Intrigue and a Bottle of Merlot

by Bria Marche

  He made his to-do list, which included reserving a small condo at the Cimarron Lodge for at least a week and a Ford Explorer for the trip. Might as well have a four-wheel drive if we need it in Colorado, plus it will be a lot more roomy and comfortable than my car. He thought about the sleeping arrangements on the road and decided to leave that up to Karen.

  This was the last weekend for skiing. The season was ending, making the timing perfect for the trip. Mario didn’t have the avalanche of winter business anymore at the Summit, and the inventory was being swapped out for the spring and summer seasons. He had breathing room to take a leisurely trip and address the problem at Gravity.

  Chapter Six

  The drive to Vic’s house relaxed Mario. A visit with his sister and friends for a few days would be nice. He’d spend the weekend, then he and Karen would leave first thing Monday morning.

  He arrived at noon, took a nap for two hours, and then got up to help Vic in the kitchen. She’d planned a Saturday-night dinner, and everyone was invited. The clan was due to arrive around four thirty. Latin music played in the living room while they started dinner preparations, just brother and sister alone, enjoying each other’s company. The scent of spices and herbs drifted from the kitchen to every room in the house. Prawns and plantains, fish tacos and Puerto Rican rellenos were on the menu. Mario was at home in the kitchen. As children, they’d all had to pitch in and help make the meals. With Vic and Mario cooking together, dinner would be a delicious feast.

  Mario peeled potatoes and chopped cilantro as the oil heated up for the rellenos. “So, has Karen said anything about our road trip?”

  “That’s all she talks about, bro. She’s a little nervous about the sleeping arrangements—you know, that type of thing. Have you guys discussed how it’s going to work?”

  “Nope. I thought I’d let her decide. I really like Karen. I’m curious to see if this trip might lead to more.” He reached into the lower cabinet and pulled out a large stainless-steel pot. He filled it with water and placed it on the stove, turning it to the highest setting.

  “I’m glad you said that, Mario. Karen likes you a lot, too. She’s kind of concerned about the age difference though. I have to warn you in advance, we changed her hair a little and tweaked her clothing choices.”

  “What for? Karen looks great already.”

  “It’s a girl thing. Just go with it, and make sure to notice. She looks really cute.” Vic licked her fingers and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Bro. I’m so happy you’re living back in New York.”

  Everyone arrived on time with some type of dessert or gift in hand. Josh and Sasha brought a bouquet of flowers for the table. Sasha filled a crystal vase with water and arranged the colorful daisies into a lovely centerpiece. Mia and Aaron brought chocolate cheesecake and a gallon of grape juice just so Vic would have plenty on hand. Max arrived with a huge kiss for Vic and a case of beer for the guys. Tina brought several scented candles, and Karen walked in with three bottles of Merlot.

  The girls were happy to see Karen dressed in jeans, a peasant top, and plenty of bangles. Mario made sure to comment on her new appearance, telling her how much he liked her hair color and style. An instant blush spread across Karen’s face as she thanked him for noticing.

  Dinner was a huge success as it always was at Vic’s house. Everyone loved the authentic Puerto Rican meal. The group wandered into the living room with a few bottles of wine for the women and beers for the guys. Josh poured Sasha a glass of juice and handed it to her as she made herself comfortable on his lap. Tina smiled at the way Josh rubbed Sasha’s invisible belly bump. Tina had softened over the last few months after seeing how everyone was happy to be a part of a couple. “So, what are you guys going to do for fun during the drive?”

  “I don’t know for sure. I’m leaving that up to Karen. I plan to take three days to get to Telluride. I want it to be a relaxing drive, not rushed. I suggested the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and maybe the Gateway Arch or Amish country. That’s if Karen wants to see any of those things.”

  “I guess I never told anyone this because it wouldn’t come up in our everyday discussions, but some of the relatives on my mom’s side are Amish.” Karen laughed at the shocked look on everyone’s faces. “I’ve even spent time at their farms, and they’re super-cool people.”

