by Claire Adams
“And be like a guest in my own home?”
“Well, I could offer to help Judy. I don’t mind a little housework.” I glanced around, wondering if I could find a speck of dust and shook my head. Nope, the woman had that chore well in check.
“I assure you, you’d only offend her. The only thing I’ve ever managed is cooking a few meals, so if you’re so inclined, she might let you near the stove.” He gave a short laugh and walked back into the bedroom.
I followed him out. “How many others are here?”
“You’ve met Joe and the staff, and then of course there are a couple of security guards who look after the grounds. Two stay in the guard shack at the main gate and there’s another at the gate to the winery. Sandra, my sister-in-law, will be here soon, as well as her son, Harbor, my nephew. I called them while you were sleeping in the car.”
My stomach tightened. I’d be meeting his family; my family, for all intents and purposes, who would surely know the nature of our marriage.
As if he could see the panic I so carefully shielded, he closed the distance between us and placed his hands on my arms. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. But we’ll be fine. We’re on the downward slope of this mess, so I want you to relax here and consider it an extended vacation.”
“Thank you.” I squeezed his hand, but then he stepped away.
He crossed the room to a set of double doors. “This is my home gym. You’re welcome to use it or the pool or the study downstairs. Make yourself-”
A commotion sent him running as Joe’s voice boomed out. I followed as he hurried down the stairs and into the front lobby where we could see that Joe had a man down on the ground outside on the steps.
“Daddy?” I rushed forward as Joe picked him up and my father jerked his arm away from Joe to hug me. He put me behind him protectively, and I held on to him to calm him down.
My father attempted to catch his breath, but it took him a minute. Finally, he pulled in a long one and steadied. “What kind of people are you? I knocked a dozen times. I only opened the door so you fools would hear me calling.”
Gabriel regarded Joe with a hard glare. “What the hell happened?”
“Before I could get to the door, he opened it. I wasn’t sure who he was, so I tackled him. Can’t be too careful.”
“He’s my father!”
Joe stepped forward and held out his hand. “My apologies, sir.”
Dad shook his hand and straightened his collar. “Well, at least I know you’re properly guarded.” He met Gabriel with a hard glare of his own. “I suppose you’re the man who married my daughter.” I imagined he’d left off a few of his other opinions.
I pinched his arm. “Dad.” Realizing Carl and Judy were also watching, I stepped toward Gabriel. “Dad, this is Gabriel Grant. Gabriel, this is my father, Jay Spencer.
“Pastor Jay Spencer,” Dad corrected. Gabriel stepped forward and offered his hand, which Daddy reluctantly took.
“It’s good to meet you, sir. Your daughter speaks fondly of you and I do want to apologize for this rough greeting. We’ve been under some stress from reporters.”
Dad kept the handshake short and sweet before hiking up his belt. “Yeah, well, they’re gathering at your gate.” He aimed his thumb toward the drive behind him.
“Dad, how did you get in?” I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass me further with a story of how he’d climbed the fence, and Gabriel and Joe’s level stare told me the two of them were curious, as well.
“The young man in the guard’s gatehouse is a member of my church. I told him I was here to see you. He’s seen the news. I’d imagine the whole darned congregation has by now.”
Joe excused himself and headed out to the gate, and I hoped that whoever the guard was, he would still be employed when Joe got there. If Gabriel’s expression meant anything, he might fire the poor man.
He gave my dad a once over, as if making sure there weren’t any injuries. “Again, my apologies, but next time feel free to have them notify us so we can anticipate your arrival.” Gabriel straightened his cuffs and led the way inside, where he offered my father a seat. “We’ll be having dinner soon. I hope you can join us.”
Gabriel’s sincerity was refreshing and put me at ease, but as my father fidgeted, I thought he might still be a little shaken by Joe’s attack. “When you called me from the car, I got online and found the address. I wanted to check on you.”
Dad hadn’t gone that long without seeing me since the day I was born. Not even college had taken me away from home, and when I moved out, I’d at least see him once a week at church and twice during the week for dinner.
Judy walked out from the kitchen and announced that dinner would be ready within the hour. As Gabriel asked her to bring out some wine, she smiled at my father.
Dad stood a little taller as he smiled back. “Judy?” I exchanged a shrug with Gabriel as the woman stepped forward and shook my father’s hand.
“I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.” The two exchanged a warm smile.
“It hasn’t been that long, though I am getting older. By the way, I saw your son out at the gate. He’s always been a great kid.” Well, that explained that. As a pastor, my dad knew so many people. We’d never been able to go anywhere without him seeing at least one person he knew.
Judy gave a final nod. “Thank you. I’m glad he’s had a fine man like your son-in-law to look up to.” She tilted her head toward Gabriel and winked, then she retreated herself to the kitchen.
I exchanged a smile with my father, who was still beaming from greeting Judy, although his lip had curled at the mention of son-in-law. At least he couldn’t complain about the type of people I was around, and I was grateful that Judy had put in a good word for Gabriel. Maybe my dad would start to lighten up.
“So, Mr. Grant, what are your intentions for my daughter?”
So much for that. “Dad,” I scolded under my breath.
