Dan Fey was correct in his suspicion that his mother was up to something. During lunch when Rosina went to the toilet, Penny said to Jolene, "Perhaps you suspect that Rosina and my son have become more than friends?"
"Yes she indicated that, well more than indicated, during our drive here from the ferry wharf."
"And?"
"Relax dear, I confess I'm delighted about that. Dan appeared to be an admirable young man."
"Um as the saying goes, I guess he's been around the block a few times."
"And that probably goes for my daughter as well."
"It might be worth her staying on with us for longer than she intended."
"Well to be frank, I'd been thinking the same thing; she appears to be almost jumping out of her skin. Do you have something in mind about a longer stay?"
"Yes I'd like her to stay till the end of summer and work for me."
"Then you only have to ask. Here she comes now."
When Rosina had settled, Penny said she'd been talking to Jolene about the possibility of Rosina staying on longer.
"Ah that's a coincidence, I'd been thinking of asking you the same thing and would seize the opportunity to stay longer if I can find work."
"Well your mother is open to my suggestion that I invite you to stay on to the end of summer. I'd like to employ you to step into my role of looking after bookings for the chalets and supervising the cleaners and attending to the requests of guests."
"Ohmigod I'd love to do that. Mum is it okay for me to say yes."
"Yes dear, whatever you wish."
Penny said she'd welcome a long over-due break and being relieved of that time-consuming responsibility would allow here to plan for the progressive renovations of the chalets from late autumn at end-of-season and to upgrade her own kitchen and to create a full orchard with rabbit and stock-proof fencing.
Rosina looked steely-eyed at both women and asked gravely, "Is this a conspiracy to try to advance the relationship between Dan and me?"
Jolene rolled her eyes and said, "Don't be so difficult darling."
"The answer is yes."
Mother and daughter looked in surprise at Penny who smirked and said, "At least one of us has the balls to tell it how it is."
The three of them looked relieved and began to laugh.
* * *
Arriving back at the farm highly excited after having accepting Penny's offer for Rosina to stay on and manage the rental accommodation business, Rosina grabbed a farm-bike and sped over the several hundred acres of flat and clean grasslands to one of the 40-acre hay paddock. Three blocks of similar size were in a program whereby one block would be used for growing hay for summer cutting for one year and then would be 'rested', reverting to farm grazing for two years and on the third year would rotate to be the current season's haymaking block.
Dan and his sister spent 4½ days working on maintaining the fence-line of approximately a quarter of a mile that enclosure the 40-acre block and, with the job finished, were sprawled out on the grass on the shady side of the tractor-trailer unit transporting supplies having mid-afternoon refreshments. The tractor was mounted with a hydraulic post-driver fitted with pulling claws for the removal of badly damaged or rotted posts.
Dan and Trish waved at the approaching Rosina.
"What's up?" Dan asked.
Rosina dismounted and asked, "First I need a drink."
"We have beer or coffee."
Holding a cool beer, Rosina declared, "I've accepted your mother's offer to stay on till the end of summer and paid to manage the accommodation bookings, unit servicing staff and guest inquiries and requests."
"Why?" Dan asking, pretending this news had not be expected. Is mum pregnant?"
Ignoring her uncouth brother, Trish leaped to her feet and hugged Rosina and said, "Oh I'm delighted, so delighted you'll be staying on."
"Yeah great news," Dan said belatedly.
Rosina kissed Trish and whispered, "Could you go, take the bike, as Dan and I could celebrate here?"
"I'm off on the bike Dan; our lady from the south wishes to have sex and I don't think she means with me."
There was no comment from Dan.
Rosina handed Trish's sunglasses and jeans jacket to her and whispered, "Thanks darling, you embarrassing bitch."
They kissed and Trish left.
Sitting beside Dan, Rosina said he hadn't appeared to be happy that she was staying on.
He lied, "Oh but I am; I put the idea into mum's head as she needs a break I reckon."
"Are you sure it was your idea?"
"Yes but um there's no need to mention that to anyone and by now mum probably thinks it was her idea. I'm almost out of me tree in delight that you will stay her at least to the end of summer."
"At least?"
He soothed her, knowing he'd have to go against his natural method of grinding away to bend his target into submission. He believed this concession was necessary because Rosina was by no means an easy push-over and probably would counter-attack should he push too hard and too fast. This rather pleased him because compliant females tended to become boring.
"I was thinking by then you might be so use being around here that you may wish to stay here even longer."
"Right, and how should we mark this occasion?"
"I have no idea," Dan said and leaned over and begun unbuckling Rosina's jeans belt.
She watched his fumbling fingers and smiled.
He figured that once underway he should roll on to his back, taking her with him and give her the opportunity while riding cowgirl to exploit him fully her way instead of her usual role of remaining fairly passive and being pounded until she turned almost cross-eyed and groaning incomprehensibly. Yeah. she may welcome the change and think 'he was the man'.
* * *
Two days after Jolene and Arthur returned home, still unsure if Dan and Trish knew that Rosina would be staying on through summer, Penny received a call from the orchid grower Helen Wright who invited Penny to lunch next day.
"Is this some special occasion?"
"No it's just that I thought we should intensify our rather casual friendship."
Penny arrived at the Hawkins' impressive home overlooking the ferry terminal and out to two smaller islands. With white puffball clouds breeze-driven across the blue sky and mirrored down as dark grey shadows drifting across the dark greenish sea the expansive 90-deg. view truly was picturesque.
Handing Penny a glass of Lillete, an aperitif wine from France.
Mary said, "I mentioned on the phone my interest in intensifying our friendship that has been rather hit and miss, depending on meeting at some event."
"Yes the idea rather appeals to me, partly because your interests are so diverse."
"Ah and you said partly?"
"You are elegant, knowledgeable and dress immaculately and in good taste."