by Joleen James
She glanced at her watch. Two-thirty. If she drove like a mad woman she could be home by six-thirty or seven.
Home. When had Whitney House become home again?
The thought caught her totally off guard.
Somewhere along the way, she'd fallen in love with the vineyard. If only Kaiden felt the same way.
Danielle crossed the parking lot.
She was inserting her key into the Jetta's lock when Peter said, "I'm going to fight you."
Danielle dropped her keys. She moved to pick them up, but Peter kicked them under the car, out of her reach.
"What do you want, Peter?" He'd never hurt her before, and she had no reason to believe he'd hurt her now. She glanced around the parking lot, but didn't see another soul. Her hands started to shake, but she clasped them together. Stay calm. This was Peter's thing, these power trips. She recognized his special form of intimidation.
Danielle's back went ramrod stiff. Her chin rose. He wasn't going to browbeat her. Not this time, and certainly not here, in the public parking lot of the courthouse.
"You're not going to win, Danielle," he sneered.
"I just did," she shot back. "I have a piece of paper now that gives me temporary full-custody. You have one, too. Read it."
"You bitch."
The coldness in his eyes stole a little of her bravado.
"I'm going to be your worst nightmare," he said. "You may want to rethink my offer to disappear from your life."
She didn't reply, didn't want to dignify anything he said with a response. She felt sure the parking lot had a camera. He wouldn't hurt her, not here where everything could be documented.
He stared at her hard before turning away and slinking off. Danielle released the breath she'd been holding. She dropped to the ground and fished her keys out from under the car. Once inside, she locked the doors.
Her pulse raced, her heart hammered against her chest. She took a deep breath before starting her car, telling herself over and over again that Peter had no power, no hold over her.
If she told herself that often enough, she just might believe it.
***
Nico was waiting for Danielle when she pulled into the driveway. She'd called him an hour ago with her expected arrival time, filling him in on the details of the hearing and of Peter's intimidation in the parking lot.
He'd spent the past hour trying to cool off. His first instinct had been to go to Seattle himself and beat the crap out of Peter Rankin, but his saner side told him to wait. The guy was a coward. He used all the right words to intimidate Danielle, but would he ever follow through? Nico doubted it.
The Jetta pulled into the driveway. His testosterone kicked in. Danielle was back. He wanted to protect her, comfort her, and reassure her that everything would be all right. He met her at the car, opening the door for her, and then she was in his arms.
"Boy, did I need this hug," she said, her arms winding tightly around him.
Nico kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back, feeling the knots of tension under his hands. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Me, too."
He kissed her forehead. "Come on." He led her to his place. They walked slowly down the path, hand in hand. "We have an evening all to ourselves."
"You don't know how good that sounds." She smiled, but he could still see the strain around her eyes. "Did Kaiden seem okay to you when he left?"
Nico grinned. "Are you kidding? He was excited, eager to go with Liz and Maria."
Danielle smiled. "I'm glad. He needs some fun. It will be good for him to meet the other kids in the area before school starts. It's nice of Liz to include him in the back-to-school barbeque."
"Maria insisted." Nico opened the screen door, holding it while Danielle passed him, going inside. "Are you hungry?"
"No, I grabbed a burger earlier."
He grinned. "Okay. How about some champagne?"
"Champagne?" Danielle took a seat at one of the bar stools at the counter. "It's a little early for me to be celebrating."
Like an expert, Nico popped the cork. "Actually, I have some news." He poured the champagne into a crystal flute. "Liz has asked me to keep Maria for a while."
"You're kidding." She grinned from ear to ear. "That's great."
"I know." He passed her the glass, then filled his own. "I wanted to tell you everything yesterday, but I knew you had a lot on your mind."
"Congratulations," Danielle said, raising her glass. They clinked glasses, each sipping their champagne.
"There's more," Nico said, hoping she'd take the rest of his news as well.
"More?" Danielle ran a finger down the side of her glass.
"Liz got married in Italy."
"Wow," Danielle said, the word holding a hint of skepticism. "Are you okay with that?"
"You bet I am." He grinned, feeling happier than he had in a long time. "She's moving in with her new husband. That's why she asked me to keep Maria. I don't know for how long, but I'll take her as long as I can."
Danielle reached over, her fingers closing over his. "That's great news."
"The best," he agreed.
"Does that mean she's agreed to separate your holdings?" Danielle asked.
"Yes."
Her lips pursed together. She glanced away from him.
His gut tightened. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She met his stare. "All your dreams are coming true. You can buy the vineyard now."
Nico watched her sip the champagne; on the surface she appeared fine, but was she?
"Have you changed your mind about selling?" he asked. "If you have, tell me."
"I'll admit I've thought about keeping the vineyard, but Kaiden has his heart set on moving back." She smiled, but the attempt was weak and unconvincing. "I'm happy for you. First you get the good news about Maria staying with you, and now this. And to top it off, I got temporary custody. I'd say it's been a great day for both of us." She raised her glass. "Here's to getting everything you want."
Nico touched his glass to hers. "What do you want, Danielle?"
She shrugged. "I wish I knew. I want life to be simple. I want everyone to be happy."
