by Lucinda Race
“He strikes me as the genuine article, and Dad likes him, and you remember how harsh he could be about some of the guys we brought home. He liked Steve. It took him no time to warm up to him and he was one of a kind, and now Colin. My guess, Dad has good radar when it comes to bull crud rolling off a guy’s tongue.”
“You might be right.”
“How does he make you feel when you’re with him?”
She didn’t have to think about how to respond. “Special.”
“I’m so happy for you. For the record, I happen to think he’s a good man. I like how you smile when you talk about him.” Liza pushed the swing again. “Where do you go from here?”
“We’ve agreed to always speak our mind and be honest with each other.”
“That’s good.” Liza’s face grew wistful.
“Are you thinking of Steve right now?”
“There are moments when I still think he’ll walk in the door and this will just have been a nightmare.” She blinked back tears. “I don’t remember what he smelled like or how he would sound in the middle of the night when he rolled over, pulled me to his chest, and spoke in a soft, husky voice, telling me he loved me.”
Anna jumped up and sat next to Liza. She put an arm around her. “Steve loved you very much.”
A sharp edge came into Liza’s voice. “I’m tired of sleeping alone. Doing the big and little things by myself. Stupid stuff like taking out the garbage and washing the car. I want to clean shaving cream and whiskers out of the sink again.” Liza grasped Anna’s hands. “I want you to have all of that with Colin. All the wonderful and crappy moments that a couple shares.”
Anna gave a short laugh. “You paint quite an enticing picture for a committed relationship.”
“There are so many awesome things about a relationship. Things you need to discover for yourself with Colin.”
“We’re having fun and now that we’ve”—she could feel the blush go from her neck to her hairline—“gone horizontal, I’m worried things will change between us.”
“I hope they do.” Liza stopped the swing. “Things are evolving into a new phase, and that’s what you want. A relationship needs to grow and change with time. Otherwise, it fizzles out.”
“I know I’ve said this before, but what’s between me and Colin feels different. I can’t explain it.” She pulled Liza up. “I’m starving. Do you have time for brunch?”
“Of course. Like I said, our brother has the boys.” She closed the screen door behind them. “For as hard and lonely as my life is at times, I’m pretty lucky to be a part of this family. Even without Steve, the boys and I will be okay.”
“Was there ever a doubt?” They entered the kitchen and Anna flipped on the overhead lights.
“No, I guess not.” She plucked a grape from the bowl and popped it into her mouth.
Anna placed a skillet on the stove, turned the coffee maker on, and began to pull items out of the refrigerator. “Omelet?”
“Extra cheese, please.”
“Are you rushing me? I haven’t even cracked the eggs,” she said with a chuckle. “If you’re that hungry, you can grate the darn cheese.”
“I was sitting here looking around this beautiful home and wondering, do you want to have kids? You never talk about them, even in passing.”
Anna cracked four eggs into a clear glass bowl and began to whisk them with a fork. She glanced at the egg mixture, satisfied it was well mixed, and set it aside.
“There was a long time where I tried not to think about it. The last time it crossed my mind was when Ben was born and I got a case of baby lust.”
“Holding that little boy in my arms made feelings wash over me that I didn’t know I had.” Liza began to grate a block of cheese onto a plate.
“I would love to hold my own baby in my arms someday, but my clock is ticking. I might be out of time.”
“You still have time and you’re healthy. Is Colin a dad kind of guy?”
Anna grew thoughtful. “He is a kind and caring man. I could see him with kids.”
“If you really want a family, it’s a discussion you’ll need to have.”
Anna frowned. “I don’t think so. We haven’t even talked about the future.”
“Not now.” Liza chuckled. “But when you do, and that topic will come up, trust me, you need to say you want to have kids someday. If he doesn’t, then you have a decision to make. Because if he says no, chances are he’ll never change his mind.”
“Really?”
“When Steve and I first started to talk about getting married and having a family, I made it very clear the only place I wanted to live was right here. I didn’t mind if he had to travel for work, but if he insisted we move, that was a dealbreaker and we’d have to go our separate ways.”
“I never knew that.” She dropped a couple pats of butter in the skillet and swirled it around to melt. “Was it hard to have that conversation?’
“No. It was actually easier than setting up a false expectation like I would move. It was the same when we talked about having kids. We agreed on three.” Liza’s face fell.
“You have two amazing boys. It really was the greatest gift Steve could have given you.”
She brightened. “I’m going to live my life to the fullest with no regrets. And you need to do the same.”
“How do you always know exactly what to say even though I’m the older sister?” She poured the eggs in the skillet. The mixture sizzled.
“Easy. My big sister taught me everything I needed to know about living an honest life.”
“Hand me the cheese, and then we can eat.”
Liza had made some excellent points and when the time was right, she would be upfront with Colin. Kids were nonnegotiable for her. But there were other things that might be. Time would tell.
