Page 50 of Bea's Book Wagon
‘You might need these though…’ he said, pointing to a muddy pair of wellies in the footwell.
‘Wellies? For a dinner date?’
‘It’s not your average dinner date,’ said Lochlan, squeezing her hand.
‘Obviously!’ Bea laughed.
‘How’s your day been?’
‘Good, well, great actually,’ she replied. ‘I’ve put all the finishing touches to the wagon, so I’m ready to open this weekend.’
‘Wow, Bea, that’s brilliant!’ said Lochlan, turning to look at her. ‘We can celebrate tonight. I’ll get us some champagne.’
‘Oh, you don’t have to—’
‘It’s a moment, Bea, we should mark it.’
‘Okay, thanks,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘That would be lovely.’
‘So, you’ll be launching at the village fête on Sunday, then?’
‘Yep. I can’t wait! Will you be able to make it?’
‘Of course! I wouldn’t miss it. I know how much it means to you.’
‘Thanks, I’m really nervous. Just knowing you’re going to be there helps.’
‘Good, I’m glad,’ he said, pulling on his sunglasses.
Bea took in the scenery as they passed through the villages of Appleton and Cherrydown towards Briarwood, and finally along a dirt track. ‘Are you sure there’s a restaurant down here?’
‘Well, not exactly, no…’
‘Where on earth are you taking me?’ Bea asked. ‘We’re in the middle of nowhere.’
‘Not quite nowhere,’ Lochlan laughed, nodding towards a barn at the end of the track.
‘Are those grapes?’ Bea asked, pointing towards a field in the distance with rows of what looked like vines growing. ‘Is this a vineyard?’
‘Jackpot!’ he laughed.
‘Seriously? That’s incredible, I had no idea this was here.’
‘Me neither.’
‘So, how did you find it?’
‘I’ve got good contacts…’
‘Like I said, so mysterious…’
‘Let’s just say it belongs to a friend of a friend. She’s refurbished the barn, put in a kitchen, hired a chef. The plan is to open a pairing restaurant – you know? Different wines with each course.’
‘Sounds great,’ agreed Bea.
‘Anyway, she’s testing menus and was looking for some guinea pigs to try out the food, so I volunteered us,’ he explained, pulling the car to a stop in front of the barn.
‘It looks amazing,’ said Bea, admiring the frosted glass doors embossed with the logo for Cherrydown Vineyard.
