Gail waited as patiently as she could for Max’s arrival. It had been a half hour since they spoke. What was keeping him? Probably Lana. Gail thought to herself. Or may be Barnaby? Why doesn’t he just dump him in a vat of wine!
Her condo doorbell rang and she buzzed back. There Max stood with a bottle of wine (of course, no surprise) and a serious expression on his face.
“What’s wrong dear?” She asked while removing his jacket. “Never mind. Don’t talk, I’ll open the wine and bring the glasses.” She studied the label while she walked to her kitchen. “Oh this is a new one, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 2010. What’s this worth?”
“Only about $1200.”
“Only?” Gail repeated thrilling at how Max spoke so casually about money. “I love the way you toss around figures,” Gail teased handing him a full glass of wine.
“How about I toss your figure around?” Max joked.
“Mmmmm, I think I may enjoy that.”
“Nothing like mixing business with pleasure,” Max said and began kissing her neck.
***
Kay finished editing the wine cellar images by the time Gavin and Cody returned from the walk. The coming weekend would mark the beginning of daylight savings time, an irksome time change that made Kay tire earlier and exacerbated her forgetfulness. Gavin’s elevated mood was evident when he promptly sat next to Kay and kissed her on the cheek.
“Are we all done with the pictures?” He asked gently.
“Yes, please take a look at them to be sure they are exactly what you want before you hit send to your editor. I emailed them to you.”
“Thank you, dear, and I’ll make sure you receive photo credit for these.”
As he walked upstairs with Cody, Kay shouted, “I’m proud of you, Gavin!”
“You hear that, Cody, my lady is proud of me,” he babbled to the dog.
***
That evening, Kay and Gavin met their closest friends for dinner at the Ridge Diner, Norman and Gloria, newlyweds; and Peggy and Josh, two who were involved in a budding romance. Gloria was also a member of the garden club and shared Kay’s enthusiasm for horticulture. Peggy was Kay’s friend since high school, and through complicated extended-family circumstances she was also Gavin’s niece with merely three years difference in their ages. They sat at a large booth quietly browsing through the diner menu. The sun was setting with beautiful pastel purple and magenta clouds. Kay couldn’t take her eyes off the natural beauty and when the waiter came to take the order she still hadn’t decided what to eat. Not one to make a fuss she said, “I’ll have a grilled-cheese sandwich.”
“But we had grilled-cheese this afternoon,” Gavin reminded her.
“Oh, that’s right. Make it tuna salad sandwich with coffee.”
At that point the conversation was steered by the women while their guys listened, laughed or groaned at the banter.
“So has Gail Potter called you a hundred times about the committee meeting?” Peggy remarked.
“No,” Kay replied. “One-hundred and one times!” Everyone laughed.
“Gail’s not a bad sort once you get to know her,” Gloria added.
“I’m not saying she is, but Gail is persistent and controlling,” Kay answered.
“As she should be as the chair,” Gloria replied in defense.
“But it’s as if she dropped out-of-the-sky,” Kay remarked. “Only about two months ago she showed up at a garden club meeting and in matter of weeks she became the chair for the Wine & Roses event.”
“Yes, I remember now,” Gloria added. “When Gail arrived she mentioned reading the press release about the spring event and had just the right connection for us, Max Berkin.”
“Max Berkin?” Josh piped-up recognizing the name, but no one said anything.
“So what flowers will you submit to be judged?” Peggy quickly asked feigning enough interest to change the course of the conversation. Neither Kay nor Gloria said anything. “Well?” Peggy prompted them.
“I don’t want to say,” Gloria said. “It’s a competition.”
“Oh, you really do take this too seriously,” Peggy said and cleared her throat.
Finally the food arrived which quieted everyone until Gavin blustered, “I just finished an interview article on Max Berkin.”
“You interviewed Max Berkin?” Josh said very impressed. “I met him at an antique show in New York City.”
“What did you think of him?” Kay asked.
Josh shrugged, “I mean, I don’t know. He’s was okay, friendly enough.”
Just OK? Kay mused to herself. My goodness if you asked me I would have described his demeanor, what he was wearing, right down to his blue sapphire pinky-ring. Yuk.
“My wife thinks there is a mystery to solve,” Gavin chortled. Kay gave Gavin a sharp glance and scrunched her lips in annoyance.
“Really? What goes on?” Peggy asked.
“Oh, nothing really, just something I noticed in a photograph.” Gavin kicked Kay beneath the table to signal to say no more.
“Josh, the Berkins are hosting our spring event,” Gloria added. “They have this enormous property in Saddle River. Norman and I will be there, we’ll let you know what we think.”
“Well, we’ll be there too,” Peggy emphasized.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Norman said whose sarcastic tone did not go unnoticed. Then he excused himself to the men’s room.
“What’s wrong with Norman?” Josh asked. “He’s not himself tonight.”
“It’s my daughter,” Gloria said in almost a whisper.
“Is Melanie alright?” Peggy expressed genuine concern.
“Yes, ah, no. She and her husband had a falling out, now Melanie and the two grandkids are staying with us.”
