Yesterday`s flower by Michelle Tarynne (uplifting book club books .txt) 📕

Erika expected him to offer her lunch, but he disappeared out the back door. ‘Prudence!’ he yelled. ‘Prudence!’

Erika heard a soft reply before he emerged again, his arm around a hefty African woman. She must have been well into her sixties, if not older, her heavily lined lids drooping over soft caramel eyes.

‘Meet the most important woman in our lives. This is Prudence, our second mother. Chief housekeeper. Chef extraordinaire. Beauty queen.’

Prudence slapped Jared lightly on the shoulder, but Erika could tell she was pleased. ‘He only says that when he wants something,’ she said, taking in Erika in one
appraising glance. ‘Welcome to Le Domaine.’
Erika smiled, then stood up to shake Prudence’s hand.
‘Did Max tell you when he’d be back?’ Jared asked Prudence.
‘Mr Jared,’ Prudence cocked her head, a warning note creeping into her voice.

‘I’m asking, dear Prudence, so I can have Erika back in time to greet him,’ Jared said cheerfully. ‘I’m taking her on a farm tour. Erika has to see the vineyards if she’s to draw them.’

After a few yanks, Jared moved to a tall cupboard. It had several shelves and the cupboards on the left and right had large diamonds punched in them, filled with chicken mesh. It took a few yanks on the stiff handle to open the door, but when it did, Jared pulled out a picnic basket. Prudence’s eyes narrowed.

‘Prudie, Erika would love some chicken sandwiches. You’re not a vegetarian are you, Erika?’
‘No, but I don’t want to cause any trouble.’

Prudence clapped her hands, and pulled out a red-chequered ceramic jug from the fridge. ‘Nonsense,’ she said. ‘Now, Mr Jared, you take Erika onto the porch with this

lemonade. I’ll call you when I’m ready.’

‘Don’t you think she’s an angel?’ Jared said. ‘Max and I would be lost without her.’ ‘Out!’ Prudence waved a dishcloth at him, her eyes twinkling.

♥

Erika had expected a walk to the vineyards; she hadn’t anticipated a basket strapped to the quad bike, and Jared kicking the machine into gear.
‘Hop on,’ he said with a cheeky look.
‘No helmet?’ Erika said.
‘Living dangerously is much more fun.’

Erika hesitated, remembering the uneasy skid as Jared came to an abrupt halt in front of the house.
‘Come on!’ Jared cried.

What the hell, Erika thought. She slipped her leg over the leather seat, feeling herself slide up against Jared’s back.
‘Ready?’

They skidded over bumps, avoiding pot holes and churning up mud. The bo om of Erika’s jeans were soaked by the time Jared finally stopped. And rather than being afraid, Erika found she was exhilarated. ‘Not everyone gets the Grand Tour!’ Jared laughed and held out his hand to help her off.

She took it, shocked at the surge that pulsed through her as they touched. Jared angled his head, holding onto her fingers a li le longer than was strictly necessary. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.

Erika pulled away, as she tried to compose herself. ‘Of course, why shouldn’t it be?’ Erika thought about Max, not really sure what he was expecting from her. She

remembered his gentleness and care when she wasn’t really in a state to manage anything. But here she was with Jared, and for the first time since her divorce, she actually felt something; something long hibernated was stirring inside her and she just couldn’t help herself. She liked it.

Jared hadn’t moved away. He was still exceptionally close to her. Close enough for her to see the flecks of dust caught on his eyelashes, the tiny mole above his top lip. His eyes caught hers as he smiled, lifting his finger to trace the contours of her face.

Erika knew she should turn away, feign interest in the vines or the view. Make conversation. Ask for something to drink. Focus on how she’d been hurt by Albert to balance out the pressure building inside her.

Instead she stood still, feeling the soft touch against her cheek. A small sigh slipped out, a rising tide catching in her throat. She didn’t know this man. And he didn’t know her; her problems and her insecurities. Here in the vineyard in this country she was just beginning to know, she was completely new.

So when Jared cupped her face in his hands, she let him. And when he kissed her, she didn’t melt. Her body surged with a newfound feeling of power, and for the first time in years she was the woman she was meant to be.

They returned from the vineyards just before dusk. Erika leant into Jared, feeling his

back against her breasts. The closer they got to the main house, the more Erika’s stomach began to churn.

She hadn’t slept with Jared. Not yet. But she wanted to. Jared had held her hand, walked her through the vines. He’d laid out a picnic blanket and made her feel like she was the only person in the world.

And if he’d pushed a li le harder, she’d have willingly succumbed. And not to prove Ashton right. Not to get that post-Albert shag over and done with or to take back her femininity. But quite simply because Jared made her skin sear. Feeling him now in front of her, she wanted to clutch him closer, drop her lips to his neck. She pulled her arms tighter around him.
‘Hello, tiger,’ he said softly, his right hand catching one of hers for just a moment.

♥

Max was si ing in front of the house under one of the oak trees. Though he was nursing a beer, Erika read an expression she hadn’?t seen in him before: anxiety. He stood up as soon as Jared switched off the engine.
‘Hey, boet,’ Jared said, almost bouncing off the quad bike.
‘You’re back,’ said Max, a level of reserve just distinguishable in his tone.
‘We are,’ said Erika. ‘How did it go with the tax?’
Max frowned.
‘Jared said you had to go into town to sort out some tax thing?’ Erika prompted.

