The Winemaker

by Michelle MacQueen

  “What am I supposed to do with that, Conner?” Her warm brown eyes reflected the war within. The same war I was fighting and losing within myself. We were in business together, and even that was a bridge too far for our families. There was no way this could end well.

  “I used to want to avoid you at all costs. I even convinced myself I didn’t like you or your family. Now, I can’t imagine not being part of this venture with you. I believe in you, Selena Contreras. You have a passion for your work, and that’s something I’ve not had in a long time … if ever.”

  "What about your chemistry set?" She quirked a half-smile at me, and I fought the urge to lean forward and feel that smile against my lips.

  “It’s a hobby.” I sighed, hearing my father’s disappointed voice in my head. “My little experiments have never really impressed my father.”

  “I don’t understand.” Selena’s eyes smoldered with purpose. “It means something to you, and you’re obviously good at it. If he doesn’t see that, fine, whatever, but you shouldn’t let it stop you from doing something that brings you joy.”

  “See, there’s that inspiring spirit I admire.” I lifted my glass to hers. “You know, it’s really annoying sometimes.”

  “Because I’m right.” She offered me a soft smile. “Get used to it.” She lifted her glass to tap mine, and I knew we’d turned a corner tonight. Maybe not the one I wanted, but it was still an important step for us either way.

  29

  Lena

  “Mark, these look wonderful.” I ran my hand over the landscape plan that was so much more than I would have ever dreamed up on my own. “You guys have really brought this place to life.” I couldn’t stop smiling. I could almost see it now. The rolling hills and forests bordering the new orchard. The quaint little general store where it would all begin. It was happening.

  “We still have a long way to go, Lena, but we’re going to be ready to break ground soon.” Mark returned my smile. He was enjoying this as much as I was.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” I leaned back in my chair in his conference room, gazing at the drawings of the Orchard Hill Farm expansion pinned to walls like paintings in a gallery. “We still have so much to plan before we’re ready for that.”

  “I have something to show you.” Mark grinned and turned toward the huge television hanging on the wall.

  With the flick of a button on a remote, my dream filled the screen in full scale, three-dimension. I stood up to get a closer look as Mark zoomed in on the general store, sitting nestled among a copse of mature red maples. There were so many wonderful mature trees on the property, we’d all agreed we had to incorporate them into the design.

  A cobble-stone walkway led from the store down to the lake, where there was a dock and a gazebo. The landscape design was simple for the moment, but I could already visualize where future stores and restaurants would go.

  Mark came to stand beside me. “As we finalize each building, we will fill in this model so you can see it before we ever lay a single brick.”

  “It’s perfect. I can’t believe you did this just to help me visualize it.”

  “It occurred to me the other day that part of your concerns were with not being able to imagine what these flat drawings would actually look like.”

  “This makes it real, Mark.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and turned to me. “So, when we are only looking at the general store and the landscaping, and we forget about all that other stuff that’s still in planning mode, how do you feel about breaking ground in two weeks?”

  “So soon?” I gaped at him. “What about the contractor we decided on? There’s no way she’ll have room in her schedule so soon.” I really wanted to work with Jenny. She wasn’t just a contractor but an interior designer too. She was perfect for this job.

  “I talked to Jenny unofficially the other day. Just to see what her schedule was like. We showed her everything, and she wants to be part of this project. She’s rearranged her schedule to accommodate these initial plans. We won’t be able to get started on the remainder for a few months yet, but I think you’re going to be super busy getting the general store open and staffed before the harvest season.”

  “That would be amazing. You really think we could be open by then?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “But what about the interior plans?” I looked at the general store. The exterior was perfect. We’d spent hours looking at brick and exterior cladding and roofing materials to arrive at the aesthetic. But we hadn’t even discussed the inside aesthetic.

  “Want to take a tour?” He grinned at me and picked up his remote. And with another click, we were inside the building.

  “Shut up!” I sat down, staring at the beautiful interior of the store, filled with shelves and cute little boutique areas around a central retail station where the cashiers would work. There was even a small cafe that would serve as a temporary bakery for now and a future coffee shop later.

  Mark guided me through the store so I could see the lighting features, the beautiful hardwood flooring, and barn sliding doors. He led me up the stairs to an area that would serve as storage for now, and a flex-space for the store as it grew over the years. At the back of the building was my office.

  I got teary just looking at it. A wall of bookshelves stood behind a huge antique desk and large windows faced what would be the new orchard. I would get to watch it grow and mature right from my office.

  “It’s beautiful, Mark.”

  “We can discuss any changes you might want,” he began, but I shook my head.

  “Really, it’s perfect. I can’t think of a single thing I would want to change.”

  “How do you feel about breaking ground now?” Mark elbowed me playfully. I loved working with someone who not only saw my vision too but was just as excited about it as I was.

  “Let’s do it!” I clapped my hands, refusing to let myself freak out about such a big decision.

  “You know, it’s customary for large projects like this one that will impact a community, the way yours will, to have a ground-breaking ceremony. A big to-do to help the whole town feel like they’re part of it. It can really amp up anticipation for your store too.”

