The Winemaker's Dinner: Entrée

by Dr. Ivan Rusilko

  She snuck over to a column and concealed herself behind it to study their interaction. Ivan, in his typical travel garb of cargo shorts and fatigued shirt, flexed his muscles and sent striations rippling up each of his arms—thick, powerful arms that seemed even more defined than the last time she’d seen him. His skin looked more bronzed as well and glistened in the fluorescent light of the baggage claim. Large diamond-shaped bulges formed on the backs of his legs as he rocked back and forth on his heels. Her mother laughed and smiled at whatever tale he was telling her. They’d just met! She loved that they’d forged a connection so quickly and loved even more that they’d done it on their own, without her having to facilitate it.

  How could she have doubted Ivan’s love for her? His place in her life? She knew she was meant to be with him forever, even if it meant burying her deepest, darkest skeleton and carrying it always. Watching her mother laugh again, she smiled. Excitement began sweeping her conscience to the side. Her mother pulled out her phone to type again, and seconds later Jaden’s phone buzzed with an incoming message.

  Are you here yet?

  Jaden pulled herself behind the column and typed a response.

  I just got off the escalator. Where are you?

  She waited a couple moments and then stepped out from behind the column to make her entrance. She came up behind them. “I’m right here.”

  At the sound of her voice, they turned, and what she saw warmed her heart. Their faces were alight with excitement and love—a mother’s for her daughter, and a lover’s for the woman who made him complete. Dropping her bags, Jaden rushed forward and grabbed her mother in a Rusilko-style bear hug.

  “Easy, baby, you’re gonna crush this old lady,” her mother gasped.

  Jaden nodded to Ivan. “Well, you can thank him for teaching me that one.”

  When the women parted, Ivan moved in. His arms encircled her, and he kissed her on the cheek. “Finally, I’m whole again,” he whispered.

  “So am I.” She brought her lips to his for a lingering kiss.

  “Ahem,” her mother interjected. “We have somewhere to be. Your father has been running around all day—cleaning the yard, setting up the deck, preparing the food. He just won’t relax.”

  “Why is dad the one setting up? It’s his party! Shouldn’t Magan and Justin be doing all the work?”

  “Magan is helping, but Justin is working.”

  “Working? You’ve got to be joking, right? Since when does he do anything other than play video games?”

  “He’s changed a lot since you left. This job is good for him.”

  Longing tugged at Jaden’s heart—a longing for the family she didn’t see nearly enough and for a simpler time when everything was easy and right with her and Ivan. Ignoring the remorse that once again threatened to blossom in her chest, she looked from Ivan to her mother and asked, “So, did you guys have a good chat?”

  “It was…enlightening.” Her mother looked at Ivan, and they shared a secretive laugh. “Let’s grab your luggage and start home. We’ve got a long drive, and your father is probably half in the bag by now.”

  “Yep, sounds like dad.” Jaden took Ivan’s hand as they wove through the crowd toward the baggage carousel. She loved the way his warm skin enveloped hers.

  Her large, red bag appeared at the end of the belt, and as it rounded the corner, Ivan grabbed the handle and tugged. With luggage in hand, the trio left the airport and piled into her mother’s SUV.

  Chapter 20

  “I’m Coming Home”

  “YOU SIT IN THE FRONT.”

  “No, you,” Ivan insisted. “You haven’t seen your mom in months. I’m sure she’d much rather talk to you than me.”

  “Maybe so,” Jaden countered. “But I want her to get to know you better. Please, sit in the front and talk to her.”

  He stowed the last piece of luggage and closed the back door of the silver SUV. “Fine, but it’s not your mother I’m worried about. Meeting your dad? That will be a trip.”

  “Don’t worry. I put in a good word for you.”

  “Well, now, aren’t you clever?” He offered his hand and helped her into the backseat before sliding in up front.

  As her mom started the car, Heart’s “Crazy On You” burst from the speakers, startling everyone. A blush colored her face, and she jabbed at the knob, trying to turn it off. But before she could, Ivan joined in, singing at the top of his lungs in a high-pitched, feminine voice. She and her mother couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You were rockin’ out, weren’t you?” he observed when the song came to an end.

