Daniel takes in the surrounding landscape. The backdrop is worthy of a portrait with rows of grapevines stretching deep into the valley and the late-summer sun descending beyond the mountains. He experiences a pang of jealousy. Although he’ll never admit it to anyone, the view from Foxtail Farm’s cafe terrace beats the one from his own vineyard next door. He may be getting on in his years, but his expansion plans are far from being complete. He aims to make Love-Struck not only the most magnificent vineyard in Virginia but on the East Coast.
The bride is stunning in a strapless satin gown, her groom a dapper figure in a slate-blue suit. Placing her back to her audience, she tosses the bouquet over her head, which then whirls through the air toward the women clustered in front of Daniel. Among this group are his daughters, Ada and Casey, and his mistress of ten years, Ruthie. When the bouquet lands in Casey’s hands, she lets out a shriek and drops it like a hot potato.
“I don’t want it!” she cries, staring down at the bouquet as one might a snake. “Luke and I have only been dating a few weeks.” She tugs on Ada’s arm. “You should have it, since you’re already engaged.”
Ada swats Casey’s hand away. “No thanks! Enzo and I have agreed to a long engagement.”
Scooping up the bouquet, Ruthie presses the flowers to her nose and bats her eyelashes at Daniel. He gives his head a slight shake, and she pokes her lower lip out in a pout.
“The flowers are gorgeous. I’m keeping it despite what you think,” she says in a low voice meant only for him.
Daniel glances around to see if his daughters are watching them. Thankfully, they are distracted by the band who has retaken the stage. He waits until Ada and Casey wander off with their significant others before he says, “What was that about, Ruthie? I hope you’re not going to start harassing me about marrying you.”
She moves in close to him. “Why not, Daniel? We’re not getting any younger, and I don’t want to grow old alone.”
“You know how I feel. Marriage ruins relationships,” he says, his voice a low hiss.
“Not always. Plenty of couples are happily married. I understand you’re gun-shy after your troubled first marriage. But you and Lila were incompatible. You and I have been blissfully cohabitating for ten years.” Ruthie’s eyes shine with unshed tears. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re embarrassed to be seen with me.”
“You know that’s not true.” The lie slips easily from his tongue. Daniel’s peers would laugh him off the planet if he married a blonde bombshell diner owner.
She removes a tissue from her handbag and blots her eyes. “Then why do we have to keep our relationship a secret?”
“You know why,” Daniel snaps.
“Because you don’t think I’m good enough for you. And you’re waiting for someone better to come along.”
Daniel scowls. “This conversation is getting old.”
The band slows its tempo from an old R&B tune to a country love ballad. Ruthie grabs Daniel’s hand and tugs on his arm. “Dance with me. Let’s go public with our relationship. You’ll see. Our friends and families will be happy for us.”
Daniel jerks his hand free. “Stop it, Ruthie! You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Fine!” Ruthie brings herself to her full height, thrusting out her voluptuous breasts and holding her shoulders back. “I’m going home. And don’t bother coming over later. Your whore is taking the night off.” Her bleached blonde updo bounces around on top of her head as she teeters off in spiked heels.
Daniel experiences a fleeting sense of loss as he watches her disappear into the throng of wedding guests. Why is she going rogue on him now? She’s never expressed dissatisfaction with their arrangement before. Is it possible their relationship has run its course? He loves Ruthie, just not enough to marry her.
The lead singer announces the cutting of the cake, and Daniel migrates with the crowd to the cake table at the edge of the terrace. The bride and groom, each with a hand on the knife, slice into the cake. During the cake feeding process, which Daniel has always found silly, he eavesdrops on the surrounding conversations.
“They make a handsome couple,” says a pretty brunette in front of him.
Her friend hums her agreement. “Ollie is drop-dead gorgeous.”
The brunette places her hand over her heart. “Imagine how adorable their child will be with Sheldon’s wavy blond hair and Ollie’s aqua eyes.”
The friend shakes her head as though in wonder. “I can’t believe she’s pregnant. She certainly doesn’t look it.”
