hugh especially invited you tonight and I’d like you to stay for my celebratory dinner tomorrow night,” she babbled. “You’ve come all this way.”

  She watched his shoulders rise and fall as he took a long breath in then out. Finally he looked over his shoulder.

  “All right, I’ll stay two more nights. Thanks,” he said and walked inside the house.

  Mackenna watched the door close behind him. A mixture of emotions tumbled around inside her. Cam, a complete stranger, and Adam, her ex-lover, had infiltrated her family and taken up residence in her family home, the home that she’d just evicted herself from. Her oldest friend Hugh was behaving strangely and had kissed her, a kiss that she hadn’t rejected. She’d always thought her life was ordinary but right now she’d trade it for something far simpler.

  Her mobile rang and she plucked it from her pocket to peer at the screen. It was Chris from Bunyip Wines, no doubt wanting to know something about tomorrow night’s dinner. She slid her finger across the screen to answer but the call dropped out. She tossed the phone on the car seat and drove back to the old house. The reception was much better there and talking to Chris about the dinner was a topic she was comfortable with.

  It was well after six by the time she went back to collect Adam. He was waiting for her at the gate.

  “Sorry,” she said as he climbed in. “Had a few phone calls then I had to find something to wear out of that mess I’d created.”

  “It was worth the wait,” Adam said. “You look good.”

  Mackenna turned quickly from his gaze and put the car into gear. She hadn’t meant to sound like she was fishing for a compliment. “It had to be something that didn’t require ironing.” She chuckled. “My little place doesn’t have an iron yet.”

  She’d put the black and red wrap tunic dress over a black three-quarter t-shirt and black leggings. She’d bought the tunic in New Zealand after Adam left her. The girl in the shop had filled the cramped change room with options for her to try and Mackenna ended up buying a couple of outfits. They’d been spur-of-the-moment purchases, a new look to build her confidence, but there’d been no opportunity to wear any of it until now.

  “Did you enjoy the cattle work today?” she asked in an attempt to divert the conversation from anything personal.

  “It was different,” Adam said. “They’ve got some prime cattle there but they’re worried they are losing condition. Looks like everyone wants some rain.”

  “Yes, doesn’t matter if you’ve got sheep, cattle or wine in this area, at the moment we’re all expecting rain.” Mackenna gripped the steering wheel and watched the road, not wanting to look at Adam in his green checked shirt that complemented the healthy glow of his skin.

  By the time they arrived at the McDonalds’ her arms were tired and her head hurt from the strain of keeping the conversation neutral. There were several cars in the yard already as they pulled up.

  “Hope you’re not overwhelmed by large family gatherings,” Mackenna said as she got out of the car. The sound of children’s squeals and several voices talking at once wafted from the house. “The McDonalds can be a lively bunch when they’re all together.”

  “Hello.”

  Hugh came down the path to meet them.

  “Sorry we’re late,” she said. “My fault.”

  “You haven’t missed anything. Mum’s giving the kids their meal so we can eat with some semblance of calm.”

  A shriek of laughter echoed from the house.

  Hugh laughed and shook Adam’s hand. “Welcome to bedlam,” he said and turned to kiss Mackenna on the cheek. She thrust the bottle of wine she’d brought into his hands.

  “Dinner at your house was always entertaining,” she said.

  “Hello, Mackenna.”

  They all turned at Mary’s welcome bellow. She gave a beckoning wave.

  “Bring them in, Hugh. The food’s ready.”

  Inside the house chaos reigned. Mackenna introduced Adam as best she could to Hugh’s three brothers and their wives. She rarely saw them and always muddled up their names. The older children were watching television in another room but two of Hugh’s brothers had babies and another a toddler, so their noise added to the voices of the eleven adults.

  They all squeezed around the huge kitchen table. Mackenna found herself seated between Hugh and his oldest brother, while Adam was seated opposite her between Mary and one of the sisters-in-law. They all had mountainous plates of roast lamb and vegetables in front of them, not a fancy meal but hearty. The smell of it set Mackenna’s mouth watering.

  “What’s this research stuff Mum’s been babbling on about?” Hugh’s brother spoke through a mouthful of food.

  There was a momentary lull around the table and Mackenna looked up to see all eyes turned to Hugh. She glanced sideways, took in his startled expression and put her cutlery down with a clatter. She presumed this was her queue to distract their attention, as Hugh had asked.

  “It’s similar to what Adam and I saw at the Corriedale stud we visited in New Zealand. They’ve used the latest research to help them map out which rams to use, which ewes to keep. It was really interesting, wasn’t it Adam?” She smiled at his puzzled expression across the table.

  “Yes . . . well, I don’t know much about farming but I found it . . .” His voice petered out.

  “Interesting,” Mackenna finished for him.

  “What do you do for a living, Adam?” the sister-in-law beside him asked.

  “I’m a chef,” he said, finding his voice again. “I’m very interested in the farm-to-table experience.”

