by Judith Keim
Rafe laughed. “I knew it was a good idea to put these two up against one another. Both Taunton Estates and Chandler Hill wines are already great, but I suspect they’ll be even better with Cami and Drew competing.”
Lulu laughed with the others.
Drew turned to her. “We’re going to have a big party to celebrate Becca and Dan’s move into Rod Mitchell’s old house. Miguel told me to tell you to be sure to come.”
Lulu rolled her eyes. “I’ll be there. Becca already invited me. She has a teacher friend she wants me to meet.”
“You mean Ross Coughlin?” said Cami. “He seems very nice. He’s easy on the eyes too.” She laughed when Drew arched his eyebrows at her. “Don’t worry. You’re very easy on my eyes.”
“Is this Ross Coughlin the young man who started the after-school program at the elementary school?” asked Rafe.
“Yes, that’s what I’ve been told,” said Cami.
“In the spring, I’d like to be able to volunteer there on my time off,” said Lulu. “I enjoy being with the kids.”
“You’re great with the kids who come to the inn,” said Cami. “I admire that.”
“Thanks.” Lulu hadn’t told anyone this, but working with the kids at her old job at a school had made her feel as if she was making amends for the time she hadn’t been there to prevent her brother’s drowning. She’d talked to a psychologist about it and knew it wasn’t her fault, but she always felt better after being with other kids who needed her attention.
As for herself, she wasn’t sure she wanted children of her own, not when it required making sure they were safe from all the dangers of the world.
###
Lulu was sitting in her office at the inn going over additions to the website when Becca knocked on her door.
Short and round, bubbly, and with no pretensions, Becca had green eyes that sparkled with a sense of fun that was contagious. She was someone with whom Lulu had easily made friends. They both understood how lucky they were to be a part of Chandler Hill Inn’s executive staff.
The inn, started in the late seventies by Lettie, had grown into an exclusive, upscale, full-service inn with thirty guest rooms, a well-known dining room, a spa, a swimming pool, an all-purpose functions building called Chandler Hall, and a gift shop, The Barn. Not as simple as the name sounded, The Barn contained a busy retail area full of unique gifts and a wine-tasting room on the second floor, where people could sit and taste a variety of Chandler Hill wines and sample appetizers served throughout the day. Members of the Chandler Hill Wine Club often arrived toward the end of the day to sip wine and catch up with one another.
“How’s it going?” Becca asked Lulu. “Has the wedding information online been updated to showcase our holiday themes?”
Lulu nodded and grinned. “It almost makes me want to get married.”
“I can hardly wait for my wedding. We’ve been thinking of a winter wedding, but now we’re not sure, with Dan buying into the Lone Creek Winery and working hard to make it profitable. I’ve picked out a few wedding dresses that will be suitable any time of year. I’ve narrowed it down to two, but when the time gets closer, you and Cami will have to help me decide.”
“I’d be honored to help,” said Lulu sincerely. There’d been a time when she had been too busy dealing with her father’s upcoming run for president to think about meeting with friends to discuss such things as wedding dresses. Now that her world had fallen apart with his sudden death, she realized how self-centered she’d been. She hoped her welcome into the Chandler-Lopez family would change all that.
“Dan just called. He and Drew are taking Cami and me to Nick’s. Want to come along?”
“No, thanks. That would make it an odd number for dinner.”
Becca shook her head and sighed. “We knew you’d say that, so we already invited Miguel too. What do you say?”
Lulu groaned at their attempt to pair her up with Miguel. “You know I don’t have any interest in him.”
“Exactly,” said Becca. “It’ll be good for him to be with someone like you. I swear all he does is smile at a woman, and she falls in love with him. Now that he’s a part owner of Lone Creek Winery, women think he’s rich, and the situation has gotten worse. It’s ridiculous, of course, because what money any of us has is being put back into the winery, and we don’t expect any significant profit from it for a couple of years.”