  “What can I say? This old lady loves her old lady music.”

  “Well, this young guy loves his old lady music. That’s one of my mom’s favorite bands too!”

  “She sounds like a smart woman. I’d love to meet her one day.” Her mom giggled and glanced over her shoulder at Jaden.

  “Hopefully one day soon,” Ivan replied with a boyish smile, glancing at Jaden as well.

  She managed to meet both their eyes with what she hoped was a genuine smile. It felt a little frozen in place. Thankfully they both focused their attention forward as her mom eased the SUV onto the highway for their journey to Estes Park.

  Once she’d joined the flow of traffic, the questions began. “So, honey, how are you doing with work? I watch the show as much as I can. I loved the tuna with mint thing you did. Your dad didn’t like it though. Said he wants his fish cooked the whole way through.”

  “Work is good,” Jaden said, feeling a bit unsteady. “But we’re almost finished with the season, and I’ll be so happy when it’s over.” An understatement.

  “How about that co-host of yours? Damian? He’s one hot little number, eh?”

  Hearing her mother speak his name made Jaden’s heart beat wildly—almost as if Damien were in the car with them. “Ahh…He’s not the nicest person in the world,” she managed.

  Her mother just laughed. “What do you think, Ivan? You trust my daughter working with him?”

  Jaden wondered if she might throw up.

  “I trust her with all my heart.” He looked back at her and smiled.

  Jaden looked down, so thankful, but disgusted with herself all over again.

  “Besides, if she wanted that kinda guy, I wouldn’t be sitting here now anyway!” He and her mother laughed, and Jaden managed to join them, reaching up to squeeze the back of Ivan’s neck.

  “So, Ivan, are you ready to meet our family? They are quite the handful,” her mother prattled on.

  “I think I grew up in a handful,” he told her. “So I hope that means I’m prepared.”

  As the front seat continued their banter, Jaden took in the familiar landscape outside the car. She let the natural beauty relax her and reassured herself she was the happiest girl in the world. Her lover sat two feet away from her, talking with her mother as if they were old friends. How could she not be thrilled? How could she have ever doubted? Had she just imagined the distance she’d felt between them this last month or so?

  Finally the SUV turned onto a one-lane road that snaked through the mountains. Evergreen trees dotted the landscape, along with massive boulders that shot out of the ground. A bright blue sky towered over the mountains on each side of the road. They rose to heights far greater than any building in Miami or LA. The river that paralleled the road sparkled in the sun as the occasional fisherman tried to land a trout. She noticed Ivan’s eyes drawn to the fishermen and bet he wished they could stop the car. Carly Simon’s mellow voice now filled her ears, and Jaden began to feel safe. Here, in the place she’d come from, she’d do everything she could to return to the person she truly was. This weekend she’d forge ahead with Ivan as her future. There was no other choice.

  As they descended into her hometown, she began to feel a little excitement. Her heart jumped as they passed the familiar lookout where tourists stopped to take pictures of the mountains and lake, and the gigantic rock with ESTES PARK carved in it. They dro
ve through town and she absorbed every detail: bed and breakfasts, candy shops, and old country craft stores. Remembering all the nooks and crannies made her feel like a child again. Knowing her childhood home was a minute away augmented this feeling.

  “You ready for this, Ivan?” her mom asked as she made the turn down the long driveway, which seemed like a tunnel with the tree branches looming over it.

  “Well, I’m halfway there,” he replied as the two started giggling.

  “You’re more than halfway there,” Jaden chimed in, not quite sure what was so funny. “We’re here!” The white house she’d grown up in appeared through the trees, and the SUV came to a stop amidst a fleet of other vehicles. “The party already started?”

  Her mother laughed. “Yes, dear. Surprise! Time to have some fun.”

  As they piled out, Jaden ran around to give her mom a hug and a kiss. “It’s been too long.”