"That's not what I asked." He took the seat beside her. "I asked what do you want?"
"I don't know." She played with the stem of her champagne flute, turning it between her fingers. "One minute I want to stay, the next I want to leave. If I stay, I'll take your dream away. If I go, I'll make Kaiden happy. I'm mixed up."
"Do what makes you happy," he said, wondering if he really meant the words.
"And if I say I want to stay?"
He saw the hope in her eyes, the questions. "You have to do what's right for you," he said, but even to his own ears his words lacked conviction.
She nodded. "Okay. Can we just forget about all this right now? Can you distract me?"
He gave her a slow smile. "Now that, I can do."
Chapter Fifteen
Even before Danielle opened her eyes, she knew where she was, could sense the difference between her bed and Nico's. Disappointment flooded her as she remembered the events of last night. Nico hadn't asked her to stay on after the ninety days. It killed her to admit how badly she'd wanted him to say the words, to tell her that it didn't matter if she owned the vineyard or if he did. What mattered was that they were together.
Nico was just like her father. The land meant more to him than she did. Even knowing that, she'd slept with him. She'd been unable to help herself, and she knew why. She loved him. Gut twisting, heart pounding love.
She'd been a fool to think she could make it work here. All the cards had been stacked against her. Her son wanted to leave, Nico hadn't asked her to stay, and Peter wanted her to sell. Maybe it was time for her to listen to her own heart, trust her own instincts. What did she really want to do?
Danielle slipped from the bed and got dressed. Before leaving, she made Nico's bed, removing all traces that she'd been in Nico's house before Maria and K
aiden got home, then she let herself out the door.
Thankfully, she didn't see anyone on the short trek to Whitney House. Once inside, she went to her room, showered, and changed. She had just about finished applying her makeup when the phone rang.
She picked it up on the second ring. "Hello."
"Mom?"
"Kaiden," she said. "What's up?"
"Liz told me to call you. She's going to take us to the water park today if that's okay."
"I guess so. Why don't you put her on so I can firm things up with her?"
"Okay."
A lot of rustling filled the line while Kaiden went in search of Liz.
"Hi, Danielle," Liz said when the phone reached her.
"Hi. Kaiden tells me he's invited to the water park with you."
"Yes," she said, her tone light. "Maria's wanted to go all summer. Nico is always so busy, so I thought I'd take the kids. My treat."
"Thank you. That's generous of you."
"No problem. I'll probably have the kids back around dinner time, okay?"
"That's great," Danielle said.
"Bye now." The line went dead.
Danielle hung up the phone. She sat on the edge of the bed, unsure of what to do next. The entire day stretched before her. She could go to the office, but her heart wasn't in the vineyard today. Since her conversation with Nico last night, she didn't think she could bear working with the grapes. Being in the vineyard would make her too sad.
Her thoughts turned to Jazzmyn. Yes, that's what she needed, some time with her old friend. Maybe talking her problems over with Jazzmyn would give her fresh perspective; besides, she needed to stop by Sun Grove Elementary and pick up enrollment papers for Kaiden. School started next week.
Danielle picked up the phone and dialed Jazzmyn's number. In a matter of minutes they'd arranged a day of shopping, followed by lunch.
She was on her way out the door when she spied the unopened letters. Maybe reading her father's letter would help her make a decision regarding the vineyard. The truth no longer frightened her. Coming here had made her stronger. For better or worse, she was ready to face the past.
Completely calm, Danielle opened her envelope and slid the paper out. There was a date scrawled at the top of page. The letter was written four months ago.
Dear Danielle,
If you've found this letter, I'm probably gone, and you probably hope I'm rotting in hell. Maybe I am. I was a weak man in so many ways. You know my faults, I don't need to waste time spelling them out here. But know this, I am profoundly sorry for the pain I caused you. It was not your fault I was trapped in a marriage to a woman I didn't love, but that's neither here nor there.
I did find the love of my life in Isabelle. She was everything to me, but alas, I don't believe I was everything to her. She chose her husband that last day. I know you know. I know you saw. I know and yet I kept silent. My grief over losing Isabelle kept me from helping you ease yours. I couldn't face you. You knew too much, and you knew nothing at all. Simply put, I was ashamed.
As the years passed, it was easier and easier to pretend you were better off without me. I know now that I was wrong, and still I've done nothing to build a bridge between us. I'm a weak man, a coward.
I want you to know this, my Danielle, I love you. I can't take back the things I've said and done, and I won't even beg you for forgiveness, but I do wish you happiness. Not having you and Kaiden in my life is my punishment for a life not well lived.
I miss you every day.
All my love,
Phillip
Danielle set the letter on the bed. Tears ran down her cheeks. What a stubborn old man. What a waste. Snagging a tissue, she wiped her tears away. Her father had loved her. That was a comfort, but it made her heart ache to know he went to his grave with so much unsaid between them.
She glanced at her watch. Jazzmyn would be waiting for her. She had to go. Danielle went to the bathroom and repaired her makeup, her thoughts turning to Nico. What was in his letter? A part of her wanted to withhold the letter from him forever, but another part of her told her to give him the letter, let him make his own choices. Reading her letter had freed her in so many ways. Some of her anger had melted. She had a long way to go, but her father's apology helped soothe the ache in her chest in a way that nothing else could.
