“Thank God, you’re all right. Both of you. We’ve been so worried. They sprayed the place with the red fire repellent, and it killed the fire almost immediately. Even the oil tank is quiet.”
“Is it all gone?” Lola asked.
“I’m sorry, but yes. The house is still standing but barely. It’s not salvageable.”
“Oh dear,” Lola said. “What will I do?”
“Don’t fret, Lola. We’ll figure something out.”
Mike arrived. “Thank God. You ladies had us real, real nervous.”
Grant crouched down and picked Lizzie up in his arms. She trembled. Mike stepped aside to assist Lola as Grant carried Lizzie out of the cellar in his arms.
Lizzie lay her head against Grant’s chest. “Don’t let go. I don’t think I can walk.”
“I won’t let go.”
“I thought we were going to die and all I could think was how we left it. I totally overreacted. It’s my way of protecting myself. And I’m judgmental and have too high of standards for everyone, including myself. I don’t want to be like my father. I want you to feel safe and loved and able to take risks without me acting terrible and squashing your dreams.”
“No, it’s my fault. I explained it all wrong. I want to live here, but I’ll be wherever you are, Lizzie. The rest of it doesn’t matter. None of it matters if you’re not by my side. We can stay in L.A. I’ll take the partnership if you want me to. Hell, we can live in your house, and I’ll sell mine. Whatever you want. All I want is you. You’re my home.”
“You’re my home.”
“We wasted too many years, Lizzie. This time I’m not letting you go.”
“I was wrong to dismiss the idea so fast. We could live here and be happy. Leave the stress and smog and traffic. Have a quiet life. Together. I just don’t know what we would do to make a living.”
“We don’t have to talk about it now. Later, when you’re feeling better.”
Paramedics rushed at them with two stretchers.
Her arms tightened around his neck. “What’s happening?”
“They just want to examine you. I’ll be right here.” He set her on the stretcher. One of the paramedics covered her with a blanket. The other took her pulse.
“Why do I need a stretcher,” Liz asked.
“Just a precaution,” the paramedic said. “We’re going to take you over to the ambulance and check you out. If there’s cause for concern, we’ll take you into the hospital.”
Grant held Lizzie’s hand as the paramedics lifted the stretcher and headed toward the ambulance.
At the ambulance, they lifted her inside.
“Can I come in with her?” Grant asked.
“Yes. Come on up,” the paramedic said.
For the first time, Grant realized it was Tommy. “Tommy, I didn’t recognize you under all the gear. You’re a fire fighter?”
“Part time. It keeps me in shape.” Tommy smiled as he turned his attention to Lizzie. “Did the smoke get into the cellar?”
“No. The door was tight. We could hear the meadow burning. It sounded like a freight train. And when the barn fell—it was a terrible sound, like a car crash, only louder.”
“Yeah, they always sound like that. Scary as hell,” Tommy said as he listened to her lungs with a stethoscope.
“Your lungs sound good.”
Lizzie had started shaking.
“It’s the shock and adrenaline. Talk to her,” Tommy said. “Your voice will calm her down.”
Grant took one of her hands. “Lizzie, do you remember in Napa how you loved the rows and rows of grapes in straight lines. You said it made you feel calm to look at them?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”
“And I promised you someday I’d buy us a piece of land by a vineyard so you could look at rows of grapes any time you felt anxious.”
“I do.” She had calmed somewhat. He stroked her hand with his fingers.
“I found a piece of land just like I promised. At the northeast side of Mike’s property. It looks out over the vineyard. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes. Can we go now?” Her eyes closed. “I’m so tired.”
“I think we’d better take her in,” Tommy said. “I suspect the doc will want her to stay overnight. Pump her with fluids and give her a sedative to help her sleep. She’ll come out feeling good as new.”
“Whatever you think, Tommy. I just want her in one piece.”
Liz opened her eyes. “I’m feeling fine. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
“You need to rest,” Grant said.
“I don’t. I need to be with you.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” Grant said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Liz
LIZ WOKE TO sunshine streaming through the hospital windows as Grant came into the room. “Good news, baby. They’re springing you.”
“Thank God. I hate it here.”
“You’ve been asleep for most of it.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Your sister dropped off some of her clothes, and I grabbed some things at the drugstore so you could have a shower. Then, I want to take you out and show you the property.”
“What about Lola? Is she getting out too?”
“Yes. I took her back to the lodge already. I got her a room so she has somewhere to stay until we figure out a plan. We’re going to meet them later for lunch.”
A half hour later, they drove past Mike’s house and continued down the dirt road for another half mile. At the end of the road, he turned off the car. “What do you think?”
She got out of the car. It was a flat piece of land that looked out to the valley.
“See here is where we put the house.” He took her hand, and they walked to edge of the land that looked out over the valley. “This would be our living room window. What do you see?”
The view was of rows and rows of grape vines and the vineyard’s tasting room. Beyond, the entire valley spread out before them. “It’s like a beautiful painting,” she said.
“Can you see it, Lizzie? Our future?”
“But what will we do for work?”