  “I know it won’t happen again,” her mother said with a smile. Then she turned to stop Ivan as he headed for the back of the car. “No, no, no. We can get those later. You have family to meet.”

  Jaden smiled as Ivan swallowed hard. Taking his hand, she reassured him. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave you alone.”

  “Good. I can’t go home with anyone else here anyway,” he said, eyeing the crowd and laughing.

  Jaden’s heart lurched, but she took a deep breath as he squeezed her hand and looked into her eyes.

  “This means the world to me,” he said. “Thank you.”

  She smiled and breathed in the fresh mountain air as she prepared herself for the next few days.

  Sounds of boisterous laughter rose to greet them as they headed toward the house. Managing to think beyond herself, Jaden knew Ivan had to be nervous. Though she hoped things would go just as smoothly with her father, Ivan seemed out of his element—not so Miami Vice at the moment. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. Her mom led the way, smiling all the time. Jaden had never seen her so happy.

  “You ready for this? It’s a thorny crowd,” Diane jabbed as she led them through the wooden door and toward the growing racket.

  “Mom, leave him alone. He’s nervous enough as it is.” Jaden patted his back.

  “You two are a couple of comedians, aren’t you?” he countered.

  As they reached the sliding door that led to the back deck, Jaden squeezed Ivan’s now-sweaty hand. “They’ll love you, just like I do.” She snuck a kiss for confidence.

  Then the door flew open and fifteen faces swung around to identify the disturbance.

  “Is that my beautiful baby come back home to the back country to see us simple folk?” Her father’s voice, in his best hillbilly accent, rang clear and true above the crowd.

  Dropping her guard and Ivan’s hand, she ran across the deck to greet her father. “Daddy!”

  As she jumped into his arms and was wrapped in his Denver Broncos jersey, she felt home. He swung her around as if she were six years old, and she relished the moment. She was his little princess. But once she came to rest, she gave him one more hug and turned toward Ivan at the door.

  Her mom placed a reassuring hand on his back and whispered something that made him smile. She watched as confidence flowed over him, and he stepped forward. The aunts, uncles, neighbors, and friends who looked on now witnessed something like the weigh in of Tyson and Holyfield. New Man versus Old Man, both vying for the attention of Ms. Jaden Thorne.

  As Ivan came closer, Jaden could feel her father draw himself to his full height. He cleared his throat. “And this must be the man who’s occupying so much of my daughter’s time and attention. Professional hunter, right?” Her dad struck the first blow.

  Oh my God. He went there.

  Seeming unfazed, Ivan responded with a gigantic smile. “Yes, sir. Yes, it is. And you must be the man who helped create such a beautiful daughter. Lucky for her—and for me—she got her mom’s looks.” A daring uppercut.

  Jaden couldn’t do anything but laugh. Her dad just looked at Ivan for a moment.

  “Well played, young man,” he said as he leaned in to give him a hug.

  “Happy retirement, sir.”

  So far, so good. She felt a bit giddy with relief. See? Everything was going fine. Everything would be fine.

  “What’ll you have?” her dad asked Ivan.

  “Oh, a beer would be great,” he replied.

  “Sonny, get this man a beer,” her dad hollered to a stout fellow hovering over a red cooler. “And where’s my glass? Fill up my cabernet. It’s a party!”

  Jaden snorted a laugh when she saw the look on Ivan’s face.

  “And get my girl a martini, please,” he added.

  “Let’s celebrate!” she exclaimed as she came to Ivan’s side. “Beer? You hate beer.”

  “I know, but I didn’t want to look like a douche asking for wine.”

  Laughing, she elbowed him in the ribs. “Pussy.”

  “Ahhhhhh! Jaden!” a voice shrieked behind them.

  Jaden’s face lit up. “Magan!” She enveloped her sister.

  Magan, younger by one year, looked almost identical to her, with eyes the same shade of emerald green. After a prolonged hug, she began firing off questions. “So, how’s the television lifestyle, big star? How’s life with Mr. Perfect?” She nodded in Ivan’s direction, and Jaden realized he’d wandered over to strike up a conversation with one of the neighbors.

