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“Yeah. It will.” My eyes felt heavy, my face puffy. I sighed with fatigue.
I kissed them goodnight and, taking the suitcases from Pops, climbed the stairs, making my way to my childhood room. I texted Nev to let her know I’d arrived safely, then opened the window that overlooked the vineyard. Being in the comfort of home freed some of the tension. The natural scents that made me feel so loved, so warm, eased my mind. Spring at the vineyard was exactly what I needed.
* * *
“A simple, yet delectable breakfast,”Pops complimented me with a wink.
“She sure has found her niche, hasn’t she? A wonderful chef with a promising future.”
“I don’t know about that now,” I said around a mouthful of pancakes.
“And why’s that?” Grams questioned.
I rolled my eyes dramatically. “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” I’d just finished telling them how Tim had betrayed me with someone from work, shattered my heart, and ruined my life. There was no way I could continue to work at his family’s restaurant with a daily reminder of his infidelities. I told my grandparents every gruesome detail except one, the only piece of information they didn’t need to know because I knew how much they would worry. I just had to figure out how to fix that one little problem.
“Not to me,” she rebutted.
“Or me,” Pops agreed, slapping his napkin down.
“Just because that low-life, piece of shit did you wrong . . . Did what he did . . .” She wagged her finger at me. “It doesn’t have anything to do with your cooking or your ability to run a restaurant,” she added matter-of-factly.
“No. But doesn’t it say a lot about me?”
“How so? Just because he didn’t keep his dick in his pants doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.”
“Grams!” My eyes bugged out of my head.
“What? Like he’s never heard the worddickbefore,” she scoffed. Pops laughed so loud, and soon Grams and I were laughing uncontrollably too.
When he caught his breath, my grandfather agreed, “Your grandmother’s right. On both counts. Besides, Tim was a slimy piece of shit.”
“Pezzo di merda,” Grams said with a curt nod. “A complete weasel. Beady little eyes, pointy nose.” She gestured to her own, trying to imitate a weasel.
Images of Timothy’s face floated through my mind as I tried to recall what I’d found attractive about him. “You are kind of right, I suppose,” I said, miming her movements. As hurt as I still was, it felt good to mock the asshole.
“Si.”
“In any case, I’m swearing off men. Don’t want ’em. Don’t need ’em. Not gonna waste my time on anyone but me, myself, and I.”
The phone rang, interrupting our dramatic mocking of Timothy and my new pledge.
Pops wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Perfect time for me to get out of here, away from the man-bashing.”
“Perfect way to get out of dish duty!” I called at his retreating back.
His footsteps echoed in the hall a few minutes later. “That was the new owner of the Grayson’s property.”
“I thought they were going to rebuild,” I said, handing Grams a dish to put away.
“Oh, they were. But someone made an offer they just couldn’t refuse. Said it was enough for them to retire without the hassle of rebuilding and running a business at their age.”
“Good for them,” I said.
There was something odd in Pops’s voice as he brought his mug to the counter to rinse out. “Blaire, the new owner, wants to come by and introduce himself in a few days.”
“Blaire? As in Blaire Enterprises?”
“Yep.”