Lulu laughed at the mental picture Becca had drawn for her. She’d skipped lunch, and going out to dinner sounded easy. “Okay, I’m in, but it’s nothing more than a dinner date. At this stage of my life, I have to concentrate on healing myself and helping my mother. I don’t have the time or energy to fuss over a guy who’s too popular for his own good.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” said Becca beaming at her. “When I met you last spring at Justine Devon’s wedding, I had no idea we’d become this close. You seemed so sure of yourself and very sophisticated. I’m beginning to see the real person you are underneath all that notoriety.”
“And?” Lulu held her breath. Becca’s answer was so important to her. Back then, she’d been scared that the rumors circulating about her father were true.
“And I like what I see,” said Becca. “Cami does too. That means a lot to me.”
“Who could ask for a better sister? Everyone says Cami’s like her grandmother. Knowing how much Rafe still loves her, I have to believe Lettie must have been a fabulous woman.”
“Oh, yes, and Rafe is a wonderful man.” Becca got to her feet. “See you around seven o’clock. We’re all meeting at Nick’s.”
###
Lulu decided to drive herself to Nick’s. Italian food was her favorite, and in this area, Nick’s was the place to go for it. She liked being independent. If things didn’t go well at the restaurant, she’d have no problem leaving.
Nick’s small storefront belied the space behind it. Even on a weekday in the fall, delicious aromas, customers, and pleasant conversation filled the restaurant as she stepped through the entrance.
From the back of the restaurant, Becca waved to her. Lulu hurried over to the table, relieved Miguel hadn’t arrived yet. Cami had told her he’d be a little late. Drew got to his feet as she approached and helped her into a chair next to him. It appeared Miguel would be seated on the other side of her.
Dan greeted her and asked, “What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you all are having. In this crowd, I know it’s going to be something good.”
Drew signaled the waitress. “Cami tells me you’re developing quite a palate for wine. Maybe I’ll put it to good use on the grapes I want to use for Lettie’s Creek Wine. By the way, have you seen the label Cami designed for it?”
When she shook her head, he picked up his phone, scrolled through photos, and turned the phone over to her.
Lulu studied the photograph of a mockup for a label and grinned. “Hummingbirds. I love it.”
Cami beamed at her. “I thought it was appropriate. Nonnee loved hummingbirds. And they seemed to love her too. In fact, I thought the design would be good to use on T-shirts to sell at The Barn. What do you think?”
“Great idea, huh?” said Becca.
“Yes. I like it a lot,” Lulu replied. “Maybe we could use it for our website too.”
“Okay, okay. Enough ‘shop talk.’ This is a date night, remember?” said Dan growling playfully. A teddy bear of a man with brown, curly hair, blue eyes, and an easy disposition, he was someone Lulu thought was perfect for Becca.
Smiling, Miguel approached them. “Hi, everyone,” he said and slid into the empty chair next to Lulu. “Sorry I’m late. I had to fix another leak at the farmhouse.”
Drew frowned at Miguel. “Now that Rod’s old house at Lone Creek is ready, maybe the group can help Rafe fix up the farmhouse at Taunton Estates. You’ll want to live there with a family someday.”
Miguel held up his hands. “I don’t know about that, but it would be a good investment to fix i
t up because the bones of that house are nice. It just needs to be updated.”
Rafe’s youngest sister, Rose, came over to the table. “Are you ready to order?”
“Hi, Aunt Rose,” said Cami. ‘I’m going to go with the special. I love cod and the way you fix it here.”
Rose looked at Lulu. “And you?”
“The same. I’m hungry for seafood.”
Becca chose the game hen, and all three men chose the steak.
As they waited for their meal, they dipped fresh, hard-crusted bread into seasoned olive oil and continued their conversation about the happenings at all three wineries. Listening to them, Lulu envied the opportunity each of them had to do something meaningful with their lives. After being forced abruptly to abandon her plans, she was still wondering about her future, even as she’d agreed to help them with the marketing of their properties.
Lulu was startled out of her thoughts by seeing a male figure stomping across the room toward them, his face red, his eyes narrowed. It took a moment before she realized he was heading right to her.
