The Vineyard at Painted Moon

by Susan Mallery

  She knew he was right, but she still resisted. “It’s going to be weird.”

  “Are you nervous?”

  “Yes. I won’t know what to say to anyone. I’ve always been a part of Bel Après. Now I’m not.”

  He reached across the console and lightly squeezed her hand. “You’ll do fine. Everyone will be excited to talk to you. Barbara isn’t going to be there.”

  Her mood brightened. “Are you sure?”

  “When I RSVP’d for us, I asked. The coordinator said Rhys and Lori would be representing Bel Après.”

  Mackenzie wasn’t sure how she felt about seeing her ex so soon after their lawyer meeting. Not that it mattered. They lived in the same town and worked in the same industry. They were going to run into each other on a regular basis. Better to get that first awkward professional meeting out of the way.

  “You all right facing Rhys?” Bruno asked.

  “Why are you reading my mind?”

  “I was guessing.”

  “I suppose it’s the obvious question.” She thought for a second. “I don’t care about seeing him. I’m disappointed in him as a person and I’m questioning our relationship and I feel as if I wasted too much time on him, but I’m not angry. And my general dissatisfaction is more about the baby than him.”

  “Sounds reasonable. And on the Barbara front?”

  She smiled. “Did you anticipate the emotional element of our partnership when you signed on to this?”

  He grinned. “I knew there were would be baggage. At least yours is interesting.”

  “I hope it gets boring really, really soon. Okay, Barbara.” She briefly closed her eyes. “It’s not that I’m afraid to confront her, it’s that I’d rather not. I’m not comfortable making a scene. Or screaming at someone.”

  “No scenes today,” he promised. “We’ll go in, say hello to everyone, stay a polite half hour or so, then duck out.”

  “You have a plan.”

  “Always.”

  “I like your ability to anticipate things. It makes me feel like I can relax.”

  He glanced at her. “Good. Some people find my planning annoying.”

  She smiled. “Not the ever-perfect Gloria.”

  He grinned at her. “She thought I was too much of a planner.”

  “She has a flaw! I’m so happy. I was worried your past was too perfect, which wouldn’t be fair. You’re dealing with mine nearly every day.”

  “You’re worth it.”

  She told herself he meant that in a business-partner way and not personally, but that didn’t stop a little happy warmth from filling her chest.

  She leaned back in her seat and tried not to think about the upcoming event. “I’m wearing fake yoga pants,” she grumbled. “It’s horrible.”

  “How are they fake and why is it horrible?”

  “They’re weird looking. They’re supposed to look like dress pants, but they’re not. Soon I’m going to have to wear actual maternity pants and I don’t want to. The whole having-a-baby thing is messy. What was nature thinking?”

  “You would prefer children appear fully formed? Maybe left under a tree?”

  “Not a tree. A bush. Or some kind of plant. Something pretty like a lily or an orchid.”

  “Climate-wise, that could be a problem. Orchids don’t grow everywhere.”

  “That’s true. Okay, so the current system is probably best, but still. Maternity pants suck. And I hate my shirt.”

  “You look nice. Stop fussing. I know you’re nervous but in a couple of hours we’ll be done and you can go back to hovering outside the barrel room.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled into the hotel parking lot. The meet and greet was in one of the large meeting rooms. The association put them on several times a year, allowing those in the industry to get together and catch up.

  Mackenzie and Bruno walked inside. She was trying not to wonder if she looked pregnant or worry about what people would say. The last time she’d seen most of these people had been at the Summer Solstice Party when she’d been married to Rhys and working for Barbara. Five plus months later, everything was different.

  They walked into the already crowded room. Mackenzie resisted the urge to cling to Bruno’s arm or hide behind him. She would be fine, she told herself. She knew how to work a room and she was proud of what she’d accomplished.

  She walked up to a group of men she knew and smiled.

  “Hi, everyone.”

  “Mackenzie! Good to see you.”

  “Hey, Mackenzie. Who’s the new guy?”

  She introduced Bruno. They all knew he was her business partner and immediately started asking him questions.

  Paul, a manager of a large winery at the other end of the valley, leaned close. “How was harvest? You went a hundred percent mechanical?”

  “Because of the timing, we weren’t able to hire anyone to handpick.” She smiled. “I went in kicking and screaming, but it was actually a really smooth process. I was happy with how it turned out. Next year we’ll handpick a little, but now that I’ve seen it in action, I’m going to stick with a lot of mechanical harvesting.”

  “I’m shocked.”

  “Me, too, but I can’t argue with the results. It’s going to be a good year.”

  “We got lucky,” Paul said. “If the heat had stayed with us until the end, we would have been screwed.”

  “But it didn’t.”

  Paul started to ask a question, then paused before shifting his weight. “Okay, this is uncomfortable. Rhys and Lori just walked in.”

  “Would you rather be talking to them?”

  He relaxed. “You know I wouldn’t. Rhys has no vision and Lori never has anything to say. It’s just you two used to be married.”

  “I remember that.” She did her best to look calm and relaxed. “It’s fine, Paul. Rhys and I are working our way through the divorce. We’re about to sign the final paperwork and then we’ll be consciously uncoupled, as the young people like to say.”

