SO FAR: A jobless and sensitive young man becomes innocently associated with a bubbling woman in her late forties who lives alone on a vineyard out of Auckland, New Zealand. Nash is attracted because she drives a beautifully re-built and upgraded 1939 Chevy pick-up and with ease draws him from his 'shell'. Hope Honeybun's interest in young Mr Carson is that he writes a little and seems to have a worldly sense so installs him downstairs as resident author and commissions him to write a novel based on her colorful and turbulent life, much of which spans the time she has lived in the valley. Nash hears with interest about the development of the valley and of her lusty father and his women and reasons he must probe to find out about Hope's sex life. It appears this is a Valley of Sinners. He has indulged with one sinner and Hope's daughter Lisa arrives home and her interest in Nash appears heading for a lusty coupling.
*
When feeling in need of discreet male company, which happens about monthly, Hope Honeybun often stays with an old friend, Ivan Hicks, in Hamilton -- a city two hour's easy drive south of her home. Sex with Ivan had never been great and their latest two sessions Hope would rate about average, which still meant it was better than going without.
What Hope liked about Ivan was his ability to converse well on almost any subject that Hope threw at him. Ivan was also a charmer and treated her like a lady.
Although in Hamilton to attend a flower show that she'll not see, Hope knew if anyone asked all she needed to say was "The displays were wonderful, brilliant in fact, and so many of them, my mind is a blur. I didn't see anyone that I knew." Better being deceitful than having to try to explain to any inquirer why would she want to go all the way to Hamilton to be treated like a queen for the weekend; most people would never understand.
As she drove over the cattle stop crossing on to her property, Hope applied the usual quick visuals -- yes, the house was still there, not burnt to the ground; the leaves of the grapes all appeared to be a healthy green, and that little blur of lightening coming down the track was her little mate, Monty. All was well.
Hope drove into the opened garage, at the last second spotting Nash walking out of the orchard dressed only in very brief white shorts. Very sexy! She bounced from the car and kissed him. He smelt clean and 'orchardy'.
"Hi, Hope," Alayna called, her essentials just covered in a very small bikini. "We've had a lovely time and trust that you did as well and achieved all of the things you wanted?"
"Thank you dear, come in and help me prepare lunch."
"Ah, Hope, we'll stay in the orchard for a while and leave you two together," Nash said, with the devoted Monty at his feet.
"What two?"
"Hello, mother."
Hope spun around, dropped her handbag and spraying tears raced across the concrete apron outside the garages to fling herself into the outstretched arms of her youngest daughter.
"I'm sorry, so terrible sorry, Lisa."
"Me, too, mum. I never should have been so unbending."
"Lisa, that's enough from both of us, Hope said authoritatively. "The bridge is mended, let's move forward."
"Agreed. How are you, mother?"
"I'm fine, really fine these days as I have been moving forward. I take it that you have met my employee?"
"Ah, yes, your Mr Carson. I must confess mother he's an exceptional find."
"Good heavens, you and he haven't..."
"No, unfortunately; he seems to have rather conservative scruples, mother. One girl at the time it is and at present that is our little nympho from next door, the rather delightful Alayna."
"Well, quite" Hope smiled. "Even he is a little up-market compared with some of the scruffies that she seems to take up with. I am, after all, her unofficial godmother so it pleased me to bring them together."
Hope walked upstairs arm-in-arm with her daughter, enveloped with the glow of being bonded once more. She was interested, very interest, at the attitude of Lisa toward Nash. It seemed to her that Lisa has formed some sort of attachment toward Nash and did not appear to be jealous over his association with Alayna. Lisa seemed comfortable with that pairing, and appeared to have been relaxing in the orchard with them when Hope had arrived.
No, it was something more. Can it be that Lisa was developing a romantic attachment of her own? Unbelievable as it seemed, it certainly looked that way to her -- Lisa's eyes, her body language and her just expressed emotional assessment, 'an exceptionally good find' point to that assumption. Something must have happened to draw Lisa to him like this. How extraordinary! She knew her daughter so well she would have expected Lisa to arrive and say, "What the fuck is this man young enough to be your son doing living with you?" Instead, her acceptance of him appeared complete; very interesting!
The question had to come. "Mum, what is Nash doing living here with you?"
"I've taken a rather likening to the lad in a motherly way and he's helping me out in managing things around here."
"He refuses to tell me, mum, telling both Alayna and I that it's your business. I was told to ask you if I wanted to know. He's writing an article, perhaps even a book about you, isn't he? I know because I've spent several hours reminiscing about my childhood."
"He's being doing that? That wasn't on his schedule."
"He's also been questioning Alayna intensively."
"Alayna, what does she know about me?"
"Gossip -- remember who her mother is? Also how the neighbors fit into your life.
"He asked me to talk about everything -- warts and all."
"And you obliged?"
"Yes."
"Good gracious. Lisa, I do have a book in mind. He was supposed to spend the first fortnight getting the feel of the place, and then I was going to discuss with him a broad outline. I want him to gather factual information which should help him to understand my background. I want him to write a novel broadly based on my life but with true characters concealed."
"Why do you want to do this?"
"In memory of my father; the recent history of this valley has a lot to do with him, much more than even you perhaps imagine."
"Like what?"
"Wait for publication of the book, my dear."
"What if he's not a good enough writer?"
"Then I'll try again with someone else. I'll be asked him to transcribe all of his notes, research details and interviews on to CD that shall remain my exclusive property."