‘Oh, right,’ Max said. ‘Easy. Done.’ His eyes trailed down her legs to the cuffs of her jeans. ‘Where’d you take her?’ he asked.

‘Up to Elephant Rock.’ Jared’s voice was bright. ‘We should all go again tomorrow, Max. You should see how the peach blossoms have opened since last week.’

Max nodded. ‘Are you okay, Erika? Jared can be a li le impetuous sometimes. And he drives like a lunatic. If I’d known ...’

‘That’s me,’ Jared interrupted. ‘Irresponsible as always. I had you quaking in your shoes, didn’t I, Erika?’

Erika laughed to ease the tension. ‘I’m perfect,’ she said. ‘And I’m braver than I look.’ She jumped off the quad bike, and walked towards Max. ‘I’m fine, Max, really. And hello.’ As Max kissed her on the cheek, his strong sandalwood smell engulfed her. Erika hugged him to her. She was, she realised, so glad to see him. He felt solid and strangely

familiar. She felt him relax into her arms as though her touch had eased him. ‘It’s so good to see you,’ Erika said. ‘I missed you.’
Max smiled. ‘You too.’

Jared stood slightly away from them, his face untroubled. ‘What about a braai tonight?’ Jared suggested. ‘It’s a perfect evening.’

♥

Erika watched the men trying to coax a fire.

‘Come on, Jared,’ Max said. ‘We won’t cook a thing on those puny flames.’ ‘I could pour some diesel on it …’

‘Ja, and burn off your eyebrows like last time. Just stoke it, boytjie.’ ‘Oh, right, make me do all the hard work ...’

While the brothers shared certain mannerisms, they looked quite different from each other. Jared was leaner, more angular, his skin a deeper, more even brown. Max was stockier and stronger, and his hair was at least two shades lighter than his brother’s, with a distinct wave. And Jared seemed to do everything at double Max’s pace. Jared talked faster. Moved quicker. Like he was constantly in fast forward. Jared seemed to throw his boerewors and lamb chops onto their communal pyre, while Max arranged everything with obvious thought.

Erika picked at the bowl of crisps Prudence had brought to tide them over. She’d tried to help the older woman lay the table outside, but Prudence had waved her away. Erika had watched her bring out the plates. She’d come back a few minutes later with a Greek salad and a bague e, and the next trip had resulted in a tray with a bean salad and two lidded Corningware dishes, which now sat ready at the table.

Erika stood up and approached the men at the fire. ‘How is it coming along?’ she asked.

Max put his arm around her, drawing her to him. ‘We’re ge ing there, aren’t we, Jared?’ He sniffed. ‘Don’t you love this smell?’

Erika nodded. ‘It smells of sunshine. On rare good days my father used to pull out his barbecue and fan the flames with my mother’s hairdryer. It was quite a ritual. He always burnt the meat, but he was so happy watching the flames.’

Max laughed and let her go to retrieve some tongs. ‘Well, we’ll try to keep this edible. Are you hungry?’
‘Starved.’

Erika glanced at Jared, who acknowledged her with a smile Max seemed to miss. But Jared’s jade eyes drilled into her, making her knees weak.

‘Your glass is empty,’ he said. ‘Let me take you to the cellar so we can choose a bo le for dinner. What do you want, Max, red or white?’
‘White,’ Max said. ‘Too hot for red. I can go if you like?’

Jared studied his ramshackle display of meat. ‘I actually think you might spread those chops out more evenly, Max. I don’t think I did a great job.’
Max laughed. ‘I’ll see what I can do. Don’t be long now.’

♥
It didn’t take long.

By the time they were halfway down the stairs, Jared’s lips were on hers, his hands up her shirt. He unbu oned her quickly, cupping her breasts and sending her nipples into peaks of ecstasy. Erika kissed him back. He tasted of beer and vinegar, his tongue exploring her mouth urgently. With each probe, she felt the heat draining between her legs. She throbbed everywhere, and pulled at his T-shirt to lift it over his head.

‘God, you’re hot,’ Jared said, as his shirt dropped to the floor. ‘I’ve been wanting you all night.’
Erika felt for his belt, his zip, her hand slipping inside his jeans. He strained against

her fingers. She heard the echo of his buckle hi ing the floor, jeans and scants following. Emboldened, Erika looked at him, saw him nod. Her mouth closed over him, sucking gently, then harder.
‘Christ,’ he said, holding her head, his hands kni ed in her hair.

She moved back and forth, the sound of their breathing hollow. Then Erika felt his hands at her face, lifting her gently away.
‘I might have a condom in my wallet,’ he said, ‘if that’s –’

‘Hurry,’ she said. She unzipped herself, discarded her clothes until she wore nothing but her bra.

He took her on the stairs, pulsing inside her until she thought she would scream. His fingers, light and insistent, massaged her until she couldn’t hold herself back any longer. She came in a flood, an almost animal cry escaping from her. Jared smiled, his body shuddering