by Lucinda Race
“I’m sorry, Anna. The strain of all the changes we’ve been facing has me frazzled.”
“It’s okay.” Anna stood up. “I’m going to head back to the lab and make a few phone calls.”
Mom said, “Good luck with the school.”
“Before you go, how are things going with Colin?” Dad eased himself off the sofa. “I do like him.”
She dropped a kiss on Dad’s cheek. “That makes two of us.”
“Bring him by for dinner soon,” Mom called after her as she left the house.
“We’ll see.”
She closed the front door and paused on the wide porch to pull out her cell. There was a voicemail from Colin. “Hey, got called into work so I’ll need a rain check for the driving range but how about dinner instead?”
She dialed his number and waited for his voicemail. “Hey, Colin, give me a call when you can. I’m done with family stuff and dinner sounds good.” Feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she skipped down the steps and to her car.
When Anna got back to her lab, her phone rang. It was Colin. When he said hello, she swore she could see him smile through the phone.
“Hi, I’m so glad you called. What time do you want to get together tonight?” She doodled with the pen on the scrap paper on her desk.
“That’s why I’m calling. I’m going to be stuck at work. A couple of people got food poisoning and the unit is short-handed and full so I’m going to help out.” He waited half a beat. “I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay. Can I ask for a rain check?” She was disappointed but she appreciated his dedication to his patients and if it was Dad lying in a bed, she’d want to know he was getting good care.
“I’ll do you one better. Not only will I give you a rain check, but some night when you least expect it, I’ll pick you up and whisk you away on an adventure.”
She chuckled. “That would nice. If you want, give me a call later.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Liza hovered in the doorway to Anna’s lab, waiting until she finished her phone call.
“Sis, what brings you to my neck of the woods?” She gave her a warm smile.
Liza sank to the wooden stool in the corner of the room. “I am meeting clients to go over plans for a wedding in October and had some time to kill. And of course, I was dying to know what happened with Mom and Dad earlier.”
“It went better than I had hoped.” She pushed the chair back from her counter-height desk. “Dad is being supportive.”
Irritation flashed over Liza’s face. “Did you ask him for permission?”
“No. I told them what I was planning. After what happened with Tessa and his health, Dad has a new outlook. I’ve thought about it a lot and I think he appreciated the courtesy when I shared my plan. After all, there isn’t one person in this family who doesn’t take their job very seriously.” Her tone was firm.
“You don’t need to convince me. I’m on your side, remember? What else did they have to say?”
Anna slid from her high-backed chair. “I was wondering why he was really stepping back and had it in my mind that he might be sicker than we all knew. So I asked.”
Liza’s face paled. “What did he say?”
“I think he’s had an epiphany. Dad’s spent his entire marriage to Mom putting her second after the winery, and time is slipping away. She’s stood by his side, worked the business, raised a family, and made life easy for him. All Dad had to do was concentrate on the winery, and it’s paid off for all of us. Now he’s going to give her the travel experiences she’s longed for.”
Anna could see her own outlook had changed over the last twenty-four hours. She was feeling more confident. She brightened. “I left Colin a message to see if he had plans for tonight, but he’s been called into work. Do you want to tag along when we go to the driving range?”
Liza’s face fell and she looked at the floor. For a split second, she felt a deep sense of loneliness from her.
“Thanks, but no. Maybe I’ll go at some point, but you’re just getting to know each other and you need to spend time alone with him.”
“Oh, that leads me to the last point. Mom asked me to invite him for dinner.”
“Good heavens, I hope it’s just the four of you. I want this guy to stick around so you’ll keep smiling.” Liza glanced at her watch and stood up. “My clients should be here soon, but do you want to come to the house for dinner? I’m going to swing by and get the boys from Mom’s when I’m done here, and we’re going to eat around six.”
“Since my plans have changed, I’ll do you one better. I’ll pick up the boys and we can have dinner at my place. Just come out when you’re done here. And no rush. I’d like some quality time with those two little hellions.” Anna waved her out of the office. “I’ll take care of everything else.”
When Anna got to her parents’ house later that afternoon to pick up the boys, there was a Jaguar parked in the driveway. After taking the front steps two at a time, she walked in, curious about the visitor. The sounds of cartoons drifted out from the family room and she discovered Johnny and George glued to the screen. On the back deck, her mom and dad were talking to a blond-haired man. She couldn’t see his face but he seemed to be overdressed in a suit coat. Curious, she took one final look at the boys and stepped onto the deck.
Dad looked up and said, “David, here’s Anna now.”
She looked between her parents and the handsome blonde. He was the kind of man who walked by on the street and was so good-looking, a person was compelled to watch him.
He stood and extended his hand. “David Marchand. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
His accent was unmistakably French. She clasped his hand with a firm grip. Her radar pinged. Why did his name sound familiar?
“Will you join us? I’m in the country on holiday and when my father Henri told me about Sam’s heart attack, he asked me to make a stop and express his good wishes.” His words sounded sincere, as was the smile on his face, but his gray eyes were guarded.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She walked around her parents and took a seat opposite him. “Dad, you didn’t tell me you were expecting company.”
