AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
“I’m just saying, it would have added to the drama if you’d thrown the plaque across the ballroom into that wineglass pyramid,” Natalie said from the other side of the table, all while signaling the waiter for another round of drinks. Instead of staying for the free luncheon, they’d sensed the chill in the air and decided to find a local restaurant instead. “You offended the wine gods today, bro. They are going to demand a sacrifice as payment. Anyone know any virgins?”
At that, Hallie promptly choked on her Sauvignon Blanc.
Doing his best to remain expressionless, Julian squeezed her leg under the table. “Not a single one—you?”
“Not since our mother made me go to band camp in tenth grade. And I’m pretty sure the virgins were no longer innocent once it ended.” His sister fell back in her seat a little. “Band camp: an orgy with flutes.”
“Lower your voice, Natalie,” Corinne hissed, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there prior to the luncheon. “And that was a very reputable band program. You must be exaggerating.”
“We secretly called it bang camp, Mother.”
Corinne spat out her sip of wine, only managing to catch the tail end of spray with her napkin. “Jesus Christ,” she choked out. “Please spare me the knowledge that you participated in any kind of . . . banging.”
“Unless it was drum related,” Hallie qualified, making Natalie laugh.
Julian tugged her closer in the booth until their thighs were pressed together, her shoulder tucked beneath his armpit, curls close enough to count. There.
“What you said today, Julian . . .” Corinne said abruptly, some light color staining her cheeks. “You didn’t have to do that. My work at the winery has been hard, but it was never a burden. It’s very rewarding.”
“Rewarding work can still be acknowledged,” Julian said.
“Yes.” His mother shifted in her seat. “But I didn’t need it to be pointed out publicly.”
Julian shook his head. “No, of course not.”
“That being said, it was very . . . nice.” She reached for the breadbasket, then seemingly decided against it. Fussed with her hair instead. “I didn’t mind it.”
Natalie buried her face in a cloth napkin. “Your son makes a dramatic speech in your honor in front of the foofiest winos in Napa and all you can say is ‘It was nice.’”
“I believe I said ‘very nice.’”
“Why are we the way that we are?” Natalie mused at the ceiling.
Corinne rolled her eyes at Natalie’s dramatics. “Would you rather we hugged constantly and had things like movie night?”
“I don’t know,” Natalie muttered. “Maybe? Just to experiment.”
Surprisingly, his mother didn’t seem inclined to drop the subject of togetherness right away. “Well, I’d need my children to stick around awhile for that. If they are so inclined.” She folded her hands on the table, her gaze fixing on Julian. “Julian, your fresh set of eyes on the vineyard is already making a difference. We have a plan—and I can’t remember the last time I could say that. I hope we can put your father’s harsh words where they belong. In the past. Forgotten. You aren’t merely welcome to help manage the winery . . . I would really like that. I hope it’s not temporary.”
Julian could feel Hallie’s questioning eyes on the side of his face. She was likely wondering what exactly his father had said to him. After the fire. After he’d pulled Natalie out of the shed where she’d been cornered by flames. That’s when the second half of the anxiety hit, making up for lost time, the adrenaline wearing off and the numbness stealing in. Rendering him useless to everyone when they needed him most.
It had all happened, right there in front of his family.
You’ve always been a fucking head case, haven’t you? Jesus Christ. Look at you. Pull yourself together. Stick to teaching and just . . . stay away from what I’ve built, all right? Stay away from the vineyard.
Yes, he now was determined to help revitalize the winery with or without the approval of his father, but would that niggle of doubt in his abilities ever truly go away? Maybe. Maybe not. But his independent mother was openly asking for help. She really needed it—and he wanted to give it. Wanted to bring the land of his legacy back from the brink of failure and help it thrive. For so long, he hadn’t allowed himself to miss the place. The process. But just like Natalie said to the SEAL last night, fermentation was in his blood.
And yeah, last but certainly far from least, Hallie was here.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, looking down at the woman herself.
Letting her know. I’m staying. We’re doing this.
God, she was beautiful. He couldn’t stop staring—
Natalie coughed into her fist, effectively breaking the spell between them. “Let’s circle back to my days in bang camp.”
