“How did it go?” asked Samantha.
“I have the counts here, looks like the new blend is gaining popularity during refills.”
“No. I mean the girl.”
“Which girl?”
“I saw that girl that you met at the January meeting here talking with you.” Samantha came around behind the bar, put the top loop of the apron over her head, and flashed out her tinted locks. Then she tied the apron waist ties.
“You’re keeping close tabs on me.”
“Zack. If I wasn’t married I’d be all over you myself.”
“You would?”
“Certainly. You’re ruggedly handsome. You know how to both work and play. You have a great job and this winery makes for an interesting hobby. Irresistible.”
Zack dug the napkin out of his shirt pocket and unfolded it. “I think I’m too late, I had some pours to do and when I turned back to finish talking with her – she left me this.”
“Hmm – that could mean a lot of things.”
“If you’re set here I thought I might look for her. I can’t imagine that with her friends here she drove separate. But maybe she did and left.”
“I’m set. I’ll watch for her and have her wait if she comes over.”
“Thanks.” Zack hung up his apron and walked around the outside of all the chairs, trying to see her face whenever the movie showed a bright scene. So far, this particular movie was all in Seattle with sad, dark rain. He walked through the winery tasting room, the side halls, and the conference rooms without success. Zack returned to the patio and Samantha shook her head at him while she poured wine in a pair of customer’s glasses.
He marched in a larger loop around the winery grounds. The cheery lights of the winery illuminated the first leaves bursting from the grape vines. Nowhere did he see her. He walked through the packed parking lot and the cars sitting at the sides of the drives and the overflow lots. He thought he saw her car, but it was empty.
-:-:-:-O-:-:-:-
Claire sat in the restroom on the edge of the toilet, hiding. Intense feelings had burst upon her watching Zack with the customers. The first sip of her wine was phenomenal. Then the second taste was better and it threw images of her first meeting Zack into her head. Smoldering emotions surfaced after her third sip. Overwhelmed as if she would explode in tears, she slammed the rest of the wine and ran. Well, she had walked as fast as prudent in a dress and heels without seeming desperate for the restroom. Maybe she was sick. The wine warmed her face but her heart burned for him. She had some of these feelings for other men before, but not this intense and constant. A need.
Her head told her she was crazy, she should just press the flush button and go on with her life. He was married and while everything else about him screamed quality she knew she should seek out someone available. Why did she lust for him? Like a sap, she knew nearly all the movies showing tonight. She had watched them a dozen times. I am such a fool, she wiped tears away with a fistful of toilet paper. This party was on April Fool’s Day, which made her feel even more pathetic. What could she do? She sighed. All the movies mixed true love, destiny, or fate. Is that what this is? All the other times she came here she saw Zack, even though his work visits were weeks apart. Tonight was a little different for her since she had specifically suggested coming. She thought Zack might be here, but he was only here, what, a week? Never the same week in a month. She actually hoped he might not be here and she could watch the movies with her friends. She knew they were better off without her as their third wheel. She scrubbed at her eyes to make sure they were dry, stood and stepped out of the stall to the sinks. She washed up and reapplied her makeup, fixing the big problems and concealing what others she could.
Not ready to traverse the patio yet, Claire strolled along a hall toward a meeting room and from there outside to the grounds. The air brushed chill and sharp on her shoulders. A chunk of concrete sat against a jumble of other rocks in a little garden and she sat down on it. The moon had risen above the horizon with rainbow hues that faded into a bright white cup as if it could somehow hold all her tears.
“You might be warmer with this on,” Zack unfolded a blanket from under his arm and draped it over her shoulders.
“Zack!” She whispered, “How did you know I was here?”
“I had an idea.” He handed her a wine glass. “Actually, I’ve made three loops around the place and spied you going out the side door. Gave me enough time to bring some things.”
She took the glass and held it still while he poured the blended wine. Claire said, “You should not have given me that wine.”
“Why?”
“It reminds me too much of you.”
“I was thinking of you when I mixed it. I think of you every time I smell it or taste it.”
“I hope I don’t smell like wine.”
“Bits and flashes. Something magical happened putting this wine together. Frank, one of the other investors, remembered his wife when they were young. Others see memories of friends and lovers both recent and old.”
“A love potion? Are you some kind of wizard?” A small smile crept through her sadness.
“I wouldn’t say that. Something magical about you. I can’t stop thinking about you …”
“But it’s all too complicated, isn’t it?”
Zack nodded. “I’m not sure what to do.”
“Did you say you have kids?”
“I have two. A boy and a girl.”
“Do you have pictures?”
Zack pulled his wallet out and flipped to the picture of his kids.
“Oh, so cute!” She put her hand on his arm, “They look just like you. You make beautiful kids.” She squirmed against the concrete. What is so hot about him that I need him so? There are kids involved!
Zack put his wallet away.
