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  “Thanks. Would you like to try something?”

  “It all looks delicious,” Ginnie said and she picked some food from the plate.

  “Can I put those somewhere?” Hugh took the jar of flowers from her hand.

  “On the bar.” Mackenna was relieved to have two hands to support the heavy platter. “Thanks Hugh, they’re lovely.”

  “Mum’s doing, of course.” Hugh smiled. “But I had the original thought.”

  Everyone took turns to select something from the platter.

  “Where did this come from?” Her father waved a piece of cured meat at her.

  “It’s our lamb,” Mackenna replied, watching her father closely as he took a bite. “What do you think?”

  Lyle frowned and inspected the meat left in his fingers. “How can it be our lamb?”

  “Don’t you like it?” Mackenna was worried. This was one of her surprises.

  He took another bite. “The flavour is strong.” He chewed some more and swallowed. “Perfect for a lamb lover,” he said with a grin. “Did you do this?”

  “The first part, preparing and flavouring, then I took it to a butcher in Mount Gambier for the curing part.”

  “Try this, Lou,” he said, tapping Louise on the arm.

  Louise murmured her approval and the others crowded round again.

  “I hope you’ve got more,” Hugh said.

  Mackenna was excited by the enthusiastic reaction to the cured lamb and thankful she’d made a second platter. The food was disappearing at a rate of knots and Patrick hadn’t arrived yet.

  “Let me offer this one,” Adam said, taking the plate from her hands.

  “Thanks.”

  She turned just as Patrick appeared in the doorway with a young woman by his side. She was what could only be described as striking, with straight jet-black hair cut in a sharp fringe above her eyebrows and curving into the nape of her pale neck where it almost touched. Her clothes were all different layers but each layer was black. In fact the only contrast was the bright red of her lips and the paleness of her skin.

  Conversation halted around the room as all eyes turned to the newcomers.

  “Hope we’re not too late.” Patrick’s vibrant tone broke the silence. “Everyone, this is Yasmine.”

  Yasmine gave a shy smile and lifted her hand to flutter long fingers ending with fingernails painted in black nail polish.

  “Just started.” Mackenna was the first to find her voice. She couldn’t help staring at Yasmine who had enough black around her eyes to make up several people. “I’m Patrick’s sister, Mackenna.”

  “I’ve seen pictures of you,” Yasmine said.

  “Really?” Mackenna looked at her brother and the protective arm he draped around Yasmine. He really was secretive. He hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend.

  “Welcome, Jasmine,” Lyle said and offered his hand.

  “It’s Yasmine, Dad,” Patrick said.

  “Call me,Yassie.” She flicked her large brown eyes around the group. “A lot of people have trouble with the Y and the J.”

  “Hello,Yassie. I’m Louise, Patrick’s mother.” Louise took Yassie by the arm. “Let me introduce the others.”

  “Aren’t you the dark horse,” Mackenna said to Patrick who had remained by her side.

  “Yas and I’ve been together a long time. I haven’t been ready to bring her home until now.”

  Mackenna was surprised and then had a sudden flood of sibling protection for her brother. She understood what he meant. She never brought anyone home either. She looked again at Yasmine being introduced to the rest of the party. Patrick must be really serious about her to risk bringing her home.

  “I can’t understand why,” Mackenna joked as they both watched their mother gushing over his girlfriend. “You’d better go rescue her before Mum whips out your baby photos. I’ve got the next course to prepare.”

  “Yeah, I need to talk to you about the food.” Patrick’s eyes darted from Yasmine to Mackenna.

  “What about it?”

  “Yasmine can’t eat meat.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Patrick.” Louise beckoned him.

  “The mother calls. You’ll rustle something up for her, won’t you? She doesn’t eat much.” He gave Mackenna a peck on the cheek then headed off to Yasmine’s side, leaving Mackenna stewing.

  Adam had drifted from the edge of the crowd and raised his eyebrow. Her heart skipped and she turned away quickly. She didn’t have time to think about him. She had to come up with food without meat for a meal that featured lamb as the main ingredient.