“Hey, aren’t you that daughter of Congressman Kingsley? He’s what’s wrong with America today, that lying piece of scum.”
Lulu felt the blood leave her face and gripped the table, searching for words. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She gave Cami a helpless look.
“This woman is not who you’re looking for,” said Cami firmly.
The man narrowed his eyes and studied Cami. “Yeah? What’s her name?”
“Weezie Lopez,” Cami answered smoothly, bringing looks of surprise to the others sitting with her.
Miguel got to his feet. Drew and Dan followed suit.
“You’d better leave now,” said Miguel, signaling Rose. As she approached, Miguel said, “This man is leaving. I’m walking him out now. I’ll take care of his bill.”
Rose gave the man a wary look and turned back to Miguel. “No need. He’s already paid.”
As Miguel walked away with the stranger, Lulu got out of her seat and rushed into the ladies’ room.
In the privacy of the room, she burst into tears. She heard the door open and knew who it was before she turned to face Cami.
“Are you all right?” Cami asked, looking worried.
Lulu shook her head. “I’m so tired of being blamed for things my father may or may not have done. Why can’t everyone leave me alone?”
Cami’s arms came around her. “Some people love to hang onto angry, no matter how false something might be. They’re frustrated with their lives, unhappy about many things, and love to lash out at people they don’t even know.”
“Well, I’m sick and tired of it,” said Lulu, wanting to throw herself down on the floor kicking and screaming like a two-year-old. She took a wet paper towel and dabbed at her eyes. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead and get back to the others. I don’t want to disturb our dinner. The entrées must be ready.”
Lulu made sure her mascara hadn’t run, planted a smile on her face, and headed out to the others. She’d had a lot of practice acting as if she was all right when she wasn’t at all.
As Lulu found her seat at the table, Becca winked at her. “Hi, Weezie Lopez! I love your name!”
Lulu couldn’t help laughing.
“It just popped out of my mouth,” said Cami amid their laughter.
Miguel turned to her. “Are you all right?”
His look of concern was touching. Trying to be upbeat, she said, “I will be.”
“Fair enough,” said Dan. “Let’s enjoy our meal. Here it comes!”
As Lulu sat with the others she thought of her father. At the time of his death, he had been accused by several women of sexual assault, and he was attempting to defend himself against these allegations. Theirs had never been a happy family, especially after the death of her brother. Now, she and Cami knew that her father had always loved Cami’s mother, not Lulu’s mother—the woman he’d married for political gain.
“Let’s go down to the Green Grape for dancing and a little fun,” said Becca as they finished their meal. “It’s been a while since we’ve all been there.”
Cami glanced at Lulu. “Okay?”
“Yes,” she answered, eager to put the bad incident behind her.
CHAPTER TWO
The Green Grape was a bar in a quiet spot one block away from the main street. It was a favorite of the locals because the stream of visitors from elsewhere often didn’t know it was there. The inside walls of an old brick building once used for storage had been ripped out, opening a space large enough to hold a bar at one end, a small stage, and plenty of room for tables, booths, and a dance floor. When local bands weren’t playing, karaoke was offered.
When they arrived at the bar, they discovered a jazz group performing. Lulu was glad it wasn’t a karaoke night. She couldn’t sing worth a darn.
They found a table for six, and the guys went to the bar to get beers. Left alone, Cami and Becca turned to her.
“Are you okay?” Becca asked.
“Thanks, I’m feeling better. You understand why it’s so upsetting. Right?”
Cami grinned, reached across the table, and squeezed her hand. “Yes, Weezie. We get it.”
Lulu laughed. “Weezie Lopez does have a certain local ring to it, doesn’t it?” She glanced at Miguel who was bringing a beer to her.
Miguel handed her a bottle and slid into the chair next to hers.
The soft music gave Lulu a sense of intimacy as he turned to her. “I know you and Cami are related, but what’s the deal with your father?” he asked. “Why was that man so angry? Do you face this kind of crap all the time?”
