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“Yes, the wedding’s in how many days?” Rosie caught my gaze. “Ten?”
Cody’s shoulders drooped as he congratulated me.
“Thanks.” Keep it short. “Good to run into you, Cody.” Uncomfortable, I whisked a smile. “But I hope you’ll excuse us. Ros…my Matron of Honor and I have wedding details to discuss.”
“Of course…” He stepped back as if I’d slapped him. “My AA sponsor is meeting me in a minute, anyway. Glad you found my favorite ramen shop. Be sure to try the Miso Ramen…and again, congratulations.” His smile bleak, he gave a stiff nod to us both before heading back to his booth.
AA sponsor…? I returned a curt nod. Of all the “gin joints” in town, why did Rosie pick this one?
“Who was that?”
“An old friend.” I shrugged.
“That’s all?” Rosie stared after him. “He didn’t seem overjoyed about your marriage.”
“No.” I gave an uneasy sigh. “Sorry I didn’t introduce you, but…” I bit my lip.
Rosie’s shrewd smile relayed her impression. “Because he’s more than just an old friend?”
****
When Rosie dropped me off at the cabin, I gathered my packages. “Come in for a cup of coffee.”
“Thanks, but I’d better get back to the café. Give Lucas my love.” She drove off with a smile and a wave.
Unlocking the cabin door, I glanced about. “Luke? Are you here?” When no one answered, I peeked at the bags’ contents and unwrapped the tulle from its layers of tissue paper. Then anchoring the veil’s comb to my hair, I admired my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
The screen door flapped shut, and the dog’s toenails pitter-pattered across the slate floors.
“Luke? Is that you?”
“Yeah.”
Eager to show him, I sashayed into the living room and twirled around, letting the veil swing out. “What do you think?”
His eyes glassy, he muttered. “Nice.”
“Nice?” I blinked. “That’s it?”
“Sorry.” His smile distracted, he seemed unfocused. “You’ll make a lovely bride.”
“Luke?” I reached my arms around him. “What’s wrong?”
He pulled a crumpled grape leaf from his pocket. “Pierce’s Disease.”
Fingering the dried leaf’s red edges, I recalled our first dinner conversation. “This was the bacteria that ruined your grandfather’s vineyard, wasn’t it?” I went cold. “Will we lose the vines?”
“Possibly…just like my grandfather.” He ran his hand over his face. “I was so smug—thought I had all the answers.”
“Can pesticides help?”
“California’s been experimenting with a neonicotinoid insecticide—”
“A what?”
“A nicotine-based pesticide.”
Marianna’s diary entry came to mind. “Didn’t your great-great-grandmother use nicotine to treat chicken lice?”
