Fire in the Vineyard

by Christa Polkinhorn

  “Easier said than done. I have to work with him.”

  “Yes, I understand,” Nicholas said. “It’s a lot of responsibility and can be a hassle sometimes.”

  Sofia heard a loud sigh. “It’s not the responsibility that’s the problem,” Matthew said. “But I also want to be able to make decisions on my own once in a while, to be able to contribute to the estate. He finally, after all this time, gave me access to one of the estate accounts. But I feel he’s afraid I’m going to rob him blind, as if I wanted to use it for myself.”

  “Are you sure you’re not reading more into this than is really there? Dad has always been frugal. Remember how he was when we were kids? When we wanted extra money above our allowance, we always had to earn it. He felt it would harm us if we grew up like many of the rich kids who had everything they wanted without working for it. I think he was right.”

  “Agreed,” Matthew said. “But I’m not a kid anymore. All I want is to feel appreciated and respected.”

  “And you don’t think Dad respects you?”

  “I don’t know.” Matthew sounded dejected.

  “Matt, you are good at what you do. And he knows it. But he runs a big outfit that means a lot to him, and that’s why he can be too demanding at times. I don’t think it’s personal. As I said, he’d treat me the same way if I was in your place.”

  “Perhaps you’re right.” Matthew didn’t sound convinced.

  There was silence for a while. Then Nicholas’s voice. “What about Grandpa’s suggestion that you document your plan for the cellar and the winery? Did you do it?”

  “I started, but then other things interfered. But I’ll get it done.”

  “Okay. And I told you before, if you need help, let me know.”

  “Thanks. But this I’ll have to do on my own. Besides, if you help, you’ll get all the credit again.” Matthew’s voice sounded bitter.

  “Matt, you’re being ridiculous. Why are you angry at me? This sounds like outright jealousy. That’s not fair.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m being an ass,” Matthew said. “No, it’s not fair and yes, I’ll ask you if I need help. I just need to bolster my tarnished self-confidence.”

  “Matt, Dad asked me to take over the business because I’m the oldest, and he knew I wanted to continue working with wine, not because he doesn’t appreciate you. He was more than grateful that you and Nadia agreed to take over. He wants to keep the winery in the family.”

  “Yeah, I know. I just sometimes feel he still regrets that you turned him down.”

  “If that’s true, it’s not because he doubts you, but because his pride was hurt. I mean who would turn down such a generous offer from one of the most important vintners and winemakers in the area? And yet his son does it and settles for a small outfit like Grandpa’s.”

  “I guess you have a point,” Matthew admitted.

  Sofia, who felt that the tension had lessened, came back into the living room. “Is everything okay in here? You two aren’t going to kill each other?”

  Both men smiled at her as she put Nicholas’s espresso on the table.

  “No,” Matthew said. “Just our usual brotherly jousting.”

  “You know what your problem is, Matt?” Nicholas put his hand on Matthew’s shoulder. “You and Dad are both hotheads. You have the Italian fire in you. No wonder you fight all the time. You’re two peas in a pod.”

  “Don’t say that.” Matthew looked furious, then his face softened and he laughed. “Oh, well, you may be right.”

  A few hours later, Matthew left, his mood visibly improved. Sofia and Nicholas had accompanied him outside where they said their good-byes. It had cooled off, and now the two were sitting on the patio, admiring the purple-blue horizon still lit up somewhat by the sun that had set hours ago. Sofia took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of sage.

  “It’s so beautiful here.” She put her arm around Nicholas’s shoulder.

  “I know,” he said. “We’re very lucky to live here.” He took her hand and kissed it.

  Sofia held on to his hand. “I just hope Matt and your father can find a way to have a better relationship. They seem to argue all the time.”

  “I know what you mean. Problem is, in many ways, they’re similar. They’re both short-tempered, hotheaded, and impatient. On top of it, Dad is controlling, and Matt has to learn to stand up to him without blowing up. Very difficult.”

