The photographer was so fast that it wasn’t until he had taken several shots that Lucy was able to comprehend what was happening. Instinctively, she raised her hand to shield her face, but it was too late. The man, dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a blue hoodie, disappeared out of sight.
Well, that didn’t take long.
It was just twenty-four hours since she had posted her fake confession. With sweaty palms and a churning stomach, she had hesitated momentarily before posting, knowing that from here on out, her reputation would be in tatters. She had informed her family and a few close friends of the true situation and then switched off all notifications. Intrusive attention was something that, for the foreseeable future, she would just have to learn to live with.
The main street of Lourensville was busier than usual. Spring had come upon the valley and Ruth’s Roastery was buzzing with patrons. Suzie greeted her with a friendly smile and she saw that Lena was already seated at a corner table. As Lucy approached, she could tell by Lena’s worried expression that she had heard the news.
“Lena, I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am about all this bad publicity. I can explain…”
But Lena waved her concerns away. “Child, I don’t care about your personal life, it’s none of my business, anyway. My biggest concern is the school. We can’t afford to lose you. I had a meeting with Mr. Meyer, the principal of Zandspruit School in the Overberg Valley. He has eight or nine children desperate for remedial help. We discussed bussing those children here next year. We could apply to the Department of Education for help with costs. He seems to think they’ll go for it. We could create our very own remedial class with you as the teacher, of course. In time, we may be able to employ a speech therapist.”
Lucy felt crushed. What Lena was proposing sounded like a dream come true. To have her own remedial class, out here on a magnificent farm, with Josh nearby. But dreams were for children, she reminded herself.
“Oh, Lena. You have no idea how good that sounds. But unfortunately, I have to go home at the end of the school year. I have to return to the States.”
Lena looked flummoxed. “Why?” she demanded, seeming hurt and angry. “Lucy, I’ve been so supportive of you. I’ve believed in you and invested in your progress. Please don’t leave us now, we need you.”
When Lucy looked up, Lena immediately regretted her tone. “Oh my God, you don’t have a choice, do you?”
Lucy shook her head. The waitress set down two frothy cappuccinos and quickly left.
“Were you forced to write that stuff? I must admit, the wording didn’t even sound like you. After I read it, I searched online and familiarized myself with the entire saga.”
“You have to believe me, Lena, what I did in exposing Jason was impulsive and reckless, and I suppose completely vengeful. But it was true, every word of it.”
“I believe you,” Lena said, sipping the froth off her cappuccino. “What I don’t understand is why you have to leave the school and Josh and go back to America. Surely with this fake confession they have their pound of flesh.”
“Jason’s mother Victoria is a vindictive woman and she’s not prepared to see me happy with another man, at least not for a while.”
Lena looked like she was concentrating hard. “But, Lucy, social media can work both ways. What if other people sent out a message that you were coerced?”
“Believe me, I’ve thought of all of that, but the Palmers are dangerous.” She brought Lena up to speed with the goings-on at Sun Valley Winery and her father’s business back home.
“They sound like a very nasty family,” said Lena.
“How could I have been so stupid to have taken them on?”
“Listen to yourself, Lucy! All I hear is self-blame. Would it ever occur to you that sometimes people like Jason Palmer get exactly what they deserve? I’ll bet my ass he’s a selfish, spoiled brat who has never had to face consequences for anything he’s done. He probably learned it from his parents, rich, powerful people who believe they don’t have to play by the rules or normal standards of human decency.”
“Well, they appear to the world as pillars of respectability,” said Lucy.
“And that’s why they’re so furious at you. Because you destroyed their image, in a business where image is everything.”
“I really got in way over my head.”
“Oh, Lucy.” Lena took her hand in hers across the table. “You’ve lost two dreams now, haven’t you?” Her eyes were full of empathy.
“Yes, my relationship with Jason turned out to be nothing but a lie. It was all just smoke and mirrors. Now that I’ve found the real thing, I’ll have to give that up too.”
“That’s a great deal of loss for one person, not to mention losing your mother.”
“Yes, it is. But I have survived so far, and I will survive this. I’m so sorry, Lena. I feel as if I’ve let the school down. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I continue here, it will cause great damage. If Sun Valley and the Palmers carry on coming after Mountain Shadows, then the school will be at risk and I can’t let that happen.”
Lena bit her lip. The school was her life’s work.
“Do you know what I’ve learned in life, Lucy? Patience. I know in my heart that you belong here. Eventually, all of this nonsense will blow over and you’ll come back. I just hope I’m still around to see it.”
***
The morning on Mountain Shadows was bright and sunny. The few puffy clouds in the sky held no threat of rain. Josh stood next to his SUV parked at a junction of two of the lesser-used roads on the farm. In the distance, he could hear the clanging of the school bell. Minutes later, Tom arrived in his pickup truck. He got out of his truck quickly, with a sense of urgency.
“The saboteurs were most definitely from another district. My cousin Marco said that Hans Bekker recruited a dozen or so workers from the Overberg Region. There have been some layoffs there recently.”
“So I’ve heard,” said Josh. “A bad situation, by the sounds of things, lots of labor unrest and some violence and intimidation.”
“According to my sources, the du Toit Winery fired some troublemakers, and it’s from that pool that Hans Bekker has recruited. These are desperate people, Josh, angry and unemployed, and they have nothing to lose.”
“Well, there’s been no further incidents for two weeks. Let’s just hope that this uneventful spell lasts,” said Josh.
“We need a good harvest. And despite the loss from fermentation tank three, we’re on target.”
“I don’t trust Sun Valley, Hans Bekker, or the Palmers for one second. We have to remain vigilant. I want the security patrols to remain for the time being. We mustn’t become complacent.”
“I agree,” said Tom. “You must admit, this is a rather strange situation.” He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Strange doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Josh shook his head.
“I believe Lucy will be returning to America soon. It will be a big loss for the school.” Josh could sense that his old friend was treading lightly around a delicate subject.
“She’ll be gone in a few weeks.” Josh tried to sound matter-of-fact, but his somber expression told a different story.
“It’s a shame, it really is. It seems that some folks simply can’t let sleeping dogs lie.”
“Yes, and Lucy has sacrificed her own reputation and happiness so that her family and everyone here isn’t threatened by the Palmers.”
“That’s a hefty price to pay and I’m sorry you have to pay, too.”
“Thanks, Tom. Well done for getting that information.”
Tom tipped his hat and drove off in the direction of his own home, where his wife and family would be waiting. Josh found it impossible not to draw a comparison between Tom’s full and happy home life and his own. The only person with whom he had ever dreamed of having a future would soon be halfway across the world. Furthermore, he couldn’t shake a profound sense of unease. Lucy had made a deal with the devil, and the devil he knew seldom kept his promises.