  It was on the tip of my tongue to say I couldn’t afford something like that. I was so used to having limited funds, the idea of putting on a party for all of Superiore Bay seemed like an impossible feat. But my loans had come through. I now had access to more money than I’d ever seen.

  It made me nervous in some ways. That I owed so much to Conner Ashford. But at the same time, it made me more confident about what I was doing.

  “I think we could arrange something fun for ground-breaking day.”

  “I’ll schedule it with Jenny, and you and Conner take care of the party.”

  “Deal.” I reached to shake his hand. “Though, I feel like the party is more to keep me out of your hair than anything else.” I smirked at him.

  “I would never,” he deadpanned, walking me to the door.

  I strolled down the sidewalk in my best dress and styled hair, feeling like a real grown up for the first time in my life. Like a professional. I could get used to the feeling. If only my family could get on board with my partnership with Conner. If only I could convince myself the partnership was all I wanted from him.

  I drove down the dusty drive to the house, hoping Enzo wouldn’t kill me for keeping his truck for most of the afternoon. I was going to need to get my own car soon. I couldn’t keep riding my moped around town.

  “What the actual heck does he think he’s doing.” I ground to a halt at the back door, where Conner and my father were talking animatedly. They were laughing.

  “Lena, you can’t keep my truck all day.” Enzo charged across the yard from the barn. “I’m late getting to the south fields to meet with the fertilizer guy.”

  “Sorry.” I tossed the keys to him, not taking my eyes off Conner and my dad. Now, they were shaking hands, and even Grams
had come out to say goodbye.

  Duke sat beside his dad until he saw me and came charging in my direction. I reached out a hand to greet him, distracted by all the camaraderie I wasn’t used to seeing between the Ashfords and my family.

  They were all smiling and nodding. It was everything I wanted, so why did I feel a gnawing rise of anger in the pit of my stomach?

  “Conner.” I crossed my arms over my chest as if to protect myself. “I see you’ve been making friends.”

  Some of the color drained from his face as his smile faded.

  “I thought you had a meeting you couldn’t get out of today. That was why you needed me to take the meeting with Mark.”

  “You didn’t really need me for that.” He shrugged, trying to brush it off like he hadn’t lied about where he’d had to be today.

  He’d meddled into my issues with my family. He’d overstepped. “I don’t need you for most things,” I spat. Really, I’d just needed his money, his land, and the town support the Ashford name would bring to my expansion of Orchard Hill. Other than that, I didn’t need or want anything from him, and it was time he realized that. It was time I realized that.

  “Lena, I—”

  “I think you should leave, Conner.” I pointed to his fancy sports car.

  “Fine.” He threw his hands up in the air, and Duke whined, looking from his dad to me.

  “Let’s go, Duke,” Conner called to his dog, and Duke gave me a final whine before he darted across the drive to hop into the backseat of the tiny car that was way too small for the dog.

  “Mija?” Gram came up behind me as I watched the dust fade after Conner left. “He meant well.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “But he can’t just stick his big nose into my family life. It’s my job to make Mom and Dad comfortable with the idea of my partnership with Conner. I don’t need him swooping in like a white knight to make it all better.”

  “That’s not what he did, Mija.” She moved back to the porch to sit on the swing, patting the place beside her.

  “So, what did he do?” I reluctantly sat down on the swing.

  “For starters, he brought his special wine you plan to serve in the restaurant and the store. And he also brought copies of your partnership agreement to show your parents what lengths you’ve taken to protect the family and your father’s shares of Orchard Hill. And then, he told us he wanted our blessing on his partnership with you, but only once we’ve asked you to show us your plans for the Orchard Hill expansion.” She paused. “He believes in you. He made that clear.”

  “He did that?” I immediately felt horrible for what I’d said to him.

  “He wasn’t here to fix all your problems for you, Mija. He was here because he doesn’t want to be responsible for causing trouble within our family. He was being a partner. A good one.”

  “Still, he shouldn’t have gone behind my back to come here.”

  “Would you have let him?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “The boy cares about you, Lena.” Grams took my hand in her weathered one.

  “Well, I don’t know about that, Grams.” I laughed, trying not to think about the kiss from a few nights ago.

  “You’re an independent young woman, and I’m proud of you. There is nothing wrong with letting your business partner be your partner. He is in this with you. Letting him do his job doesn’t make you any less capable.”

  “I know.” I sighed. “You’re probably right.”

  “I know I am.” She chuckled softly.

  “Any more of that wine?”

  “You’re not much of a wine drinker, Lena. I think you should let me have it.” She gave me a cheeky grin.

  “No way, Grams, that’s good stuff.”

  “I’ll fight you for it.” Grams shot out of the swing like she was twenty and towed me into the kitchen, where Mom was serving a late lunch.

  “Lena, come sit.” Dad pulled out the chair beside him. “I think it’s time you tell us all about your fancy plans. When is it happening, how is it happening, are you sure about it?” He fired his questions quickly, like he’d been holding them back for a long time.