He sat up a little straighter and looked down his nose, but he didn’t go on, and Gabriel didn’t answer. I imagined he wasn’t too interested in explaining himself, and I doubted that my father would like what he had to say.
But as I gave up hope for his response, he leaned forward, steepled his fingers, and rested his elbows on his knees. “Despite the haste of our marriage, I care about your daughter very much and intend to do right by her.”
My father narrowed his eyes. “Does that mean you’ll give her a speedy divorce?”
Though my face reddened with embarrassment, I anticipated his response.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gabriel
Being home wasn’t going as well as I’d thought, and after seeing Luna’s dad tackled to the ground and treated like an intruder, I didn’t think it could get much worse.
I was wrong. His question put me on the spot, in more ways than one, and I feared my question could throw his daughter under the bus. It wasn’t as if I’d been in this alone, although the fact that the annulment wasn’t already in the works had more to do with me.
Though I respected him, I think his persistence about the situation was uncalled for. He’d forced his way into my home when I would have welcomed him and had proceeded to inflict his attitude on me at the discomfort of his daughter.
“Your daughter and I will take care of things together. Any decisions about our future will be made in the same manner.”
“First you lure her down to Las Vegas for work, and then after a night of poor decisions – which, I might add, were also your influence – you manipulated her into a marriage she didn’t and doesn’t want.
“Now because you’ve landed yourself in hot water due to the company you keep, you’ve decided to force her to stay in it. It’s obvious my daughter isn’t capable of making adult decisions or resisting the vile temptations you’ve no doubt exposed her to.”
My face burned red hot with anger. “Your daughter is a grown woman, and it’s well past time you treated her as such.”
&
nbsp; “How you treat my daughter is my concern, no matter her age!”
“Your coddling had a big part in her intolerance for alcohol and her desire to rebel. So we can make excuses all day long – the fact still remains that this was her choice. Drunk or not.”
Luna stood up and turned on me. “That’s enough from the both of you. I won’t have the two of you going at it and laying blame. And I will not stand for you disrespecting my father.” Her eyes were wild, her chest heaving with emotion as her face reddened.
The door swung open and in walked Sandra with a stagger that could only be caused by her appetite for alcohol. Though her pale-green eyes were shadowed by dark circles, they shone with anger like laser beams. As if I weren’t pissed off enough she came in on a tirade.
“There you are. How dare you push those thugs you call security on me! Like I want to be dragged out of my bed, out of my home, and driven here.” I’d tried to reach her, but since she’d been on another bender, getting her guard to wake her was the next best option.
She stopped in her tracks as Luna and her father’s presence registered.
“This is Jay Spencer and his daughter, Luna. This is Sandra, my sister-in-law.” I figured getting the introductions over with was better than letting the good pastor speculate. As soon as Sandra had barged in, he’d been ready to explode. I couldn’t blame him, for all he knew she was a girlfriend.
“Luna. The new wife? I read you’d married your assistant.” She turned her head toward Luna and clapped slowly. “Well played.”
As Luna’s back straightened, I stood and put myself between them. “Where’s Harbor?” My nephew was supposed to be with her, or at least I’d assumed he would be. The kid was going to be a problem if the media got a hold of him. I suspected his recent habits were worse than his mother’s.
“Your guess is as good as mine. I’d hoped he was here. I haven’t seen him in days. He popped in a week ago and woke me up asking for money. He took what I had on-hand, and I’ve had to live off the card since.”
My jaw tightened at that. The card she referred to was mine, and even though I kept a healthy sum in it, the principle of her wasting my money pissed me off.
A smile played around her lips. “Don’t worry, I’m a cheap drunk.”
It wasn’t that I’d feel the money missing as much as I hated what she’d become. “I’d rather have you sober and spending my money than passed out or hammered all day.” Luna and her father had the front-row seat to the ugliness of my life, but I was well beyond pulling the curtain on it now.
“I’m sure your wife will do enough spending for us both.” She raised her open hand and wiggled her fingers at Luna who sat wide-eyed and angry. Then laughter roared from Sandra and faded down the hall to the guest room. She wouldn’t have made it up the stairs.
Luna shifted around to face her father. “She’s pleasant.”
“She needs help. Reminds me of myself back when your mother died.” The pastor’s eyes were hard, but not out of anger. I’d seen that look before and imagined he had a dark past, something gnawing at him, and maybe that’s what fed his insanity for his daughter. Protective fathers were one thing, but there was a whole other layer to him.
“I’m sorry she brought up painful memories. I’ve tried to get her help, but she’s never gotten over my brother’s death. Until she does, I’m not sure she can be sober.”
“Maybe she blames herself?” The pastor was off on that one – off by a mile.
“No, sir. She blames me, and I’m afraid because of that, I tolerate her. Hell, I guess I’m an enabler, but if I cut off the money, I’d feel even worse.”
“I have counselors at the church, if you’d like to try them.”
That brought my head around. Maybe the man wasn’t so bad after all. Before I could finish my thought or reply, Judy announced dinner was ready.
Jay stood and pulled Luna to her feet. “Great, I’m starved.”