His phone rang. He had to roll his hips and lean into Claire to retrieve his phone from his back pocket. She was warm, he could feel her body heat radiating next to him and her hand still rested on his arm. He looked at the screen and it said Home. “I better answer this. I’ll be right back – and don’t you move on me this time.”
Claire grinned at him, flashing her face and nodding so he knew she would stay. “It’s warm under the blanket.”
“Hello?”
“Mr. Steel, this is Amanda. I’m babysitting your kids tonight.”
“Are they OK?”
“Yes. Yes, they are fine. I … I’m not sure what to say. I probably should stay out of this but I thought you should know.”
“Know what?”
“I appreciate you and your wife hiring me when you are traveling and this isn’t bright for me –”
“I’m getting alarmed Amanda. What’s the story?”
“Well, Mrs. Steel has been meeting this guy from her work a lot.”
“She’s been busy with a couple of projects.”
“Does her project include dressing like she’s going dancing at a club?”
“She dresses like that sometimes when she goes to work, Monday mornings even.”
“Mr. Steel. When I was in high school, I took clothes in a big purse with me while I wore a frumpy sweatshirt out of the house to meet my friends. Then I would stuff the sweatshirt in my big purse when I got to the party. I know too much how to get away with it. Your wife is doing more than business meetings with this guy Nicholas.”
“You know this for sure?”
“He picked her up in a Porsche right here at the house. Her new purse is big enough it could be an overnight bag with the bulges I saw in it. If you know what I mean, Mr. Steel.”
“What are the kids doing?”
“Watching a movie on television.”
“Did this guy come in the house?”
“No, he stayed out in the car. He’s creepy so I’m glad he stayed there.”
“Amanda,” Zack took a deep breath, “I’m not sure what to do at the moment. My flight isn’t for a couple of days. The kids are safe?”
“Oh yes. If I thought their safety was at risk I’d be doing a lot more. I just think you and your kids are great and I didn’t want something going on that you didn’t know about.”
“Thanks Amanda.”
“Sure.”
“Keep the kids safe and let me know what happens. I’m confident they will be fine with you there. I’ll have to do more investigating. Thanks for the call.”
Zack sat down hard on the cement, wheezing as if he suddenly felt sixty.
Claire asked, “What is going on?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Your face tells me its more than nothing.” Her eyes scanned from his eyes to his mouth and back around, searching for any telltale twitches or changes.
“I’ve been suspicious something has been going on with my wife and it seems pretty strong evidence now. She is cheating on me with some guy from her work.”
“What are you going to do?”
Zack looked into Claire’s eyes, “I have no idea. I should go home tonight and confront her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why?”
“What if she’s not? It’s all a misunderstanding. You get back there and accuse her, and then what?”
“Can’t be any different from now. We haven’t been together in a year.”
“A year?” Claire pulled back.
“Not because of me. At the risk of embarrassment, I’m begging practically all the time. Makes sense now if she’s having a relationship with someone else, I guess. But nothing physically wrong to keep us from it.”
“Too much information.” Claire put her hands to her ears, “But you sound wounded.”
“I’ve tried anything I could think of but she’s never happy in our life and … just toxic all around. I worry about my kids. I worry about how they are going to evolve with our home environment. If I want to take the verbal abuse then things stay quiet. That’s not healthy for the kids. One of the kids spilled something horsing around and I gave them paper towels to clean it up. The drink puddle expanded and dripped over the counter. “I’m not cleaning it Daddy, because that’s your job”.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah. However, there is a point where I have enough of it and then the yelling match starts and can go for days between vicious active arguments and seething tension. It’s bad.”
“That’s why you like working at the winery.”
Zack nodded, “It’s beautiful out here. Being in the vineyard calms me more than anything else I’ve tried.”
“Was it always like this?”
“Not right away. Signpost clues in the beginning. I really like smart and strong women. I just got caught with brutal meanness.”
“I’m sorry.”
Zack looked to the vines standing like soldiers against the wire with their arms spread out, waiting for the rising dawn.
“I think you need to go back and talk with her.” Claire pulled her blanket tight about herself. “You owe your kids to get it figured out.”
Zack nodded. “No chance getting on a plane tonight. In the morning I’ll drive to the airport and see if I can trade my ticket for the standby pool or something.”
“Standby is a good plan.” Claire stood and put her hand out to Zack. He took her hand and she pulled him up, looking him in the eyes. “Whatever happens, I want to know. You still have my number?”
“Yes.”
Claire wrapped her arms around Zack and hugged him too briefly, “I’m going back with my friends. You’ll be fine tonight?”
Zack sat on the rock, “I think this is a good spot for me.”
Claire took the blanket off and gave it to him, “I’ll get another on the patio.”
“Thanks … and thanks for listening.” Zack watched Claire disappear into the winery. Her smell lingered on the edges of the blanket. His heart ached. He looked over the vineyard and the vines failed to bring him peace.