  “No shit? When was the last time you saw any of them? Are they in Ohio?” Mario asked.

  “Last year, and no, they’re in Kansas. I usually go every other year to visit during our family reunions.”

  “You never said you had Amish relatives. That’s so cool.” Mia looked suddenly thoughtful.

  “Well, don’t forget I’ve only known you guys for eight months. I already went to the family reunion before I met any of you. There wasn’t a reason to talk about it, I guess. I know what you’re thinking, Mia, and there’s no way in hell you’re going to take their pictures.” Karen laughed.

  “I know, but there’s so many ideas running through my head right now. I’m just imagining how beautiful and innocent the pictures could look, especially in black and white or sepia tones. The barns and fields, the way they dress, their buggies. It just seems so peaceful in my mind.”

  “Well, their lifestyle is pretty peaceful and sweet. They’re lovely people.” Karen sliced the cheesecake as Mia put the pieces on plates and served them. Tina made coffee for everyone. “Anyway, it would be fun to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gateway Arch, Mario. Who knows? We have to go through Kansas anyway. Maybe we could make a little detour for a few hours and I’ll introduce you to my cousins. Let’s just try to avoid hiccups along the way. We can do a few side trips on our way out there and others on the way back. You guys do realize in six weeks we’re going to have to start on that vineyard, right?”

  “That’s for sure,” Sasha said. “The library is almost done. My parents will be here May 9, and they’re staying until after the weddings. I’m so excited to get everything ready for the big day.” She looked at Mia and Aaron, grinning. “We’ve got a lot to do. Our weddings are in two and a half months.”

  ***

  The early-April snowmelt was upon them, and spring was just around the corner. Anticipation filled the morning air for a new season and possibly a new romance. Mario picked Karen up at six o’clock Monday morning. He lugged her suitcase out to the SUV while she carried two travel mugs filled with steaming coffee, and a bag of mixed donuts.

  “So, we’re finally doing this.” Mario chuckled. “We’ll have a blast, Karen, at least during the road-trip portion. I mapped out the route so we can make two fun stops on the way out and one coming back. Today, we can hit Cleveland, check out the Hall of Fame for a few hours, grab dinner, and then continue on to Columbus tonight. Does that sound okay with you?” Mario opened the lift gate and set her suitcase inside. He moved the cooler right behind the front seats for easy access.

  “That’s a great idea, and I love this SUV. Look how much room there is. This is awesome.”

  “As opposed to my Karmann Ghia?” He laughed.

  “Sort of,” Karen said, giving Mario a wink. “I have a feeling this is going to be a trip to remember.”

  “I know so. All right, we’re out of here. Cleveland is expecting us.” Mario started the Explorer, turned the radio station to classic rock, and they were off.

  Karen’s anxiety subsided for the time being. Mario was a great guy and fun to talk to. Being easy on the eyes didn’t hurt either. She relaxed and handed him his coffee as they drove past the Welcome to Tarrytown sign and headed toward I-287.

  ***

  Sasha’s phone chirped on the nightstand next to her while she slipped on a pair of toasty wool socks. “Hello, Mia. What’s up, girly girl?”

  “You sound elated this morning. I should ask what’s up with you.” Mia chuckled.

  “Life… that’s all. It’s been pretty sweet lately. Josh and I had a long talk last night after J. J. went to bed. He’s going to put his house on the
market.”

  “Isn’t that weird how we’re all coupling up and selling our homes? Anyway, let’s talk more over lunch today if you’re free. Tina and Vic want to meet at Bottoms Up. How about it?”

  “That sounds great. See you at noon.”

  Sasha took Kismet out for her morning walk around the block. The days were getting longer and a little warmer. The daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips peeking through the remaining snow confirmed Sasha’s hopes that she’d planted them correctly last fall. The sight made her smile. Back indoors, she calculated the time difference between New York and France. It was just after one o’clock at her parent’s chateau outside Marseilles. With a fresh cup of decaf next to her, Sasha sat at the kitchen table and called her father.