David clasped his hands on the tabletop. “I only called a short time ago. I wasn’t sure of my schedule prior to this morning and your parents have graciously asked me to stay for dinner. Will you be joining us?”
“No, I’m sorry. I’m here to pick up my nephews, but maybe next time.”
“Crescent Lake is lovely, so I plan to stay a few days, and Sam has offered to give me a tour of the winery tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll see you then. I understand you’re the talent behind the wine.”
That was an interesting way to phrase it. “You’re planning on staying a few days?”
“Yes. I’ve never had the opportunity to tour wineries in the States in the spring. Your climate is different than ours, so I’m intrigued to see the variety of grapes that grow here.”
“I’d be happy to give you a tasting.”
David said, “I’d like that very much.” He tipped his head to the side. “Merci.”
“Would you be able to meet me around noon tomorrow? I’ll arrange the tasting over a light lunch.”
Dad said, “That’s an excellent idea and I’ll make sure we’ve wrapped up our tour by then.”
She pushed her chair back. “Mom, I’m going to take the boys home.”
David stood and shook her hand. “Until tomorrow.”
A shiver raced over her, and not the good kind either. Call it being overly cautious, but David Marchand didn’t just happen to be in the area, and she was going to find out what he really wanted.
15
Anna put her feet up on the leather upholstered footstool, holding the most recent release from her favorite mystery author. It was a special treat to have time to cozy up in her sunroom. She was reading when her cell phone rang. Her heart lifted when she saw who was calling.
“
Hi, Colin.”
“Hi. Hectic day at work.”
“Tell me about it.”
“A patient was brought in and we thought she was stable and then everything went sideways. She coded not once but twice. We worked hard the first time to stabilize her, and then when she coded again, I didn’t think we’d be able to save her. But she was stronger than I expected and her heart went back into rhythm. I’ve never seen anything it. She actually opened her eyes and smiled at us and then thanked us for taking care of her.”
“Whoa. It has to make you feel good to know that you saved her.” She knew what that family would be feeling, and her dad hadn’t been that bad by comparison.
“Tell me about your day.” She could hear the smile in his voice.
“Not nearly as exciting as yours. I had my sister’s boys over for dinner, and they left a while ago. We constructed forts with sofa cushions and blankets and strung fairy lights off the chairs to create a magical forest. It was a blast but man, I’m tired. I don’t know how my sister makes it look so easy.”
“That sounds like fun. I haven’t made blanket forts in forever.”
“Wait till you hear this. When I picked the boys up, there was a French man at my parents’ house. David Marchand. He just showed up out of the blue. There was something about him I just didn’t like.”
“Did he say something?”
His voice smoothed her jagged nerves when she thought of the man again.
“No, but he basically finagled a tour from Dad for tomorrow and then we’re going to have lunch.”
“Go in with an open mind, but you’re sharp. Trust your instincts. If you think there’s something suspicious, keep your eyes open.”
She was pleased at his compliment. “Want to come for lunch and meet David?”
“Thanks for the invitation, but I’ll pass. On another topic, if you’re still up for swinging clubs, I checked the weather and tomorrow night looks like it’ll be clear and cool.”
“Did you ask your sister if I can borrow her old clubs?”
“I did, and she said she’ll give them to you.” With a laugh, he said, “You have to know my sister. She hates clutter. She calls herself a minimalist so if she hasn’t used something in six months, she either gives it to someone she knows or donates it.”
“That’s very generous and might get expensive.” She could picture him lounging on a sofa with a smile and maybe a beer in his hand even though she hadn’t seen the inside of his house.
“I’m not sure if she’d replace an identical item, but I’d hazard a guess that she has.”
“Please tell Marie I’m happy to buy the clubs. Just let me know what she’d like for them.”
“I’ll ask, but don’t count on it. I think she’s just happy I’m cultivating a new golf partner.”
Anna let that sink in. It sounded really nice. “Does she like wine?”
“She does. Why?”
“I’ll put together a variety case and you can give it to her as a thank you.”
“Anna, that really isn’t necessary. She’s happy someone will use them.”
“I would like to do something; one kind gesture deserves one in return. And, Colin? You won’t change my mind.”
With a chuckle, he said, “I give. If you want to have the case ready, we could drop it off after the driving range and you could meet her.”
Was she ready to meet his sister? Now she was being stupid. He knew her entire family and it was fine.
“Anna, are you still there?”
“Yes. I was just thinking about what wines I’ll put in the case.” Silently, she apologized for the white lie.
“I can pick you up when you get out of work. And just in case you’re free, I’m off Wednesday too.”
“That’s nice, to have a midweek day all to yourself. I’ll get out a little early and we could have some fun.”
“It is, but I’m on call next weekend. Midweek days off give me time to gear up for what is typically a crazy couple of days.”
She could hear the pause and the click of glass on a table before he continued. “Did you know that most people put off going to the doctor when they’re having issues? They don’t want to face the potential of what might be happening. Wham, then it’s off to the emergency room and they’ll end up in the cardiac unit.”