  “And you’re good with that?” He sounded worried.

  She thought about all that had happened so quickly. How different things were these days, how different she was. The journey had been painful, but, she supposed, she’d taken the right path.

  “I’m doing well and I’m very happy. Next spring come out to Painted Moon and see what we’re doing. It’s pretty magical stuff.”

  Bruno and the winemakers he’d been talking to joined the conversation. Mackenzie tried to pay attention to what they were saying, all the while aware that Rhys was somewhere in the room.

  Would he come over and speak to her? Should she try to speak to him? Was this ever going to be easy?

  She shook off the questions and focused on the conversation. She and Bruno chatted for a few more minutes, then went to circulate. Mackenzie introduced him to people he didn’t know and reacquainted herself with the winemakers and owners she’d known for years.

  Jack, a grizzled old guy who had been growing grapes since the 1980s, pulled her aside.

  “Good for you,” he told her. “Leaving all that Bel Après crap behind. You’re better off with Painted Moon. Put your mark on it. Barbara was always going to do her best to trim your wings. She didn’t want anyone being the star and you can’t help shining wherever you are.”

  The unexpected compliment surprised her. “That’s so nice.”

  “It’s true. We all knew you were talented. Lucky her, grabbing you first.”

  She smiled. “Rhys had a piece of that.”

  “True, but the rest of us wanted to make you a job offer. We’d heard about you from the folks at WSU. We all knew you had something. She got there first.”

  “I didn’t know that,” she admitted, surprised to find out anyone had even known who she was
back then. How would everything have been different if she hadn’t gone to work for Bel Après? There was no way to know.

  She excused herself and got a glass of water. She glanced longingly at the various bottles of wine. Events like these were a chance to taste what everyone was doing. She had always enjoyed sampling, but not today.

  “You came.”

  She turned and saw Lori standing behind her.

  “I did.” Mackenzie looked around. “Are you with Owen?”

  Lori glared at her. “Who told you about that?”

  “Stephanie mentioned you were dating him. I’m glad. He’s a great guy.”

  She was going to say more, but Lori’s expression tightened.

  “Do you think I care what you think about him or anything? I don’t. I can’t believe you showed your face here, after what you did.”

  While Lori’s vitriol was not as vicious as her mother’s, there was a familiar theme. Mackenzie knew she had a choice—she could respond in kind or she could try to get through to the woman she’d always thought of as part of her family.

  “Lori, please. I don’t want to fight with you. I know things are different, but I never wanted to hurt anyone and I still care about you. Can’t we please at least be friends?”

  Lori stared at her for a long time. “We were never friends. I accepted you because I had to, but I always knew what you were. No matter what happens with the winery, I’m glad you’re gone and I don’t have to pretend anymore.”

  She walked away. Mackenzie stared after her, trying not to react. Her face heated and her legs felt a little shaky, but she refused to let herself be cowed.

  Bruno appeared at her side. “What happened?”

  “Nothing.”

  He looked at her. “I was watching both of you. It wasn’t a friendly exchange.”

  “Oh. In that case, I thought Lori and I liked each other, and she made sure I knew that had never been true.”

  “You okay?”

  “I will be.”

  “Want to leave?”

  She smiled at him. “I don’t retreat.”

  “Good. There are a couple more people I’d like to meet. In the meantime, let me say that I’m looking forward to seeing you in maternity pants.”

  The random comment was so startling, she couldn’t help laughing. “You can’t mean that, and if you do, you’re just plain weird.”

  “I’ll accept weird, if it’s important to you.”

  “Thank you. So why are you looking forward to seeing me in maternity pants? I don’t think they’re an especially flattering look on anyone.”

  “You’ll rock them.”

  She looked at him. “You’re always nice to me.”

  “You’re my business partner. What else would I be? Besides, you’re not upset about Lori anymore, are you?”

  She realized he was right. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “Not trying, Mackenzie. Doing. There’s a difference.”

  “So there is. I’ll have to remember that.”

  thirty-two

  Stephanie arrived at her mother’s house, a sweet potato casserole in hand. The family dinner tonight was a potluck, at least that was what Lori’s text had said. An odd choice, Stephanie thought, letting herself inside. Her mother usually wouldn’t trust anyone else to simply show up with food. What if the flavors didn’t match or the colors were off? But she’d been asked to bring a potato dish that would go with pork, so she had.

  She passed Four’s kids playing a card game with Owen and Jaguar, then joined her sisters and mom in the kitchen.

  “Hi, all,” she said as she set the casserole dish on the counter. “This is just out of the oven, so it shouldn’t need to be reheated.”

  Four hugged her. “You look so happy.”

  “I feel good.”

  “It shows.”

  Stephanie shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the rack just inside the mudroom. “Hi, Lori. Owen looks pretty comfortable out there with all the kids. You found a good one in him.”

  Lori gave her a suspicious look before offering a slight smile. “I think so.”

  Stephanie drew in a breath for courage before tentatively hugging her mother. “Hey, Mom. How are things?”

  Her mother didn’t return the hug, nor did she look the least bit pleased about anything.

