Kelly organizes the printed emails from my office into a neat pile and hands them to me. “What if you sublet it?” she asks.
“Maybe,” I say. “But trying to find someone would probably be a pain in the ass.”
“Maybe not,” she says. “Actually, I think I know someone who might be interested.”
“Really?” I zip the paperwork into the top pocket and turn to her. “Who?”
A grin spreads across her face.
“No way,” I gasp. “You’re going to New York?”
She nods, laughing.
“I’m going to sell the house,” she says. “I won’t get much for it, but between that and the money Mom left me, I should be able to supplement my barista income.”
I want to go to her, to wrap my arms around her and tell her how excited and proud I am. But I’m too overcome with emotions. It’s even more than her mom hoped for her. It’s her dream come true and exactly what she deserves.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say.
“Thank you,” she says. “And thank you for introducing me to Anna. Spending time with her yesterday...it reminded me how much I love listening to people, and supporting them. I called Jasmine. Do you remember her from school? She had a baby six months ago and she said she’d love to walk with Anna. I think they’ll make a great match.”
“Perfect,” I say.
Kelly sits next to me on the floor.
“That fortune-teller was right about at least one thing,” she says. “You do inspire me to be more.”
She takes my wrist and grasps it so our tattoos are facing each other. I trace her horse with my fingertip, its mane blowing wildly.
“I’ve been missing your focus,” I say. “I need it.”
“You have it. No matter where you go or what you decide to do, I’m always here for you.”
“I don’t think you need me to push you toward adventure anymore,” I say. “You’re doing pretty great on your own.”
She laughs. “I always need you, Mal.”
I smile, hoping that’s true.
“Where will you go after New York?” she asks.
I clear my throat. “I’m going with Tyler to Montana,” I say with feigned nonchalance. “We’re going to meet there in a month.”
“Oh,” she says. “I did not see that coming.”
I stand and resume packing.
“Yeah, me neither. He’s going to be starting a horse ranch with his uncle and he’s going to need some help getting it up and running. Tyler feels like he has enough saved to get started and I’ll contribute as much as I can. I don’t know how long I’ll stay, but with everything I know about managing the vineyard, I should be able to help a little.”
From my nightstand, I pick up the plastic toy horse Tyler gave me.
“You know he’s in love with you, right?” she asks.
“It’s not like that,” I say.
The skin on my chest flushes. I study the horse intently. Somewhere deep inside me, she’s putting words to a feeling I’ve always known was true but wasn’t ready to hear. I still don’t know if I am.
“It is for him.” She crosses the room and takes the horse from my hands so I have to look at her. “That’s why things never went anywhere with him and me,” she says. “We went out for months and even though you’d been gone for years, all he could talk about...was you.”
The words of the fortune-teller come back to me.
He’s been watching you since you were a girl. He doesn’t feel worthy of you. He wants to tell you, but he feels it’s too late.
“I’m sorry,” I say. It’s another thing Kelly wanted that I took for granted. I never meant to come between them. I would have stepped aside if I’d known I was in the way.
Kelly shakes her head. “Don’t apologize, Mallory. He was never mine.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” I say, fumbling through my words. “That’s the point. I need, for a little while, to not have a plan.”
“I think he’ll wait as long as you need,” she says, handing me back the horse. “He’s been waiting a long time already.”
* * *
Sam leaves early the next morning. He sends his final goodbyes through my dad, which I’m grateful for. We’ve already said everything there is to say to each other. He’s headed to LA, where he’ll close that deal and check all his goals off his list. He’ll live a picture-perfect life, and I truly hope he finds a woman who fits in next to him.
After breakfast, I take Midnight for a ride. I soak in every moment of it. I promise her, as much as myself, that I will be back soon. No matter where my whimsical heart takes me, I will always find my way back home.
The morning breeze is cool as I load my suitcase into the back of the rental car. I close the trunk and take a moment to appreciate the view. I’ve always loved this vineyard, for many reasons. It’s where I grew up, and where my parents are, yes. But it’s also where I’ve learned so much about life. Memories have been made on every inch of these many acres. Most of them happy. All of them meaningful.
The crunch of gravel alerts me to the arrival of my farewell party. Dad holds Mom’s hand, Kelly tucked in next to them. Tyler trails a few steps behind.
Dad hugs me first and I rest my head on his shoulder, like I’ve done millions of times.
“I love you, Dad,” I say, my voice watery. “Damn it. We’re just getting started and I’m already crying.”
I pull away and wipe at my tears. Dad places a hand on one of my cheeks, a kiss on the other.
“I love you, sweetie. Let me know if you need any help packing up your apartment. I’m sure the grapes can live without me for a couple of days.”
“The question is whether you can live without the grapes,” I say, and he grins.
Mom is next. “I hate saying goodbye,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“It won’t be for long. Montana is much closer than New York. You’re going to get tired of me, I swear.”
