Ada is delighted to see Laney in the small crowd gathered at the front of Primo Vino for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Something about her sister-in-law seemed off during their visit on Monday. Her eyes were sad, and despite her sunny demeanor, she appeared troubled, as though something were on her mind. But today, Laney’s smile is bright from behind an elaborate arrangement of orchid plants.
Enzo finger-whistles to get everyone’s attention. “I’d like to thank you all for coming today, to help us celebrate our grand opening. Ada and I are grateful for your support, and we look forward to sharing many glasses of wine with you in the years to come.” He brandishes a pair of scissors. “And now, without further ado.” He snips the ribbon and cheers erupt from the group.
Laney, with her orchids, moves toward Ada. “Congratulations on your new business.”
“These are gorgeous, Laney. You really have a natural flair for floral design.” Ada walks the arrangement over to the checkout counter near the front window. “I’ll leave them here where everyone can see.”
Laney produces a small stack of business cards. “Would you mind if I left these on the counter beside the orchids? If your clients are purchasing wine for a dinner party, they might be interested in buying flowers as well.”
“Good point. I’ll give you plugs if you do the same for me.” Ada takes a few of her own business cards off the stack beside the point-of-sale terminal.
Laney pockets the cards. “Absolutely. Isn’t this fun?” She shivers as though with excitement. “First a florist, and now a wine shop. Our little town is coming up in the world.”
Ada gives her a half hug. “Who knew you and I would be such trendsetters?” She gestures at the tastings taking place at the individual stations in the center of the shop. “Go! Drink some wine. Representatives from several local vineyards are pouring their finest.”
Laney’s blue eyes survey the crowd. “Is anyone here from Love-Struck?”
Ada leans in close and whispers, “We pride ourselves on being selective. Love-Struck’s wines aren’t up to par yet.”
“They’ll get there. Bruce is working his magic,” Laney says, her features softening.
Her sister-in-law’s dreamy expression confuses Ada. Is something going on between Laney and Bruce?
“Anyway, I can’t stay. I have a ton of work to do. Good luck with everything today. If you need anything, I’m right across the street,” Laney says, kissing her cheek in parting.
Ada smiles at her. “Thanks again for the orchids.”
Laney has no sooner exited the building when Daniel arrives. He sips all the wines and purchases several mixed cases. His wine cellar at The Nest is already overflowing. He needs more wine like Ada needs more designer shoes. But he’s being supportive, and she appreciates the gesture.
“Casey tells me the wedding plans are coming along,” Daniel says as he swipes his card through the card reader. “It thrilled me to hear you’d asked her to be your maid of honor. I can leave this earth in peace, knowing you finally got the sister you always wanted.”
Ada smiles, despite never having expressed a desire for a sister. She loved having three older brothers dote on her.
She processes the charge and hands Daniel a receipt. “We’ll have the wine sent out to the house tomorrow.”
For the rest of the afternoon, a steady stream of locals passes through the shop. Some taste, others buy multiple bottles of wine, and a few simply browse, checking out the store.
Ollie and Sheldon enter the shop around five o’clock. Sheldon makes a beeline for the wine tasting while Ollie moseys over to Ada at the checkout counter.
“You look amazing,” Ada says. “Look at your baby bump. Do you mind if I touch it?”
Ollie laughs. “Be my guest. I might as well get used to everyone pawing my belly.”
As she palms Ollie’s belly, Ada has a sudden yearn for a baby of her own.
“I hope you don’t mind us stealing Melvin from you,” Ada says about their part-time sales associate.
Ollie laughs. “You’re doing me a favor, honestly. Melvin is the most vibrant seventy-year-old I’ve ever met. He has ten times the energy I do. I can’t find enough projects to keep him busy. He’ll make an excellent sales associate. No one knows Virginia wines like Melvin.”
“And he’s so charming. Everyone loves him,” Ada says, watching Melvin engage with a young couple.
Ollie clears her throat and lowers her voice. “Enzo may need to speak with Melvin about his attire, though. Better yet, he should take him shopping. Melvin started over here earlier, dressed in overalls. I insisted he change. I think what he’s wearing is the best outfit he owns.”
Ada eyes Melvin’s faded blue jeans and plaid flannel shirt. “I’m fine with his attire. But I imagine our clients expect our salespeople to be a little more current.”
Ollie stands on her tiptoes to see over the crowd. “I’d better go find my husband. He’s liable to drink all your wine.”
Ada laughs. “That’s not possible. We have so much wine we can barely fit in the storage room.”
When Ollie wanders off, Ada moves to the display case to inspect her cheeses. She’s proud of her artful display and careful selection of goat and cow cheeses. While she’s disappointed Sally West couldn’t make it to the opening, she’s excited to see the cheeses from Shady Creek Creamery are selling well.
She’s replenishing the stock when a familiar voice says, “Nice place.”
Ada cranes her neck to see Stuart looming over her. “Thanks,” she says, and returns her attention to her task.
“You made the right choice in disclaiming your inheritance. You have plenty to occupy your time here.” He chuckles, a sound that’s more malicious than amused. “I admit it surprised me when you gave in to my threats so easily. Daniel gave me the impression you were a fighter.”
Ada spins around to face him. “Since when have you been discussing me with Daniel?”
“He invited me to lunch a few weeks back. He asked me to help him get you away from my father.” Stuart inspects his manicured fingernails. “I would have come after you anyway, when I discovered Dad had changed his will. You, as his bastard child, have no right to any of Dad’s properties or investments.”