Everyone was quiet. Kay wouldn’t dare speak against anyone’s child especially since she had none. Peggy was most sympathetic; her own daughter was about the same age as Melanie. Josh had two sons who lived in California, but he would be there for them in a heartbeat. And Gavin’s two grown sons lived in Ireland.
“Oh, and weren’t you just married,” Josh said gently.
“I love my family and I love Norman,” Gloria said on the brink of tears. “I wish I hadn’t been so quick to sell my house, and I don’t even know how my ex and Norman split the sale.”
Gavin’s expression grew dark. There had always been something about Norman that he didn’t trust. How convenient to have married Gloria on the spur of the moment just before New Year’s and sell her house. Gavin thought silently. But the very thought sparked a solution.
“Gloria, I haven’t sold my house yet in Pearl River. Do you think your daughter and kids would stay there?” Gavin offered.
But before Gloria could respond, Norman was within earshot and startled everyone blaring, “Hell no, I’ll move there!”
***
When Gavin and Kay returned home from dinner, Gavin noticed that the phone had a message on it. “Someone called.”
“Oh gosh, I forgot that must be Lana Berkin’s message from this afternoon.”
“Lana Berkin? Why would she call just after meeting us?” Gavin asked.
“Well, the only way to find out is to listen,” Kay said with that superior tone that Gavin disliked. Kay quickly tapped their password and put the phone on speaker.
“Hello Kay, it’s me, Lana Berkin. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed meeting you and your husband this afternoon and would love to meet with you, Kay, for lunch soon. We can go to Valentino’s, my treat, and bring some of your photographs, I’d enjoy seeing them. May be I can buy one. I collect original art, and photography is an art form. So let me know, I’m free most Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Um, call my cell phone at (201) 555-5445. And, well we’ll talk when we get together. Oh gosh, I’m babbling. Byeeeee.”
Gavin and Kay stared at one another with a loss for words at Lana’s long-winded message.
“She sounds…drunk,” Gavin said cautiously.
“She soun
ds like a wing-nut,” Kay added.
“Are you going to call her?”
“I don’t know. Not now, may be tomorrow.”
“Hey wait, there’s a second message on the phone that we missed.” This time Gavin punched in the passcode for them to listen.
“Hi Kay, it’s me again, Lana. I thought you would have called me back by now. I guess you’re busy. Everyone is busy these days, especially Max. He’s been so wrapped up in your garden club wine event. I never saw him so attentive to a client. I mean who is this Gail Potter? Oh I’m sorry, I’m rambling again. Call me, (201) 555-5445.”
Kay searched straight into Gavin’s blue eyes and said, “Gavin, I’m scared.”
3
It was the evening of the committee meeting and Kay’s turn to host. None of her closest friends were on the committee so Kay felt uneasy almost defenseless. Most of the committee appeared to be Gail Potter groupies in their mid- forties who she invited without consulting anyone from the garden club. They were all eager to broadcast about their Botox treatments, life coaches, or European holidays where they stayed at the same resort as Johnny Depp. For Kay it seemed they were missing the point of the fundraiser which was to engage the community and to award college scholarships to worthy graduating high school students.
They gathered around Kay’s kitchen table with Gail Potter at the helm. Kay had the coffee going and a selection of cookies for the women. The level of their chatter had reached a decibel that Gavin couldn’t take any longer even from upstairs. He came down briefly to let Kay know that he was going to meet Norman at the Pearl River home to discuss renting it. He gave her a peck on the cheek. Kay looked at him as if to say, Can I go too!
“I left Cody upstairs sleeping,” as he left.
“Was that your husband?” One of the women asked. Well of course it was my husband, you dingbat. Kay thought to herself. “He’s quite tall and handsome,” the woman continued. “Funny how tall men go for short women.”
“Now ladies, let’s not insult our hostess,” Gail interjected. “What she really means—“
“Yes, what did she really mean?” Kay countered.
“Uh, that you’re petite,” Gail said quickly recovering her thoughts. “Okay, this meeting is called to order.”
Kay finished serving the refreshments and was about to sit down when the doorbell rang. “I wonder who this is. I thought everyone was here,” Kay asked out loud to no in particular; and no one in particular replied. She went to the front door and was greeted by an inebriated Lana Berkin.
***
Norman waited in his car outside Gavin’s Pearl River house. His emotions ran all over the place from anger to bewilderment to regret. He felt as if the rug had been pulled from beneath him with this stunt of Gloria’s daughter, Melanie. “Why can’t young people just figure out their own marital problems without intruding on their parents?” He asked aloud. Just then Gavin pulled up and tooted the horn. “Well it’s about time,” Norman mumbled under his breath.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” Gavin said. “I had to stop for gas first. Boy I’m glad you thought of meeting me here tonight. Kay has a bunch of hens yapping about that garden event.”
“You’re glad, what about me with Gloria and her daughter arguing and talking incessantly. The grandkids whining, it’s a circus,” Norman complained.
Gavin turned on the lights as soon as they entered the house.
“Hey Gavin, this isn’t bad at all. You know when all this blows over you should let me sell this place for you,” Norman commented.