“Like my dad.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that.”
She could hear the chagrin in his voice.
“But it’s true. Dad put off going to the doctor because of Tessa’s wedding and he figured he could wait until the doctor’s office opened on Monday.”
“I’m glad for your dad’s sake he came in when he did. It avoided additional damage to his heart.”
“Would Dad have died?”
She heard him take a deep breath. “There is no way to tell for sure, but it’s never a good idea to ignore symptoms of a heart attack.”
She was nodding even though he couldn’t see her agreeing with him.
“How’s your dad feeling? I know he has a follow-up scheduled.”
“He’s good. I saw him and Mom this morning and they’re planning a cruise as soon as he’s released to travel.”
“Good for them.”
“Now, back to our date.” It gave her a thrill to use that word in conjunction with Colin.
“Yes?” He drew the word out.
“Is there a dress code? I read something about having to wear a collared shirt?”
He started to chuckle.
“I’m serious. Are shorts and a t-shirt okay or I should go buy the golf outfit I saw last week at the store?”
“Whoa there. No need to go shopping.” He laughed again. “Unless of course you want to. But shorts, a comfortable shirt with a collar, and sneakers will be just fine. You might want to bring a sweater in case it’s chilly; the wind tends to whip up the hill at the range. But the main thing is comfort first.”
“Okay then.” She tried to stifle a yawn and hoped he didn’t hear her.
“You sound tired and I’m going to let you go. I can’t wait for Wednesday.”
“Me too. Thanks for calling.”
“Sleep well, Anna.”
The phone clicked in her ear. She set it down and wondered if she should look up how to golf on the internet. Just in case.
The back door banged open the next day as Anna finished setting a table in the bistro with wineglasses and the selection of wines she was going to have David taste. She wanted to feature the best of what CLW offered. Kate rushed through the door carrying two canvas shopping bags.
“I picked up some salad things for a light lunch, and it’s heart healthy, too, for Sam.”
Anna eased back her sleeve and checked the time. It was almost an hour before Dad and David were due to arrive. “Can I help?” She took one of the bags and followed Kate into the kitchen and unloaded it onto the counter. “Have you heard of David Marchand before?”
“No, but Don’s mentioned Henri. I was surprised David showed up out of the blue.”
“Me too.” She pursed her lips. “After the tasting, I’m sure he’ll be on his way.”
Kate gave her a sidelong glance. “I hear that tone in your voice.”
Anna folded her arms over her midsection. “I don’t believe in coincidence or that David just is being nice. And I don’t think he wants a change of scene and would like to work for CLW like Jack did when he went to the West Coast after graduation. There’s no reason for him to want to see the vineyard in the spring. He’s up to something and I intend on keeping my eyes and ears open.”
“Why don’t you go back to the lab and I’ll finish up here.” Kate’s eyes held a hint of laughter. “You can plan your line of questioning like in one of your mystery novels and discover his true agenda.”
“Is that your way of getting me out of your kitchen?”
Kate shrugged. “Not really, but you’re better at making a plan when you’re not distracted, and I agree something is off abo
ut this surprise visit.”
* * *
Forty-five minutes later, Anna’s cell phone pinged with a text from Dad. He and David were waiting for her in the bistro. She hit a few keys and locked her computer before slipping her dark-gray blazer over her pale-green blouse. She was ready to spend a couple of hours with Dad and his guest.
When she walked into the bistro, David crossed the room, took her hand, and kissed both of her cheeks. That was way too familiar, having only met once, but she gave him a pass since it was customary in France and their families were friendly.
“Hello, Anna. It’s very nice to see you again.”
“Hi. Did you enjoy the tour?”
“I was highly impressed with the size of the winery. Our two wineries are very similar, and Crescent Lake reminds me of home.”
“Hey, Dad.” She gestured to the table. “Please make yourself comfortable and we can enjoy lunch.” She couldn’t help but notice her father’s eyes. Something had upset him and she wouldn’t get the chance to ask what until after David left.
She entered the kitchen, where Kate had left three plates of salad with grilled chicken. Fresh-baked bread was sliced in a covered basket. Placing everything on a tray, she carried it into the dining room. David got up and took it from her hands.
“Please allow me to help.”
She set the plates and basket on the table and noticed there was a bowl with dressing already in the center. “Thank you.”
Dad was sitting at the table, his gaze sharp. He was totally focused on what David was saying while he poured the Marechal Foch and Cabernet so they could breathe. Next, he uncorked the Cayuga and Pinot Grigio, setting them into chilled sleeves.
David held Anna’s chair and she murmured her thanks.
As she sat down, she looked up and a smile spread across her face. “Colin.”
He crossed the room and lightly kissed her cheek A smile danced in his eyes. “I had a change of plans so I hope you don’t mind I decided to join you for lunch after all.”
Smooth as a fine merlot, she said, “I’m so glad. Please slide a chair over and I’ll get another plate. I know Kate has more food in the kitchen; she always makes plenty.”