Chapter 9
Keys rattled in the locks and woke Amanda on the couch. Lydia pushed open the door and Nicholas followed her into the kitchen. Amanda stood and pushed her hair away thinking it must be a mess but almost too early to care. She looked at the wall clock and it said five fifty-two in the morning.
Lydia glided through the kitchen like an apparition and went to her bedroom mumbling something or other that Amanda did not catch. Amanda thought coffee might help the situation. She grabbed the pot, poured out the remains of the old coffee she had made the evening before, rinsed it out, and started filling it.
“Here, let me help with that,” Nicholas said, leaning out of the shadow of the rear landing. “Where’s the ground coffee?”
Amanda kept her surprise to herself. “Up in that cabinet next to the stove,” she pointed with her nose.
Nicholas stepped into the kitchen and pulled the filter basket from the top of the coffee maker. He dumped the old contents into the trash. He looked around inside the basket in the light, shrugged that it looked clean enough, and poured black coffee in until it looked like what he made at home.
“That’s a lot of coffee.”
“Keep filling the water. It will go fast.” He shoved the filter basket into to the machine and stood there with his hands on his hips as if agitated with her delay in filling the coffee pot. He looked across the living room, down the hallway, and then back to Amanda, “Lydia has a nice place here.” His gaze fondled up and down Amanda’s body, “Her house is compact and easy to take care of.”
Amanda shrugged, watching the water fill, “Yeah, I guess. Though I don’t think Lydia really likes this house much.”
“I guessed that too. But it’s a practical place.”
Amanda moved to the coffee maker being careful with the water since she filled the pot too close to the top. She made sure she did not splash water while pouring it in the back of the coffee maker. Then she delicately seated the pot under the drip mechanism to avoid excessive clanking of the empty pot over the bumps and contours of the base. She pressed the Make button.
Amanda froze.
Nicholas had his hand against her thigh. His rough fingers only separated from her skin by her thin black stretch pants that really were not much more than tights. Cheap black pants that went with everything else she wore, were easy to care for, and they fit a college student budget. She felt the heat of his hand stroke up her thigh. His fingers traveled to her bottom. Touching from the crease where her bottom arced over her thigh, around it’s smooth contour, and toward the nerves that thrived close to the surface of her skin at the small of her trembling back. His arm seethed around her like a constricting python pulling her toward him. Nicholas winked at Amanda as if saying, this is our little secret.
Lydia stomped across the living room toward the kitchen; now changed and freshened up. The python coil released Amanda as if frightened by an approaching mongoose. Amanda spun away until her bottom pressed against the cold ceramic of the deep farmhouse sink – chilling the unwanted and almost searing burn left behind by those fingers.
“Coffee. Great thinking Amanda.” Lydia smiled, “Nick grab two of those big paper coffee cups at the top shelf. We’ll drink on the way to work.”
Amanda fled into the living room and pulled up the blanket and pillows. She wanted a shower while she listened to the coffee gurgle, some low talking, a giggle. She heard the cream and sugar bang into their drinks, and then conversation that ended beyond the back door when Lydia pulled the door closed and locked. Amanda was remained uncomfortable until she saw both cars accelerate up the road. Amanda went into the kitchen and made a big mug of green tea that she carried to the living room to sip until the kids should wake up.
Zack called the house at three that afternoon, “Hi Amanda. I’m back and planning on picking up the kids at school – so you won’t need to.”
“Perfect timing, Mr. Steel. I was just looking for my car keys to drive there.”
“You’re probably pretty tired. I talked with Lydia and told her I finished and came home early. She said you
fell asleep on the couch at the house all night.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Thanks for the help.”
“Sure. Mr. Steel, I have to go now.”
“Yes, of course.”
Zack stopped brushing his teeth and spit in the sink. “Who are you seeing?”
“What do you mean?” Lydia put on a second sweatshirt to sleep in. More layers than she wore during the day in the house.
“You’re having Amanda watch the kids while you’re sleeping around.”
“Why would I do that? You’re paranoid.”
“I don’t know why. We have no sex for the last year.”
“Is that what this is about?”
“No. That is a symptom.”
“So, if I’m having more regular sex with you it means I’m not cheating on you?”
“A symptom. Are you sleeping around or not? It’s a simple question.”
“I’m not. I should ask you what’s going on in California – are you drinking wine all day and banging surfing chicks at night? Is that why you run off every month?”
“You’re not deflecting this with spiraling arguments.” Maybe the reason I leave is to get away from this constant warfare at home?
“I do not spin arguments –”
“Yes you do. Just the other day Noah forgot his mittens at school and you screamed at him.”
“He’d forget his head if it wasn’t bolted on. I just don’t know about him sometimes.”
“Do you think making him cry, even bawl, after such a tirade encourages him to remember?”
“He remembered the next day, didn’t he?”
“You scream all the time at everyone about everything. We need a happy home here for these kids if we want them to thrive. Maybe I like to get away because of the yelling.”
Cabernet Zin (The Southern California Wine Country Series) Page 10