Page 84 of Corkscrew You
“Of course,” says Ted. “It would be my pleasure.”
Well, that was easy. Not that we actuallyhavea wine to offer him yet. But I have a plan for that, too. We can print new labels – simple. And we can do some blending before bottling – less simple because I have to persuade Shelby to do it. I doubt she’ll appreciate being forced to make wine to order, even if it’s for her good buddy, Ted.
“It would be marvellous to see Shelby step out of her father’s shadow,” Ted adds. “I feel the Flora Valley story has so much untapped potential. The natural approach, the hand picking, the grape treading – it feels socomforting. Soreal.”
The man is in a room that looks like it was beamed over from Buckingham Palace, and he’s talking about reality?
“Is that a deal breaker?” I have to ask. “The ‘story’?”
“Why?” Ted replies. “Do you have other plans?”
And there it is. The hint of steel behind the smile.
“I’m exploring options.” Only half a lie.
“As you must,” says Ted, with the kind of generosity that comes from not knowing what a cash flow squeeze even is. “But may I offer this small piece of advice…”
He uncrosses his legs, sits forward, elbows propped on the knife-edge creases of his suited knees. My alarm bells start to jangle.
“There are a myriad of wineries out there,” he says, “that produce perfectly adequate pinot noir. There is onlyoneShelby Armstrong.”
And in one swift, fluid movement, he’s on his feet, smiling, hand outstretched once more.
“Must dash, I’m afraid,” he says. “I look forward to our next conversation.”
Like a magic trick, the receptionist opens the door, and I’m ushered out in front of Ted, who vanishes behind me so quickly, I half expect to see a puff of smoke.
Only one Shelby Armstrong.
I ponder Ted’s words as I walk back to the pick-up. He said it was a piece of advice. It sounded like a threat.
Without Shelby, Flora Valley is just another winery. It’s nothing. That’s how I interpret it.
I’mwithout Shelby now, too. So I wonder what that makes me…?
I drive back down the main street. Iris is still in the doorway of the Cracker Café. She stares at me until I’m all the way past the edge of town.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
SHELBY
I’m dying to tell Nate how well I’ve done today. I got them back!Allof the customers with ruled lines! Well, except for old Mrs Reynolds in Sacramento, who’s on a cruise down the Danube. I’ll call her when she gets home.
It was surprisingly easy. So easy, I don’t know why I didn’t do this before. Oh, I know. I was chasing investors. And having a temporary depressive breakdown.
Also, phoning people who loved Dad any earlier than this would have been wonderful in one way, and unbearable in another. As it was, there were quite a few tears, mine and theirs. But we got through it, and now I have half our soon-to-be-bottled vintage sold. Gome.
Nate will be pleased. Heshouldbe pleased. But even so, he won’t want me to tell him in person. Minimal contact, that’s what he said.
I suspect he will ignore my texts, and I doubt he’ll be in a hurry to read my emails, either.
I know – I’ll leave a note on his desk. Quick and to the point, in big writing, so he can’t miss it. Itisabout the business, so he can hardly object to that.
He’s out meeting with Ted, who I imagine will be super polite, and will smile, even when he’s delivering bad news. I already know he won’t take Flora Valley’s too-cheap wine, but, of course, I didn’tquitehave the opportunity to pass that little nugget of information on to Nate. Bit of a blunder that, as Ted would say.
I wonder, not for the first time, what it would be like being Ted. Or a female version of him, anyway. What would it be like to never have to worry about money? To always be beautifully dressed, and smell delicious, and have your pick of an endless parade of gorgeous partners.
Some people believe having money makes them superior, but Ted’s not like that. He has a genuine affection for our community, and his business sense is the only thing that curbs his generosity. Ted knows that Bartons must keep up appearances, as they say in Britain, so he won’t do anything to jeopardize its reputation. That’s why he said no to stocking our lower-priced wine.