  “Ah, it’s…it’s amazing,” she said with a smile, feeling less unsettled this time.

  Magan just rolled her eyes. “What did you guys tell Mom that got her all giddy? She’s on cloud nine. Or maybe she’s drunk.”

  “I don’t know. She’s been acting like that since the airport. I love it! How’s Justin?”

  “He’s good. He’s kind of in the restaurant biz these days.”

  Jaden raised her eyebrows.

  “He’s a bartender,” Magan explained. “And he really seems to like it. He works all the time, and when he’s not doing that he’s rehearsing with his band. He’s even working tonight. That didn’t make Dad too happy, but he and Mom certainly want him to keep the job.”

  The smell of meat on the grill wafted over, capturing their attention.

  “Smells good, Dad,” Magan called as he flipped the meat.

  He raised his glass to her, doing a little dance, and she strolled over to join him at the grill.

  As each familiar face caught her eye, Jaden made her way through the group that had gathered to celebrate her dad. She told stories of TV mishaps, Miami restaurants, and Hollywood craziness—each listener more interested than the last. When she explained it just the right way, her life was fabulous. The knot remained in her stomach, but as she sipped her drink and smiled at the people who’d known her all her life, she could feel it loosen. And she made sure to know where Ivan was at all times. Right now he was working the other side of the party, looking quite at home indeed. She smiled. Somehow he was always okay.

  Finally she circled back around to find her sister, who was ready with a whole new barrage of questions. “How about that Damian?” she began.

  Feeling a slap with just the mention of his name, Jaden shrieked her response. “What?”

  “How about Damian, girl? How is it working out with him?” Magan asked again.

  “Oh, you know. It’s fine…Whatever. Hey, who needs a drink?”

  “I’ll take a martini.” She heard Ivan’s smooth voice and felt his arms slide around her at the same moment. “Hello, you must be Magan. It’s so nice to meet you in person. The genes in this family are outstanding,” he added loudly enough that their mother could hear.

  “Such a smooth talker,” Magan replied. “I see why my sister is head over heels for you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  “Let’s eat,” Jaden suggested. “We’ll get more drinks in a minute. It’s getting late.”

  They joined the line and loaded their plates with grilled meat and steaming vegetables. Then selecting their places
at the extended picnic table, Ivan and Jaden took turns answering questions about Miami, Hollywood, and various celebrities. Ivan fit in at the dinner table as if he’d always been there—a carefully placed dirty joke here and a quirky one-liner there—and he hit it off with her family like no one had before.

  Once everyone had eaten their fill of dinner, as well as the gigantic cake that had appeared, the guests began to filter out into the night. Finally it was just family left sitting amongst a gigantic cleanup job and a lot of alcohol still needing to be consumed.

  “So how’s the long-distance situation working out?” her father suddenly asked.

  Jaden felt her ass clench. Fortunately, Ivan grabbed her hand and began to speak.

  “It hasn’t been an issue,” he said. “I miss her like crazy, but we trust each other, and we’re making it work…so far.” He laughed.

  She knew he was expecting her to chime in with a funny comment, but she was too busy reminding herself that she had to lie to both her love and her family.

  “Maybe not…” Ivan said cutting through the awkward silence.

  She forced a smile and plunged into the deep end, laughing loudly. “Yes, of course we’re making it work,” she said. “We have to.”

  “I’m so happy to have you home, and you too, Ivan.” Magan beamed at them. “Okay, now I’m going to get this cleaned up. Don’t want the wildlife paying a visit tonight.”

  “Good idea,” her father agreed.

  “I’ll help too.” Ivan stood.

  Jaden prepared to help gather dirty dishes, but her mother put her hand on her arm. “So, young lady, are you happy?”

  “Extremely,” she said with a smile. “It’s wonderful to be home and see all of you. Well, all except Ben, but I assume he’ll show up at some point.”

  “I’m not talking about that. Are you happy with work, with life, with love?” She nodded toward Ivan, who was fumbling with Magan and her father at the door.