“She’s not very far along,” says the brunette. “I bet she’ll be one of those annoying women who barely gains any weight.”
Daniel’s emotions are conflicted about his youngest son’s marriage to the intriguing young vintner from California. He’s thrilled Sheldon finally found the love of his life, but he worries Ollie will coerce Sheldon into leaving Love-Struck to work with her at Foxtail.
Once they’re finished with the cake, the bride and groom return to the dance floor, where they pass out neon aviator sunglasses and light-up sticks to the guests. The band kicks into full swing, playing songs that remind Daniel of late-night fraternity parties in college.
The sight of Ada dancing in Bud’s arms is like a knife to Daniel’s heart. Daniel raised Ada from birth. She was his daughter, his pride and joy, until several months ago when they discovered Bud is Ada’s biological father. Daniel’s stomach churns when he thinks about his friend and his wife having an affair under his nose.
Ada is the picture of elegance in a shimmery gold evening gown with her dark hair twisted into a knot at the nape of her slender neck. Daniel has often dreamed of walking Ada down the aisle at her wedding. He and Ada have talked about this special day from the time she was a child playing dress-up in princess costumes. Now that she’s engaged to her Italian prince, that day will soon be coming.
A thought occurs to Daniel that sends a sharp pain to his gut. Bud has the means to give Ada a lavish wedding. Bud will have the honor of walking her down the aisle. And Daniel can’t let that happen. The problem is, Ada is furious at Daniel for the way he’s treated her these past few months. And Daniel doesn’t blame her. He’s been a real jackass. He made the terrible mistake of believing Ada could no longer be his daughter because she doesn’t carry his DNA. Daniel has much to atone for. And there’s no time like the present.
Daniel makes his way toward them on the dance floor. Tapping Bud on the shoulder, he asks, “May I cut in?”
“That’s up to Ada,” Bud says, looking down at his daughter.
She levels a steely gaze on Daniel. “No, thanks.”
“Please, Ada. Just one dance.” When Daniel tries to take hold of her arm, Bud shoves him away.
“You heard her, Daniel. She doesn’t want to dance with you. Now buzz off.”
Daniel goes after Bud with fists flying, landing a solid punch to his left eye socket. Daniel’s oldest sons, Hugh and Charles, pounce on him and drag him off the dance floor.
Hugh grips Daniel’s arm to steady him. “What’s wrong with you, Dad? Why would you cause a scene at Sheldon’s wedding?”
Daniel looks from Hugh to Charles, who appears as though he might cry. Daniel raised his four children to set high expectations for themselves and to strive for perfection. He also taught them to be strong, to face adversity head-on, and to go after their enemies with a vengeance. Hugh has hung on his every word, while Charles has never paid him any attention. And it shows. Hugh is ruthless and Charles spineless.
Daniel jerks his arm free of Hugh’s grasp. “I’m sorry. I let Bud and Ada get the best of me.”
Hugh narrows his eyes. “I don’t understand. You kicked Ada out of the family. And now you’re suddenly upset she found her biological father?”
Daniel hangs his head. “I’m not suddenly anything. I’ve been torn up about this situation from the beginning. But my emotions were misguided. I directed my anger at your mother onto Ada.”
“But Mom’s been dead thirteen years,” Charles mutters.
Daniel glares at his son. “I’m aware, son. But that doesn’t make her affair with my oldest friend any less painful.”
Hugh chimes in, “You’re no saint either, Dad. You were having an affair with Casey’s mother at the same time.”
Daniel throws up his hands. “Don’t remind me! Beverly screwed me, too. She hid my biological daughter from me in New York while I was down here in Virginia, raising another man’s daughter as my own. Can you blame me for being angry?”
With eyes lowered, Charles says, “I agree it’s a messed-up situation, but you’ve gotta let it go. Ada is Bud’s daughter now. You were cruel to her. You drove her away. And you only have yourself to blame.”
Hugh and Daniel stare at Charles with mouths agape. He rarely contributes to a conversation, personal or business related.
Daniel slaps Charles on the back. “You’re right, son. I made a colossal mess of things, and now it’s my responsibility to fix them.”