The Vineyard at Painted Moon Read online

  One of the advantages of “new world” vineyards was the ability to control quality by providing exactly the right amount of irrigation. Once the fruit was established, she could stress the vines, causing them to focus more intensely on the fruit.

  “I know better than to point out we walked the vineyard last month,” Rhys said lightly.

  “That was a general check. Now I have a specific concern.”

  “As you wish.” He spun them in a tight circle. “Maybe the rest of the work conversation could wait until tomorrow.”

  “What?” Why wouldn’t they talk about—“Oh. The party. Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. You’re never truly off duty, but if we could put it on hold for the night, I would appreciate it.”

  Because he enjoyed events like these. He liked talking to his friends and meeting new people and generally being social. Rhys was much more extroverted than she was. If someone new joined the tight circle of vineyard owners in the area, he was the first one to go introduce himself.

  She nodded her agreement and tried to think of something to talk about that wasn’t vineyard or wine related.

  “I hope Kyle leaves Stephanie alone,” she said, thinking that was a more neutral topic. “She’s trying hard to move on.”

  “She has to figure out what she wants. He’s always going to ask—it’s up to her to tell him no and mean it.”

  She knew he was right, but for some reason his blunt assessment irritated her.

  “That’s not very understanding,” she said before she could stop herself. “Kyle’s a big-time Seattle sportscaster with the ability to find a different woman every night. Stephanie’s a small-town single mom working at the family business. Where, exactly, is she supposed to meet someone?”

  Her husband stared at her. “What does her dating someone else have to do with whether or not she’s still sleeping with Kyle?”

  “There aren’t any other options for her. She’s lonely.”

  “She’s going to stay lonely until she gets herself out there.”

  “What there are you talking about? The giant singles scene here in Walla Walla?”

  They stopped dancing and stared at each other. Mackenzie realized this was the closest she and Rhys had come to having an actual argument in years. She had no idea why she had so much energy about the topic or what was causing her growing annoyance. But whatever it was, the Summer Solstice Party was not the place to give in to unexplained emotions.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “You’re right, of course. Stephanie has to find a way to change her circumstances so Kyle is less of a temptation.”

  His tight expression softened with concern. “I want my sister to be happy.”

  “I know you do.”

  “I want you to be happy.”

  There was something in the way he said the words. As if he wasn’t sure that was possible.

  “I am,” she said quietly, thinking she was almost telling the truth.

  “I hope so.”

  She faked a smile and waved her hand toward the growing crowd of guests. “You have a lot of women to dance with tonight. You’d better get started.”

  He studied her for a second, as if assessing her mood. She kept the smile in place until he turned away. When he was gone, she looked longingly toward her house. Disappearing into the quiet tempted her but wasn’t an option. Tonight was a command performance and there was no leaving early. But soon, she promised herself. In the quiet of her room, she wouldn’t feel the low-grade unease that had haunted her for the past few months. Alone in the dark, she would be calm and happy and think only of good things, like the coming harvest and the wine she would make. Alone in the dark, she would be herself again.

  two

  Barbara Barcellona observed her guests as they laughed and talked. The Summer Solstice Party was a ten-year-old tradition, and one she enjoyed. She liked being the generous hostess and being able to show off her glorious estate and her attractive adult children. She liked how everyone dressed up for the evening and how the invitations were highly sought after, and how those who were not invited schemed to be included the next year. She liked the music and the food and even the twinkle lights her daughter Stephanie always insisted on, even though the sun was still visible at seven thirty in the evening.

  The large crowd was a tribute to her, but more important, it was a tribute to Bel Après. People came to show their respect for the winery and all it represented, and that was what Barbara enjoyed most of all.

  Forty-one years ago, when she’d married her late husband, Bel Après had been struggling to stay solvent. She hadn’t known the first thing about wine or winemaking, but she’d learned as quickly as she could. She and James had grown the business together. Eventually she’d taken over as general manager. She’d been the one to find the winemakers who had created the wines that had slowly, oh so slowly, brought Bel Après back from the brink.

  Her gaze moved across the crowd until she found her daughter-in-law. Barbara watched Mackenzie talking with some of the winery owners and she smiled as she saw how they all listened attentively. Mackenzie had been a find, she thought warmly. A shy but gifted young woman who had immediately understood Barbara’s vision of what Bel Après could be. Even if Rhys hadn’t married her, Barbara would have hired her. But he had and Mackenzie had joined the family.

  Barbara’s warm, happy feelings vanished as Catherine, her youngest, joined Mackenzie. That girl, Barbara thought grimly, taking in the flowing tie-dyed dress most likely created from a couple of pillowcases and a yak bladder. Catherine’s mission in life was to not be ordinary and to annoy her mother as much as possible. Happily for her, the quest for the former naturally led to the latter.

  She felt a hand on her waist, then a kiss on her bare neck. She turned and smiled at Giorgio, who pulled her close.

  “You’re looking fierce about something,” he said, pressing his body to hers. “Tell me what troubles you, my love, and I will find a solution.”

