Page 99 of Gone With the Wine

“You, my dear, have been nominated for an award.”

I go statue still. I blink several more times. “I have? Really? What award?”

It can’t be a Star Winemakers Award. Those are top awards, celebrating the best winemakers of the year as judged by Elite Global Winemakers, a huge wine publication.

“Best cabernet franc.”

I shake my head in disbelief, then laugh out loud. “Are you shitting me?”

“I am not shitting you, as you so charmingly put it.”

“That’s crazy!”

“It is well deserved. I knew it was a remarkable wine.”

“I can’t believe this!”

“The awards will be given out in a black-tie event in Paris,” he says. “In January.”

“Wow.” I press my fingers to my mouth briefly. “This is wild.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“When are you coming back?”

“Oh. Jeez. I’m not sure. In a few weeks, I guess.”

“Okay. Let me know. We’ll talk about a promotion and pay raise.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Oh. Okay.”

I end the call and tip my head back to gaze up at cotton ball clouds in the blue sky. This is amazing!

“What’s up?” Rosa asks, approaching. “Is everything okay?”

I grin at her. “Yes! Everything is fucking fantastic!”

She laughs, eyes widening, and I tell her about the award nomination.

“Oh my God! That’s incredible!” She throws her arms around me and squeezes and for a moment, we sway back and forth, both of us laughing. Then she turns and calls out to everyone in hearing distance, “My sister is nominated for a big winemaker award!”

Everyone gathers around, cheering, congratulating me, hugging me.

I’m in a daze. Drunk on celebration. I want to tell Jansen.

I stop myself from rushing over to Bar Down. He’s probably not even back from dropping off Moose. I’ll see him at some point today. I can tell him then. I don’t need to make a big thing of it.

Even though I’m jumping up and down with excitement.

I can’t stopmyself from bouncing up to Jansen over at Bar Down later. He’s in the cellar talking to Antonio and I hop across the floor to him, a smile stretching across my face.

He looks up and grins in response. “Hi. You look happy.”

“I’m so happy!” I squeal. I want to throw myself into his arms, but Antonio and others are around so I bounce on my toes in front of him. “I have news!”

“Yeah?” His smile is so warm and affectionate, my heart somersaults in my chest.

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