by Joleen James
"Nico and I are dating," she explained. "We're just getting to know each other, that's all. I still plan to leave here and return to Seattle. You'll be reunited with your friends soon."
She glanced at Nico, but his attention was on Maria.
"What about you, Maria?" Nico asked. "How much of this is your doing?"
"None of it," Kaiden said, rallying to Maria's defense.
"That's not true," Maria said, her maturity appearing again. "I helped Kaiden with the note. He asked me to pin it to the door after he left and I did."
"But you didn't know what was in it," Kaiden said.
"No," Maria admitted, "but when I found out, I didn't tell anyone what you'd done. I guess that makes me guilty."
Nico frowned. "You were with him tonight. That makes you look real guilty."
"She was trying to stop me," Kaiden said.
"I heard him sneak out." Maria's eyes were wide and honest. Danielle believed her. All this time she'd been so sure Maria had been the one. She'd been so wrong. She owed Maria an apology.
"Why would you keep silent?" Nico asked Maria. "You know how upset we all are."
Maria shot off the couch, her cheeks flushed with color. "I saw you kissing Danielle, too." She zeroed in on Danielle. "I was mad, but I'm not mad anymore. I like you, Danielle. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too." Danielle rose, and going to the couch, she sat beside Kaiden. "We all have a lot to talk about, but I think it's a conversation best saved for morning. Kaiden, you have a lot of damage to correct around here. And you owe Sheriff Anderson an apology, but we can talk about all of that tomorrow. Frankly, I'm too tried and too angry to sort it all out now."
"Don't think you're off the hook," Nico said to Maria. "You'll have your own apologies to make." He motioned for Maria to join him. "Come on, let's go home."
Danielle held his stare for a minute, and in that minute she knew they'd get through this together. When they were gone, she returned her attention to Kaiden. If possible, he'd curled into an even tighter ball. How could she comfort him, make him realize that everything would be all right? She loved him so much, didn't want him to hurt. And if he was hurting now, how would he feel once Peter walked out of his life forever?
She held out her arms. "Come here."
Kaiden launched himself at her, and Danielle's arms went around him, holding him tight, wanting to absorb every bit of pain she and Peter had inflicted on him.
She had to be honest with Kaiden from this point forward. She'd made a mistake keeping the facts from him, allowing him to put his father on a pedestal. If she'd been honest, he'd be so much better prepared for what was coming.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he whispered against her bathrobe. "I just want to go home."
"I know." She stroked his soft hair. "Things are going to get better, I promise."
"Can we go home?"
"Yes, soon." Somewhere along the way she'd fallen in love with Sun Grove and the slower pace of life here. Even if she wanted to stay, she'd never put her needs above Kaiden's. Kaiden came first, now and always.
She looked deep into her son's tear-filled hazel eyes.
Kaiden nodded, his features eased with relief.
And for now, for Danielle, it was enough.
Chapter Fourteen
Danielle headed down the path to the rose garden. A trickle of sweat ran down her back, where it was absorbed by her T-shirt. For the first time in her life she was looking forward to fall and cooler weather. She could only imagine the vineyard in the fall. Would the leaves on the vines turn color before falling off? She had no idea, but knew the vineyard would look great during any season. There was a raw beauty about the place.
Danielle inhaled. The scent of sun warmed roses was back, the bushes slowly recovering from Kaiden's chop job. Even before she could see the flowers, she could hear Kaiden and Maria talking.
"Hi, guys," Danielle said when the two came into view.
The kids had been doing garden duty for the past four days. Both kids were on their knees, a bucket beside them, a claw-type weeding tool in hand. Sweat beaded Kaiden's forehead and he squinted up at her.
"How much longer?" he asked.
"It's noon," Danielle said. "You've done your duty for today."
He didn't smile, but instead pushed to his feet. Dirt streaked his cheeks. His knees were filthy. Maria also stood, looking as hot and wilted as Kaiden. Both kids had worked hard today, and she felt proud of them. Kaiden and Maria had really owned up to the pranks.
