by Davee Jones
“Well here’s something else. I kinda did something impulsive, without speaking to you first. Just hear me out and maybe you’ll know why.” Mindie took a deep breath before she spilled the entire story about meeting Charles at the tasting, and what the waitress did for her. Able to decipher some of the strange emotions and feeling she’d had at the time, Mindie articulated the depth of disgust she had for Stansfield. “That’s how Wendy became my savior today. She was an awesome new ally.”
“So, you offered her job, but you didn’t tell her how many hours she’d work or what she be doing, correct?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t talk with you first before offering someone a job. Everything just kinda happened.”
“I agree with your decision. I would’ve done the same thing. Plus, now we can talk about what she can do to help us and how much we can pay her. It’s still going to be a joint decision.” Nixie uncrossed her legs and stretched them out in front of her, leaning back on her elbows. “She really gave the Stansfield guy a wine bath? What a waste of a good vintage.”
“Oh yeah, it was awesome, although I would’ve rather it been the spit bucket that spilled on him.” Breathing a sigh of relief, Mindie once again remembered why she and Nixie were so close. It worried her that she might’ve stepped out of bounds when she offered the job to Wendy without consulting her one and only business partner. They had such similar thought processes, they generally would arrive at the same conclusion anyway.
With business out of the way, Mindie remained quite puzzled. She wanted to know more about the mysterious little ritual she witnessed when she walked in. Why was Nixie performing some weird gestures next to this strange cylindrical candle? “Okay, bestie, I do have a question. What were you doing a while ago with the candle and whatever you were folding up?”
Nixie set up from her elbows, pulling her knees into her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “You may think me silly, but I was performing a love ritual.”
“Are you turning Wiccan in the winery?” Grinning, giggling, Mindie imagined Nixie in dark robes underneath the moonlight holding beads and chanting into the sky. “I don’t know much about any of that, and I’m certainly not one to judge, but what is making you go this direction? Have you thought about Tinder or internet dating? Isn’t that,” She pointed at the candle, “A little extreme?”
“I’m lonely. I saw this on the internet, and I thought I’d give it a try. Who knows? Maybe something awesome will happen, tall dark and handsome will walk through the front door pick me up, carry me out to some exotic place for a vacay. I don’t know.”
“Well, if you’re as good a white witch as a winemaker, you’ll get us both a man. They’ll be amazing, super charming, and best of all, stay out of our way.”
“Maybe it’ll be the next guy who walks through our front door.”
“As long as his name isn’t Stansfield, were golden.” The back of Mindie’s throat burned from the vile heartburn Charles invoked during their few meetings. If anyone summoned him with the candle, they’d be flirting with the devil himself. If he were to go head-to-head with a demon, Charles Stansfield would probably win. Not due to his virtue, it had to do with the pure malevolence seeping beneath his skin.
****
Although the girls had their strong points, they each participated in all the workings of their business. To defeat boredom and the tedious nature of necessary processes, they’d exchange roles sometimes daily. Mindie chose that day to stay behind in the office completing paperwork and getting ready for the bank meeting. Nixie craved the fresh air of the outdoors, as well as needing to find a place to stow her little love offering from the candle ceremony. The new vineyard seemed a perfect place for the mission. Often she felt like a young grapevine, her roots firmly settled in the ground around her. Nixie found strength from the depth. Sturdy limbs stretched upward toward the sun, eager for growth and fruition, much like her standing upright in her life. Possibilities for the future became limitless. She could find ideas, reaching as far as she wanted for the future. The vineyard was a perfect place to regroup when she needed reassurance. Winning the medals became not only a source of pride, but also provided motivation to do better. With winning came expectation that they weren’t a one-time wonder. Heart Nectar contained promise and would become if not monumental, at least invaluable within the regional wine connoisseur community.
