The low windows on one side of the building cast rays of light over the raised milking platform. Lena walked up to it, running her hands over the pristine stainless steel fence that surrounded the cows as they were walked in and milked. She turned and glanced back at the door and the space between where she now stood. This would be a much nicer place to have the Swill and Grill.
She cast her gaze toward the huge milk vats. The two stainless steel funnel shaped bowls took up a large space, but they were placed against a wall with a stainless steel counter and sink to one side of them. The old cold room was still as she remembered it. Mr. Helkin had killed his own meat and let it hang for thirty days before he cut and froze it. It would be good for storage if it still worked, and she had no reason to think it wouldn’t.
The ramp to the milking platform beckoned her and she walked up it, taking her time to see it through assessing eyes. With the hoses and milking cups hooked up above it out of reach, she could use them as a theme for the evening—farmyard chic or something earthy. Everything that was here could stay if she carefully decorated around it. She stood on the platform trying to work out how she would arrange tables and seating up here.
Using the outside of the milking stand, she could make bar style seating and place smaller tables in the center. She looked down onto the floor and out of the front door. It was all within grasp if Lena wanted to take the plunge.
The old wooden beams gave the building character she couldn’t replicate if she tried and it was all here for her if she chose to take it. It would take very little to fit a kitchen in the space beside the milk vats. It would easily meet legal requirements because of the strict regulations in the milking industry. The money in the bank would more than cover what she would need to do, but the thought of spending it made her the nausea crawl up from the bottom of her stomach.
“Hi.”
Lena startled when Adam walked in the back of the shed. She was so engrossed in imagining what she could do she hadn’t heard him until he spoke.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Adam came up the ramp to where she was standing, Spencer trotting obediently behind him.
“That’s okay, I was miles away. Sorry for trespassing but I couldn’t help but stop and have a look.” She blushed under his gaze.
“You’re welcome anytime.”
He leaned back on the steel railing and watched as she crouch down to rub the small dog around the ears. Talk about caught out. Guessing I blame you for that, Spencer.
“What’s happening? Anything I can do?”
“I kind of got roped into a fund raising function at the school when I booked Kyle in this morning. Not sure what happened, but it would seem I’m the head chef taking charge of the yearly Grill and Swill dinner.”
Adam laughed. “Sounds rather, uh country if you know what I mean. Grill and Swill. Wow, I can see it now, copious thick juicy steaks and barrels of beer all set in a vineyard somewhere.”
Bingo! Lena looked at him, her jaw dropping as her mind worked. “That’s it!” She grabbed Adam and planted a kiss on his cheek before stepping back. Oh shit, that wasn’t planned. Just roll with it. “I knew there was something that wasn’t jelling with me about having this function at the school.” She proceeded to explain to him the logistics of the evening and the part that grated on her nerves. Everyone in the school hall lined up at tables like feeding stations in her mind. “It doesn’t work for me. I’d rather they were out in the middle of a paddock or something. Somewhere creative for a change. Hell, it’s not like we don’t have great weather that time of the year. They have the longest lunch in a vineyard out of town. Why can’t we do that?”
“Or you could have it in here with some tables outside. Give your diners a choice.” He opened his arms wide and swung them out to encompass the around the cow shed.
Lena looked at him as though he had lost his marbles. He seemed genuine in his offer to help, but would it be wise to take him up on it?
This guy was too good to be true. “You’d do that for the local school?” She chewed on her bottom lip and watched him through squinted eyes.
* * *
No, but I’d do it for you. “Look, to tell you the truth, if you and your family weren’t involved, probably not. But I want to fit into this community. I love the small town theme and the farming lifestyle. Even if we are close to Sydney, we’re a good pace slower and I really like that about the life I’ve chosen. The school needs the money from the fundraiser obviously or you wouldn’t be involved, and I have the space just sitting here going to waste.” And I want to see more of you. If this is what it takes so I don’t scare you away, well so be it. He grinned at her, hoping to win her over with his charm and common sense thrown into the mix.
She nodded her head and he reached for her hand. “Come and say hello to my new boys and girls while you’re here. It’ll only take a minute.” But I can stretch it out to five if it means you’ll stay and talk to me.
Lena didn’t
