Page 125 of Gone With the Wine

He lifts his head.

“C’mere, buddy.” I sit up and hold out my hand to him.

He pushes up to his feet and pads up the bed to me. I pick him up and set him on my lap. “Tell me what you think of this. Stephanie said I didn’t open up enough. Do you think that’s true?”

He cocks his head, one ear twitching, and I swear he’s thinking,Duh.

“Maybe she was right.”

Moose tilts his head the other way. He’s a good listener.

“Okay,” I tell him. “I have to open up more. Let’s practice.”

He makes a little whine.

I smile. “I love you, buddy.”

He gazes back at me.

That was pretty easy.

Of course, he is a dog.

“I never had a dog, so I didn’t know what it was like.” I stroke a hand over the top of his head, then rub his ears. “I didn’t know how much I would care about you. When I thought they were going to take you away from me, I—” My throat closes up. “I was wrecked.”

His brown eyes are unwavering as he listens intently.

“You’re a pain in my ass sometimes, but I love you.”

He cocks his head.

“I love how you make me laugh. I love how you growl at me when you’re tugging on a toy, but it’s just playing. I love how you’re so determined to catch those goddamn squirrels.” I pet his back. “And I think you love me, too. You can’t say it, but you show it. You’re so excited every time I come home. Nobody’s ever been that happy to see me.”

I swear he smiles.

“But that’s not enough for humans. Jumping all over them when you see them and licking their face isn’t enough.”

You’re losing your shit, Dad.

I know that’s what he’s thinking. I give him a weak grin. “You could be right. I have an idea. Tell me what you think of this.”

Chapter28

Bianca

“I’ve booked my flight back to Argentina. I’m leaving Saturday.”

Rosa’s head snaps up. She frowns at me. “What? Really?”

I abuse my bottom lip with my teeth. “Yes. It’s time.”

Rosa sinks onto a kitchen chair. We just finished dinner and doing the dishes. Jake’s at the sink rinsing it out. She glances at him, then back at me. “But we need you here.”

I smile. “No, you don’t. Jake’s got things under control.”

“He’s not a winemaker, Bee. What are we going to do without you?”

Well, I haven’t thought that through.

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