  In the kitchen she looked at the second tasting platter. There was enough on that for a non-meat eater but entrée was tricky. She had prepared to serve a trilogy of lamb – lamb sausage on buttered potatoes, lamb fillet wrapped in vine leaves, and lamb with feta and spinach in sausage roll bites. Nothing meat free there.

  “How’s it going?”

  Adam’s voice startled her.

  “Fine,” she said and turned on the oven. There was a lot to do before she could serve.

  “Can I help?”

  He wouldn’t go away.

  “I can manage,” she said.

  “I’m sure you can, but I could tell by the look on your face you weren’t expecting a vegetarian.”

  “We’re a sheep farm,” Mackenna snapped and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “What was Patrick thinking?”

  “I guess he can’t help the eating choices of his girlfriend.”

  “I know, but he might have given me some warning. Tonight is all about celebrating our lamb. It’s the main ingredient.” Mackenna flicked a hand at the menu she had stuck to the board on the wall.

  Adam studied it. “Have you put all these dishes together?”

  “Most of it.” Mackenna opened the fridge and began pulling out the food she’d prepped during the day.

  He looked over her shoulder. “You’ve got haloumi.”

  “Yes.” She sidestepped around him.

  “It’s not on your menu?”

  “Not tonight.”

  “I could wrap some in vine leaves. It’s delicious deep fried.”

  “I know that but tonight – ”

  “Is all about the lamb, I know, but we need something for a vegetarian.” He poked in the fridge. “You’ve got plenty of pastry, I could do a couple of feta and spinach bites minus the lamb.”

  Mackenna’s hands flew to her hips. Finally it registered that he was suggesting he could help.

  “Everything going okay?”

  Hugh was standing in the doorway. What was with all these men in her kitchen?

  “Fine,” she declared.

  “Small problem,” Adam said at the same time.

  Hugh looked from one to the other. “Can I help?”

  Laughter echoed up the passage behind him.

  “Take that platter and make sure they eat it.” Mackenna gave him a weak smile. It was hardly his fault things were going awry. “I need to get the next course cooking before they’re all too drunk to enjoy it.”

  “Sure thing.” Hugh picked up the plate. “Let me know if I can do anything else.”

  Mackenna was already at the cooktop igniting the gas. From the corner of her eye she saw Adam don the apron she’d hung on the back of the door. She was happy to let him cook for Yasmine. It was one less thing to worry about.

  When the sausages were cooking she put the bites in the oven and checked her potatoes. She was aware of Adam moving around her asking the odd question about where to find things. They worked independently but didn’t get in each other’s way. That was good at least. She glanced up at her menu. It was ready to go.

  “Damn!” she muttered.

  “What’s up?”

  “I need to set an extra place for Yasmine.”

  “I can do it while you plate up.”

  “Thanks. There’s a space at the end of the table and the cutlery’s on the side cupboard in the dining room.”<
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  “No problem.” He gave her a big smile.

  Mackenna turned back to her food and her plates. Adam was leaving tomorrow and there was no way she was going to fall for him again.

  “That was a fantastic meal, Mackenna.” Chris raised his glass to her. “Congratulations.”

  All around the table voices echoed his words. Mackenna was exhausted. It had been a long time since she’d spent so long in the kitchen.

  “You must be very pleased,” Ginnie said. “So many ways to eat lamb and each of them divine.”

  “The spiced lamb on the cauliflower and pine nut salad was so light and tasty,” Louise said. “You’ll have to share that recipe with me.”

  “My favourite was the seared lamb rump.” Lyle beamed at her along the table. “I know our lamb has good flavour but you really brought it out with that one.”

  There were more murmurs of agreement and then a brief moment of silence.

  “The berry dessert was very refreshing.” Yasmine’s voice was low but everyone heard her and nodded in agreement.

  At least she ate that, Mackenna thought. She looked down the table to Yasmine at the other end. After all Adam’s work to make sure there was a vegetarian option for every course, Yasmine had hardly eaten any of it. Still, she’d taken lots of photos. If any of them turned out alright, Mackenna might be able to use them for publicity.