Ada shifts her gaze slightly right to Bud, who is standing behind Stuart, eavesdropping on their conversation. He presses his finger to his lips, warning Ada not to acknowledge his presence.
Ada returns her attention to Stuart. “Let me get this straight. You’re saying Daniel intentionally sabotaged my relationship with Bud?”
“Wow. You’re a quick learner, Ada.” A smirk appears on his lips. “Of course, Daniel lost interest in my efforts when his terminal cancer diagnosis sent you running back to him like a dutiful daughter. Which tells me you were never interested in having a relationship with Bud. You only wanted to get your hands on his equestrian farm.”
Raging fury bowls Ada over, taking her breath. “You’re out of your damn mind.” Her eyes dart back and forth between Bud and Stuart before landing on Bud. “All I ever wanted from you was to know my biological father, no strings attached.”
Stuart's head snaps back as he realizes his father is standing beside him. “Dad! I didn’t see you there.”
Ada shoves her way past Stuart, grabs her purse from under the checkout counter, and leaves the shop. Her temper boils as she speeds through town and down the mountain road to Love-Struck. She’s furious at Daniel, but she’s even more livid at herself for falling into his trap.
The absence of Daniel’s car in the driveway doesn’t deter her. She parks haphazardly and bursts through the front door. Hearing voices at the back of the house, she marches down the center hall to the kitchen. Marabella, her purse slung over one shoulder as though preparing to leave for the day, is chatting with a young man Ada has never seen before.
Marabella stops talking when she sees Ada in the doorway. “Well, look who’s here. I haven’t seen you in ages.” She drops her purse on the counter and extends her arms. “Come here and give Marabella a hug.”
Her emotions near the surface as Ada walks into the cook’s outstretched arms.
“Lord, child. You’re shaking all over.” She holds her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m upset,” Ada says, choking back a sob.
“I can see that.” Marabella walks Ada over to the breakfast counter. “Sit down and let me fix you some sweet tea.”
“I’m fine. And it’s time for you to go home anyway.” Ada tries to stand up, but Marabella pushes her back down.
“We can spare a few minutes. Can’t we, Claude?” Marabella doesn’t give the young man a chance to respond. “This is my nephew, by the way. He’s taking me to pick up my car from the mechanic.”
Ada nods her greeting, and he flashes her a bright smile.
Marabella fills two glasses with ice and tea, giving one to Ada and the other to Claude. She sits down next to Ada while Claude leans against the wall near the door. “Talk to me, baby. Tell Marabella what happened.”
Ada explains how Daniel colluded with Stuart to turn Ada against Bud. “Turns out Daniel didn’t need Stuart after all. His cancer diagnosis got him what he wanted. Me, a heartsick little girl crying over her terminally ill father.”
“Wait a minute,” Claude says, pushing off the wall. “Since when is Daniel’s cancer terminal?”
Ada narrows her eyes suspiciously at him. “What do you know about his illness?”
“Claude is a certified nursing assistant,” Marabella explains. “He attended to Daniel when he had his surgery in Charlottesville.”
Claude moves closer to them. “And I was in the room when the surgeon read Mr. Love’s pathology report. The doctor got all the cancer during the operation. No chemo or radiation was recommended as follow-up treatment.”
Ada shoots out of her chair and gets in Claude’s face. “You mean to tell me Daniel has been faking like he’s dying?”
Claude takes a step back. “Maybe. But don’t take my word for it. You should ask Mr. Love.”
As if on cue, Daniel appears in the doorway. “Ask me what?”
Ada crosses the kitchen in three strides. “Are you or aren’t you terminally ill with pancreatic cancer?”
The color drains from Daniel’s face. “I . . . um,” he begins, with shoulders slumping. “I exaggerated my condition, hoping to elicit sympathy from you. I had colon cancer. But the doctor was successful in removing it during surgery.”
She pins him against the wall with a death stare. “You’ve done some terrible things, Daniel Love. But this takes the cake. Stupid me. I took the bait—hook, line, and sinker. But never again. As of this moment, you’re out of my life for good.”
Daniel appears stricken. “You don’t mean that.”
“Like hell I don’t,” Ada says and storms out of the kitchen.
Daniel calls after her, “Ada! Wait! Come back.”
Ada increases her pace, hurrying down the hall and out of the house to the safety of her car. She doesn’t look in the rearview mirror as she drives away from her childhood home, potentially for the last time. On the passenger seat beside her, she roots around in her purse for her phone. She thumbs through her favorites list, deciding who she should call first before clicking on Casey’s number.
“You’re not gonna believe this,” she says when Casey answers on the second ring. “Daniel has been faking his illness. He had colon cancer, but the doctor removed all the cancer during his surgery.”
Casey pauses a beat. “You mean he’s not dying?”
“Not from cancer. Although I may very well strangle him with my bare hands.”
“That’s insane. Who would do such a thing?” Casey asks in an incredulous tone.
Ada tightens her grip on the steering wheel. “Only a sick bastard like Daniel.”
“Where are you?”
“On the way back to Primo Vino.” Ada reaches Magnolia Avenue and makes a left-hand turn. “I’m almost there, actually.”
“I’m at my condo. I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute. Do you want me to call Sheldon?”
Ada pauses while she considers how to handle the situation. “Yes, but I want to be the one to tell him. Ask Sheldon to text the others and have them come to the wine shop right away. We need to discuss how to handle the situation. Word will soon get out, and we must figure out how to do damage control.”