  Sofia smiled. “I’m so glad, we have our own outfit. It’s smaller, easier, and I love working with Grandpa.”

  “Oh, yes. Thank God I made the decision not to take over Dad’s estate. It wasn’t easy. I know he was disappointed, probably still is. Matt is right about that. But I also believe Matt will enjoy managing the estate once Dad gives him more authority and lets him do his own thing. He has good ideas. He just needs to be a little more organized and confident.”

  They remained seated for a while, enjoying the peaceful evening. A light breeze teased the Azalea bush next to the patio, making the leaves tremble lightly. Sofia inhaled the spicy-sweet fragrance of the pink and purple blooms. The screeching of a night bird interrupted the quiet.

  “Where’s Julietta tonight?” Nicholas asked.

  “She’s out with a friend of hers,” Sofia said.

  “She adjusted fast to the California lifestyle.” Nicholas chortled. “Going out, partying. But she’s a serious student, too.”

  Sofia nodded. “She sure is.” After a while, she got up and went to check on Henry, who was sleeping peacefully. When she came back outside, she stood next to Nicholas who was gazing at the fields in front of their home. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.

  “Is Henry the Second sleeping?” Nicholas sometimes called him that, since they had named their son after Sofia’s father.

  “Like an angel,” Sofia said and hugged him, craving the warmth of his body.

  “Does that mean, we’ll have some time to ourselves?” Nicholas kissed her gently, the scent of espresso on his breath. She grasped his head, pulling him closer, kissing him fervently. By the time they came up for breath, Sofia’s body was on fire.

  “Let’s take this inside,” Nicholas said, his voice smoky.

  Chapter 9

  Julietta stood in the shade of an oak tree next to Sofia and Nicholas’s home, fanning herself with her sun hat. She was gazing at the horizon for possible clouds and the promise of some relief from the heat. There was nothing. The sky was a dark blue on this Saturday in July.

  Adam walked up to her. “Want to take a drive to the coast? It’s bound to be cooler there.”

  “Gee, that sounds inviting,” she said. “I haven’t been to the coast in ages. Too much work around here.”

  “Have you ever been to Cambria?” Adam asked.

  “Just once for dinner with Sofia and Nicholas. I’d love to explore the California coastline more.”

  “It would be great to drive to Big Sur. It’s an amazing place, but I think the road is closed once again because of a landslide,” Adam said. “But we could check out the elephant seals and drive at least to Ragged Point and have lunch or dinner there.”

  “Oh, yes, that sounds wonderful. I’ve seen pictures of the elephant seal sanctuary but have never seen it in person.”

  Adam put his arm around her. “Well, let me be your travel guide for the day. What do you say?”

  “Perfect. You’re hired.” Julietta inhaled his lemon-scented shaving lotion. “Let me just tell my sister.” They walked up to the house, and Julietta went inside. Sofia was putting little Henry down for his mid-morning nap.

  “Adam and I are driving to the coast. He wants to show me the elephant seals,” Julietta said.

  Sofia winked at her. “Sounds great.”

  “What are you winking at me for?”

  “Well, you know.” Sofia wiggled her eyebrow. “I understand. He’s very nice and handsome to boot.”

  Julietta chuckled. “You’re funny.” She went to her room and checked her face i
n the mirror, ran a comb through her hair, and put on lip gloss. She grabbed her purse and her camera.

  “Oh, good.” Sofia pointed at the camera. “You definitely want to take pictures. Don’t you have a camera on your smartphone though?”

  “Yeah, I do. But the lens on the camera is better.” She walked toward the door with Sofia following her.

  “Have a great time,” Sofia said and waved at Adam.

  Adam and Julietta drove through the mountains to Highway One, then turned south and stopped at Harmony, the tiny village with a population of about eighteen people as it said on the town sign. As Julietta had read somewhere, the town of Harmony had once been a dairy settlement, established in the late nineteenth century by Swiss dairy farmers. In modern times, it had developed into an artist community. There were a few galleries and gift stores as well as a glassblowing workshop, a wedding chapel, and an old post office that was no longer in service.

