Fire in the Vineyard

by Christa Polkinhorn

  “Grandpa, you are damn smart, you know that?” Matthew laughed. “Thanks. I’m feeling a lot better.”

  Martin grinned. “Don’t forget, he’s my son. I know a little how his mind works.”

  “These are great ideas,” Nicholas said. “And if we can help with anything, let us know.”

  Matthew smiled. “Thanks, guys. I knew I could depend on you. Well, I better get back. Ken wants to discuss some accounting stuff with me.”

  He got up and kissed his grandmother. “Thanks for the pie, Grandma.” As he walked toward the door, his eyes fell on a college catalog. He turned to Sofia.

  “By the way, I haven’t seen your sister in a while. How’s Julietta doing at Cal Poly?”

  “Great,” Sofia said. “She’s wrapping up her finals. She should be home in a couple of weeks. I think she’s done really well with her classes.”

  “Good to hear.” Matthew gave everyone a quick good-bye wave and left.

  Chapter 2

  Julietta Santucci put on lip gloss and combed her shoulder-length auburn hair in front of the mirror in one of the ladies’ rooms at California Polytechnic State University.

  Cindy, her friend and roommate, stood next to her. “Ah, vacation time. I can’t wait.”

  “I know what you mean. Almost all the finals done. What a relief.”

  “Are you going somewhere for the summer?” Cindy asked.

  “No, I’ll be here, well, not here at school but at my sister’s place over the holidays. What about you?”

  “My parents invited me to go on a trip to Canada with them.”

  “Oh, that sounds like fun. You’ll have a good time.”

  “Hope so.” Cindy shouldered her purse. “Well, gotta go.”

  “See you at the apartment.” Julietta waved as Cindy left the restroom. She picked up her backpack and went to the bookstore, greeting a few fellow students on the way.

  After checking out the books for the following term, she walked to the cafeteria. Once again, she marveled at how modern and expansive the university was. She loved it; it was so different from the schools she had attended in her hometown in Italy, where many buildings were old and ornate. Here everything was made of modern materials. As a student of architecture, the construction of buildings had always fascinated her.

  Inside the cafeteria, she inhaled the bittersweet scent of coffee and pastry. A fellow student named Adam joined her. Julietta had several classes with him, and she liked him. He was kind, intelligent, and had a good sense of humor. They shared an interest in environment-friendly architecture.

  They sat down with their lattes. Julietta looked around the busy cafeteria, listening to the murmuring and occasional laughter of the other students. She stretched with a relieved sigh. “I’m so looking forward to vacation time and working at my sister’s vineyards. My first term at Cal Poly is almost over. Thank God.”

  Adam smiled. “Sounds like you did really well.”

  “Yes, I’m happy. I was so nervous at first. I had no idea how hard the classes were going to be. They were demanding, but I managed to keep up. With your help. Thanks, Adam.”

  “Oh, come on, you did very well on your own. Besides, I was happy to have someone help me out at first as well.” Adam took a sip of coffee. “By the way, you promised to tell me the reason why you came to live and study here. You dropped some hints and made me very curious.”

  Julietta chuckled. “Oh, yes, it’s quite a story.”

  “I’m all ears.” Adam folded his arms in front of his chest and smiled at her.

  Julietta drank some of her latte. At first, she had missed the strong espresso and cappuccino she was familiar with from Italy, but she had acquired a taste for the flavored specialty coffees in California.

  “Well, I mentioned that I have a half-sister here,” she continued. “Sofia and I have the same father but different mothers.”

  Adam nodded.

  “Okay, my father, or rather our father, was into wines and winemaking here in California and he traveled to Italy a lot, usually to Tuscany. That was before I was born. He also came to Vignaverde to our estate. He and my mother fell in love, and I’m the result of their love.” Julietta gave a half-shrug.

  “A very beautiful result.” Adam’s eyes lit up.

