The next morning, Annie rose early and walked from the mansion over to North Faire. She spotted Galen’s truck on the hill overlooking the vineyards. He smiled when he saw her approach.
“It’s mighty different in wintertime, don’t you think?” he asked as she got closer.
“But it’s still beautiful, all these bare vines stretching for miles.” “We try to use this time to get caught up. Do a little paperwork, mend some fences.”
“I hear you and Taylor are business partners now.”
He nodded. “Yep, with Edna’s help, by the time Taylor gets out of prison, I’ll have bought out Gerald’s share. Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m still in love with her, don’t you? That that’s why I won’t leave here?”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
He ambled over to where she was standing and put a strong arm around her shoulder. “There may be a kernel of truth in that.” He gestured out at the vineyards. “But this is why I’m staying, Annie. With this climate and these slopes, what we’re standing on is a little piece of heaven.” He chuckled to himself. “And, who knows, maybe by the time Taylor gets out, I’ll be a happily married man with a minivan full of kids.”
She looked up at him and circled her arm around his waist. “I hope so, Galen. You deserve that.”
“So, I guess that means you’re not interested in applying for the job?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I’d ever get over the feeling that Taylor was there in the room with us, always on your mind.”
He looked down at his boots. “I couldn’t make you any promises.” After a pause, he said, “I’m sorry I doubted you, that night when I found you in the winery. I guess, after what I’ve been through with Taylor, I have trouble trusting anybody.”
Annie shrugged. “We both got caught up in trying to protect her, didn’t we? When I heard from her that day, for the first time in so long, I thought it would give me the chance to recapture my friendship with her. Those high school years were exciting because of her. It nearly crushed me to discover that Taylor’s loyalty was just part of her act.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret for dealing with Taylor, Annie. Don’t try to forget her, because it probably won’t work. Just remember the good times, and leave it at that.”
Galen walked Annie back to her car, and gave her a hug. “Harry’s agreed to let us use the mansion for a wine-tasting party in April. It won’t be as grand as the Wine Gala, but nobody wanted to repeat that particular event. You should think about coming.”
“I will,” said Annie, returning Galen’s embrace. They looked over at the mansion and saw a puff of smoke coming from the chimney.
“It looks like folks over there are getting up now,” Galen said. “You should be getting back.”
“You sure you don’t want to come to Thanksgiving dinner? We’re serving North Faire wine. I hear the gewurtztraminer is excellent with turkey.”
Galen smiled and shook his head. “No, thanks. I ... I’d rather be alone.”
“We’ll drink a toast for you.”
“Yeah, I’d like that. A toast to old friends.”