Page 65 of Let It Breathe
“Honey—”
“You always had the best legs,” Jed said, oblivious to the conversation going on around him. “Still do.”
June beamed at him and planted a kiss on his temple before returning her gaze to the paperwork. Reese kept her eyes on the screen, unable to look away. Her mom, barefoot in the grass, wore a ring of daisies in her hair and a white dress that barely concealed the fact that she was already three months pregnant with Reese.
God, they were young. So young, so in love.
On the sofa, her dad shifted the popcorn bowl so he could put his arm around her mom. Her mom snuggled into the embrace and kept reading.
“Hmm,” June said, still flipping through the folder of printouts. She tapped the edge of the newsletter and smiled up at Reese. “This looks great. Did you do this part?”
“Nope, that’s Larissa. Did I tell you she pitched some big producer about doing a documentary on women in the wine industry?”
“No kidding?” June beamed. “Would you get to be in the film?”
“That’s the idea.” Not that Reese had any delusions of movie stardom herself, but it would be great publicity for the vineyard. “We’ve got a call with the producer tomorrow. Kate Geary’s her name.”
“I’ve heard of her,” June said. “Your father and I watched a documentary she did on couples who spice up their marriages by building sex dungeons.”
“That was a great one.” Jed glanced away from the TV. “Gave us lots of ideas.”
Reese cringed and kept her focus on her mom. “Did you want to be part of the interview? It’s just preliminary, but obviously you’re a woman in the wine industry.”
“Why don’t you and Larissa take the first round.” June smiled. “I trust you girls to make us shine.”
“Thanks.” Reese prayed the trust wasn’t misplaced. “Gotta give Riss some big props. I thought she was nuts when she pitched the idea of reaching out to a Hollywood producer.”
“That girl has gumption.”
“She does.” Reese tipped her head to the newsletter printout in her mom’s hand. “And she’s turned into a pretty serious copywriter, too.”
“I’m so proud of her.” June said. “Speaking of getting serious, we hear you have a date.”
Reese sighed. “For crying out loud, did Larissa call you?”
“No, Axl. He ran into Eric in the winery barn.”
She shook her head, not sure whether to feel irritated or loved. Funny how often the two sentiments intertwined when it came to her family. “Did you already call it in to the newspaper, or should I do that in the morning?”
“We think it’s great, honey,” June said. “We just want you to be happy. Love is such a wonderful human experience.”
“I am happy,” Reese said, trying not to notice the on-screen image of her father scooping her mother into his arms and twirling her around so her wedding dress fluttered in the breeze. She looked away, hating the rawness in her throat. “Mom, are you worried about our meeting with the bank?”
Two frown lines appeared between her mother’s eyebrows. “A little. I think we’ve got our ducks in a row, but?—”
“It’s a lot of money,” Reese said softly. “And if they won’t lend it to us, I don’t know what we’ll do.”
Her father shook his head and looked away from the TV. “We could always delay the expansion. Maybe in a few years?—”
“No!” Reese snapped, panic rising in her chest. “We’ve already been shouting about it for months on our website and in the press. We’ll look like idiots if we cancel now. Like idiots who don’t know how to run a business.”
“She’s right, hon,” June said. “Besides that, we’ve already got a ton of special events booked for the new space. Most of them have already put down deposits.”
Reese shook her head. “God, can you even imagine having to give all those back?”
“Or call couples to tell them their dream-wedding venue won’t be ready in time,” June said, her gaze drifting back to the TV screen.
“Okay, okay,” Jed said, holding up his hands. “It was just a suggestion. I’m sure things will go fine tomorrow.”
