They led her towards the trees, talking rapidly and waving their hands and she glanced towards Rafael for a translation, trying not to notice the way his still damp shirt clung to the width of his shoulders and the hard muscle of his torso.
‘What are they saying?’
‘They’re telling you that the coffee is grown in shade in the forest. In that way none of the forest is destroyed and the trees fix nitrogen in the soil which helps the coffee bushes grow.’ He broke off as Filomena spoke to them. ‘She says that keeping the trees prevents erosion and protects the coffee from the harsh weather. The natural sugars increase and enhance the flavour of the coffee.’
‘And the fallen leaves provide nutrients and help prevent moisture loss from the soil.’ Grace smiled and nodded. ‘Please tell them that I understand the benefits of shade-grown coffee. Every café has a wall devoted to telling that story. People enjoy their coffee knowing that they’re preserving a small part of the rainforest.’
‘A marketing goldmine, I’m sure.’ A flicker of contempt in his eyes, Rafael studied her for a moment and then turned and spoke quietly to the woman. She responded immediately with lots of hand-waving and glances towards her husband. Voices were raised and then the woman covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
Deeply concerned, Grace stepped forward and then turned to Rafael for a translation. ‘What’s wrong? What are they saying? What’s going on here?’
With a determined glance towards her husband, Filomena stepped forward. ‘Você toma um cafezinho?’
Understanding that cafezinho was the word for coffee, Grace gave an enthusiastic nod before glancing at Rafael for confirmation. ‘She’s inviting me to sample the coffee?’
‘She’s offering you hospitality.’ The sunlight gleamed on his dark head and his mouth was set in a hard line. ‘In the circumstances it’s more than you deserve. Accept.’
More than she deserved? ‘What circumstances? Why is she upset?’
‘They’d like to offer you their hospitality and in return they hope you will repay them with honesty.’ His eyes shimmered with barely contained anger. ‘The game is up, Miss Thacker.’
Game? What game? But she didn’t have time to ask him to elaborate because he was accompanying Carlos and Filomena to the nearest house, leaving her to follow along the narrow path that traced the line of the river and then curved up a terraced slope towards the buildings that clustered against the dense, lush backdrop of the rainforest.
Drained by her abortive attempts to interpret Rafael’s caustic comments, Grace glanced in surprise at the fruit trees, flowers and the wide variety of different plants. ‘It’s so beautiful. Do they grow other things as well as the coffee?’ If she’d hoped that her interest would endear her to him then she was instantly disappointed because his reply was brief and discouraging.
‘They grow a variety of crops. It’s a way of minimising pests and diseases.’
‘It must be hard for them, so much depending on their environment.’
They’d reached the house and Rafael stood to one side and allowed her to follow the family through, his eyes reflecting his anger. ‘Not all the threats to their way of life come from the environment.’
They sat down and Grace gratefully accepted the cup of coffee she was handed. She sipped slowly and gave a low moan of appreciation as the aroma and flavour teased her senses. It was strong and sweet. ‘It’s delicious. It tastes even better here than it does at home.’
There was a long silence and then Filomena started to speak and there was such passion in her voice that her husband reached out and put a hand on her arm, as if trying to silence her.
Grace put her coffee-cup down on the table, suddenly aware of the atmosphere in the room. ‘What’s the matter?’ She turned to Rafael. ‘What’s she saying?’
His eyes held hers. ‘She wants to know why, if you like the coffee so much, you’re not prepared to pay a fair price for it.’
Grace was silent for a moment as she digested his words. Was this what it was all about? He didn’t think she was paying enough for the coffee? ‘We pay a fair price. We sell organic, shade-grown coffee. It’s part of what makes our business special. The quality of the product.’
‘But quality costs, doesn’t it, Grace, and it’s hard to make a profit if you’re paying top dollar?’
She frowned. ‘You’re suggesting that we don’t pay a fair price for our coffee, but we pay well above the market rate. You can check the numbers.’
His gaze hardened. ‘I have checked the numbers. Why do you think I refused to extend the loan I made to your company?’
‘Because I hadn’t made you a profit. Because …’ she broke off as his words sank in. ‘Are you telling me that your decision not to extend the loan was based on the price we’re paying for the coffee? If that’s the case then you’ve made a mistake. I believe in paying a good price for quality goods.’
‘But to whom?’
She stared at him. ‘I don’t understand what you’re saying.’
‘Over the past few years Café Brazil has gradually squeezed the price down until this fazenda can barely afford to operate. Without subsidy this farm would no longer be a viable business and as it is it can no longer sustain the needs of this whole family.’ His voice had an explosive edge. ‘They’ve reached the point where the children will have to move away to try and find work. On what you pay, Carlos can’t afford to feed his children and grandchildren. You’re looking at the consequences of your greed, minha paixao. Do you understand what I’m saying now?’
Grace sat, frozen in stillness.
Greed?