High Tide

by Jill Sanders

  After all, they had tried to convince her to let the baby ‘go.’

  She turned to them, setting down the knife she’d been using to cut carrots.

  “I’ve survived on my own. I’ve proven that I don’t need anything from you. I didn’t come crawling to you when there wasn’t enough money for me to buy a loaf of bread.” Her eyes narrowed as she moved forward. “I worked hard, supporting myself, paying all of my medical bills. When I wasn’t working my back and feet off waiting tables, I was in class. I finished top of my class, too. I bet you didn’t even care to find that out. I scarcely remember having more than three hours to sleep each night. I lived on saltine crackers and peanut butter for months at a time.” She moved closer still, until her nose was almost touching her father’s. “You refused to answer my calls then. Now that I’m worth more than two pennies, you come crawling back here, threatening to take it all away. Yet when your three perfect sons received their inheritance from you, you didn’t even bat an eye. Sean spent most of his money on a car he crashed less than a year later. Liam bought a racehorse that was forced to retire due to drug issues. And Walker…” She laughed. “Well, I think the hooker he knocked up got most of his.”

  Her father’s eyes narrowed, and she heard her mother gasp. Turning towards her, she smiled.

  “Oh, didn’t you know?” She tilted her head. “You thought I was the one who’d expanded the great Hamilton family?” She turned back to her vegetables. “No, Ryland would have been number two.” The sadness threatened as did the tears so she turned away and picked up her knife. “Now, if you’re done tormenting me…” She started chopping again without looking up. “Once you leave this house, I never want to see either of you again. Not even if it’s to come crawling back and begging for my forgiveness. I’m done playing games with the all-powerful Hamilton family. As far as I’m concerned, my parents died with Rita.” She took a deep breath. “If my dinner plans go like I hope, I won’t be a Hamilton for much longer anyway.” She heard her mother gasp again but didn’t look up until she heard the front door shut behind them.

  “Did you mean that?” Alan’s voice sounded from behind her.

  She spun around, still holding the knife as tears streamed down her face.

  “What?” She shook her head and wiped the tears away with her free hand.

  “Honey.” Alan moved around and took the knife from her. “Let’s put this down first.” He chuckled. “Did you mean what you said?”

  “About?” Her head was hurting from the tears and anger and she couldn’t think straight.

  “About not being a Hamilton for much longer?”

  Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. “Damn it,” she said under her breath. She opened her eyes again when she heard Alan chuckle. “I blurted out I love you this morning and wanted tonight’s dinner to go better.”

  “Tonight’s… you were going to propose to me?” His smile stopped her.

  “Yes.” Her chin rose slightly. “It is permitted.”

  Alan’s laughter stopped her again. Then he was spinning her around the kitchen and kissing her.

  “So?” she said once her feet were on the ground again. “Is that a yes?”

  He chuckled. “No, call me old-fashioned, but…” He dropped to his knee, her hand in his as he placed a kiss on the back of her knuckles. “But I still think it’s a man’s job.”

  “Okay.” She waited. When he didn’t say anything, she opened her mouth, only to be shushed by him.

  “I’m thinking of the right words.” He closed his eyes and she waited.

  “Okay, here goes. Grace Hamil…. Grace,” he corrected.

  “Grace Marie,” she supplied.

  Nodding, he continued. “Grace Marie, from the first moment I saw you, the sunlight streaming through your golden locks, your beauty blinding me and stealing my breath away, I finally knew what love was. It broke my heart when you left me, shattered it even more hearing everything you went through without me, losing our son.” His eyes turned sad and she had to hold her breath so tears wouldn’t return to her eyes. “I’ve never wanted to make a life with someone, never wanted to give up the carefree life I’ve found and made for myself, until you. I want to build this business with you, work the land, sit on the front porch, have more children, grow old together. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she said, breathless. Tugging on his hands, she wrapped her arms around him and told herself she would never let go.

  * * *

  Alan put everything he had into the winery over the next few weeks. They had set a tentative date for the wedding for that fall, when tourist season was due to slow down.

  “How about a small wedding in the vineyard down by the stream?” she asked as they walked through the vineyard. The sun was setting, casting shadows on the land laid out before them. Ralph was running around, happily darting in and out of the grape vines. “I was thinking, if it went well, we could open up the place to other weddings. Maybe even build an events building, like a small white chapel.”

  “Yet another great idea.” He smiled over at her. Her hair was loose tonight. Her sundress was a warm honey color, which matched her long locks perfectly.

  “Do you think this will ever get old?” she asked, stopping at the top of the small hill overlooking their land.

  “No. If it does, I’m sure we’ll figure something out to keep the spark.” He turned her towards him and kissed her.

  “I heard from Bill today. Your parents have dropped their case.”

  She smiled. “Really?”

  “Yeah. After you proved you’d been on your own for a year, and after they found out that we were getting married, I guess they tucked their tails between their legs.”

  She chuckled, wrapped her arms round his neck. “I’m so happy.”