Luna let out a sigh and I led them to the dining room where Judy had already placed out plates. Jay took the seat at the head of my table, and I shrugged it off for Luna’s sake. Instead of taking the seat across from her, I sat next to her. “Would you care to join us today, Judy? I’m sure you and the good pastor here would like to catch up.” And thank God, she took the hint.
***
As the sun set across the vineyard, we said goodbye to Pastor Spencer and I could finally let my guard down. After a short distraction in the form of Joe calling to give me a report, I found Luna on the patio staring at the moon.
I sat beside her and folded my hands in my lap. “You’re in my favorite chair.”
“Sorry, do you want to swap?” She made no move, keeping her eyes locked tight on the sky.
“No, I only meant to point out that you’ve found one of my favorite places. I think it’s funny you gravitated here of all places.”
“Maybe we’re kindred souls, after all.” She turned her head and met my eyes.
“Ah. You remember that from our ceremony?”
She nodded, returning her gaze toward the moon. “I’ve started remembering lots of things: the tacky carpeting in the wedding chapel, the smell of the man who banged on the machine to get it to release our rings, and how that lady I’d never met before caught the bouquet we’d borrowed from the chapel.”
“The coordinator had a hell of a time getting that back, I’m sure.” We shared a laugh before she wrapped her arms around herself as the wind picked up, blowing against them.
“I wish things would have gone better than that earlier.” I hated that they had to witness Sandra especially.
Her brows snapped down, hooding her eyes. “You weren’t very hospitable to my father, but I suppose he asked for it. He’s a good man, but he’s protective of me for a reason.”
I placed my arm around her, pulling her closer to rub her arm and keep her warm against the open breeze. “I’m sure he is. Is it about your mother?”
“Dad is responsible for the accident that took her life. He’s lived with survivor’s guilt for years. He was on his way to being an alcoholic when it happened. Right after, I thought he’d drink himself into a stupor to numb the pain, and he did for the first few weeks; but then one day we got a visit from social services, He realized he might lose me, too, and he never touched another drop.”
I could relate to the survivor’s guilt, but before I explained, I wanted to hear her out. She shifted closer, laying her head on my shoulder and continuing. “The social worker hooked him up with a counselor who invited him to church, and within the year, Dad decided to preach. He wanted to help others in the same situation.”
“Like Sandra. If only she wanted help.”
“What’s the story there?” A sinking feeling had me deflated, but I didn’t mind sharing with her.
“My brother, Robert, was going to buy into my business, but he mismanaged his money and had to sell it back to me. This was long before it took off into something and because he needed a job, I let him work for me. We had hoped that he’d be able to buy a portion back eventually, or at least invest.
“But one day I had him go check out a job, and he got killed while at the residence. It was a bad part of town.” Luna’s face twisted with sympathy, but she let me go on. “It was his and Sandra’s anniversary, but I had no choice: he was the only one who could do it. I was out of town.”
“Their anniversary? Oh dear.” She squeezed my hand. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that, but Sandra resents me all the same, especially because he left her almost penniless. By the time she paid off their home, her car, and buried him, there wasn’t much left. He didn’t have any insurance. None.”
“So, that’s why you take care of her. You feel responsible.”
I let out a breath and scratched my stubbly chin. “That and because I can. I couldn’t spend all of my money in my lifetime. Even if I lost all my clients tomorrow, I have enough invested to last all of us until we go to the grave.
&nbs
p; “I’d rather not support her drinking, but that’s only because I think it’s why Harbor is the way he is. He needs at least one parent, but he’s lost them both. I try to get through to him, but he’s as stubborn as his father and resents me for letting his mother fall apart… I think he blames me, too.”
“That’s terrible. I thought I’d learned everything about you over the past two years. I’ve been to your city condo, worked with you every day each week, and yet despite knowing you owned a vineyard, I never thought I’d see it, much less get to know your family.”
“I’ve done a great job of keeping it all as private as possible, but I feel this murder investigation is going to ruin that.”
Luna’s fingers brushed my cheek, as soft as a feather. “It will all be over soon.” My chest ached as the said words. When the investigation ended, so would all of this.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luna
Waking up in the new place was much better than opening my eyes to see the honeymoon suite, and the entire morning had been so peaceful and carefree. Gabriel and I had had a lovely lunch, and with the afternoon sun beating down, I’d been itching to get into the pool. But first, I had something to ask as we finished our wine from dinner.
“I was hoping Kim could come and visit me still. We’d made plans when I was in Vegas, and I miss her.” I didn’t think he’d have a problem with it, but he narrowed his eyes and glanced away, as if he had to think about it.
“A kiss might persuade me.” I giggled, but he stayed straight-faced. “You laugh, but I’m serious. I require payment.” He tapped his lips, and I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“There. Now can she come to visit?”
“Yes. You know you don’t really have to ask permission. All I need is a head’s up so I can alert the guards, but my home is your home.” His hospitality was amazing, and I thanked him with another kiss.
“Would it be okay for her to use the guest room upstairs?” I hated to put her downstairs with Sandra lurking around, and I had a feeling Kim would appreciate it more.