  Julietta took pictures and bought a T-shirt, wanting to support this unique place. Adam picked out a beautiful handmade ceramic bowl and gave it to Julietta as a present.

  They drove north, stopped in Cambria to take a quick stroll through the quaint town, then continued toward Piedras Blancas, the elephant seal rookery near San Simeon.

  Julietta was fascinated with these huge animals. As one of the guides explained to the tourists, July was the time when the young and adult males were shedding their fur and growing a new one, a process called “molting.”

  “And, being males, they of course have to yell at each other and fight over the ladies.” Adam laughed, as they strolled along the bluff.

  “Just like the human males,” Julietta joked.

  “Now, wait a minute,” Adam protested, then shrugged. “I guess you have a point there.” He began punching his chest and howled.

  “Stop it.” Julietta slapped his arm. Some people were staring at them.

  “I’m sorry. I know. You can’t take me anywhere.”

  They walked along a trail above the beach, admiring the huge animals and their occasional wrestling.

  After taking pictures, they continued their drive north. Adam suggested they find out if the road to Big Sur was open, although he doubted it. As expected, the curvy mountain road was closed. They were able to drive just past Ragged Point, then had to turn back.

  At Ragged Point they stopped. “It’s not as dramatic as Big Sur, but it’s pretty impressive, too,” Adam said.

  They walked along the path past the lodge and the gardens full of pink, purple, and blue flowers next to the stones and rocks in different shades of gray and black. Down at the bluff, they admired the stunning view of the Pacific. Julietta inhaled sharply as they stepped close to the abyss where the cliff dropped into the sea. “This is breathtaking, so beautiful,” she whispered as they stood quietly, admiring the deep-blue water and the mountains to the north.

  Adam smiled at her enthusiasm. “As beautiful as the Mediterranean?”

  “Different,” she said. “At least when compared to the sea close to Vignaverde. But there are places along the Mediterranean that are similar. High cliffs, deep drops, and gorgeous beaches. But this is special. It’s mysterious.” She pointed to a few shreds of mist that rose from the sea.

  “You know what I like most about this?” Adam said.

  “What?” Julietta asked.

  “We’re here together,” he said quietly. Julietta was struck by the intensity of his clear blue eyes. A patch of sunlight moved across his face and made them sparkle. He put his arms around her and brought his face closer to hers. Hesitating a brief moment, he kissed her gently, first on the cheek, then as she didn’t pull back, he kissed her on the mouth.

  Julietta closed her eyes and gave in to the warmth and the rush of energy through her body. She lost herself in the kiss that became more and more passionate, only to be interrupted by the sound of a twig or branch snapping and voices from other tourists approaching. They let go of each other, then walked, holding hands, toward the gardens in front of the motel.

  Still overwhelmed by the sudden change in their relationship—they weren’t simply friends anymore—Julietta asked herself what it all meant. She was in love, no doubt, with an American, just like her mother had been with her father. Would she and Adam end up in the same situation, struggling with a long-distance relationship? What if it didn’t work out? Perhaps they’d have children and then what? She knew what it felt like being a child and only seeing her father once a year.

  Julietta took a deep breath. She didn’t want to think about the consequences right then. She wanted to enjoy the feeling of being in love and being loved. She loved Adam for his gentleness and his sense of humor.

  “Let’s sit down for a while,” he said, interrupting her train of thought. He motioned in the direction of a wooden bench on the lawn.

  He kissed her again. “You know, I’ve been in love with you for a while but never dared to make a move.” He gently caressed a strand of Julietta’s hair. “I guess I was worried what would happen if you left again for Italy. You know, after school.”

  Julietta nodded and squeezed his hand. “I was thinking the same thing. But perhaps we’ll find a way if it works out between us. I mean perhaps I could stay here.”

  “Yes, or I could come to Italy with you.”

  “Have you ever been there? Or elsewhere in Europe?”