  “Which part of New Zealand do you come from?” Another of Hugh’s brothers joined the conversation and soon they were discussing popular spots in New Zealand, poking fun at Adam’s accent and Kiwis in general.

  Somehow the conversation never got back to Hugh and his research project. Mackenna noticed he ate very little of his dinner and when his mother put a huge serving of apple crumble and icecream in front of him, Hugh sat back from the table.

  “Are you okay?” She kept her voice low.

  “Yes,” he said. “Mum serves up too much. I’m not used to these big meals anymore.”

  “You could still eat a bit more, you know.” She leaned in closer. “Why can’t you tell them about the research project you’re involved with? Is it a secret?”

  “No.” Hugh inclined his head towards hers. “It’s just that it’s overseas, in Canada, and Mum is so keen on me staying here. I don’t want to burst her bubble.”

  Mackenna tried to keep her own surprise from her voice.
“You’re going to have to tell her sometime if you’re planning on leaving the country.”

  “It’s still to be finalised and I’d rather not discuss it while we’ve got a crowd.”

  So he wasn’t a hundred per cent committed. She wondered why.

  Mackenna took a mouthful of the crumble. It melted in her mouth. “I’d forgotten how good your mum’s apple crumble is,” she said. “You really should try and eat a little.”

  She gave him an encouraging smile and nudged his plate closer. Hugh picked up his spoon and took a small taste.

  “You could tell them about the study you’ve already done,” she said.

  “What are you two whispering about?” The question came from one of Hugh’s brothers further down the table and all eyes were directed their way.

  Hugh’s spoon clattered to his bowl.

  “Not whispering,” Mackenna said with a chuckle. “Do you guys know how hard it is to get a word in when you’re all together?”

  “They’re a noisy bunch,” Mary said and beamed at her family around the table. Immediately the chatter began again.

  Mackenna spoke up. “Hugh was telling me about his study,” she said and gave him a wink.

  “Let’s have a bit of quiet for a moment so he can tell us.” Allan McDonald’s voice wasn’t loud but he achieved instant silence. Even the babies seemed to understand that their grandfather was not a man to be trifled with.

  Hugh looked like a startled rabbit. Mackenna felt for his hand under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. He coughed and pushed his bowl away a little.

  “Tell us, Hugh,” Mary said, her face full of pride.

  “The course was all about animal breeding management,” Hugh said.

  “Sounds like what we do already,” muttered the brother next to Mackenna.

  “Let him finish.” Once again Allan’s tone commanded respect.

  Mackenna heard Hugh draw in a breath before he began again.

  “Besides studying genetics we went into biotechnology and designed specific breeding programs.”

  The confidence grew in his voice as he spoke. She turned to look at the others and found Adam staring at her. His face was expressionless but those deep brown eyes of his looked sad again.

  Allan fired a question down the table at Hugh and she directed her attention to him. She had been on her best behaviour tonight, making conversation. Whatever was upsetting Adam couldn’t be her doing this time. Maybe he hadn’t taken the McDonalds’ rowdy teasing very well.

  Hugh continued to elaborate on his study and Mackenna couldn’t help but be impressed by his depth of knowledge. She would definitely have to pick his brain further.

  When Mary began gathering the bowls, Mackenna noticed how late it was. She had a big day tomorrow and another dinner, but this time she would be doing the cooking and serving. She caught Adam between conversations.

  “Ready to go?”

  He nodded and they made their farewells. Once again the voices became rowdy. Mackenna leant in to kiss Hugh’s cheek. “That wasn’t so terrible, was it?” she murmured in his ear.

  He gave her a thankful smile.

  “See you tomorrow night at Woolly Swamp Gatehouse,” she said.

  Outside, the still night was a welcome release from the noise in the kitchen but Mackenna wasn’t looking forward to trying to make conversation all the way home. As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. Adam settled back in his seat and hardly said a word. When they arrived at the house he jumped out of the car with a quick goodnight. She watched for a moment until she saw the glow of an inside light then headed back to the old house.

  She was getting used to Adam being around even if she didn’t see him all that often. She had to admit she’d be sorry when he left. Still, she had no time to worry about him tonight. There was a big day ahead of her tomorrow. She pulled in at her back door mentally ticking off the list of jobs.

  CHAPTER

  24

  Mackenna cast her eyes around the dining room one more time. Everything was ready. She’d shifted a couple of the tables in from the tasting room, joined them and covered them with one of her mother’s large white damask tablecloths. The table was set with silver cutlery and white napkins, also her mother’s, and she’d put a small bunch of flowers in the centre and a larger arrangement on the mantelpiece.

  In the pit of her stomach, she had a strange sensation. Nerves! She hadn’t felt that since her early days as an apprentice chef. So much was riding on tonight. She wanted her family to see the possibilities of the farm gate tasting room. She wiped her palms down the sides of her jacket and went back to the kitchen.

