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“Nothing,” she replied, getting a shit-eating grin on her face. “How do you like Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair?” she asked innocently enough.
“I’ve not met them,” I replied honestly. “They're traveling in Europe.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, “just like they do every July and August. So I guess it’s just you and Trey holed up there, huh?”
“No, actually it’s just me there for now.” I didn’t want to get into the long story about the drama in the pool, nightmares, my crazy mother, or the rest. I figured I' would get there soon enough. I had no clue as to how I could explain my relationship, or non-relationship, with Trey. I wanted to shift the conversation away without being too obvious.
“So, you know Trey?” I asked.
“Well yes, I guess,” she answered, snapping her gum. “I mean as well as anyone could know him I suppose. He’s like three or four years older than me, but yeah, I remember summers back when I was in high school. He was away at school most of the time, Oxford I think. He has two older brothers too, but they are like way older. In their late 30s or early 40s, I'd guess. They operate wineries out on the west coast. Napa Valley. I think Trey was maybe a surprise when he came along. He’s not like his brothers from what I know. Kind of weird, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, the Sinclair's have all of this money and they set the two older boys up in Napa Valley with vineyards that made them multi-millionaires. Then along came Trey, and with him, it’s like he didn’t want that kind of life. He gets the schooling abroad and all of that, but being a lawyer sure doesn’t pay what his brothers are making out in Napa. I heard he simply told his parents he didn’t want it. Then all that stuff happened with his fiancé getting hurt real bad.”
“What happened?” I asked, trying to sound like I wasn’t all that interested.
“She broke his heart. That’s what happened. I know it had something to do with his horse. She wanted him to put the horse down; he wouldn’t do it. I just heard bits and pieces from Aunt Becky, so I don’t know the whole story.”
Oh my God, I thought, why would someone want to have Derringer put down? I couldn't imagine such a thing!
“When did all of this happen?” I asked.
“I dunno; three or four years back maybe. Hey, for being his bitch, you sure don’t know much about his deep dark secrets do you?”
“Did you say ‘his bitch’?” I asked, eyes widening.
“Relax, it’s just a term we use, an east-coast term,” she laughed, taking the water hose that was used to clean the wine bottles before filling and spraying me with it across my back. I shrieked in surprise when the water hit.
“Lunch break!” Gina announced. We climbed the stairs and emerged outside into the early afternoon sun. “Do you want to eat up at the restaurant?” she asked. “We get our lunch for free.”
It hadn't occurred to me what I'd do for lunch when I left this morning. I was used to eating at my cottage while working over at the stables. Since lunch was free; problem solved.
“Sounds good to me, wine bitch,” I said, laughing. Gina actually looked shocked when I said that and then we both dissolved into giggles. I considered that being around all the fermented wine was somehow having some mood-altering effects on both of us. I was so glad I had someone like Gina to work with.
We headed into the main visitor’s center. The restaurant was up on the second level. It was 12:30 p.m. so there was a crowd. Gina weaved her way through to the back of the room where a single table was located next to the kitchen. “For Employees Only,” a small tabletop sign read. Jenna and Rodney were already sitting there.
“Hey Ty; Hey Gina,” Rodney greeted as we joined them.
Jenna spoke to Gina, and then turned to me as if I was her long lost friend. “Tylar, howareyou?” she asked as if she was sincerely concerned.
“Jenna, you’ve seen me since I’ve been out of the hospital–I’m doing okay.”
“Oh,” she said, pausing, “I really wasn’t talking about the concussion, I was referring to your, uh, well, for lack of a better word, ‘humiliation’ at the race last weekend. I mean you and your Jezebel being scratched like that when you were so close to winning the high stakes. It’s just a shame!” she remarked. “I suppose that comes with the territory.”
Gina and I both exchanged glances with one another.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“It’s no secret what everyone's saying. I mean, surely, you know?”
“Know what?” I demanded, my voice taking on an edge.
“You’re Trey’s Twinkie.”
“What the fuck's a Twinkie?” Gina blurted out, laughing at Jenna.
Yeah, I second that question