Much like Mindie, Nixie craved the intimacy that only a romantic partner could provide. Her best friend provided more than a base, she provided the sense of home when she was so far away from her own family. The people of Braden enveloped her with acceptance and kindness, creating a home away from home she never knew she’d have. Maybe the love ritual was silly, but from boredom came action, and she wouldn’t take it back now.
Pulling weeds and tending the dirt around their carefully planted rows, Nixie lost herself in fantasy after fantasy, menial work with her hands became freeing for her imagination. She contributed to the day while escaping loneliness.
The little packet in her pocket contained her heartstrings, making her think seriously about where she would place it. Barely audible, Nixie dropped her head, hiding her face. “I’m sure growing old is loneliness.”
“I’m confused, do you mean getting older is lonely or loneliness itself is getting old?” Brent scratched his head, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I’m not trying to be dense. I truly don’t understand what you mean.”
Startled, Nixie dropped the small shovel she held in one hand. “Hey, what the hell? Who are you?” Quickly grabbing the shovel again, she wielded it in front of her- a small sword truly unlikely to protect her.
“I’m here to deliver the fertilizer, you know for the grape vines?” He rearranged the cap on his head nervously. “Am I at the right place?”
Behind all the scattered thoughts in her mind, Nixie forgot someone would be visiting the vineyard that day. Scanning mental files, she tried to remember his name, where he worked, and what the arrangement was. “Please give me a moment. I’m trying to recall what was happening today.”
“It’s fine, ma’am, take your time. If you want, I can go sit in my truck until you’re ready. It looks like I was interrupting you.” Cocking his head, he raised an eyebrow, apparently asking more of a question than a statement. “I guess you weren’t really talking to me, either.”
Unintentionally, Nixie slowly raised her gaze from the shuffling feet up his dirt stained work jeans. A long sleeved button up shirt hung around a slightly saggy waistband. Calloused hands rested on either side of his hips, two right fingers tapping nervously on his waist. Muscles of his right bicep clenched and jumped, seemingly a nervous tic. His shapely neck supported tense jaws, which also clenched occasionally. This guy needed to relax. He appeared to take his job way too seriously. Nixie finally noticed chiseled cheekbones providing the perfect scale of his facial features. Wide ice-blue eyes reminded Nixie of European descent, something she’d seen frequently at home in Germany. Messy, dirty blonde hair peeked out underneath the bill of his ball cap. Longer in the back, his hair touched his collar. Instinctually, she wanted to flick the hair away from the collar of his shirt. His full lips slightly pursed together, filling in the bottom of his face with sensual character.
I must be losing my mind. I’m daydreaming about the first guy I meet after this silly love ritual. “No you don’t have to go to the truck, if you’ll just wait here I need to gather my thoughts.”
Nodding, he remained stoic, not saying another word.
Okay, what were we doing today. Unaccustomed to such a strain and thought, Nixie tried her best to avoid looking in his direction. No matter how rough around the edges, he was quite the handsome specimen to be standing in her vineyard. What she said about walking through her door and sweeping her up? He looked strong enough that he could lift both she and Mindie at the same time. That would be weird. What the hell am I doing? I need to stop the stupid random thoughts. Pull it together, Nixie, you’re a shrewd b
usinesswoman. “Okay so, you’re delivering the fertilizer today, and I don’t need to do anything, correct?”
“If you know where you want me to put it, then I will do that for you, you don’t need to do anything.”
“That’s nice of you, helping me that way.”
“It’s my job, no trouble at all.”
“I guess if you’ll just spread it along these rows.” Nixie pointed a slender tanned arm, indicating all the new rows. “We need some along everything. If you don’t mind.”
“Yes ma’am, I can get started on the other side since I see you’re working around right here.”
Somehow the image of him scooping her up new-bride style kept running through her mind. Embarrassed, she quickly turned away, returning to the work of pulling a few weeds. Without looking his direction, she spoke again. “If you need anything or have questions I’ll be right here. It’s okay to ask me anything.” Oh good Lord did she say ask me anything? Will he assume she was trying to get asked on a date? What was she doing? Am I overreacting? I think I’m losing it.