  “How I wish that were true.” She nodded toward Mackenzie and Catherine. “My daughter’s a mess. Can you fix that? And while you’re at it, can you make her stop being an artist and find an actual career?”

  Giorgio, a tall man who, despite being sixty-five, was still vibrant and handsome, said, “She’s lovely. She’ll never have the beauty her mother possesses, but she is a sweet, caring young woman.”

  “You’re too kind.” She smiled at him. “I mean that. Stop being so nice. What is she wearing? At least her husband had the good sense to put on a decent shirt, and the kids look fine.”

  He took her in his arms and spun her in time with the music. “Let her be who she is, at least for tonight. Think only of me.”

  She laughed as she moved with him onto the dance floor. “That’s very easy to do.”

  As they danced, Catherine once again came into view. Her daughter smiled at her and raised a glass of wine, as if in a toast. Something really had to be done about her, Barbara thought, although she had no idea what.

  “May I cut in, or would that break the mood?”

  Barbara smiled at Rhys, her only son. “You may.”

  Giorgio pretended distress. “Fine. A single dance, but then I must reclaim your mother.”

  “I’ll bring her back to you unharmed,” Rhys promised, guiding her through a series of quick steps. “Great party, Mom.”

  “It is. Stephanie did an excellent job, much to my surprise. The bruschetta bar is very popular. She was right about that.” She looked at her son. “Have you seen what Catherine is wearing?”

  “Mom, let it go.”

  “She looks terrible.”

  “Jaguar doesn’t seem to think so.”

  Barbara followed his gaze and saw Catherine and her husband slow dancing, despite the fast pace of the music. Typical, she thought with a sigh. God forbid Catherine sho
uld dance to the same beat as everyone else.

  As for Jaguar—actually his real name. Barbara had insisted on seeing his birth certificate before agreeing to the marriage—he wanted whatever Catherine did. The woman practically led him around by the nose.

  “Stop,” Rhys told her. “You’re getting your ‘my daughter is annoying me’ look. Enjoy the party.”

  “I am. It is a lovely night. I’ll even pretend I didn’t notice that you and Mackenzie were late.”

  “By fifteen minutes, Mom. She was in the west vineyards communing with the grapes.”

  “Is she still happy with how things are progressing?”

  Her son smiled. “You know she is. Otherwise, she would have been in your office, telling you every little thing that was wrong.”

  Barbara knew that was true. Mackenzie always kept her informed. They were such a good team.

  The song ended and Rhys led her back to Giorgio, who was chatting with several guests. As Barbara walked over to the bar to get a glass of wine, her youngest joined her.

  “Barbara,” Catherine said pleasantly. “Wonderful party.”

  Barbara did her best not to bristle. At the beginning of high school, Catherine had insisted on changing her name to Four, of all things. As in the fourth child. Barbara had refused to accommodate her, so Catherine had started calling her by her first name, to be annoying.

  Barbara simply didn’t understand where things had gone wrong. She’d been loving but fair, had limited TV and made all her children eat plenty of greens. Sometimes parenting was such a crapshoot.

  She motioned to her daughter’s dress. “One of your own creations?”

  Catherine spun in a circle. “It is. Don’t you love it?”

  “With all my heart.”

  Catherine grinned. “Sarcasm? Really?”

  “What did you want me to say?”

  Catherine’s good humor never faded. “What you said is perfect.”

  As her daughter drifted away, Barbara moved closer to Giorgio. He put his arm around her waist, the pressure against her back both comforting and familiar. She nodded as he talked, not really listening to the conversation. Whatever he was saying would be charming. He was like that—well-spoken, always dressed correctly for the occasion. He had an enviable way with people and a natural charm she’d never possessed. She supposed that was what she’d first noticed—how easy he made everything when he was around.

  This night, she thought with contentment. It was exactly right. Her children and grandchildren were around her. Giorgio was here. The vines were healthy and strong and come September there would be another harvest.

  She spotted Avery, her oldest grandchild, talking to her father, Stephanie’s ex. Kyle was too smooth by far, Barbara reminded herself. Their marriage had been a disaster from the beginning, but Stephanie had been pregnant, so there had been no way to avoid the entanglement or the subsequent divorce.

  At least Avery and Carson hadn’t been scarred by the breakup. Barbara couldn’t believe Avery was already sixteen. She was going to have to remind Stephanie to keep a close eye on her daughter when it came to boys and dating. If she didn’t, there was going to be a second generation with an unplanned pregnancy, and no one wanted that.

  She often told people that children and vineyards meant constant worry. Just when you were ready to relax, a new season started with new challenges.

  Stephanie walked over to her. “Mom, it’s about time for the toast, if you’re ready.”

  “I am.”

  Barbara excused herself to follow her daughter toward the DJ and the small platform by the dance floor. She took the microphone the young man offered and stared out at the crowd. Stephanie called for quiet and it took only a few seconds for the party to go silent.

  “Thank you so much for joining me and my family at our tenth annual Summer Solstice Party,” Barbara said, pausing for applause, then holding up her glass of chardonnay.