  “Thanks.” Julietta smiled. “The problem was, Henry, my dad, was still married to Sofia’s mother. But the marriage was in deep trouble, and then Sofia’s mother died of a drug overdose.” Julietta looked at him thoughtfully. “My mother later told me that my father felt guilty for having had an affair when his wife was so deeply troubled. Anyway, the relationship between my mother and my father came to an end, and he never told his American family about us, my mother and me. He kept it a secret.”

  “That sounds cruel,” Adam said.

  “Well, yes, it wasn’t right. But I can understand his situation and although my parents had broken up, they remained friends, and he was a wonderful father to me. He always supported us, and he spent as much time as possible in Vignaverde. I have fond memories of those times. I really miss him.” Julietta’s voice trembled a little.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to badmouth your father. I don’t know the situation anyway. What about your sister though? Did she know? About his relationship with your mother and about you?”

  Julietta shook her head. “She found out after our father died unexpectedly. He had wanted to come clean. We read that in his journal they found after his death, but he didn’t get the chance. It was a terrible shock for Sofia. She came to Vignaverde because she inherited part of our estate, and she wanted to meet me.” Julietta looked down at her hands, then faced Adam again.

  “I remember so well when I first saw her. I recognized her right away. She looked a lot like me. She was slimmer and taller and had brown hair with blond highlights, but the same facial features and the same eye color.”

  “Then she must have the same beautiful eyes as you,” Adam said. “What an unusual color. Something between purple and blue. Very attractive.”

  Julietta felt herself blush. “Thanks. We inherited our eyes from our father. Anyway,” she continued, “it was a very emotional and turbulent time for all of us, my mother, my uncle and his family, and for me and Sofia, of course. But it all had a good ending. I finally met my sister, we love each other, and Sofia has a great relationship with my family. I love my American family, and I get to study here.”

  “Wow. What a story. Fascinating. You could write a novel about it.” Adam briefly touched Julietta’s arm. “I’m happy for you. And I’m happy about the way the story turned out. I’m glad you’re here.”

  Julietta was surprised at his ardent tone. They’d been good friends, but Adam almost sounded like he wanted to get closer to her. He was an interesting man and, yes, very good-looking with his longish, wavy blond hair and the ice-blue eyes. He was tall and trim. She knew he worked out a lot and loved to hike.

  Adam cleared his throat. “Any plans for vacation?”

  “Well, I’m going to work at my sister and brother-in-law’s vineyard. And I’ll do a little babysitting for my first nephew. He’s due to arrive in June. I’m so excited.”

  “That sounds great,” Adam said. “I’ll have to find some kind of work for a while as well and spend some time preparing for next term. I should’ve looked for a job earlier, but I just didn’t have time. It’ll be tough to find anything this late. Probably everything is already taken.” He paused. “You don’t think your sister needs another person helping out at the vineyard, do you?”

  “I can ask, but I doubt that Sofia and Nicholas need anybody else, since their part of the estate is fairly small. Of course, I don’t know. But Nicholas’s father, Robert Segantino, always needs temporary help. His part of the estate is much larger.”

  “Segantino? Sounds familiar.” Adam wrinkled his forehead. “I think my father had a bottle of wine with the Segantino label, and he really liked it.”

  “Well, I’ll check and let you know i
f anything is available.”

  “That would be great.”

  “I’ll call your cell or send you a text.” Julietta checked her smartphone to make sure she had Adam’s number.

  “Perfect. Listen, would you like to go out for dinner … pizza or something else?”

  Julietta smiled. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  Later, in the evening, Julietta called Adam to tell him that she had talked to Robert Segantino’s accountant, Ken Miller, who, in fact, needed someone to help him with a lot of data entry for a few weeks.

  “It wouldn’t be working in the vineyards themselves, and it might be somewhat boring office work. Would you be interested?”

  “Oh, yes, I don’t care how boring it is.” Adam laughed. “Besides, I have more experience with computers and figures than with working in the fields.”