28
The voicemail light was blinking on her phone when Anna got to the office the next afternoon. Colin had been called into work, so she had time on her hands. The message could wait. She secured her hair in a messy bun and picked up a divided wire basket that held small vials with snap-on lids. She slipped on a lab coat and checked the pockets for a Sharpie and a roll of masking tape. She had samples to collect.
She ran lightly down the stairs to the warehouse and then on to the tanks. She needed to check on one of last year’s blends to see if it was time to bottle. She had a lot, personally, riding on this blush. She had taken some big chances, but they’d be worth if it was as good as she hoped. Especially because since the conference, she had been mulling over the idea of authoring a paper.
Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket and she ignored it. She went about writing on strips of masking tape and affixing them to lids. Her cell phone vibrated again. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered. “Hello.”
“There you are.” It was Dad. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Have you been to your office yet? I left you a message.”
“Yes, but I had a ton of stuff to get done. Are you alright?”
“Well, of course I am.” He sounded surprised at the question. “Can’t your old dad just want to talk to you?”
She put the cap back on the marker and sat down on a bench. “Sure, but to leave a message and then keep calling my cell until I answer is a bit out of character, wouldn’t you say?”
He chuckled. “Well, I just got off the phone with a mutual friend and I wanted to share some exciting news with you.”
After an extended pause, she asked, “Are you going to keep me in suspense?”
“You remember Henri.”
“Of course. He’s a very nice man. I enjoyed talking with him and his daughter Sophia.”
“He’s going to be calling you at exactly two this afternoon.”
Her father sounded almost giddy.
“Why?”
“He has an interesting proposition he’d like to discuss with you.”
She rolled her eyes. She didn’t have time for games. “Why don’t you just clue me in si
nce you obviously know what’s going on.”
“Nope. Not gonna happen.”
She sighed. This was just like when she was a kid and he knew something she didn’t. He’d be all cagey and think he was being funny by making her wait or work for the answer.
“Dad, then why did you bother to call? Just to annoy me?”
“I want to make sure that you are in your office at two. That’s all.”
She could almost see him grinning.
“I will be in my office by one fifty just to be on the safe side, if that will make you happy.” She got up, ready to resume her work.
“Call me as soon as you hang up or better yet, I’ll come down.”
“Dad.” Her voice was firm. “Stay home. I’ll call you.”
“You might want to talk with me right away. I’ll see you soon.” The line went silent.
She looked at it and shook her head. If it were anyone else, she’d call him back and give him a piece of her mind. A look at her watch showed she had thirty minutes, and at least one strong cup of coffee was in order. She couldn’t imagine why Henri was calling her. Unless he wanted a copy of her presentation from the conference. But that wasn’t a reason for Dad to be so mysterious.
Her voice echoed off the stainless-steel holding tanks. She checked each fermenting tank temperature and grabbed the logbook to record the readings for acidity. She hurried down the long cement walkway, making a quick detour past the kitchenette for a large cup of hot, strong coffee. As an afterthought, she poured a second cup. Dad was sure to show up right at two.
She settled in behind her desk and began to enter the numbers into a spreadsheet. As least this would keep her busy until the phone rang. Somewhere within the large, silent building, she heard a door slam. That would be her father.
Before she could investigate, her office phone rang.
“Bonjour, Anna,” she heard as she picked up the phone. “This is Henri; we met in London.”
His French accent was more pronounced over the phone. “Hello, Henri. It’s nice to hear from you. How have you been?”
“Very well. I trust you had an enjoyable time at the sea and an uneventful trip home.”
“Actually, I ran into David in Folkestone. It was an uncomfortable exchange.” Dad popped his head into her office, and she waved him to a seat and pointed to the mug of coffee. He sat down and nodded his thanks as she continued. “However, I did have the opportunity to relax. I intend to go back at some point and enjoy more of the sights.”
“I am very sorry about David. He can be impulsive, and I hope that he did not cast a shadow over your holiday.” He paused. “I trust all is well with your family?”
“Yes, everyone is in good health. Thank you for asking.”
“Très bien.” There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “Have you spoken to your father about my call?”
“Dad told me to expect to hear from you, but nothing more.”
“I was very impressed with your presentation.”
So that was it. He wanted a copy.
“Thank you, and I’d be happy to send you my notes.”
With a soft laugh, he said, “No, Anna. That is not what I was going to ask you, although that is very generous of you to offer.”
Now she was confused, and Dad was grinning from ear to ear and nodding like a bobblehead doll on the dash of a car driving down a bumpy road.
“I’m confused. How can I help you?”
“I would like to offer you an opportunity to come to France, all expenses paid, of course, and spend a year working at Marchand Winery. I would like you to work, hands-on so to speak, with Sophia. You could provide her with a new perspective on winemaking.”
“Henri, I’m not sure what to say. But I don’t know what I can teach Sophia that she hasn’t already learned from you. You’ve been in the business much longer than I have, and what about David? Why isn’t he working with Sophia?”