  “To my children—may the next year be one of happiness for each of you. To my grandchildren—know that you are loved by all of us.” She turned and found her daughter-in-law, then smiled at her. “To my special daughter of the heart—the day you came into our lives was a magnificent blessing.”

  There was more applause.

  Barbara looked at Giorgio and smiled. They’d discussed whether or not she should mention him, and he’d asked her not to. After all, he was just the boyfriend and he’d said tonight was about family—yet another reason she loved him. The man understood her and wasn’t that amazing.

  She waved her glass toward the crowd. “To the rest of you, here’s to a wonderful summer and a happy life.”

  “Happy life,” they all echoed.

  * * *

  “How does it feel to be a magnificent blessing?” Four asked with a grin.

  Mackenzie did her best not to groan. “It’s better than last year when she said I was a miracle brought into the family to take Bel Après to greatness. Although technically I’m pretty sure she said I brought a magnificent blessing, not that I was one.” She looked at her youngest sister-in-law. “Sorry about her enthusiasm.”

  “Don’t be. We love you just as much. Or maybe more. Our love isn’t conditional.”

  Four was right about that, Mackenzie thought. Barbara always claimed Mackenzie was her favorite, but that affection was very much tied to her work in the winery. If she hadn’t been interested in Bel Après, Mackenzie wasn’t completely sure Barbara would have allowed the wedding to take place.

  “She is a challenge,” she murmured.

  “She is,” Four agreed. “She’s my mother and I love her, but there is something deeply wrong with her. I can’t figure out if she was traumatized as a child or if she was just plain born mean.”

  The stark assessment surprised Mackenzie. “You think she’s mean?”

  Four’s eyes brightened with amusement. “Do you think she’s nice?”

  “I wouldn’t say nice. She can be...exacting. But she’s always been good to me.”

  “She has, and you deserve her affection.” Four hugged her. “You have an open and giving heart that warms us all. You are the fairy dust that allows us to fly.” She waved her glass. “Oh, and you’re magnificent.”

  “I agree.”

  The male voice came from behind her. Mackenzie turned to see Bruno Provencio walk up to join them. The man knew how to dress, she thought. Like Rhys, Bruno wore slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, but somehow the clothes were more elegant on him. Barbara said his clothes were all custom—a concept Mackenzie understood intellectually but made no sense to her on a day-to-day basis. Why take the time when you could buy stuff online and have it delivered with just a few clicks?

  Something she would guess that Bruno had never done in his life, she thought, trying not to smile. Bruno came from money. He was good-looking, with dark hair and brown eyes, and carried himself with an air of confidence that added to the appeal.

  One day she would be confident, too, she told herself. If not in this life, then maybe the next.

  She groaned. “Don’t say magnificent, please. Barbara was just being...”

  “Her usual charming self,” Bruno said, taking Mackenzie’s free hand in his and leaning in to kiss her cheek. He did the same with Four.

  “Successful party, as always,” he said.

  “It’s all Stephanie,” Mackenzie told him, setting her empty glass on the passing server’s tray.

  Bruno held out his hand to Mackenzie. “A dance?”

  She smiled and nodded. She wasn’t sure if she gave off a non-dancer vibe or if it was her position as Rhys’s wife and Barbara’s daughter-in-law, but almost none of the men at the party wanted to dance with her. But every year, Bruno asked and she happily agreed.

  They moved toward the dance floor and joined the other couples there. Rhys was dancing and chatting with th
e owner of a local fashion boutique. Barbara and Giorgio were wrapped in each other’s arms.

  Bruno put his hand on her waist, keeping a respectable distance, and they began to move to the music.

  “Perfect weather for the party,” he said.

  She glanced toward the setting sun. “It is. We were lucky it wasn’t too hot.” The high eighties were manageable, but a day in the nineties would have made for an uncomfortable event.

  “We’re seeing more of you than usual,” she added. “Do you have new business in the area?”

  Bruno was a wine distributor—at least that was how he described himself. She knew he also invested in a few wineries and had more money than God, and when he flew into town, he did so on a private jet. But aside from that, he was a mystery. A handsome mystery, but still, an unknown.

  “I’m thinking of buying a winery,” he admitted.

  “You are? I knew you were an investor, but I didn’t think you wanted more than that.”

  He gave her a half smile. “I like being in charge.”

  “Can you tell me which one?” she asked, then shook her head. “Never mind. I’m sure you can’t. Still, I’ll have to speculate.”

  “Text me your guesses. I’ll tell you if you figure it out.”

  She laughed. “There are nearly five hundred wineries in a hundred-mile radius. You’d be forced to block me before I got even close to figuring it out.”

  “I promise not to block you.”

  “Buying a winery. That’s exciting. All the possibilities.”

  “Interested in being my business partner?” His voice was teasing.

  She laughed. “You flatter me, but Bel Après is my home. So you’ll be living in Walla Walla permanently? What about your family? I know your parents are still alive and you have siblings.”

  “They are all perfectly content on the East Coast and I like life here. I get home to see them often enough.”