“Not possible,” she says.
I pull the envelope of cash out of my back pocket and hold it out to her in the privacy between us so Dad won’t see.
“Take this,” I tell her. “Use it to hold you guys over until you figure out what you’re going to do.”
She pushes the money back toward me. “Honey, no. That’s yours. You take that and use it for your new life. That’s why we gave it to you.”
“But—”
“I’ll find another job,” she assures me.
I smile, sliding the money back into my pocket.
When Mom steps away, Tyler is standing behind her with a timid grin. I suddenly don’t know how to look at him.
“One month,” I say, trying to be the way I’ve always been with Tyler. I know we’ll find our old rhythm when we get to Montana but the shift in our relationship is still too fresh. He seems to sense it, too.
“I’ll send you pictures when I get there. Just in case you think about changing your mind.”
“Not a chance,” I say.
“Well...” He does an awkward bob of his head, then gives me a quick pat on the back.
Kelly comes up to me and places her hands on my shoulders. Together, we exhale deeply, finding our peace in each other. Kelly always has been and always will be my other half.
“Thank you,” she says.
“For what?”
“For not forgetting us. For not giving up on me.”
“That’s what friends are for,” I say.
“Sisters,” she says. “That’s what sisters are for.”
I pull her to me and hold her tighter than I ever have. When I step back, I can hardly look at her. We’re going to be on opposite sides of the country, but this time, our love will never be too far away.
“Let me know when you sell the house,” I say.
“I will,” she says. She squeezes my hand one last time, then lets me go.
When I look up, I see so much love in the eyes of the people who have seen me at my best and my worst and have loved me anyway. Whoever I might be. I give them a final wave, get into the car, and set off to find out.
* * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Always, I have to thank my family first and foremost. To my amazing husband, thank you for keeping our real life running so I can live in my fantasy worlds. I’m grateful every day that you support my art in every way possible, especially the late-night kitchen brainstorming sessions. You are seriously the best. My girls—you are my joy and my inspiration. Also, my biggest fans and best publicists. Thank you for being proud of Mommy.
Thank you to my amazing agent, Claire Anderson-Wheeler, who breathes life into the less developed parts of my stories. They are so much better for it.
To my editor, Allison Carroll—thank you for always believing in me and making me feel capable. I couldn’t ask for a better supporter. A big thanks to the entire Graydon House/Harlequin team, as well. Thank you for being excited about my stories and championing them every step of the way.
Many thanks to Shawna for brainstorming so much of this story with me over these many, many years, and for constantly asking to read it. You’ve been waiting a long time for this one—I hope you love it!
Deborah, thank you for suggesting the setting that finally brought this book together. It blossomed into something so much bigger than I imagined, and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s go visit!
Thank you to James and Peggy for always being willing to lend a hand. I could not live my dream without you guys, and I’m endlessly thankful for your support.
Dad, thank you for making my childhood an adventure and for forcing my books on everyone you meet. If I’m successful, it will be your doing.
To my writers’ group—there are just no words to express how much you all mean to me and how much you keep me going. I hope Wednesdays will be ours for decades to come.
Last, but not least, I want to say a huge thanks to all my sisters—the one I grew up with (I love you, Sarah!), and the ones I’ve adopted for myself. Aimie, Alyson, Amanda, Amy, Bubble, Deborah, Eleanore, Erika, Gina, Riki, Selena, Shawna, and Victoria—you make my life whole. You make me the best version of myself. I love you.
MIDNIGHT
AT THE
WANDERING VINEYARD
JAMIE RAINTREE
Reader’s Guide
Questions for Discussion
What was your favorite bucket-list item Mallory and Kelly completed? If you had a summer bucket list, what would be on it?
What did you think of The Wandering Vineyard? Have you ever visited a vineyard? What was the experience like?
Did you connect with Mallory’s free-spirited nature? Why or why not?
How did you feel about Mallory and Kelly’s friendship? What are your thoughts on how their friendship evolved?
Do you think it was fair of Kelly to hold a grudge against Mallory for the choices she made in the past? Do you think it was right for Mallory to be so willing to forgive Kelly’s secrets that summer?
Do you find adult friendships to be different than childhood friendships? In what ways?
How do you feel about the way Sam interacted with Mallory, both in the past and present? Was Mallory truly duped by Sam in the past or was she willfully ignorant of his signals that he wasn’t ready for a relationship?
Do you have any sympathy for Sam, either in the past or the present? Why or why not?
What do you think of Mallory’s ultimate decision not to pursue a relationship with Sam? Do you think she made the right choice?
What do you think Mallory will do next? Do you think she’ll open up to a relationship with Tyler?
What wine would/did you pair with reading Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard?
ISBN-13: 9781488028595
Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard
Copyright © 2019 by Jamie Raintree
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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