  Hugh got to his feet and raised his glass.

  “I’d like to propose a toast to Mackenna. Not only is she a talented farmer but also a fantastic chef and I want to wish her every success with the Gatehouse.”

  Mackenna glanced around the table as her guests echoed his sentiments and finally her eyes came back to Hugh, her good friend. Although they’d been apart for many years, their friendship was as strong as ever. She stood up and he leant in and kissed her on the cheek. Then Chris and Ginnie were doing the same.

  “We must be off,” Chris said. “Congratulations again.”

  “This will be a popular place,” Ginnie said.

  Mackenna saw them out and returned to the dining room to find Cam with an arm around Adam’s shoulder.

  “I’ll be staying at the farm tonight, my Kiwi friend.” Cam’s words tumbled out. Mackenna noticed he’d tipped back a few extra glasses of red wine after the main course. “Sounds like it will be our last night together – unless you get a better offer.”

  Cam winked at Mackenna and she glanced away. Her parents were in conversation with Patrick and Yasmine. Only Adam and Hugh heard his innuendo, but she had no idea why Cam would say that now even if he was drunk. She’d given no-one any cause to think there was anything more than a holiday friendship between them. Had Adam said something? She risked a look in his direction but his face was a mask as he extricated himself from Cam’s hold.

  Hugh hugged Mackenna and gave her another kiss on the cheek. She was beginning to think he may have had too much wine as well, but his murmur in her ear was steady and reassuring.

  “You’ve done a great job, Mack. I’m sure this will be a successful venture for you.”

  She glowed in his praise. “Thanks, Hugh.”

  He shook Adam’s hand. “Hope our paths will cross again one day.”

  “Yes,” Adam said. “Maybe.”

  “Night all,” Hugh called and let himself out.

  “We’ve a busy day ahead,” Louise said. “We’d best be off.”

  “Are you staying a while, Yasmine?” Mackenna asked. “We’ve hardly had a chance to chat.”

  “She’s staying all week,” Louise crowed, her face a beacon of delight. “Then she and Patrick are driving us to the airport on Friday.”

  “Friday?” Mackenna gasped.

  “Yes, they’ve got things on in Adelaide next weekend, so it works out perfectly,” Louise said.

  “But you weren’t going until the following week?” Mackenna’s brain whirled with the amount of things that needed to be done over the next few days.

  “We hadn’t had a chance to tell you.” Louise grabbed Lyle’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “The travel agent rang while we were in Adelaide. Our flights have been brought forward. It will put us in Christchurch at a better time to fit in with some tours we want to take.”

  “You can manage the sheep,” Lyle said. “Cam will be here.”

  “I’ll be here,” Cam echoed.

  “Patrick can come back next week to help,” Louise added.

  Mackenna swished at the loose curls tickling her face. “I’ve got a bus group booked in here for next Saturday night.”

  “This wasn’t meant to take you away from farm work.” Louise glared at Mackenna. “We’ve talked about this.”

  “It’s only a small group.” Mackenna backtracked quickly. There was no way she wanted her mother to put the kybosh on the Gatehouse before it had begun. “I’ll be fine.”

  Her family left and Cam grabbed Adam in another shoulder grip. “Come on Kiwi, off to bed.”

  Cam wobbled and they both stumbled. Adam put a steadying arm over Cam’s. “Bye, Mackenna,” he called over his shoulder.

  “Bye, Mackenna,” Cam mimicked.

  She listened to their footsteps and Cam’s slurry voice as they disappeared into the night.

  She shivered. Suddenly she was cold. The house was totally silent. She went back to the dining room. She paused and studied the remains of her beautifully set table now in disarray. Then it hit her. Adam was leaving in the morning and she hadn’t even thanked him for his help tonight. She’d have to get up early to make sure she caught him before he left. The lightness and excitement she’d felt evaporated, replaced by exhaustion tinged with sadness. In her heart she knew she didn’t want him to go but she couldn’t tell him that. She sucked in a breath and stood tall. She wouldn’t tell him that. Slowly the breath slipped past her lips and she began to clear up the mess.

