Page 4 of You're So Vine
Without a word, Chiara hands me another breadstick.
ChapterTwo
CAM
Idon’t mind speeches at weddings because they give me a break from small talk. Not that I’ve been to many weddings. Went to my older sister Blair’s … seventeen years ago now. I was about to turn eighteen. Still a kid. Enlisted in the U.S. Army the day after my birthday. No idea what I was in for.
Blair’s had three kids since then. I’ve made barrels. Blair and her family live on a small homestead in Oregon, in a rustic cabin, surrounded by bees and chickens, and goats that they milk. I live in a shed. My second-best friend is a goose. My best friend is getting up on stage to make the first speech. She pats me on the shoulder as she passes. Her way of saying, “hang in there”. Lee knows I don’t do well in crowds.
If I had my choice, I wouldn’t be here. Wouldn’t be wearing a shirt and tie that Shelby bought me. Goodwill can have them. Can’t think of when I’d wear them again. Shelby warned me that she and Nate had decided to mix up the guests, but she also promised not to sit me with strangers. Promised to sit me with Lee, the person I owe everything to.
Lee’s up there talking about her late husband, Billy, Shelby’s dad. Shelby’s listening with a big smile and tears running down her cheeks. Nate’s got his arm around her. It’s only a handful of months since they met, and now they’re married. Guess that’s what happens when it’s true love. Some folks thought they should have waited, but what for? If you can’t see into someone’s soul right away, then when will you be able to?
I saw into someone’s soul once, but it wasn’t love. It was … well, today’s not the day to think about it. Today’s all about happiness.
Lee finishes her speech to a round of applause. She goes to hug the new bride and groom.
“Shelby’s mom looks more like us than our own mom.”
This is Izzy, Nate’s youngest sister. Twin to Max, sitting next to her. I’ve met them before, so not complete strangers. But I don’t know much about them except that they’re twenty-two, both at college, one studying science, one music. And they’ve got red hair, which prompted the comment about Lee. Izzy and Max have dark red hair, though, like a wet Irish setter. Lee’s is brighter. Like a maple leaf in fall.
“You know genes are weird, Iz,” says Max. “You study them.”
“I study nanotechnology, doofus. There’ssomecrossover if you’re into DNA nanotech,” says Izzy, “but I’m into environmental applications.”
“Whatever,” says Max. “It’s all science.”
“Sure,” says his twin. “Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, Beethoven—what’s the difference? It’s all music.”
Max winces. “Point taken.”
“But you’re right about genetics being weird,” says Izzy. “I mean, look at us Durants. Mom’s blonde and so’s Danny. You and I are red-haired like who knows who back down the ancestral line. Dad’s dark, like Nate and Ava. The gene pool works in mysterious ways.”
Ava. Her name gives me a jolt. I saw her looking this way earlier. She seemed … unhappy, I guess. I don’t know her well enough to say. She gave me the opportunity to get to know her better and I turned her down. Tried to be kind about it, but…
I hated that I hurt her, but it would have been dishonest to get her hopes up. I’ll never be anyone’s partner, and I’m okay with that. That’s just how some lives are meant to turn out. And geese are great company. Won’t hear a word against them.
“Shame Billy isn’t here to see this, don’t you think, Cam?”
This is Javi, short for Javier, who musters the vineyard workforce. Javi’s full-time job is actually concierge at Bartons hotel, but Ted, the owner, believes in giving back to the community so he gives Javi time off to rope in workers for those peak times. Flora Valley Wines is an organic, low-tech winery. We hand pick, and we crush by foot stomping. It was Billy’s idea to do it this way—the hard way, some might say. Probably why he and I got on so well.
“Billy would be a blubbering mess,” I reply.
“Any father would, seeing their daughter married.”
Valentina, Javi’s wife, is the last person at our table for six.
“Javi will cry like a baby when our girls are wed,” she adds. “All the way up the aisle, sobbing.”
“Our girls are six and eight,” Javi protests. “You don’t even know if they’llwantto get married.”
“I know you’ll crycomo un bebéif they do,” says Valentina. “So that’s that.”
“I’mnot getting married,” says Izzy. “Stupid, outdated institution.”
“Are you saying your older brother’s stupid?” says Max. “And everyone here who’s ever exchanged vows?”
“Don’t try to pick a fight,” says Izzy. “If you’re bored, you can go play outside with the dogs.”
