Page 14 of Pour Timing

“Ky, I'm kidding with you.Buuuutit’s not new when you've known him all your life.”

“I haven’t seen him in years.”

“So, it seems to me like you could pick right up where you left off.”

I watch him from across the bar, smiling and laughing with Danny. It’s been so long since I saw his face light up, and it’s then I realize I’m wrong about that. This is the same look he had when he saw me walking into the winery last week. He catches my eye and gives me a wink before continuing his conversation with Danny again.

And I’m in big trouble.

Chapter7

Matt

I’m behind the bar at Grape Expectations when I see my mom enter with Liam. They come around to the side and I nod to them.

“Hey, bud! Give me one minute.” I open two bottles and grab four glasses, loading them all onto the tray while the waitress waits patiently. An older couple who I remember seeing at the funeral asked for a tasting of our newest blush from the winery. Thank god Uncle Paul’s guys are still running the back of the house because there is no way I’d be able to keep up with both sides.

I push the glasses toward them and grab a new bottle. As the cork pops, a sound so soothing to my ears and loaded with memories, the patrons sitting close call out, “Pour timing!”

I laugh as I hear my son and mom answer back along with me, “Time to pour!”

“Enjoy.” I nod to the couple and step over to see my family, noticing my mom’s eyes are teary. “What's wrong?”

She waves her hand. “Nothing, it's just so good to see you behind the bar here.” She reaches for my hand. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Ma, even coming back to Starlight Bay.” She chuckles as Liam dips under the bar to join me. “Hey, aren’t you a little young?”

“He’s the perfect age to learn.”

I look up at my dad’s voice as he comes from the back.

“Pop!” Liam yells and ducks back under to get to him. My dad picks him up in a bear hug.

“Man, watching my two Byrne boys hold this place down feels pretty good doesn’t it, Kathleen?” He throws his arm around my mom’s shoulders and she leans into him.

“Are you ready for the National Wine Day Event? Judging by the full house you have now, I bet you’ll be twice as busy then.”

I nod, a little uneasy about it all. “I am. It’s going to be a lot of work but I want to make sure it’s great for everyone.” My eyes drift around the place and I notice the changes. They’re subtle, but the color scheme Kylie and Sadie discussed have already begun popping throughout the place. It’s different shades of greens and yellows with pink flowers as the centerpieces. It's all very spring-like.

“The girls are doing a great job.” Ma raises a brow. “You should keep her.”

“Her?” my dad asks.

“Hm?” she responds.

“You said he should keep her. Who’s her?”

“I didn’t say that. Did I?”

I groan out loud. “Ma, you gotta stop.”

“Matthew. I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Say, can you pour me some of that new blush?”

“Sure you don’t.” I roll my eyes at her antics and at my dad’s confused face but grab a bottle from behind the bar. “You need to control your wife, Dad.”

“Oh there’s no controlling her,” Dad says.

“Don’t I know it.” As I pour a glass for my mom, I hear the bell ring. When her face lights up I don't even need to look to see who entered. “Ma, what did you do?” I ask in a low voice.

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