  “Hunky-dory. Now can we please get on with dinner? Did anyone check the table? Is it set correctly? Lori, that was your job. Let’s go examine all the ways you failed.”

  She swept out of the room, Lori at her heels. Stephanie turned to Four.

  “She’s in a mood.”

  Four pulled a large pork roast out of the oven and set it on an unused portion of the stove, then grabbed Stephanie’s hand and pulled her into the walk-in pantry.

  “Giorgio dumped Barbara,” Four said in a whisper. “I can’t get more details than that. It happened a few days ago. I didn’t know they were fighting, but I guess they were. Lori says it’s been bad around here. The only thing I can figure is he got fed up with her selfishness. She wouldn’t go back east with him for his daughter’s birthday.”

  “Mom wouldn’t think that was important. Not with everything going on.”

  “I know that and you know that, but I think it was a wake-up call for him.” Four’s mouth twisted. “It makes me sad. He was her one shot at happiness and now he’s gone. She’s going to get meaner and meaner until no one wants to be around her. It’s very upsetting.”

  They heard talking in the kitchen and quickly moved out of the pantry. Their mother glared at them.

  “If you two are done whispering like schoolgirls, we can work at getting dinner on the table.”

  Stephanie ignored the glower and the sharp words, crossing to her mom and taking one of her hands.

  “I’m so sorry about what happened with Giorgio. I wish you’d told me. I could have come over to be with you.”

  Her mother snatched back her hand, her brown eyes cold and empty. “And do what? I’m perfectly fine. Giorgio was a ridiculous man who made impossible demands. He had no understanding of my responsibilities or expectations. He was a waste of my time. Good riddance.”

  Stephanie shook her head. “Mom, you don’t mean that. You loved him. He made you happy. I’m sorry he’s gone, and if there’s anything I can do to—”

  “What could you possibly do for me? You quit your job and walked out on my wedding planning. I don’t need any more ‘help.’” She made air quotes. “From you.”

  For a moment, time seemed to freeze. She saw Lori’s look of relief at having someone else getting the brunt of Barbara’s temper, and Four’s genuine compassion for another human in pain. She saw the smallness of her mother’s action and knew Barbara would rather die alone than ever admit to what she perceived as a weakness. She also saw herself—stronger now. Going in the right direction. There would be challenges, but she’d worked through the hardest part. She’d been brave, and as long as she kept being brave, then she was going to be just fine.

  She thought of all the things she could say to her mother. All the cutting words, the sarcastic comments, and then she told herself it wasn’t worth it. Barbara would be who she had always been. She wouldn’t change until she wanted to.

  “I’m here if you need me,” Stephanie repeated. “Either way, I’m really sorry.”

  Her mother looked at the roast. “This is done. Get Jaguar in here to cut it and start putting the food on the table. Assuming you’re all capable of those minor tasks.”

  With that, she walked into the dining room. Stephanie watched her go. “It must be hard to be her.”

  Four smiled. “And that, sister of mine, is the lesson to be learned.”

  * * *

  Mackenzie stared at the blurry image that was, in theory, her daughter. According to the doctor, her wei
ght was good, her blood pressure and blood sugar were perfect, and the baby was doing her baby-growing thing.

  “Five months down, four to go,” she told herself as she drove back to Painted Moon. And she was having a girl.

  She let that information sink in. Bruno had teased her about wanting a girl, so the news would delight him. As for her feelings, she thought maybe a girl would be easier for her as a mom. She’d been a girl. She knew a few girl things.

  “A girl,” she whispered. “I’m going to have to come up with a name. Maybe Amy, after my mom.”

  She touched her belly. “Hi, Amy. I’m your mom.” She grinned. “That is the strangest thing I’ve ever said, but it’s true. I’m your mom.”

  She let the words settle on her, wondering when she would know they were true. She was pregnant and she was having a daughter.

  She felt herself smile at the news and thought about everyone she wanted to tell. Bruno, for sure, and Stephanie. Four. She wondered about letting Rhys know. Would he care about the gender of the child? He’d never asked and she didn’t know if she should offer.

  “I’ll deal with that next week,” she told herself as she drove through the large gates at Painted Moon. Today was for her and the people she loved. She was having a girl!

  She parked and hurried to the office. Before she got there, Bruno walked out of the building, as if he’d been waiting for her.

  “You’re back,” he said, his voice tense.

  “I am.” She hadn’t told him she had a doctor’s appointment today, instead saying she was going to run errands. She’d known about the ultrasound and hadn’t been sure she would want to discuss it when she got back. A silly thing, now that she’d been through it.

  “We have to talk.”

  The edge to his voice brought her to a stop. Whatever he was going to say, it wasn’t good. Had there been a fire? Was he calling the bridge loan? No, it couldn’t be that. She was weeks away from the divorce being final and getting her payout. He wouldn’t call the loan. Then what?

  “I bought you something,” he added, motioning for her to go with him to the production area. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but now that it’s here, I’m not sure I did the right thing. If you’re angry, I’ll understand. I can always sell them somewhere else. I just thought for the Pepper Bridge vineyards you’d wanted to do something different and then this opportunity came up.”