"Sheriff Anderson is coming by around two," Danielle said, giving Kaiden a gentle reminder of the apology he'd yet to make.
"Do I have to apologize?" Kaiden whined, his eyes on his dirty sneakers.
The defeated look on his face tugged at Danielle's heartstrings. "You do." She walked to him and put her arm around him. "You'll be fine."
He shook his head.
"We'll do it together," Maria said, giving Kaiden a half-smile of encouragement.
"Thanks, Maria," Danielle said, proud of the girl. Maria had volunteered to be punished right along with Kaiden, much to Nico and Danielle's surprise. And while she did participate, albeit unwillingly with the pranks, Danielle didn't feel the girl deserved as much punishment as Kaiden.
Nico had disagreed. He believed Maria was equally guilty, pointing out that she could have come to them at any time and put a stop to the pranks. He was proving to be more of a disciplinarian than she was, but still, it felt good to have another parent to rely on, to discuss the consequences with. Peter had been largely absent from all parenting duties, telling Danielle: she wanted a kid, she could deal with him.
"Are you guys hungry?" Danielle asked. "Lola's got lunch ready."
"Did I hear you say lunch?"
They all turned at the sound of Nico's voice. He'd come around the house. Danielle's heart sped up. She couldn't stop her physical reaction to him any more than she could stop drawing breath.
"Hey," she said. "How are things going?"
"Great." He grinned. "Now what's this I hear about lunch?"
"It's ready," Maria said. She tugged on Kaiden's arm. "Come on. Let's wash up."
"Okay." Kaiden followed Maria down the path to the house.
Nico reached her. "How are you today?" He leaned in to kiss her cheek.
She accepted the kiss, no longer afraid to hide their budding romance. What was the point? The kids had already known about them for some time.
"I'm great. I was just about to tackle my father's office. There's so much stuff to sort out. Years of stuff. Just thinking about it makes me tired. How are things in the vineyard?"
"Good. The brix was 20 today. The grapes are sweetening up right on schedule."
"You want them to be around 24 or 25 at harvest, right?" Danielle asked as they started for the house.
"Yes. Jacques and I make the decision together on when to harvest."
"When will that be exactly?" Danielle asked, curious, wondering if harvest would take place before her ninety days were up.
"Probably mid to late September. Why?" Nico glanced over at her, his eyes filled with a wariness Danielle hadn't seen for a while.
"No reason," she assured him. "I'm just trying to understand the timeline."
He didn't looked convinced, but said, "The harvest can happen any time after September first, and usually around mid-month. A lot depends on the weather. Hotter weather means a higher sugar content more quickly."
"I see." She smiled. "Will I see you later?"
Nico kissed her. "How about a private meeting, after the kids are asleep?"
"That sounds great." Danielle started up the back porch steps.
Nico followed. They cut through the kitchen, passing Maria and Kaiden, sandwiches in their hands.
"Where are you going?" Danielle asked.
"Down to the river to eat," Kaiden said. "We're going to fish."
"Wait." She removed the walkie-talkies from the shelf near the door. "Take these. I'll call you when I need
you back."
"Okay." Kaiden accepted the radio.
"See ya." Maria waved as they continued out the door.
"Danielle," Lola called from the foyer. "Nico. Can you come here, please?"
Danielle exchanged a look with Nico. When they reached the front door, Lola was talking to a woman with dark hair.
"Liz," Nico said, the name holding no joy.
"Nico," Liz replied with pleasure. She flung herself into Nico's arms.
He hugged her back, but was he happy to see her? Danielle didn't think so. His back was stiff, his face unsmiling.
"You're back early," he said.
"I missed Maria."
"How was your trip?" Lola asked politely, but Danielle could sense the tension in her words.
"Fabulous." Liz smiled at Lola before looking at Danielle. "Hello, Danielle."
"Hello, Liz," she replied. "It's been a long time. I didn't recognize you at first." She remembered Liz from high school. She'd been one of those girls, the beautiful ones, and she'd aged well. Her perfect skin was unlined, her dark eyes like liquid smoke, her body curvy in all the right places. No wonder Nico had married her.