“I talked with Mike. There are no attorneys in town and all kinds of disputes. Land and otherwise. Unfortunately, there are rapists everywhere. There’s plenty of work for us if we were willing to expand our expertise in certain areas. We could open our own practice. Perry and Teeny. Or, Perry and Perry.”
“Perry and Perry. That sounds nice.”
“But Lizzie, say the word, and I’ll drop this whole thing. The land will always be here. We don’t have to decide today.”
She looked out at the view. “I’d be insane to say no to this.”
“Also, Lizzie, I have a lot of money. If we never worked again, we would be fine. Not to mention the equity in our homes.”
“How?”
“I’ve made insane amounts for the past five years and didn’t spend much of it. No time.”
“Right.” She lifted her face to the sun and closed her eyes for a moment. When she looked back at him, he was staring out at the view. “I have a lot of money too. And my house is almost paid for, so there’s ton of equity.”
“What? Then why have you been worried about work here?”
“Because I don’t know who I would be if I wasn’t Liz Teeny, shark.”
“How about Mrs. Perry, soccer mom?”
She laughed. “It’s what I’ve wanted, but now, it’s scaring me. Before I didn’t think it could ever happen, so it was safe to wish for it.”
He pulled her close. “Lizzie, if you want to keep working, it’s fine. You can have a career and be a mother. Just because you have work you care about doesn’t mean that you will be the type of parent yours were. It’s your choice.”
“What if I can’t do it all?”
“You won’t be able to do it like you’ve done it in the past. There will be adjustments, but from what I hear,
you won’t care once you hold that baby in your arms for the first time. Anyway, we don’t have to decide any of this today. I want you all to myself, at least for a little while.”
“Can you imagine waking up to this every day?” she asked.
“I can. Although nothing could compare to waking up to you every day.” He dropped to one knee. What was in his hand? It was a box. Oh God. It’s happening for real.
“Lizzie, you’re my favorite person, my best friend, my everything. I want to spend every moment of the rest of my life being the man you deserve. I love you. Will you marry me?”
The diamond sparkled in the sunlight. Behind them, a sparrow hopped between branches. “Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
He slipped the ring on her finger. It was a princess cut diamond with eight small diamonds on each side. “It’s stunning. How in the world did you get a ring so fast?”
“Mike knows a guy.”
She laughed. “Of course he does.”
**
When they arrived at the lodge restaurant for lunch, Peggy and Lola were already seated. Peggy wrapped her in a tight embrace as Beth hugged her legs.
“I hope you weren’t too worried,” Liz said.
“We weren’t worried, only because I had no idea until Grant called me after you were already safe,” Peggy said.
“I was worried,” Beth said.
“You were not, you little goose,” Liz said, kneeling to give her a squeeze. “But I’m glad to see you.”
Liz took the seat next to Lola. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m quite well. Lee sent over some of her clothes,” Lola said. “I feel like a new person after a shower and a change of clothes. Although, I swear I can still smell smoke.”
“Me too. But we’re safe, and that’s all that matters.”
“Tommy called,” Lola said. “He went out to the property. There’s nothing to salvage from the house.”
“We’ll go shopping,” Liz said. “I’ll buy you a whole new wardrobe.”
“It’s not the stuff so much as the few letters and photographs I had of my parents.” Lola’s voice wobbled. “I’ve been thinking of all the time I was away. How much I missed.”
“But you had your Henri,” Peggy said.
Lola smiled. “Yes, and he was my life.”
After they’d ordered lunch, Liz wanted to announce their news and show her ring, but Peggy started talking first.
“I have something I want to tell you all. I’ve been offered a job at Riversong as a chef. I’m going to take it. Annie and I are going to divide the shifts so that we each work three nights a week. I just have to find a nanny. And a place to live.”
“Will it be temporary?” Liz asked.
“No. I have nothing else to lose. I want a new start, and I want it to be here.” Peggy flipped her hair behind one shoulder. “I know it sounds crazy, but it feels right.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to sell my house and buy something here.” She turned to Lola. “Which brings us to you. Have you decided what you want to do?”
Liz knew the answer. After what happened, Lola would want to leave. She’d lost everything here. I don’t want her to go.
“I’m glad you asked.” Lola smiled as she set aside her coffee cup. “Peggy, now that I know you’ve decided to stay, I have a proposal for you. The structures of my property are ruined, but the land is not. We can put in a new garden and trees. Things will bloom once more. It’s ten acres of good land, which is more than enough space for two houses. If you sell your house in California, and I sell mine in France, we could afford to build whatever kind of houses we wanted. I want a small cottage. You might like something bigger for you and Beth. I can take care of Beth on the nights you work. So you see, it is all meant to be.” Her voice trembled.
“But what about your home in France?” Liz asked. “Won’t you miss it?
Lola looked around the table. “Not as much as I would miss all of you. When we were in that cellar, I thought back over my life, reliving some of the best moments. It was not the big ones, as you might expect, like my wedding day or a special holiday. Rather, it was the small ones—moments with my parents and many, many with Henri—that came to mind. All those small moments that added up to a happy life. I’ve been blessed. But my life’s not over yet, as I thought it might be when I lost Henri or when we were huddled together in that cellar. I want very much to live. Family. Loved ones. They are your home. I have a second chance for a family with you girls and Beth. I don’t want to waste a minute of it.”