  “Once with my parents. That was about five years ago. My father had some business dealings in Italy and he invited Mom and me to accompany him. We mainly saw the famous places such as Rome, Venice, Florence and a few more. I loved it. I even took Italian in school.”

  “Really? You never speak Italian with me.” Julietta smiled at him.

  “Oh, I’m too embarrassed. But you’re right I need to practice again. We could take a trip there together, perhaps after graduating. I’d love to see Vignaverde and your vineyards there.”

  “Sounds perfect,” Julietta said.

  Chapter 10

  “You’re what?” Matthew glared at Marcia, his former girlfriend.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said. “And it could be yours.”

  Matthew felt the blood leave his face. “How is that possible? We always used protection.” Matthew tried to steady his palpitating heart.

  “Remember, once the condom broke?”

  “Come on. One time and you even said it wasn’t dangerous.”

  Marcia put one hand on her hip and ran the fingers of the other one through her short blond hair. “Well, I guess I was wrong.”

  “How would you even know it’s mine? You had other boyfriends at the time. That’s one of the reasons we broke up.”

  “Yes, but at that very time, you were the only one.”

  Thoughts were racing through Matthew’s mind. How could this be. This can’t be. “We need to do a paternity test. I want proof.”

  “That’s all you’re concerned about? You’re such a cold bastard.” She glared at him with her ice-blue eyes.

  “I’m certainly not going to accept responsibility for a baby that isn’t mine. Call me cold. I don’t care. If it is mine, I’ll take full responsibility. Whatever that means … oh, God!”

  “It’ll be okay.” Marcia came closer and put her arm on his. He pulled back.

  Matthew had planned to do some shopping, but then he’d run into Marcia. After the devastating news, he’d lost interest and went home and straight to his computer. Still shaking inwardly, he began to search the Internet for paternity tests. He browsed a slew of them until one caught his attention. It was a prenatal test requiring a simple blood sample from the mother and, he assumed, from the potential father. The good thing was that it could be done as early as ten weeks into the pregnancy and it wasn’t intrusive for the woman. It was ninety-nine percent accurate and, most importantly, you didn’t have to wait until the baby was born.

  As much as Matthew was afraid of the results, he wanted to know as soon as possible. He didn’t want this hanging over his head. He picked u
p the phone and dialed Marcia’s number. She didn’t answer, instead the call went to voicemail, and he debated if he should leave a message. He didn’t want anybody else to hear about their troubles, and he didn’t know if Marcia lived alone. So he left a general message. “Marcia, the thing we talked about earlier today. I have a suggestion. Please call me.” He left his number, then hung up.

  He stepped to the window, gazing at the fading light of the evening sky and thought back to the two-year long relationship with Marcia. At first, he had been passionately in love with her. She was a vivacious and beautiful young woman. Sex had been fantastic, but after a while he noticed that she didn’t take the relationship as seriously as he did. She had told him in the beginning of their dating that she didn’t want to settle down with one man yet. He had been okay with it at first, but as time went on, he wanted them to be exclusive. She agreed, but when he caught her kissing another man, he knew they weren’t on the same page with regard to their relationship. He got tired of what he felt was her “hot-and-cold syndrome,” so he finally broke it off.

  He should have done it sooner. Now, they were stuck in a mess. What could he do? If the baby was his, he’d have to pay. God, I should’ve waited to buy the new car. But how was I supposed to know this could happen?

  After saving for several years, he had bought his dream car, a Porsche convertible. It was a secondhand car, but in good condition. What had made it easier for him to shell out the large sum of money was the fact that the car would increase in value over the years. But now, his savings were depleted, and he needed to build them up again. He might have to sell the car. He certainly didn’t want his child to grow up poor. My child? What am I thinking? How did it come to this?

  Matthew stepped outside. The sun had slipped down behind the horizon. It was still hot, but a light breeze stirred the small thick leaves on the live oak next to the house, which made a crackling sound as they rubbed against each other. A night bird was singing a sad tune. Matthew took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, but not even the peaceful environment was able to soothe his troubled heart.