  “Hi, Papa, I was just checking to see if you’ve bought your airline tickets yet. Yes, uh-huh. I’m so excited to see you and Mom, too. You’ll love my home when you see it. I’m a different person now, Papa. I think you’ll both be pleasantly surprised when you see me. Yes, Josh is excited to meet you, too. Did you look over the information I emailed you about the grape stock? I’m so happy we can plant Concord grapes, and I’m really anxious to learn everything I can from you. Okay, give Mom my love. Au revoir.”

  Sasha was anxious for her parents to visit and give their approval. The process could begin for the vineyard, but Sasha also wanted to show her parents how she’d turned from a snotty, entitled model into a wonderful, loving young lady. She wasn’t going to live off her looks anymore. Sure, Sasha had that trust fund, but she was also moving along with plans of her own. Hosting weddings at the Victorian was not only a wonderful, romantic idea but a well thought-out business plan, too.

  Chapter Seven

  The large flashing sign along the freeway beckoned them to stop. Food and a bathroom break called their names, with the truck stop being only one exit ahead. They’d just crossed into Ohio along Turnpike I-80, and it was the perfect time to stop for lunch.

  “You know, Karen, this can go either way. We can have a great lunch or end up buying a roll of Tums for the road.” Mario enjoyed ribbing Karen simply because she went along with it and often added her own smart comebacks.

  “True enough, but if liver and onions don’t bother me, I doubt anything will. Anyway, you can usually tell how good or bad a restaurant is by the number of vehicles in the parking lot. Truck-stop food has to be pretty good. Their income depends on it.”

  “You are business minded—I’ll give you that. C’mon, let’s eat.”

  Mario walked around the car and reached for Karen’s hand as she climbed out. Her surprise was evident when a grin spread across her face.

  “What?” Mario asked as he took her hand. He found himself half smiling, half smirking as he thought about how much he enjoyed Karen’s company.

  “Nothing. It’s just that you’re really a gentleman. I like that about you.”

  “Cool… that’s easy enough to do.”

  They were surprised as they walked across the seemingly normal parking lot and entered a different world on the other side of the double glass doors. The truck stop was packed with people from all walks of life. The typical truckers with handlebar mustaches, rugged, worn faces, and Wrangler jeans sat at the counter, drinking gallons of coffee. Some wore cowboy hats, others baseball caps with grime-embedded rims. They sat elbow to elbow, jawing with each other as they ate. Families, exhausted from their cross-country excursions and screaming kids, sat and let themselves unwind. Waitresses scurried about, always with full carafes of coffee in hand, pouring refills. Karen and Mario seated themselves at a booth and turned their coffee cups upright, a signal that they were in need of the fresh, hot elixir. Mario paged through the menu while Karen watched the hustle and bustle with a half-cocked smile.

  “This is almost as interesting as sitting in an airport, watching people and wondering what their lives are all about,” she said. “Do you ever wonder about strangers that deeply? I mean, isn’t it crazy how everyone has some type of story or history, a life that weaves its own web? This world is just so vast—it’s incredible.”

  Mario sat with his elbows on the table, his chin resting on his hands, and smiled. “It is pretty amazing isn’t it? Think about it: I know you, Karen, but I don’t really know your life other than that you were once married to Jack and have a cat named Claire.”

  A frail-looking waitress with a pencil perched above her ear and a dirty apron tied around her small waist approached their booth. She looked as though she had already put in a twelve-hour shift. Bags under her eyes showed her exhaustion. “Hey there, folks, regular or decaf, cream and sugar?”

  Mario answered for both of them. “Regular, please, with cream. Just a few more minutes, then we’ll order.”

  “Take your time, hon.” She rushed back to the kitchen.

  “What are you having?” Karen asked.

  “I think the chicken dumpling soup and a BLT will do it for me. How about you?”

  “I’m going with the soup, too, and a turkey club.”

  “So, how do you have family in Kansas?”