  “Me too.” He kissed her. “Let’s head back. I know a few things that would make me even happier.”

  Grace’s chuckle was the best sound in the world.

  They made their way down to the house, and just as he opened the front door, her cell phone rang.

  Frowning at the screen, she sighed. “My distributor. He probably wants to go over some more details.” She answered the phone and stepped back outside to talk.

  He moved into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, then took one out to Grace.

  When he stepped outside, she was sitting on the swing, looking off into the darkness. He could tell instantly that something was wrong.

  “What?” he asked.

  “That was Amy at Holly Spirits. They were to be one of my biggest distributors.”

  He handed her the water. She took a sip, then set the glass down. “And?” he asked.

  “They’ve backed out. Amy said that the owner has informed her not to sign the contracts with me.”

  “Did she say why?” he asked, taking her hand in his.

  “I’m too big of a risk,” she said softly.

  He remembered her father using those exact words. “Do you think…”

  She stood up abruptly and walked to the edge of the porch. “Yes. I wonder how many more calls I’ll get.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to his chest. “No matter what, we’ll deal with this together.”

  By the following Tuesday, all of her distributors except one had backed out.

  They had a meeting with the last one scheduled for that morning and Grace was on edge. He tried everything to calm her down, but he could tell, she was too upset.

  “Of course they dropped the legal fight. Why pay a lawyer when you can just call up all of your distributors and refuse to sell to them if they work with your daughter.” She turned and tossed the sofa pillow down, then kicked the side of the sofa before storming across the room and out to the front porch.

  He found her pacing along the sidewalk, Ralph watching her from his spot in the shade.

  Taking her shoulders, he stopped her. “We’ll work this out.”

  “How?” She crossed her arm
s over her chest. “What’s the point of being a winery if no one can buy your wine?”

  He’d been thinking about it and actually had a plan on his own, but he knew that Grace wouldn’t like it.

  “What about talking to your parents again?” he suggested. The look she gave him could have burned through his skull. “Okay, maybe not.” He sighed.

  “I’m meeting Mark any minute now. He’s the last one. East Coast Distribution is the largest in the south. If he goes…” She closed her eyes.

  “Maybe they’ll be different.”

  “Hamilton is one of their biggest contracts.” She opened her eyes as a truck drove up and parked at the end of the drive.

  “Here goes nothing.” He watched her straighten her shoulders, and followed her to greet their fate.

  19

  Grace tried to keep her cool, but as she walked towards Mark and another man she didn’t recognize, every part of her shook with fear.

  Knowing her parents had kept her busy with the legal threats so they could pull the rug out from under her business, only reaffirmed that she never wanted to talk to them again.

  “Mark.” She smiled and shook the man’s hand.

  “Grace, Alan.” Mark nodded and shook Alan’s hand. “This is Reed McNabb, owner of East Coast Distribution.”

  Grace’s hand stilled halfway outstretched towards the man. Her eyebrows shot up. “Owner?” Her throat went dry. The man was only a year or two older than her. His sandy blond hair lay over his collar, and he looked more like a surfer than the owner of one of the largest fine spirits distribution companies on the East Coast.

  “Hello, Mr. McNabb,” she said after swallowing hard.

  “Please, call me Reed.” The man smiled easily at her.

  “Reed.” She shook his hand. “My fiancé and business partner, Alan.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about the pair of you.” Reed smiled. “When I heard your… predicament, I hopped in my Cessna and decided I could use a few days away from all the suits.” He chuckled.

  “Please.” She motioned for them to follow her into the building, since a tour bus had just arrived for the first tour of the day. “Why don’t we get out of this heat. Then after our business is done, we can take a quick tour.”

  They moved into their office space. There were two smaller desks outside the room for when she got around to hiring part-time help.

  “Would you like something to drink?” she asked.

  “No, we stopped and had an early lunch on the way here. I’m still an hour ahead of you on East Coast time.” Reed motioned for her to sit, then took the seat across from her. Alan stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder for support.

  “So many people forget that we are Central time here in the panhandle,” she added to fill the silence since she was feeling a little nervous.

  “I’ll get right down to business.” Reed shifted and leaned back, looking very comfortable in her office.

  She tucked her hands under the desk and tried to breathe normally.

  “I received a call yesterday that had me concerned,” Reed started. Her heart sank, along with her shoulders. “Before you assume I’m as spineless as the rest of the lemmings in my profession”—he shifted closer to her and met her eyes directly—“I’m not.” He smiled again. “I came down here to personally assure you that East Coast Distribution is very interested in working with you and Chateau Gratia. We look forward to it, actually.”

  “Why?” She hadn’t realized the single word had slipped out until Alan’s fingers tightened slightly on her shoulder. “I mean…” She cleared her throat.