“The talent you have is not something that I’ve ever seen before, especially in someone of your age. Most people acquire your skill after a lifetime of experience. I have discussed this with Sophia, and she was intrigued with the idea. She would very much like for you to give this serious consideration. Regarding David, he has a new idea he is pursuing.”
She had to wonder what he was up to now, but maybe Henri hadn’t been in favor of him trying to buy CLW. “I’m flattered. But I don’t think I can take a sabbatical from CLW. There isn’t anyone to handle our harvest and...” She trailed off when she saw her father gesturing at her.
She mouthed, What?
Very softly, he said, “Tell Henri you want to think about it.”
“But thank you for the invitation.”
“Of course, there is a salary and you’ll have a villa that will be exclusively for you.”
“That is very generous. I’ll need some time to think about it.” This was an amazing opportunity. If only it wasn’t happening now.
He named a figure, and she was thankful she was sitting down. She could hear him laugh.
“Anna, take all the time you need and if you have any questions, please email or call my cell phone number. You can reach me at any time.” He rattled off his contact information.
She glanced at Dad, who was mouthing, One week.
“I will let you know my decision in a week’s time.”
“I will look forward to your call.”
After she said goodbye, she set the phone back in the cradle, leaned back in the chair, and rubbed her eyes with her fingers. She could feel her father watching her. She had no idea what to say. Her first thought was of Colin. How could she leave him for a year? And CLW needed her here, not in France. There wasn’t anyone who knew how to do her job other than Dad, and he had finally retired. But what an opportunity. Henri’s vineyard’s reputation was impeccable. How could she do anything to enhance their award-winning wines?
Dad cleared his throat. “Are we going to talk about this?”
She didn’t look at him but kept her eyes shut. “It’s an amazing opportunity.”
“No. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime offer.”
She groaned. “I can’t run off to France for a year. I have responsibilities here.”
“Anna.”
“Dad.”
It was as if they were at a stalemate.
“You know I’m totally immersed in every aspect of this business,” she said.
“And who taught you everything you know?” He sat back in the chair and crossed his leg over the opposite knee, waiting her out.
“You.”
He gave a sharp nod. “I can handle things while you’re in France, and we could arrange samples to be overnighted to you for testing. You’d still be heavily involved with Jack. I think there’s a way to work this out, as I can be your eyes here. It can work, if you want to do this. Being hands-on in France would help CLW expand down the road. But ultimately it is your decision.”
“I can’t even begin to think about doing something like that. You just retired. Mom bought new luggage. Liza needs help with the boys. There is just way too much going on here.” She threw her hands up in the air. “And there’s Colin.” He was definitely on her mind. His last serious relationship had crumbled under the pressure of long-distance. Could theirs survive?
“Colin could go with you, and the rest of your statements are excuses, Anna.”
She pushed back from the desk and looked out the window. The view was one of her favorites. Vines as far as she could see. CLW vines. “I’ve never worked anywhere but here.”
Dad crossed the room and gave her a one-armed hug. “The entire family will support you if you decide to do it.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, just like she did when she was a girl.
“I have a lot to think about. Weigh the pros and cons.” She pointed out the window. “That’s my world out there. What if I fail in the alternate universe of France?”
“What if you reach new heights?”
; “Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone else about this. I need time to think, without any pressure one way or the other.”
“I’m here if you want to talk, but, Anna, don’t let your overly logical brain talk you out of it, either.” He kissed her forehead. “I need to tell Mom so she knows we may need to be flexible in our travel arrangements.”
With a small laugh, she said, “Swear her to secrecy.”
“You know your Mom; wild horses couldn’t drag a secret out of her.”
Dad left her office. She could hear his retreating footsteps.
She called after him. “Dad, wait.”
His footsteps slowed and he came back.
“Henri said David was on to a new project. Any idea what that might be?”
“Yes, but Henri and I agree, a joint venture of a single bottle of wine, a red that you will work on. In fact, David will be here tomorrow, and we’ll discuss the path forward. If you’d like to join us for dinner tomorrow night, with Colin of course.”
“I’ll ask him and call Mom tomorrow.”
He touched her hand. “Whatever you decide about France is fine with me.”
He walked down the hall, whistling off-key and leaving Anna to mull over the idea of living in France for a year. For now, the only person on her mind was Colin. What would a year apart do to their relationship?
29
Anna had been thinking nonstop about Henri’s call. Colin had worked last night so she had plenty of time to write her pro and con list, and she hoped taking a walk would give her clarity. Dad would support her whatever she chose, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to live and work at one of the best and oldest wineries in Europe. These kinds of chances didn’t come around every day. She was beginning to lean toward going, but leaving Colin weighed heavily on her. She wanted to talk to him about it in person.
As she began the return trip to her house, she came to a decision of sorts. Talking it out with Colin would help her gain clarity. They had plans to golf today with Marie and a friend. She wondered if it would be Drew. Tomorrow, she was going canoeing with Liza, but since dinner with David and her parents was tonight, she needed to have the conversation with Colin soon.