  Karen laughed and took a sip of her coffee. “I’ll give you the condensed version. I don’t need you falling asleep on me. Both of my parents were born and raised in Kansas. That’s the reason most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins still live there. I guess my mom and dad were the trailblazers of the family back in the late ’60s when they picked up and moved to New York. My dad enrolled in NSU to study civil engineering. While he went to school every day, my mom did a lot of babysitting to pay the bills. Eventually, she opened her own daycare center. She owned the center for six years until my dad got a job working on bridges throughout New York. That’s when they decided it was time to have kids. She sold the daycare center and had my brother and me. She became a stay-at-home mom once Dan was born in 1973. I came along four years later. I lived in the city my entire life until Jack and I divorced. That’s when I moved to Greenwich.”

  “Are you happy you bought Mia’s house and moved to Tarrytown?” Mario filled their cups with another round of coffee while the waitress took their order.

  “Who wouldn’t be happy living around the crazies?” Karen laughed out loud. “Seriously, Mario, without those girls I’d be living a pretty quiet, boring life. They inspire me and keep me young.” She looked a little embarrassed after that last remark.

  “You are young. Age is only a number. The important thing is your frame of mind and the spirit in your heart. You’re very young spirited.”

  “Really, you think so?”

  “Sure. I wouldn’t guess you to be a day over thirty-six.” Mario laughed a huge belly laugh while Karen reached across the booth and pinched his arm. “Ouch, that hurt. Kiss it?”

  “Not on your life, mister. You’re going to get it later.” Karen looked at him with a sultry smile, holding his glance longer than necessary.

  “Promise?” he asked, chuckling again as he rubbed the red spot on his arm.

  Karen wore a smirk, but didn’t answer. She seemed thoughtful.

  “Here’s your lunch, folks. Hope you enjoy it.” The waitress handed them their plates and filled their coffee cups once more before rushing off to clear a vacated table.

  They made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two hours before the five thirty closing time.

  Every chance he could, Mario put his arm around Karen or took her hand as they viewed the exhibits. The guitars and costumes of their favorite bands of all time were there. They made sure not to miss the Beatles exhibit and The Roots of Rock and Roll before they left. Mario checked his watch when he noticed people heading toward the exit.

  “Should we go? It’s getting close to five thirty.”

  “Yeah. That was fun, but we still have several hours of driving before we get to Columbus. Let’s stop for dinner somewhere along the way.”

  Mario held the door open for Karen as she climbed into the Explorer. Within minutes, they were on the interstate again, on their way to Columbus.
/>   ***

  “So what do you think is going to happen tonight,” Mia asked as they sat at Bottoms Up, sharing a bottle of Merlot.

  “Well… I’m not sure about tonight,” Vic said, “but I swear I’ll beat the shit out of Mario and Karen if they don’t hook up during this road trip. Just saying…”

  The girls laughed and clinked their wine glasses together as they envisioned it.

  “Yeah, Karen totally needs to get laid,” Sasha agreed while she took a deep gulp of her juice. “I’ll call her in the morning and get the 4-1-1 on their first night together. Are you sure Mario isn’t gay? I mean Karen would be totally devastated if he was.”

  “Sasha, I think I’d know if my brother was gay. I mean, I’m certain he isn’t… I think.” Vic furrowed her eyebrows as she gave the thought some consideration.

  “When was the last time he was in a relationship?” Tina asked.

  “How the hell would I know? He never ran his sex life by me. Now you’ve got me worried, damn it.”

  “Okay, guys,” Mia said. “Calm the hell down. Mario isn’t gay, for crap’s sake. He’s way too hunky and manly, plus he’s got the hots for Karen.”

  “So, you have some inside information on Mario’s love life? What gives with that?” Sasha pouted. “Why am I always the last to know?”

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Sasha, let’s not start making shit up. I’m just saying I don’t picture Mario being gay—that’s all. Let’s have dinner already.” Mia called the waitress over to take their order.