Page 93 of While You Were Trending

Mabel and Cricket and Winona spent some time today discussing options. Two of the fields—the Riesling and the Syrah—are close enough that they could be picked this week and still make pretty good wine, but the merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes need more time on the vine. If the storm’s as big as they think it’ll be, the sugar-to-water ratio in the grapes will be lessthan ideal, but it’s still apparently better than getting an early harvest.

Wine-making is complicated. I knew I’d learn a lot being here, but the process fascinates me in ways I hadn’t expected. There’s so much chance and luck with the weather and growing conditions, and then the choices to be made about how to pick and crush and which barrels to use and fermentation time with and without skins and on and on and on.

“Everyone hitting the sack early?” I ask Cricket.

“Most everyone. Dori and Mabel and I will be up late checking the grapes and the forecast every hour.”

Dammit.

Dammit dammitdammit.

Any other winery, any other full-length documentary, I’d be all about what I have to say.

But Ginny’s not at any other winery.

Ginny’s here.

I want to see her.

I do.

Full truth.

But— “I’ll give Shade a few hours of sleep, and then we’ll join you.”

She grins. “They couldn’t send a backup camera guy for poor Shade?”

“I’m a retired hockey player, not Michael Morgan Stone.”

“Ah. All the budget’s going to post-production to make you look good.”

My dog laughs.

As much as she ever laughs, that is. It’s like a snort with a doggy grin.

“You’re an asshole,” I tell Flow affectionately.

She pants happily and nudges my hand until I pet her. “Yes, I know, you’re my asshole.”

She snorts again.

Right in my face.

I’m laughing along with Cricket as I haul Flow fully into my lap and rub all over her sides. “That’s how it’s gonna be? Fine. Then you get tickles.”

And I get to keep feeling the heavy weight of what I want balanced with the fact that what I want could cost me the best friend I’ve ever had in my life.

Even when I know I won’t get what I want.

It’s enough that I’ve ever wanted Ginny.

That’s enough to cost me my friendship with Alex.

So I need to get my focus on the game.

And the game is recording this documentary and getting on with my life.

18