"It's been years," Liz said with a flip of her hair. "I'm sorry about Phillip. We loved him dearly. He was like a father to Nico, and like a grandfather to Maria."
Oddly, her words didn't hurt. For the first time, Danielle wasn't upset to hear someone speak of her father with love. She wasn't sure what she felt for Phillip anymore.
"Thank you," she said.
"So where is my daughter?" Liz glanced around. "I'm dying to see Maria."
"She's having lunch down by the fishing hole," Nico replied. "Actually, this is a good time for us to talk, before she returns."
"You sound so ominous, so serious, so you." Liz laughed. "I wonder if you'll ever lighten up, Nico."
Nico gave her a tight smile. "Shall we?" He swept his arm toward the door.
"Certainly," Liz replied, giving Nico a seductive smile.
"I'll see you later?" Nico said to Danielle.
"Yes. I'll keep tabs on the kids."
"Great." Nico's hand closed around Liz's elbow, and he led her from the house. Lola closed the door.
"I see that look in your eye," Lola said with a wag of her finger. "Don't you worry. Any spark between them died a long time ago if it was even there to begin with."
She gave Danielle's arm a reassuring pat on her way by.
Danielle went into her father's office and shut the door, going immediately to the window. She had a clear view of Nico's place. She watched him help Liz out of the golf cart, watched the two of them walk up the porch steps and disappear inside, closing the door behind them.
Every trust issue she'd ever had roared to life. Stop it, Danielle. Nico's not a cheater. He's nothing like your father. He's loyal and honest. She'd seen those qualities in him over and over again. She had to trust him, put her faith in him.
She pulled herself away from the window, away from her doubts and sat at the desk. The phone rang, and she noted it was the business line. She picked up the call.
"Hello, Danielle Whitney Rankin speaking."
"Mrs. Rankin, hello. This is Miles Germaine from Germaine Cellars."
"Hello, Mr. Germaine. What can I do for you?"
He gave a warm, rich laugh. "It's what I can do for you Mrs. Rankin. I'd like to take you to dinner. I think the time has come for the two of us to meet."
"I'm not sure there'd be any point to us meeting." She picked up a pen, toying with it. "I wouldn't want to waste your time."
"Oh," he said with disappointment. "Have you decided to stay on?"
"I haven't made any final plans yet," she said, not wanting to let on that Nico was first in line to buy the vineyard.
"Then, please, hear me out," Miles said. "You won't be sorry."
"I'm out of the office the rest of this week," she hedged, thinking of her upcoming court date.
"Next week?"
"Why don't you call Gayle over at the main office and set up an appointment with her?" Danielle asked.
"Wonderful. I'm looking forward to meeting with you."
"Thank you," Danielle said. "Bye."
The line went dead. She hung up the phone.
And Danielle knew.
In her heart, she didn't really want to sell, yet Kaiden's wishes had to come first. Selling the place to Nico was the next best option. At least the vineyard would be in good hands, caring hands. Lola would have a home. The other employees would keep their jobs. Somewhere along the way she's lost her lust for getting top dollar. She didn't want to sell to Germaine Cellars.
Danielle wandered over to the window. The door to Nico's house was still shut.
Did Nico feel something for her, something real and not manufactured to keep her on his team? She wanted to make the right decision for all of them, but she didn't trust her instincts anymore. Nico wanted the vineyard; he'd made that clear from the beginning. If she stayed, would he leave? If so what would that say about their relationship? And she still hadn't given him the letter from her father. Would her father's words from the grave drive them both away?
It scared her to death to think that Nico might not want to stay on if she didn't sell to him, but she'd never know the truth unless she told him what was in her heart.
And that was something she just wasn't ready to do yet.
***
"So you say she's better?" Liz asked. She sat on Nico's couch, her long legs curled under her. Italy had agreed with her. She looked tan, fit, and more gorgeous than ever. "I've been so worried."