Suddenly not making much sense, her frustration took over. “Ugh, men, boys, anything with a glied, how do you get by every day without self-destruction? Why did I think I could talk with you about…about anything? Next time, I’ll listen to my woman’s intuition and not talk.” Pulling her hair back away from her face, she roughly tied her long hair into a ponytail. “I’ve got work to do, I really don’t have time to sit and cry. What do we owe you for the pig shit?”
“Well, now you don’t have to insult me. You make it sound like something horrible when you say pig shit like that. I prefer to call it fertilizer.” Brent smoothed the front of his hopelessly wrinkled button down shirt. Scuffing his boots against a rock, he continued looking downward. “I’m more than just a shit slinger.” Almost mumbling, any point he attempted to make was lost in the translation of his tone.
“Stop being so sensitive.”
“You’re the one who started talking about loneliness. All I did was walk up to you. What’s a glied anyway?”
“Walking into the middle of someone else’s drama is a bad spot most of the time. I apologize. I wasn’t trying to insult you.” Pursing her lips, Nixie’s indecision greatly took away from the intended sentiment of her apology. “Glied is German for…” Holding back temporarily, she finally replied rapidly. “Penis.”
“Insult me for having a…having a…being a guy or for my job?” Speaking louder, although red-faced, he appeared emboldened by her sudden humility. “You said a whole lot for not putting out very many sentences.”
Tapping her toe, Nixie crossed her arms before she looked up toward the sky. Sighing loudly, she lowered her gaze to meet Brent’s. “Why do men act so full of themselves? Tell me that, please.”
“Ahh, okay, sounds like it’s not my job, thank goodness it’s only my humanity, the luck of the draw of chromosomes. Why don’t you tell me why women are so hard to understand? Why aren’t you straight shooters, say exactly what you want instead of hem hawing around?”
“I think this is a world-wide issue, because men are the same in Germany as they are in America.”
“You say men like you know what every single one of us are about. Do you truly know every man in America, or Germany either one?”
“I don’t need to know every man, I’ve met enough and they are the same. They only talk to me until I do what they want, then, they leave.” Quickly covering her mouth, Nixie stammered. “I don’t mean everything. I’m not an easy girl, if you understand me.”
“For a short conversation, we have a ton of miscommunication going on here.” Chuckling, Brent offered a smile. “I don’t think you’re some loose floozy. Then again, I don’t know you very well either.” Teasing tones uplifted the choice of his words. “I’ll get to my job. I’ve got lots to do today. Thank you for the most interesting, confusing talk I’ve had in a while.” Without another word, he walked away back to his truck.
Chapter Three
“So, how are the numbers looking?” Anxiously sitting on the front of the chair seat, Mindie leaned forward practically against the accountant’s desk. “No pressure, but, we’ve got some plans.”
Placing her hand against Mindie’s bicep, Nixie eased her backward. “Don’t attack the accountant. You’re so rigid, what’s wrong with your muscles?” Squeezing up and down her arm, she couldn’t find any relaxed spots.
“I’m as flexible as a Barbie doll.” Shrugging off her friend’s grip, she shifted back into the chair. “I’m nervous, that’s it.”
“Ladies, profits are looking good.” Smiling, she tapped the paperwork in front of her. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t apply for the business loan for renovations.”
“Seriously? That’s incredible!”
“Have you decided what you want to do?”
The girls looked at each other, then, back to the accountant. Mindie used her eyes to signal Nixie on. “We have that space next to us still damaged from the tornado winds years ago. We think it’d make a lovely tasting room, maybe add a small café to the space. We are still deciding.”
Loosening her tongue from the knot of anticipation, Mindie offered further details. “Not a full kitchen, maybe just salads and soups, but, we really want to showcase the wines. Our small space right now limits us from possibilities.”
“Do you know who you’d hire to do the work?”
