Page 4 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

Two

Seth nodded and motioned for her to follow him toward the barn. He was relieved the agency would be willing and able to help. Things were getting tight around the farm, and apparently, it had been going on for the last few years, although his father hadn’t told him. He’d been shocked to see just how bad things were once he’d finally gotten a look at the books.

Yet he was pleased that the event planner they’d sent to run the anniversary party seemed so competent and enthusiastic. He hadn’t expected her to be so attractive, though. Not that he should be noticing since he still had a girlfriend, but he’d have to bedeadnot to.

Hopefully, Gia’s event-planning strategy would be the break they needed. His father’s health was improving, fortunately, but the harvest could be dismal compared to past years. His mother had been distracted with worry, understandably. It had all taken its toll on them.

But it was best if he didn’t think for too long about those things. He should focus on fixing what he could. He was in charge of keeping this place afloat now. Wallowing in self-pity wouldn’t get him anywhere. And a bright smile like Gia’s was doing wonders for his mood.

“Come on. I’ll show you the barrel room. We remodeled it a few years ago. It’ll be a great place to hold events as soon as I take care of the proper permits.”

“Okay, great.” Gia fell in beside him. “So what does the rest of your summer schedule look like?”

Seth took a quick moment to run through it in his head. “Other than the cherry festival next weekend and the anniversary party, we’re only booked with some group reservations in the tasting room here and there. But those are all daytime hours.”

The family’s vineyard grew a small variety of grapes, which were shipped to a local growers’ co-op to produce and bottle one white and two red wines under the Pederson label.

But like so many orchards throughout Door County, it also churned some of its own fruit into libations. Any visitor to the Door County peninsula expected to try a chilled glass of cherry wine. The drink had become a staple, for the tourists, especially.

Gia put the documents back inside the folder as she walked alongside him. “Okay, well, I’ll see what I can do and get back to you as soon as possible.”

He nodded. “Sounds good. I look forward to it.”

Gia cast a curious sideways glance at him as they walked. “You said you moved home recently. I’m curious as to where you were living before you moved back, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Sure, I don’t mind at all. I was in Sonoma.” He was pleased she wanted to know. His time there already seemed like a lifetime ago, in some ways.

“Oh, wow,” Gia chirped, “California’s a long way from home.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I loved it there, but—you know, I’m really glad to be home. I didn’t realize how much I missed it here.”

Growing up on the orchard had given him the perfect education on what hard work and responsibility could do for the soul. It had fostered a sense of self-sufficiency that had given him the confidence to keep moving forward, something that came in handy when it came time to uproot his life and race home to take care of the family farm.

The peaceful setting of the trees and the fields also gave him a sense of calm in a world full of urgency and stress. He wouldn’t have traded living and working at the orchard and winery for anything. He was truly glad to be back.

He fidgeted with a set of keys that he’d pulled from a pocket and glanced up as they reached the front of the barn. A sign overhead read “Tasting Room”.

“It’s only open Friday through Sunday, daytime. We can have guests arrive as early as five for weddings and such, same as the lawn venue, unless there’s a special request.” He fit the key in the lock and turned.

She nodded. “Okay. Perfect. So what were you doing out in California?”

He was glad she wanted to chat. Lately, it felt like the only person around to talk to was himself. “Thanks for asking. I got my degree in business administration from Sonoma State. They offer a certificate in wine management. Got that, too.”

He pushed open the heavy door. “Then I went to work for one of the busy wineries out there. They’re well known in that region, but you probably haven’t heard of them out here—the Henderson Estates?”

She shook her head.

“They’re only selling locally and in-state at this point. Great wine, but not a big name. Anyway, I learned a lot—growing, pouring, tasting, production. I was in management when I left.”

“That sounds so exciting. You must’ve loved it.”

He had. Not that he’d had the time to think much about it lately, but yeah, it had been the opportunity of a lifetime. He nodded agreeably. “I really did.”

He’d left his girlfriend behind in Sonoma, too. Stacey Lochner had worked at the Henderson Estates with him as a wine-tasting attendant. He’d left in such a rush after his father’s heart attack that he hadn’t really processed what would become of them as a couple after he left. But they were still together. If you could call it beingtogetherwhen there were two thousand miles between them and so many important conversations about their future left unspoken.

He dismissed the thoughts. There was too much to worry about lately with the farm and his father. Why worry aboutthat—when it only made his stomach turn?

Seth held the door for Gia and she stepped into the renovated barn. The air was cool and smelled faintly of grapes with a rich oaky undertone. He switched on a couple of low lights and led Gia past the tasting counter, a beautiful plank of wood that had been varnished to a glossy finish and ran the full length of one wall. Several seating areas with tables were clustered about the room and a door led to patio seating out back.

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