“S’posed to be a glorious weekend, thank goodness,” Martha Dillon said, sneaking a glance at her husband, who was propped up in a chair next to her. He looked very uncomfortable but had insisted upon coming to the dinner table for Lang’s last night. “There’s nothing worse then trying to sell wine in a damp booth with cheese sweating and crackers soggy enough to sip.”
“What time should we get there Saturday?” Rose asked.
“Well, Jon’s going over with the men at dawn. Silly, really, because who wants to drink wine before noon? The men’ll bring the coolers of white and probably a dozen cases of the reds. You and I can bring the cheeses, platters, and crackers over around nine. No sense in going earlier, as we won’t open up until ten.”
“Sure you wouldn’t like to reconsider staying till Monday?” Rose said, winking at Lang.
Lang smiled at her, not daring to glance at his father. He had asked his mother repeatedly if she needed him, and she had almost ordered him to take off.
“Now I wish I hadn’t shooed you away,” his mother said. “Two gorgeous men and your beautiful sister and the wine’d be sailin’ out of the crates. I could hide in the back and not scare anyone off.”
“You’re always the most beautiful gal at the fair,” Jaybo said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Now, Ms. Partridge, if you and my son can help me up, I’m ready to head back to bed.”
They both helped him up. Then Judy Partridge took over. “We’re all set from here. Enjoy your dinner.” As they headed down the hall to the study, they heard Jaybo say, “Bathroom, Partridge” before the study door closed behind them.
“Thank goodness we put that full bath in off the study two years ago,” Martha whispered, setting down her fork and sipping a crisp white chardonnay. “Chicken was fabulous, Jon,” she said, waving her plate away as Neecy and the cook began to clear. She turned to Lang. “What time will you be leaving in the morning, darlin’?”
“I’m gonna try for five. I have two appointments in Santa Fe for late afternoon.”
“What about breakfast? Neecy? Jon?”
“Absolutely not,” Lang said, raising a hand. “I’ll get coffee on my way out of town.”
“How about if I pack you a lunch?” Jon said, one hand on his hip, the other holding a stack of pottery. “I made up a big batch of chicken salad for us tomorrow.”
“Thanks. That would be great.”
“I’ll pack it in one of the thermal winery takeout sacks and put it in the front of the main fridge, in case I’m not up when you head out.”
“That sounds terrific, Jon.”
Martha stood. “Well, kiddos, I better check on your dad. Lang, sweetheart, please come and say goodnight before you go up.” She hugged him round the shoulders and patted Rose’s arm.
“How about a nightcap on the porch?” Rose asked. Her brother had been unusually quiet all through dinner, and she was already missing him. Having him here, even briefly, had taken some of the worry over her parents off her shoulders.
“Seltzer water for me, sis.”
“That sounds perfect. Neecy, have we got seltzer?”
Neecy smiled, setting down a tray. “You guys go on out. I’ll bring it.”
Stars blanketed the sky. As they sat, several shooting stars blazed by. “I’ll miss this,” he said, setting his glass on the table and leaning back, hands behind his head. “It’s pretty rare that we see more than a few stars in Boston.”
“Then you’ll have to come back soon.”
“Maybe. Rosie, I already feel like such a shit for leaving you to deal with Dad.”
“Don’t. We’ve got lots of help. The main thing is to find someone to run the winery.”
“What about Manual and the crew?”
“I’m talking about what Dad does. The PR, the schmoozing, the oversight. They’ve actually needed a full-time manager for a couple of years, but now they’re gonna have to get serious.”
“What’dya think? Will it be difficult?”
“Maybe not. Jon has lots of contacts in Napa, and he thinks he even knows a couple of people who might be interested.”
“That’s great.”
“Can’t come soon enough. I’m so far behind at work.”
“Oh, Rosie, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I could have stayed on the east coast and gone with Dr. Heavers to Baltimore. I chose to come back.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No. The Valley’s my home. This is my community, for better or worse.”
“Seems like that’s what Beth thinks, too.”
“How did it go? Your talk with her?”
“Pretty much goodbye and good luck.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes.” There, he had finally admitted it. “I love her more than I’ve ever loved any woman, except you, dear sister.”
Mouth agape, Rose stared at him. She was well aware of her brother’s feelings for Beth Morgan, but shocked that he had finally owned up to them. “Did you tell her?”
“What’s the point?”
“What do you mean, what’s the point? You love her and she loves you. You belong together.”
“You forget, Dear Abby, that my home is three thousand miles away, and her home is here.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“Besides, after her breakup with Bill, she doesn’t know what she feels right now. For all I know, their cozy lunch at La Forge was the start of their reconciliation.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Lang Dillon!”
Now it was his turn to stare open-mouthed at his usually prim and proper sister.
“Don’t give me that look,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I can swear when it suits me. And how, pray tell, do you imagine Beth and Bill can reconcile when she’s crazy, head-over-heels in love with you?”
“She doesn’t know what she feels. That’s my point.”
“I beg to differ. I’ve known Beth Morgan my entire life, and I’ve never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you. She’s never been gaga over anyone. Yes, she loved Bill, but it was not the kind of love that she feels for you. You’ve lit quite a flame under the quiet Morgan sister. She’s never going to be the same.”
Suddenly weary, he reached over and drained his glass. “It’s over, Rosie. Maybe when I get home and sort things out, I’ll realize this visit has been a dream and I’ll wake up and be me again.”
“Cilla will be waiting!”
“Not gonna happen. We live on different planets now. Besides, she texted to say Brent met her at Logan with an engagement ring.”
“Well, that’s one piece of good news. You going in to say ’bye to Mom and Dad?”
Rose followed him as he knocked on the study door. His father was half asleep, heavily sedated. Judy Partridge appeared to be tidying up, and their mother was nowhere to be seen. Lang bent over the bed and took his father’s hand. “Hey, Dad, I’ve just come to say goodbye.”
His father grunted, and his eyes fluttered open and shut. “Safe trip, son,” he mumbled. Lang kissed his forehead, then stepped back, wondering if this would be the last time he saw his father alive.
He found his mother in the kitchen, helping Jon and Neecy pack cheeses and bags of crackers. She gazed at him sadly. “You going up, darlin’?”
“Yup.”
“We’re gonna miss you something terrible, aren’t we?” she said to the other three.
“Sure are,” Neecy said.
“I’ll be back, Mom, I promise. If things get worse, I can fly out. I can also fly out to help with the new hiring. That’s one thing I’m good at.”
“Thank you, dearie. We’ll give a shout if we need you.”
They hugged, and when Lang stepped back, he saw tears in her eyes. Gazing around the room, he found Rose and Neecy misty-eyed, Jon busying himself with cleaning up to hide his emotions.
“I’ll try to get up to see you off,” Martha said. “But I’m not a good early riser anymore.”
“Please sleep in, Mom. You’ve gotta rest for the weekend.”
After more hugs and kisses, the party separated. Rose and Lang went upstairs, and the others continued their work.
At Rose’s door, Lang turned and gazed down at his beloved sibling. “It’s been great to spend time with you, Rosie. Will you come to Boston soon?”
“Maybe when things settle down here. I’d like to head east at some point to see Dr. Heavers.”
They hugged, and as Rose pulled away, she met his eyes. “Tell her, please, Lang. If you don’t, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
“Someday, Rosie.”
Someday will be too late, Rose thought, stepping into her room and closing the door.