  CHAPTER

  25

  “Damn!”Mackenna muttered as she tried to find some clothes from the piles dotted around her floor. There’d been no chance to unpack properly. Each time she’d needed something she’d rummaged through bags and boxes and now her room looked like a clothes sorting room at St Vinnies.

  She’d slept in. Adam had probably left already. She ran out to the carport and jumped into her car.

  “Damn!” she said again as the only sound the car made was a click when she turned the ignition. “Flat battery,” she muttered and dashed back to the house for her jumper. The sun was shining but the wind was chilly. She pushed her hat firmly on her head, pressed her arms to her sides and hurried up the track to the house. Adam’s car was gone from beside the garage where he usually parked it.

  Mackenna scanned the yard but his car was definitely nowhere to be seen. Inside the house, all was quiet. There were signs that someone had eaten breakfast. Her parents would have gone to church. She took a few steps up the passage thinking she might peep into Adam’s room but she was greeted by the rumble of snoring. Cam. There was no way she was sticking her head in that room again. No other sound reached her. Patrick and Yassie must still be asleep.

  She set the coffee machine going and made toast. It was cold this morning and the air felt damp even in the house.

  “Is there tea?”

  Mackenna turned at the sound of Yasmine’s voice. The younger woman looked even paler than she had last night and she’d wrapped herself in the thick blue dressing-gown that hung behind Mackenna’s old bedroom door.

  “Yes, of course. Come in and take a seat. Would you like toast?” Mackenna waved the piece she’d been biting into.

  “Yes, thanks.” Yasmine slipped onto a chair. “Just one piece. No butter.”

  No wonder the girl was so thin and pale, thought Mackenna.

  “Did you sleep well?” she asked.

  “Yes, really well thanks. I think I’m in your old room. I hope you don’t mind me wearing this. I’m guessing it’s yours?”

  “Not at all,” Mackenna said. “I don’t wear a dressing-gown much. Usually I’
m up and dressed and outside early, but I slept in this morning.”

  Yasmine covered her mouth with a hand to stifle a yawn. “I’m usually late to bed, so this is my normal get-up time.”

  “Really? What do you do?” Mackenna’s sleep patterns had been different in her chef days, depending on her shift but today’s sleep-in was unusual for her now.

  “I work in IT.”

  “Hello. You’re up early.” Patrick came in and wrapped Yasmine in a tight embrace, kissing her on the lips. “You should have come and got me.”

  Mackenna turned away to the kettle. It felt odd watching her brother being intimate with someone. It made her feel the loss of Adam more keenly, no matter that she kept telling herself there was no longer anything between them.

  “I don’t suppose you saw Adam before he left?” she said as she put toast and tea on the table.

  “I’ve been out to it since my head hit the pillow,” Patrick said.

  “Me too. “Yassie picked up the teacup and wrapped her fingers around it. “Thanks for this.”

  “I thought he was going this morning?” Patrick said.

  “He was. . . did,” Mackenna said. “I just hoped to catch him, that’s all. I didn’t thank him properly for his help last night.”

  “I’m sorry about that. Patrick should have warned you I was coming.” Yasmine gave Patrick a playful tap and he immediately wrapped his arms around her again.

  “Mack didn’t mind. She’s a whiz in the kitchen.”

  Mackenna smiled. No point in telling Patrick off. He just didn’t get it.

  “Your food was wonderful,” Yasmine said. “And you have a talent for decorating. Patrick said the old house was very run down. You’ve transformed it.”

  “Thanks,” Mackenna said. Yasmine’s words were warm and genuine.

  “Our Mack’s good at everything,” Patrick said as he stood up to make himself a coffee. “She can even run the farm single-handed. She’s a marvel.”

  Mackenna heard the teasing in his voice.

  “I gather Adam’s a friend of yours from New Zealand?” Yasmine said, turning her back on Patrick.