"Have you?" Nico asked, unable to keep the skepticism from his tone. He leaned back in the overstuffed chair. He had trouble believing that Liz worried about anyone besides Liz. They'd never agreed when it came to parenting, often arguing about what was best for Maria.
"Of course," she said. "Don't try and make me into a bad mother just because I wanted to have a little fun. Being married to you sucked all the fun right out of me. You are so serious all the time. I needed to find myself. Besides, I thought you liked having Maria all to yourself."
"I do." He loved having Maria with him, wanted to have her with him always. "We've had a great summer. She's growing up, becoming a young woman."
"Then what's the problem?" Liz asked as if he were an idiot.
"No problem." What was he doing? Why was he trying to bait her? Old habits died hard. He was going about this all wrong. He was supposed to be buttering her up, not alienating her. To buy the vineyard, he needed her cooperation.
"I have some news." Her tongue came out to wet her lips.
"Oh?"
She gave him a brilliant smile. "Christopher and I got married in Rome." She held her hand out, showing him the large diamond ring on her left hand.
Disbelief propelled him out of his chair. "You barely know him."
"I know." She retracted her hand, and for a moment he thought he saw indecision on her face. "It was completely impulsive. Too much wine. Too much fun. Then, boom, married. I'm not even sure if the ceremony was legal, but it doesn't matter. We're going to tie the knot here, just to be certain."
"Did you even think about Maria?" he asked. "She's finally getting back on track. Did you think about how she'll react to a stepfather she barely knows?"
"She'll adjust," Liz said. "You've always been so protective of her. Let her grow up."
"She's twelve."
She shifted, uncurling her legs, stretching them out in front of her. "I had a boyfriend when I was twelve."
"Maria isn't ready for a boyfriend." He struggled to keep his cool, when he felt so ready to blow.
"Whatever." She frowned. "I have one more surprise."
His gut ached. He didn't know if he could take anymore. "What?"
"We need to sell the house and cabin. I know you don't want that for Maria, but it's time. I'll be moving into Christopher's house."
"You're not taking my daughter there."
"Excuse me?" sh
e said. "You don't own me, Nico. I'm Maria's mother."
"Maria needs stability."
"Then give it to her."
"Are you saying you want me to keep Maria?" he asked, a spark of hope returning.
"Just for a while, until Christopher and I have a chance to settle in."
"Done," he said without hesitation.
Liz gave him a cat-like smile. "Now where is my daughter? I'm dying to see her."
***
Danielle pushed through the door of the courthouse into the fresh air, the temporary parenting plan and order for custody in her hand. In two weeks, the hearing for permanent custody would take place, and her life could get back to normal, or as normal as it could be while her life was in limbo, her son was upset, not to mention the fact that Nico's ex-wife had come back.
Since Liz's return, she hadn't had more than a moment to see Nico. He'd tried to reassure her that everything was fine, that they'd talk after the hearing, but he'd looked guilty, as if he were keeping something from her, and that thought continued to weigh heavily on her mind. She hated feeling so suspicious when it came to men, but she couldn't help it.
To take her mind off Nico, she'd forced herself to focus on the hearing, on Peter, on the blatant lies he'd told. Her one moment of satisfaction had come when the judge had grilled Peter about his whereabouts for the past six months, questioning him about abandoning his family, leaving them to fend for themselves. Peter's glib answers had rusted his otherwise polished exterior, and the judge had easily picked him apart.
Winning today was only the first step, but it was a big one. The judge had clearly been on her side. Peter was in for a fight if he sued for full custody. As it stood right now, he had to abide by the temporary parenting plan.
In the plan, he had the right to see Kaiden every other weekend. Guidelines for each holiday were spelled out. The agreement was the best she could do for now. It protected Kaiden. She intended to sit down with Kaiden when she got home and go over the details, making sure that he understood everything.
Things were finally going her way, yet she couldn't shake the ominous feeling in her stomach. Peter wouldn't give up without a fight, or without a payoff. As much as the thought bothered her, she was going to have to deal with him.