“Oh, Lola, really? You’d do this for me?”
“Not for you, with you. If you’ll have me,” Lola said.
“Yes, yes. We’ll rebuild and grow things…whatever it takes,” Peggy said. “The happiest times of my life were on that piece of land.”
“They’ll be plenty more,” Lola said. “And hopefully for Beth too.”
Beth continued devouring a roll without looking up.
Liz couldn’t stop smiling. Lola and Peggy would be here. Her family. And Grant. Her home.
“Well, we have news too.” She glanced over at Grant. “Shall I tell them or do you want to?”
“Ladies first,” he said.
She held her left hand up for them to see. “Grant proposed this morning, and I said yes.”
Peggy squealed. Lola exclaimed.
Grant put his arm around Liz’s shoulders. “Lola, like you, I have found family here. I don’t want to miss another moment either. We’re going to open a practice together here in town and quit the rat race, so to speak.”
“Liz, really?” Peggy stared at her with big eyes. “I can’t believe it.”
“Yes. It’s what I want. I want to be whole and healthy and enjoy my life while I still have it. Yesterday made that abundantly clear. Having you and Bethy and Lola—it’s just meant to be. Everything that’s happened in the past few weeks makes it quite obvious. We’re all supposed to be here. Together.”
“Where will you live?” Lola asked. “Because we could build three houses.”
“A long time ago, I promised Lizzie I’d buy her a piece of land by a vineyard,” Grant said. “It took too long to make good on that promise, but I finally can. Mike’s offered me part of his property.”
“Mike wants to give us the land for a wedding gift,” Liz said.
“Our acre is on the northeast section of Mike’s property. The house will look out into the valley, with a view of the grapes from the Valley Vineyard.”
“How perfect,” Lola said.
“And we’re going to have lots and lots of cousins for Beth,” Grant said.
“Lots?” Liz asked. “We didn’t exactly discuss how many.”
They all laughed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Grant
IN THE MOMENTS before daybreak, Grant dreamt of his mother. Wearing the dress from the photographs, she stood on the property that looked over the valley. Cherry trees bloomed pink. Soft green leaves sprouted from the rows of twisted grapevines. Her hair long blond hair sparkled in the sunlight, and her skirt fluttered in the breeze. He stepped closer, reaching out his arm. “Mom? Is it you?” he asked.
She turned, her face young and flushed in the sunlight. “Sweetheart. It’s spring.” Smiling, she held out her hands. “Come closer.”
“You’re like your photo,” he said. “The one with Mike.”
“Besides the births of you and your sisters, that was the happiest day of my life.”
“Why did you leave us? Did I make you leave?”
“I was broken, and I didn’t think I could ever be fixed. It was never about you. You’ve always been such a good boy, and I loved you. I’m here, watching you. Now go to your beautiful bride and be at peace.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Liz
IN HER WEDDING gown, Liz stood where the kitchen window of her new home would be. Grant had texted her to meet him on their property so he could have a moment with her before the cerem
ony. Her mother had protested. He can’t see you before the ceremony. It’s bad luck. Liz had Mike bring him anyway.
Liz sighed with happiness, resisting the urge to twirl around the hillside like a princess in a fairytale. Peggy and her mother had helped her find the perfect dress, as well as accompanying her for every fitting. They’d had more fun together than ever before, even though Liz’s mother fussed over every detail of the wedding. It’s your day to feel like a princess. I don’t want anything to get in the way.
Liz didn’t care about the ceremony or even the dress. At the end of this day, she would be Grant’s wife. That was all that mattered to her. But she let her mother have her fun. If she wanted to have peonies flown in from a hothouse in Georgia, so be it.
Despite the harsh reality of the past, the adage had proven correct in her mother’s case—the truth did indeed set one free. The past few months had transformed her. Working with a therapist to uncover some of her memories, her mother recalled moments from her childhood that she thought were lost forever. Perhaps it was these memories, or the knowledge of what had really happened all those years ago, that had made her mother more vulnerable. Whatever it was, it had allowed Liz and Peggy the opportunity to grow closer to their mother. Vulnerability brought closeness. It was this belief that she would carry her down the aisle to her groom.
Thanks to her mother’s diligence, this dress was about as close to perfect as she could imagine in her wildest dreams. She did feel like a princess. The dress was an ivory, A-line gown with beaded leaf embroidery and Illusion tulle. The dainty pearl buttons down the back were her favorite part of the gown. A sweep train and plunging neckline of Illusion completed the look. A simple veil was paired with a thin tiara.
The warm October breeze lifted her veil. An early freeze had turned the trees to orange and red, but today the temperatures were in the high sixties without a cloud in the sky. The rows of grapevines were green on the hillside. Below, in the valley, the little town seemed to wink at her like an old friend. She turned to the sound of the rumble of a car’s engine. Soon he will be my husband. Grant parked and got out of the car. He wore a black tuxedo with a lavender tie. So handsome. Her breath caught as he crossed to her. I’ll get to look at this man every day for the rest of my life.
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