Page 16 of Taken Away

“Everything?”

“Everything.”

“My goodness.”

“I think that’s about what everyone else said.”

Anne laughed softly.

“I imagine they did.”

“There are conditions.”

“Of course there are,” Anne said softly.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. What kind of conditions?”

“I have to live here a year and help run the business.”

“A year?”

There it was—something tight and old beneath her mother’s voice.

“A full year.”

“And if you don’t?”

“If I don’t stay, it goes into some kind of conservation trust.”

Another pause.

“So...”

“Did you know she had a business partner?”

“A partner?” Anne repeated, like the word had snagged on something.

“Bennett McCrae. He owns forty percent of the winery.”

Silence stretched over the line.

“No,” Anne said finally. “I didn’t know that.”

“You’re sure?”

“Aubrey, I haven’t known much about Mabel’s life in a long time.”

“I honestly don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t either.”

“I’m headed to the house now.”

“I wish I could be there with you.”

“I’ll be okay.”