Back in her room, she eyed Nico's letter. She had to give it to him as soon as possible.
Only then could he make his own decision on the vineyard, just as she could now make hers.
***
Nico hopped into the golf cart, tired, dusty, and with a craving to see Danielle that surprised him.
He glanced at his watch. Four-thirty. When he'd come in for lunch around noon, she'd been gone. He'd wanted to see her, to reassure himself she wasn't mad at him. He'd been unable to hide his disappointment from her last night when she'd hinted that she might want to stay on at the vineyard.
For so long he'd imagined himself running Whitney Vineyards. Readjusting his thinking would take time. Maybe he was looking at things the wrong way. Maybe there was room here for both of them to run the place.
Deep down, he knew Danielle had more right to the vineyard than he did. He'd tried to tell her today, calling her cell phone at least five times. Each time, his call had gone to voicemail.
Nico drove down the path between the rows of grapes, the fruit plump and nearly ready for harvest. He circled the cottage, coming to a stop. Danielle's Jetta was parked in the driveway to Whitney House. He hoped the kids weren't home yet. He wanted some time alone with her.
Nico raced into his house, showered and changed, then headed over to Whitney House. He went to the back door, knocking once before letting himself in.
"Nico." Danielle was seated at the table, two envelopes in front of her. Lola sat opposite her, a glass of iced tea between her hands.
Lola stood. "I've got some things to do upstairs." She beat a quick exit.
"What's going on?" Nico asked. Danielle looked tired, her skin pale, her eyes a little red. Had she been crying?
She gave him a sad smile. "There was a locked drawer in my father's desk. Inside, I found two letters. One addressed to me, the other to you." She passed him a white envelope.
His name was printed on the envelope in Phillip's handwriting. Curious, he ripped the envelope open and removed a single sheet of paper.
Dear Nico,
As much as I wanted to leave you the vineyard, I could not. My daughter has been through so much, and all of the pain she's endured is a result of bad choices I made. Leaving her the vineyard is my way of taking care of her from the grave. That said, if she makes the choice to forfeit the vineyard, it is my desire that Whitney Vineyards will pass to you. You're a fine man. Your parents would have been so proud of you.
That said, I want you to know I love you like a son. How could I not when you came from the woman I loved more than life itself? That's right, I was in love with your mother, and as hard as that is for you to comprehend, know this, your father was her first and final love. You, her family, came first. Remember that. You were well loved. There is no greater gift.
All my affection,
Phillip
Nico glanced up at Danielle. Words failed him. Phillip and his mother? What did that even mean? He couldn't believe it, refused to believe it.
"Are you okay?" Danielle asked.
Was he? Was this shock, this numbness invading his body? "No. I don't know." He sat.
"Do you want to tell me what the letter said?" Danielle asked.
Nico shook his head. How could he tell her that her father had been in love with his mother? Danielle already had so many bad feelings for Phillip. He didn't want to add to them, then he remembered her letter. His stomach hit his toes. Had Phillip written the same guilty confession in Danielle's letter?
"What did your letter say?" he asked, afraid to hear the truth.
She pursed her lips together. "Mostly, it was an apology."
"Tha
t's it? Nothing else?" Nico prompted.
"Such as?" she asked.
"Did he mention my family?"
Danielle glanced away.
He knew her well enough now to know she knew something. "He told you, didn't he?"
Danielle looked at him, her eyes filled with compassion. "He didn't have to tell me. I already knew."
Nico came out of his chair. "What did you know, Danielle?" His chest ached, making it hard to draw a breath. "Answer me."
"I know my father had an affair with your mother," Danielle said gently. "He was in love with her. Your father found out. They fought."
Nico shook his head. He didn't want to hear anymore.
Danielle touched his arm, but he moved away.
"I know," she continued, "because I was there. I saw everything. Your father had been drinking. He got in the car. Your mother got in with him. My father tried to stop them."
Nico spun away. "No. You're lying." He tried to picture his parents, but he had trouble, the images becoming jumbled in his mind.
Thankfully, she stopped talking. Nico's mind whirled with all he'd just heard. Is that why Phillip had taken him in? Guilt? Son of a bitch.
"You've known all this time and you didn't tell me. Why?" he asked his throat so tight he could barely get the words out.
"At first, I was jealous of you. My father adored you. Later, I didn't know how to tell you, or even if I should. It wasn't my story to share. It's in the past. Telling you wouldn't change anything. The truth just causes hurt." She stood, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm sorry, Nico."
He didn't want to hear anymore. "I need some air."
"Wait," Danielle cried. "Don't go. Not like this, not full of anger and sadness."
He held up a hand. "I don't want to hear anymore." Nico let himself outside. He walked away from Whitney House to the golf cart. Once inside, he drove like a mad man to Block 8, straight to the white cross that marked Phillip Whitney's death. Nico stared down at the cross.
"You coward," he said to the white marker right before he stomped on the cross, ripping it apart, smashing it flat. "I don't want your damn vineyard. Not anymore."
