Losing Jack

Chapter 7

Sandy watched Michael disappear through the shed door, her heart was beating out of her chest. She felt dizzy and almost out of breath at the thought of what she had just done.

Did she actually kiss Michael - it was the first time that she had ever done anything like that. Now as she sat up looking at the spray unit she had been working on, she didn't know whether to squeal with delight, or to kick herself in the pants!

She had liked Michael for a long time, but was so shy and unsure of herself that she had painstakingly gone out of her way not to go near him, or even talk to him. He regularly come around the house and despite Jude trying her best to get them on speaking terms, she had watched him from afar, listening to him joking with Jude and Jack.

It wasn't until recently had she got up enough courage to go walking with him and Jack around the property. Which was Jude's idea, after she loudly complained that poor Jack needed some exercise because he was packing on a few pounds.

Now Michael had called over to the shed at lunchtime. He hadn't just come to check up on Jack, he come to see her.

She wished she had the words to tell him how she felt, but at the same time she was afraid of what exactly it was that she was feeling. It couldn't be love, what did she know of love. She was nothiing more than a wretched little thing that even her parents had rejected. Never before had she been worthy of happy endings, so what made her think that she might be now?

With a jolt she wondered if Michaels show of affection had been nothing more than a nasty plot. Was he out to destroy what little self-respect and pride that she had gained through blood sweat and tears toiling in the vineyards and working like a man to earn?

Although she was tough on the exterior Sandy knew inside she was weak and vulnerable. She couldn't expose her true self to anyone, not even Michael.

Despite her reluctant feelings, she found herself replaying her eventful lunchtime encounter with Michael over in her mind. But this time, she was not damaged weak little Sandy, she was someone else. When he had cornered her by the row of vines, she had let him kiss her, and she had kissed him back. She shivered and imagined his warm lips caressing hers, hearing him murmur as they slowly kissed again.......

Her daydream was suddenly popped like a bubble by Rick, back from his lunch break. He was now standing right beside her, watching her. His eyes smiled, although he didn't appear to be smiling. It was curiosity; he was waiting for her to spill her guts about her lunchtime date.

"Rick" said Sandy flustered as she leapt from the imaginary arms of Michael and back into the machinery shed.
Slowly and thoughtfully rubbing his bearded chin Rick said "I think Sandy has an admirer. "
"I do? Asked Sandy innocently.
Her bluff may have worked, except that she could not stop the bright red hue covering her face - after being caught red handed daydreaming like a silly schoolgirl.
"You have to admit that he is persistent," she laughed.
"Well all I know is that boy thinks you are pretty special," he said.
"Well - I 'am, special that is! So hand me that spanner, or are you going to sit here daydreaming about boys all day," said Sandy cheekily.

As they continued getting the spray nozzles cleaned, ready to calibrate Sandy shot a quick glance at Rick. Apart from being one of the long term employees on the vineyard, Sandy knew Rick was the one person that she could count on to help out around the place now Daniel wasn't around. He was more like an uncle, than an employee.

As they worked she secretly thought about Michael. Although she was terrified about what might happen next, she couldn't wait until their next encounter. Sandy made a promise to herself that she would kiss him again.

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