  Reed’s laughter stopped her. “Why would I not fall in line after your father’s very intimidating call?” Grace nodded and swallowed. “Because I have a father just like him. Many people don’t know how East Coast Distributions got started, but our stories are very much the same. My grandmother was a duchess. When my mother married my father, my grandmother saw him for who and what he is, a money hungry self-absorbed…” Reed took a deep breath. “Much like I had always assumed Jeffery Hamilton is. I’ve tolerated working with the man for the past few years, but after yesterday’s call, I guess you can say, my company has other interests.” He winked at her. “I’m actually here to see about taking our business relationship to the next level.”

  She felt her heart beat solidly for the first time since the first phone call last night. “Next level?”

  “I’m hoping you’ll help me out. I’ve been looking for someone to help fill a business hole. You see, I’ve signed a very large, very lucrative deal with one of the largest airlines in the east. Of course, we’ll need a team of lawyers to go over all the details, but the short of it is, they want their own brand of high-end wines to sell on their planes, and I think you are the right business to partner with.”

  “Us?” Grace felt her head spin. “You want to partner with us?”

  “Well, of course, we’ll also distribute your own labels, but yes.” Reed held out his hand, then paused. “Of course, if you’re in agreement, I’d like a personal tour of this place.” He glanced around. “Along with a sampling.”

  Grace looked down at his hand and then glanced over her shoulder at Alan, who smiled and nodded at her.

  Standing up, she took Reed’s hand. “Thank you,”

  “No, thank you.” Reed stood and shook Alan’s hand too. “You don’t know how long I’ve been searching for someone like you two to come along.” They moved towards the doorway. Before opening it, she turned to him.

  “What about my father?” She swallowed hard.

  “I’m having my lawyers look into our arrangement. If anything goes down, and he does break from us, we’ll be able to sue him for breach of contract.”

  “May I ask?” She thought of how to word the question. “What exactly did he threaten?”

  Reed’s eyes filled with sadness. “Basically, that if we did business with you, he would terminate our contract and do everything in his power to see that other distilleries did the same. He assured me that he would never use East Coast Distribution for any of the Hamilton lines again.”

  “You aren’t afraid?” she asked.

  Reed chuckled. “I started this venture almost five years ago with few to no contacts in the business. Now, it’s easily one of the biggest spirit distributors on the east side of the States. No, I’m not worried.” He glanced towards the closed door. “Now, there was something about a tour?”

  Grace smiled and opened the door. Alan hugged her as they walked out together.

  For the next two hours, she showed Reed and Mark around every inch of the winery. Reed asked many questions and showed a true interest in the process.

  Before leaving, they arranged for his lawyers to meet hers over the next few days to arrange everything.

  As they drove away, Alan’s arms came around her and he kissed the top of her head. “That went well.”

  She laughed as she turned around and wrapped her arms around him tightly. “Well? I’d say our butts just got saved. If I didn’t already have the man of my dreams, I would have kissed Reed McNabb.”

  Alan smiled. “Then, I guess it’s a good thing I got to you first.”

  “Yes.” She reached up and kissed him. “Yes, it is.”

  * * *

  Alan stood at the end of the row of bright red and orange grape vines and watched his future walking towards him.

  She was dressed in soft cream, and her long hair lay over her shoulders as she made her way slowly towards him. The smile on her lips showed him how happy she was. Her blue eyes searched his as she stopped in front of him.

  “I love you,” he said before the preacher standing next to him got a chance to talk.

  He heard several sighs and chuckles from the small group of friends seated in front of them.

  “I love you too.” Grace smiled as he took her hand.

  “I guess it’s a good thing, seeing as you’re marrying her,” the preacher joked. More laughter echoed
through the field.

  The vows went by quickly, but the kiss at the end was slow and his favorite part about the ceremony.

  They spent the first half hour of their marriage taking pictures with the photographer, posing for so many shots that his teeth felt dry from smiling and he thoughts his cheeks would burst.

  When they finally joined the celebration near the edge of the creek, the band was playing, and people were filling their plates with food. They walked around the dozen tables, talking to each guest. The Grayton clan consumed almost half of the guest list. Reed McNabb was even there with a blonde model the tabloids said he was dating.

  Anna and her boyfriend, Bryan, sat at the head table, since Anna had been Grace’s maid of honor. Alan had instantly liked the guy and knew that he and Anna were perfect for one another.

  He chatted, ate, danced, and laughed more than he ever had before.

  As the guests started to leave, he pulled Grace back into his arms in a slow dance in the grass under a string of lights that hung between the trees and the gazebo.

  “Wife,” he said, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Oh?” She smiled up at him. “What is it, husband?”

  He leaned in and kissed her again since her lips were so sweet and perfect. “When we’re alone.”

  Her eyebrows shot up and she glanced around, and he realized that, outside of the employees waiting to clean up, they were alone.

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the envelope. “They’re open,” he told her as she opened it. “We can go whenever.”

  She looked down at the tickets in her hands. “Italy?”

  He smiled. “I didn’t want us to put things off like the Davidsons. If you want to go to Italy, we’ll find a way. Since our first orders are due in a few weeks, I figured we’d delay the honeymoon, at least until…”

  Her lips covering his stopped him from speaking.

  “I love you,” she whispered between kisses.