“Maybe my cousin’s friend, Brent Taylor, he’s helped us with the vineyards some.” Mindie shrugged her shoulders, looking to Nixie for agreement.
The accountant interjected, unaware of the unspoken body language between the two friends. “Ahhh, yeah, nice guy, he works for the family at the farm outside of town. Your cousin used to own that place, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did. He’s now married to the Triple B Bakery owner, Merryn Sota.”
Sitting stock still in her chair, Nixie said nothing. Avoiding Mindie’s gaze, she didn’t even nod. Nervously picking invisible lint, Nixie only moved part of her body. Normally very chatty, Nixie’s obvious silence meant something to Mindie. Knowing her for all these years she knew something was up. With a masterful poker face, Mindie couldn’t be sure what the reason was. Not a place to start such a discussion, Mindie quickly changed the subject. “So we won’t waste any time. We’ll head over to the bank and start the application. If they need to call you, I’m sure you can help them?”
“I’ll do what I can. You already have a thriving business in the works. Just about anything you add to it will be through the roof successful.”
Mindie and Nixie stood in synchrony. Rapidly walking toward the door Nixie tried to get ahead of her friend. Linking her arm through Nixie’s, Mindie sidled up closely to her best friend. On the privacy of the tell-all sidewalk, Mindie nudged her. “Come on buddy I gotta know what had you all twisted up back there. You always want to talk about the business even when you don’t want to talk about anything else.”
“Were taking a big step. I’m nervous that’s all.” Hesitation put the brakes on almost every syllable she had to say.
“You’re going to tell me anyway, eventually, spill it now. Then we can get all of the rest of our day.” Knowing it didn’t take more than a little nudging, Mindie kept prodding her friend for details. Not forthcoming with most people, Nixie trusted Mindie implicitly. Or so Mindie thought.
“It’s hard to say because I don’t know exactly what to say. Do you know what I’m saying?”
“I crush grapes for living, I’m not a psychiatrist.” Walking down the street, Mindie enjoyed the tranquility of her small-town. Springtime meant so many new things. On cue a few birds chirped from gold good mornings across the treetops. Planted here and there, stately trees dotted the walkway. A few benches scattered here and there provided gossip space for the town regulars. Before the heat took over in the summer, folks congregated outside to catch up with each other’s lives. Spotting such a bench, Mindie steered Nixie to have a seat. “Let’s talk here for
a few minutes before we go to the bank.”
“We must talk about this now?”
“I feel a lot better if we did. We are partners. If we’re doing something in the business we need to discuss, I want to do it now before we make any drastic changes.”
“Business is good, I’m happy there.”
“Yeah, but I’ve been pushing this additional room renovation pretty hard without really talking to you about it. Maybe I’m jumping the gun and should’ve talk to you more about it.” Headstrong her whole life, Mindie sometimes dove into projects without fully considering all the pieces involved. Nixie gave her the grounding she needed as a business partner, and a friend. The best yen and yang is what Mindie called their relationship.
Nixie surveyed the almost empty street, before she started picking invisible lint again this time off Mindie sleeve. “I think our room addition is a great idea. I just had a strange conversation with Brent that’s all.”
“Did he say something inappropriate to you? Because if I need to go have a talk with him I will. We don’t know him all that well.”
“It wasn’t him offending, I think it was me.”
Mindie leaned back slightly, evaluating Nixie’s posture again. Puzzlement truly draped her, if such a thing was possible. “You don’t offend me. How could you offend this guy?”
“I made a comment about him shoveling pig shit. Maybe I was insensitive.”
“I wasn’t there, obviously, but depending on the context of which said pig shit was used would make a huge difference.” Stifling a giggle, the use of the term pig shit amused her. It wasn’t something she went around saying every day.
“I think sometimes I’m too direct. Even when I don’t mean to be offensive, my nature reveals itself. I like it here. I like the people here. You know that, I’ve been here for so long. I chose to move here from my home country.”