  Once again she looked around. She was happy with the way everything had come together. She’d been working all day and things were where they should be. Her food prep was complete, all she needed now were her guests. She looked at the clock on the wall. There was time for a glass of Bunyip sparkling before everyone arrived. She got out one of the crystal glasses she’d found when she’d cleaned out her bedroom; a twenty-first gift that had never been used. She popped the cork on the bottle.

  “Celebrating already?”

  The bottle nearly slipped from her grasp as she spun around.

  Adam was leaning against the doorframe watching her. He was wearing a deep red check shirt, a sleeveless jacket and dark denim jeans.

  “You’ve been shopping,” she said.

  “Thought I’d try some Aussie clothing. This R.M.Williams gear seems to be the thing.”

  “Would you like a glass?” Mackenna turned away and willed her trembling hands to be steady as she took another piece of long-stemmed crystal from the cupboard. She remembered every detail of the body underneath those clothes.

  “Thanks,” he said. He took the glass she offered and nodded at her jacket. “You look the part.”

  She brushed her hands quickly down her black chef’s coat. “I haven’t worn it in years but I thought it would add to the atmosphere for tonight.”

  “This really is what you want to do,” Adam said.

  “Not just the tasting room.” Mackenna waved her hand at the land beyond the window. “I want the running of our stud and the management of our animals to be top class. Not so much guesswork, making use of research and up-to-date genetic mapping. I want the people who buy our sheep to know they’re getting the best and to ask for it in restaurants.”

  She turned back to Adam and felt the tiniest niggle of self-doubt. Maybe she was expecting too much and maybe she was doing the wrong thing pushing away this gorgeous man standing before her. Why was he still here when she’d done her best to keep the distance between them?

  Adam raised his glass. “Here’s to you, Mackenna. A woman who knows what she wants.”

  She clinked her glass against his and gave him a wry smile. If only you knew the turmoil below the surface, she thought.

  His eyes held hers as they both sipped their drinks.

  The sound of an approaching vehicle drew Mackenna’s eyes to the clock. “Time to get started,” she said.

  Adam leaned in. “Yes, chef,” he murmured. “You look delicious by the way.” He kissed her cheek. A shiver ran through her. She breathed in the scent of him. Then he was gone. From the front of the house she could hear his deep voice mixing with those of her parents’. There was no time to waste. She took the first tasting platter from the fridge, added the brie she’d had sitting out then whipped into the bathroom.

  The face that stared back at her from the mirror could have been a stranger’s. The young woman with bright eyes and glowing cheeks didn’t match the emotions that battled within her. Self-doubt and indecision were not common feelings for Mackenna. If only Adam wasn’t here, she thought. He was distracting her from her purpose.

  She snatched up a lipstick and applied the subtle red to her lips, then patted her hair with her hands. She’d taken time earlier to braid her long locks then pulled them up and back and pinned them to her head. A few shorter curls floated loose around
her face but she couldn’t do anything about them. She went to meet her guests.

  “Mackenna, you look gorgeous,” her mother said as she hugged her. “I love it when you wear your hair up like that.”

  “How did your trip to Adelaide go?” Mackenna asked, conscious of Adam’s eyes studying her.

  “Busy.”

  “Your mother made me stay in the city last night.” Lyle said as he took his turn to hug Mackenna.

  “It was so late by the time we’d done all the paperwork for Patrick’s car,” Louise said.

  “Where is Patrick?” Mackenna looked through the open front door to the darkening sky.

  “We haven’t heard from him today,” Lyle said. “But he’s definitely coming.”

  “And he’s bringing a friend.” Louise’s smile grew.

  “Now don’t go reading anything into it,” Lyle said. “It’s probably just a mate.”

  Mackenna thought of the table she’d set. She had plenty of food but she’d need to set another place. Mate or not, she hoped Patrick’s friend was female. They had males galore at the table but Mackenna, her mother and Chris’s wife, Ginnie, were the only women. Another female would help balance the numbers.

  Hugh arrived with a bunch of flowers from his mother’s garden, closely followed by Cam, and then Chris and Ginnie with two bottles of a new dessert wine. The entrance was crowded and footsteps and voices echoed loudly. She’d need to get a carpet runner for the passage. Mackenna ushered them all into the tasting room, where she put Chris in charge of pouring everyone a glass of his Bunyip sparkling while she returned to the kitchen.

  She had no vase for the flowers but an empty jar did the trick. They’d been held together with a piece of brown and white striped ribbon, which she tied around the jar. They would look perfect on the bar in the tasting room.

  Then she turned her attention to the first of her tasting plates. It was a simple platter of cheeses, nuts, some dried bush tomatoes, her green pesto dip and cured lamb. Satisfied, she picked up the plate and the flowers.

  Ginnie was the first to greet her when she returned. “Mackenna, you’ve done a wonderful job with the decorating. The room looks great and the little touches of the wool in the basket and the corrugated-iron bar – I love it.”