“I try to stay out of the limelight as much as I can. Especially with my mother being so vulnerable. But sometimes a jerk will come along and try to harass me for being who I am. I’m not proud of what my father was accused of doing, but he did some good things to help people. I keep reminding myself of that.”
Miguel sent her a thoughtful look. “I know what you mean. My father wasn’t exactly the pride of the Lopez clan. Maybe that’s why I work so hard to make sure I don’t get into the same kind of trouble.”
“What kind of trouble was that?”
A flush of embarrassment colored his cheeks. “Gambling. He used to take off for the old Indian Head Casino every chance he got. One night the people he owed money to found him and killed him. That was enough for me to vow never to be as reckless, as stupid as he was.” Miguel stopped talking and gazed at her with widened eyes. “Ay! Dio mio! I don’t tell that to many people.”
“I don’t think you can say anything that will shock me,” said Lulu. “Between Hollywood and politics, it’s all been done before.”
“Wow!” Miguel said gazing into her eyes. “I’m sorry you’ve been so hurt.” He held out his hand. “C’mon. They’re playing a slow number. Let’s join Cami and Drew on the dance floor.”
Lulu hesitated a moment and then told herself to let go of the past and enjoy the present. Being in this funky bar in this small town was a long way from the kind of evening she used to spend attending large social affairs and mixing with wealthy donors.
When Miguel’s arms came around her, she relaxed and swayed to the music with him. As she leaned against his solid chest, she told herself it was the adrenaline fading away, but she knew it was more than that. She felt ... safe with him. He’d protected her when she was frozen with fear.
Her mood was shattered by a high-pitched shriek in her ear.
“Miguel Lopez! How dare you leave me hanging? I called and called you. You were supposed to meet up with me tonight.” The redhead who was scolding Miguel shoved Lulu aside and stood glaring at Miguel.
Miguel gave Lulu an apologetic look and turned to the irate woman. “I told you I might see you around sometime. I did not mention hooking up with you tonight.”
“But I thought ...”
Lulu interrupted the conversation. “Look, Miguel, I’ve got to get back home anyway. You stay, and I
’ll see you around sometime.” It wasn’t a mistake that she was using his own words to the redhead. She’d hoped Miguel was different from what she’d initially thought, but he’d turned out to be a player, after all.
She heard him calling her name as she made her way through the crowd toward the exit. She waved to Cami and kept on going, glad she’d thought to drive her own car.
He caught up to her. “Hey, look! Don’t leave. We’re just getting to know one another and I like you.”
Lulu shook her head. Bad memories of women flocking after her father tore at her insides. She didn’t want to endure that kind of circumstance again. “Thanks. But I really do have to go.” She told herself it was best if she just walked away, though she regretted the need to do so.
###
As Thanksgiving approached, Lulu found herself even busier helping out at The Barn. She was glad for it. Miguel had tried to call her, but she’d ignored each attempt.
Her workload grew. Online sales had grown tremendously, and stock needed to be photographed for The Barn website featuring things for sale for Christmas. Even though the process was tedious, making sure the lighting was right to showcase each item was work Lulu liked. She was comfortable behind a camera. It was fun to make each creation look unique with just the perfect amount of light, the right angle.
While staff members worked to stock things for the catalog inventory and prepare for the onslaught of sales to come, she photographed and wrote sales copy for each. As she described the attractive set of red-wine glasses engraved with the Chandler Hill logo, Lulu thought of her father, who had always admired her ability to create slogans and news copy for his campaigns.
Her father had loved her the best he could. She knew that. But after meeting Rafe and becoming part of Chandler Hill, she now understood what honest, unselfish affection felt like. Rafe’s attention to her, an “outlaw granddaughter,” was genuine in a way that made her feel secure with him. There were no conditions, just acceptance.
“How are you coming?” Cami asked, swinging into her office.
Lulu looked up from her computer. “Just doing the last three gifts. Good idea to pair these glasses with printed cocktail napkins to match. It’s the little touches that make it special.”