  “Great. Ken said to give him a call to set up an appointment.”

  “Thanks, Julietta, I really appreciate this.”

  “No problem, Adam. I’m glad I can help. Ken is an easygoing guy. I think you’ll love working with him.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. And to being near you this summer.”

  After hanging up, Julietta stepped to the window of her graduate student apartment. It was large, modern, and sunny. She felt lucky to have secured such comfortable lodging, and she was pleased with her roommate, who was a quiet and studious person, not like some of the students she had shared rooms with in Italy, who had been more interested in partying than studying.

  She glanced at the tall birch tree in front of the building, its small leaves trembling in the evening breeze. Behind the rolling yellow and green hills, the sun was about to set on the horizon, coloring the sky a light purple. A smile spread across her face. Adam really is a great guy.

  Chapter 3

  “I’ll see you again soon.” Ken Miller shook Adam’s hand. “Having someone help me get rid of this paperwork is going to be a big burden off my back.”

  “Great, and thanks. I look forward to working with you,” Adam said. The two stepped outside. Adam motioned at the stretches of vineyards all around them. “It’s such a beautiful place.”

  Ken nodded. “It is, isn’t it? It’s a great environment. They also have guided tours around the property and through the winery, if you’re interested in that kind of stuff.”

  “I am. I’d like to find out more. Growing grapes and making wine sounds like a fascinating process. Anyway, see you Monday, and thanks again.”

  Ken watched him walk down the hill. Seems like a nice young man. He checked his watch, then went inside to clean up before leaving for home.

  He picked up a couple of personal bills he was getting ready to pay. Perusing his wife’s credit card statement, he raised an eyebrow. Five-hundred dollars at Nordstrom? He groaned and stuck the bills into his briefcase. He didn’t begrudge Anna some new clothes once in a while, but she had become a real spender. She came from a wealthy family and always had liked beautiful things. He didn’t mind as long as they stayed within their budget. He made decent money, but Anna was a stay-at-home mother with expensive tastes. They’d had quite a few arguments about money lately, which had soured their relationship.

  He drove the short distance to Atascadero and parked in the driveway of their townhouse. When he opened the door, it was quiet inside. “Anna?”

  “In here,” his wife called from the bedroom.”

  He glanced into the kitchen and noticed surprised that it was clean, no signs of dinner preparation. Was she going out again?

  Anna stepped out of the bedroom. She was dressed in a light-green, expensive-looking two-piece outfit, obviously ready for an evening out.

  “Where are you going?” Ken asked with a sinking heart. He had hoped to spend a pleasant evening with his wife.

  “I’m going out with Emilia. It’s our new bridge evening. I told you days ago.” She rolled her eyes. “You never listen.”

  Ken rubbed his forehead. “Yes, I remember you told me. Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind.” He checked his watch. “Where are the kids?”

  “They’ll be home later. They’re having dinner at my parents after their swim practice. Your dinner is in the refrigerator. You just need to heat it up in the microwave.”

  “All right. Thanks, sweetie.” He looked her up and down. “You sure are all gussied up for a bridge evening. New dress?”

  Anna smiled. “Yes. You like it?”

  “It’s lovely … is this part of the five-hundred-dollar charge from Nordstrom by any chance?” He tried to sound lighthearted about it, but he obviously couldn’t fool her.

  “Checking my spending again?” Her voice sounded bitter.

  “Just wondering. I mean, it’s a gorgeous outfit but five-hundred dollars?” He knew he should’ve let it go.

  She glared at him. “I also bought shoes and a purse. You know you’re such a cheapskate sometimes. If you made a decent salary—”

  “Anna, we’ve been through this. I make a decent salary. We live a very comfortable life. All I’m asking is that you stick to our budget.”

  “Why don’t you ask for a raise?” Anna said. “Jesus, I can’t help it when you get taken advantage of by your employer. When was the last time you got a raise?”

  “You know exactly when. I can’t ask him all the time. He’s on a budget, too.”