“Not so fast,” Gavin replied. He hadn’t forgotten Norman’s last real estate transaction which backfired on Peggy. Norman had sold the Harmony Tea Shoppe to Peggy which turned out to be the location of a cold case murder.
“Okay, okay, but just think about it,” Norman added. He continued to look around, went upstairs to the bedrooms and checked that the toilet bowl flushed, and returned to the living-room.
“And are you thinking about what you’re doing?” Gavin asked and sat down on a wing chair. “Have a seat, let’s talk.”
“Sure, no problem,” Norman responded with a somber tone. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” Gavin repeated. “You’re behaving like you’re a bachelor again. Gloria is the woman who saved you from your ridiculous comb-over.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Norman spit back in anger and he unconsciously touched the top of his head.
“She married you knowing that you were bald, and you married Gloria knowing she had children and grandchildren.”
“Your one to talk,” Norm argued. “I’m not the one with this bachelor pad! And what do you know about kids horning in on your marriage! Kay has no children and yours live across the Pond in Ireland.”
Norman’s words stung Gavin straight to his heart. He hadn’t seen his sons since their mother died, and they still hadn’t met Kay. Even so, he didn’t want to make this about him. Gavin would clean-house eventually, but right now it was Norman’s marriage that was in jeopardy.
“Gloria needs you more than ever and you’re running away,” Gavin declared.
“I know, I know. I’ve been wrestling with my conscience. I just didn’t expect something like this to happen so soon into our marriage. I think Gloria’s daughter is acting childishly.”
“And you’re not?” Gavin argued. “This is your chance to shine and be the man for both Gloria and Melanie, and the grandfather. Gloria’s been through a lot, and your moving is going to weaken your relationship and it may never rebound.”
Norman sat quietly staring at the floor. His head literally hung in disgrace as Gavin spoke. One of the reasons Norman married Gloria was because she had a family that he never had. Families stick together through good times and bad. He thought silently. For the first time Norman realized he was part of Gloria’s family. He didn’t belong hunkered down in Pearl River away from her.
“You’re right,” Norman said humbly. “I’ve made a mess of everything, telling Gloria I would move until this passed. You think she’ll take me back?”
“Is the Pope Catholic?” Gavin joked. “Of course, she will. Gloria loves you. God only knows why.”
“Thanks, Gavin. You’re a real friend. I’m going home. I’m going home to my family.”
The two men had a guy-hug and left.
***
Max Berkin was busy in his home office speaking to Barnaby when Lana slipped out unnoticed. He was discussing the details of the next wine shipment that had to be coordinated with the label manufacturer.
“How many cases of red do you want?” Barnaby asked
“An even hundred will do for the spring; that could bring in at least $100K. And half that amount with the white. You have any champagne?”
“Anything for you,” Barnaby bellowed.
“Make it 120 bottles. I have several events coming up and have made in roads with new contacts that Gail Potter introduced me to.”
“You’re still seeing Gail?”
“Yes, and that’s all I want to say about that,” Max argued.
“Don’t be so touchy,” Barnaby teased. “You’re not in love with her are you? I mean you have Lana and she’s hot for an older woman.”
“Good-bye, Barnaby.”
***
“I want to join the committee,” Lana slurred and waltzed past Kay toward the kitchen where she heard the women. Kay moved ahead to stop her.
“Lana, you’re Max’s wife, you shouldn’t be on the committee. It may be seen as a conflict of interest.” Kay held onto Lana’s arm to keep her steady. “Did you drive here like this?”
“No, my chauffer is waiting outside. Now the only conflict I have is you not letting me into the kitchen.”
“Who’s there?” Gail called out to Kay.
“Is that Gail Potterbottom?” Lana asked and began to laugh. The smell of alcohol on Lana’s breath was enough to make Kay keel over.
“Lana, I wo
uld love to meet you for lunch tomorrow,” Kay said gently. “Let’s talk about this alone. I’ll let you know about the meeting. Go home, let’s talk tomorrow.”
Just as Kay thought she had a handle on the situation, Lana broke away and stormed into the kitchen. Gail Potter looked away.
“Who are you?” One of the women asked.
“I’m nobody!” Lana shouted. The women began to shift in their seats not sure what to make of the intrusion. Finally, Gail stood up and walked within inches of Lana’s face and began to speak.
“You’re making a fool of yourself. I’m going to tell Max about this.”
Kay couldn’t believe what she just heard. How dare Gail threaten Lana about her own husband? “Excuse me Gail, but do you know whom you are speaking? This is—“
“She knows who I am,” Lana interrupted. “And I know who she is.”
“Good, so long as we understand one another, now would you leave,” Gail said in a haughty voice. “You’re drunk.” She turned away and took out her mobile phone to make a call, but there was a text message waiting in the queue that read: You will be dead soon. Gail made an abrupt exit and ran to her sports car, pulled out another mobile phone and pressed #1 on automatic dial, “What the hell is going on? Am I being set-up?”
“Take it easy, Gail,” a male voice assured her. “You accepted this assignment and knew the risks. We have you covered, don’t worry your pretty little head.”
Wine, Roses & Cheats (Gold Trotter Mystery Series Book 5) Page 2