  “Well,” I smiled as I took my seat, “we are breaking ground in two weeks, and there’s going to be a big party.”

  “So soon?” Mom set a salad on the table and turned back into the kitchen for her famous tamales. “Will you be ready?”

  “For the ground breaking, yes. I have some beautiful plans to show you. But for the party, not so much. I’ll need your help, Mama. You too, Grams.”

  “Of course. We’ll make a plan tonight.” Mom moved to sit beside Dad. “I want to see those drawings again and give them proper time. I don’t think any of us realized how serious you’ve been about all of this, Lena. I hope you know, even when we’re uncertain and nervous about your ventures, we will always support you.”

  “I know that, Mama.” I reached across the table to squeeze her hand.

  “Are those the drawings?” Dad eyed the roll of paper sticking out of the top of my bag I’d hooked over the back of my chair.

  I grabbed them and laid them flat across the table, my nerves hitting an all-time high. I wanted them to love the expansion as much as I did. “Now, this is just the initial plan for the general store and the landscaping. I’ll show you the rest after lunch.”

  I smoothed a hand across the paper holding my dream.

  “Oh, this is lovely,” Mom murmured as Dad searched his pocket for his reading glasses. “I’m sorry we didn’t look closely before.”

  “What’s this?” Dad zeroed in on the site for the new orchard.

  “That is going to be a small apple-picking orchard.”

  “We’ll need to get saplings into the ground as soon as possible.” He peered through his lenses.

  “You think it’s big enough for families to come in the harvest season to pick apples?”

  Dad nodded. “I like it, Selena. It will keep them out of my orchard at the busiest time of the year.” He gave me one of his mischievous smiles.

  “You know very well it’ll be a few years before the new orchard is mature enough, so I’m setting up hayrides to bring people up to the south field for apple picking until the expansion is ready.”

  “I see.” Dad nodded again, giving me the side eye.

  “Dad, I’m going to pay you for the use of the south orchard.” I rolled my eyes.

  “You know.” Dad took his glasses off and turned to me with a serious expression. And my dad was rarely serious. “I often wondered why Papa left his shares to you. I never questioned it. I knew he had his reasons. I see why now.” He shook his head.

  “I’m proud of you, Selena. My papa knew you would have the drive and the bravery to take Orchard Hill Farms into the future. He knew you were a sheer force of nature and nothing would stop you. And I know you love Orchard Hill Farm as much as I do.” He ran a hand over the drawings. “It is in your blood, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

  “I still need you, Dad.” I reached for his hand, realizing in that moment how uncertain he must have been about my plans and how he would fit into them. Dad had a lot of years left to give Orchard Hill. It was in his blood too. “I can’t do this without you and your endless well of advice and support.”

  “You will always have that, Selena. Always.”

  “And Conner? The partnership.”

  Mom sighed. “I think we were just worried you would be too trusting.”

  I laughed at that. “I think Conner would disagree with you there. I’ve driven him insane with all my caveats and what if scenarios.”

  “You hammered out one heck of a partnership agreement.” Dad nodded. “I still don’t know if I can trust him, but I trust you, Selena. And you’ve done everything within your power to protect your assets.”

  “So … does that mean we have your blessing?”

  “You have it and then some.” Dad gave me his ornery smile and leaned over the drawings. “So, where is my ret
irement home going to be?”

  Warmth bloomed in me. I hadn’t realized how much it wore on me not to have my parents’ support, how much it dampened my excitement. But he’d seen it. Conner had known exactly what I needed. How?

  How did he understand me when I hardly understood myself?

  30

  Lena

  “Stupid piece of crap, let’s go.” I urged my not-so-trusty moped forward, willing her to make it to Ashford Estates in one piece. I had to see Conner.

  The old girl shook like a bucket of bolts about to explode all over the deserted road. I’d made it over the bridge and almost to the gates when she started to crap out on me. I was barely moving now, wobbling down the street like a six year old on a bike for the first time.

  “I’m sorry, girl, I didn’t mean it.” I rolled to a stop to give her a rest. I could walk the rest of the way. Blowing the hair out of my face, I pushed my moped alongside of me, making my way to the end of the street.

  “What in the world are you doing, Lena?” A car rolled up beside me, and Carter gaped at me, shaking his head and trying not to laugh at my predicament.

  “Shut up and give me a ride.” I steered my moped to the side of the road. “You think she’ll be okay out here?”

  “Trust me, no one is going to steal your girl. Get in, loser.”

  “Shut your face.” I ducked into the passenger seat of his tiny sports car.

  “I take it you’re headed to the estate?” His brow lifted in question. “I don’t recommend it. I gave it two stars on Yelp.”

  “Normally, I’d agree, but I need to see your brother. I’m guessing he’s at his barn office and not answering his phone.”

  “If he’s not answering your calls, he’s with his grapes.” Carter pulled away from the sandy shoulder, kicking up dust behind them. “Why haven’t you bought yourself a car yet? You have the funds for it now, and it’s kind of a necessity with all you have going on these days.”