  “You mean that rich guy? He’s using you.”

  “No, he’s not. He is a great employer. I enjoy my work.”

  “That’s because you have no drive.”

  “Please, let’s not fight. If you want more stuff, get a job yourself.”

  “And who would take care of the kids?”

  “Come on, Michael and Karen are in school a big part of the day. You could get some part-time work, just for pocket money.”

  “What do you think Daddy would say if he found out that I have to work because my husband is unable to support a small family of four?”

  “My God, most women work these days. I could even get you something at the estate. Some office work. We’re always short.”

  “Forget it. Besides, I do work. I volunteer at the women’s club.”

  “Well, yes, but you don’t get paid for it. You just have to be a little realistic. I’ll work as hard as I can and eventually, I’ll get another raise, but for right now, we have to live with what we have.”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to leave.” She still sounded angry.

  “Come on, honey, don’t be that way. You know I love you, and I want us to be happy, both of us.” He followed her to the door. “I’ll take care of the money, don’t worry. Okay?”

  “Okay, need to run. I may come home a little late. Don’t wait up for me.” She gave him a quick kiss and disappeared.

  After Anna left, sadness flooded Ken. How had it come to this? They used to be so happy in the beginning of their relationship. Ken knew that Anna’s family had hoped for a better match for their only daughter, someone from their own class and social standing. But Anna had defied them, saying that a loving husband and a close-knit family were more important than all their money and social class. She had resented them for leaving her alone a lot with nannies when she was growing up and was determined not to do that to her children. And she had been a good stay-at-home mother. They lived a modest but decent life. Until … and Ken didn’t know exactly when the dissatisfaction had begun. Once the children were in school most of the day, Anna’s interests changed. She began to resent the fact that they were always outsiders, the “poor relatives” at the family gatherings and her parents’ upscale parties.

  Ken stepped into the bedroom, took off his shirt and pants and slipped into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He glanced at himself in the mirror. A trim guy with only a hint of a forming paunch looked back at him with troubled pale-blue eyes. Quickly brushing through his blond thinning hair, he sighed. He loved Anna and hoped her dissatisfaction was a temporary phase. He’d encouraged her to e
ither get a job or become involved in meaningful work somehow. The result was that she joined the women’s volunteer group her mother belonged to. Unfortunately, that wasn’t exactly the environment that would make her happier. He suspected her mother’s doubts about his qualifications and social standing had begun to take effect in her daughter’s mind.

  He needed to do something, make more money somehow to prove to her that he wasn’t just a lowly accountant but had ambition. Perhaps, he should sign up for the CPA class. That would give him more leverage also with his employer. In fact, Robert had suggested it so he wouldn’t need an outside tax preparer anymore. But becoming a CPA would take some time. Would their marriage last that long?

  In the living room, he glanced at a photo on the mantelpiece above the fireplace. It showed a younger version of him and his wife as well as their two children as toddlers. He gave a wistful smile. Anna had been and still was a beautiful woman with wavy blond hair and expressive dark eyes. She didn’t seem to have aged at all.

  They used to be so happy. He needed the relationship to last, for his and Anna’s sake and for their children. Perhaps he could come up with something else in the meantime. Rob a bank, for instance. His smirk gave way to a sigh.

  Chapter 4

  Sofia unwrapped another package and held up a tiny denim outfit for a six-month-old baby. “Oh, look how cute.” She chuckled as she passed it around for her family and friends to see. “I know I’m going to say that all day.”

  Her family was giving Sofia a baby shower. Janice, her mother-in-law, Grandma Maria, Julietta, her sister, as well as Juanita and Nora Guerrero, the manager’s wife and daughter, were gathered at the grandparents’ house, eating cake, drinking lemonade and coffee, and admiring the presents. Baby clothes, toys, gift coupons for diapers and baby food, an empty photo book were spread out on the coffee table. A colorful mobile was hanging over the crib Robert and Janice had bought for them.