Page 85 of Blush
“I hate to be the naysayer here, but are the two of you forgetting that this is all moot—the winery is selling. The buyer is here this week. Leah, don’t get his hopes up”—Asher nodded toward Mateo—“and don’t act like there’s something I should be doing that I’m not. It’s over.”
With that, he trudged off toward the house. Leah turned back to Mateo, who looked impatient.
“Is that what you think, too?” she said.
Mateo began to speak, then stopped. He looked around at the vineyard.
“Leah, my concern is my father. I have to take care of him, and if that means accepting what’s going on and moving forward, that’s what I have to do. I know this is hard on you and your mom. But I’m afraid your brother’s right. It’s over.”
Forty-two
In early August, wet conditions were the enemy of the grapes. And so, when the drops began to fall in the early afternoon, swelling into a full-blown downpour by dinnertime, Leonard’s mood was a storm of its own.
“These grapes are the baron’s problem now,” Vivian said, trying to get him out of his funk. “The rain doesn’t matter.”
“It’s Hollander Estates’ final vintage. It matters to me,” he said.
Vivian had asked Peternelle to serve dinner indoors, at the oak dining table that seated thirty. The grandeur of the dining room gave her comfort. Above their heads, a three-tiered, nineteenth-century English openwork chandelier. The side console table was inspired by a George III design from the 1700s. With the curtains drawn, they could perhaps forget the weather. A little togetherness would help brighten everyone’s mood. She’d asked Peternelle to use her favorite dressage horse–themed custom china, as well as the Georgian silver. An extra place had been set by mistake; Asher said Bridget wasn’t coming. That was a first, and Vivian didn’t hide her surprise.
“She’s in the city. Visiting friends,” he said. But something about the obviously forced lightness of his tone made her wonder if there was more to the story. Were they not getting along? There had been a timewhen that would have given her relief. Now she took no pleasure in the thought.
Sadie was the first to arrive, wearing olive green cargo pants and a white V-neck T-shirt. Her curls were tucked behind her ears, her face free of makeup. She looked very young and more than a little melancholy. She chose the seat next to Vivian and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hi, Gran. You look nice.”
Vivian had made an effort to dress in a way that might bring some cheer; she wore a short-sleeve Chanel dress, pink knit cotton with white piping.
“I can’t believe how the weather turned,” Leah said. “I was out in the field this morning and it was so beautiful.”
The curtains were drawn, but the sound of rain pelting the windows echoed through the room. “Let’s not talk about the rain,” Vivian said. “Your father is in a foul mood because of it.”
Leonard walked into the room practically vibrating with tension. Peternelle uncorked a bottle of Cabernet Franc, but he waved it away.
“Just water for me tonight,” he said.
Vivian and Leah exchanged a glance.
“Peternelle, please clear this extra place setting,” Vivian said.
“It’s not extra,” Leonard said. “The baron’s joining us for dinner.”
“What on earth for?” Vivian said, not even trying to hide her dismay.
“He asked to stay at the house for the next few weeks. The hotel is not to his liking.”
“What? No. That’s out of the question,” she said.
“Don’t give me grief, Vivian,” Leonard said.
She leaned closer to him and whispered, “This is still our home—at least for the time being. Just let him sign the paperwork and write a check and keep some boundaries.”
“He hasn’t written the check yet,” Leonard whispered back. “Anduntil he does, whatever it takes to make him feel invested in this place, so be it.”
She felt Leah looking at her but didn’t dare return her glance. Who knew what her eyes would reveal: Shame? Fear? She felt trapped at the table, trapped in the situation. She’d never felt so out of control in her life.
Leah tried making small talk, but Vivian couldn’t bring herself to contribute. She could barely breathe normally.
The baron arrived, sweeping into the room like a gust from the storm outside. He was dressed in a suit, a broad smile on his face. She saw his calculating eyes sweep over the room, homing in on Sadie.
