by Judith Keim
###
Cami stirred in her sleep, uneasy. Something was not right. She rolled over to her other side and curled up again. She needed her sleep. Tomorrow was another busy day.
Sophie circled and settled down once more next to her.
Drew, as usual, slept soundly.
Cami was drifting at the edge of a dream when that nagging feeling of something wrong came back to her. She looked around sleepily. The house was quiet.
Her eyelids closed again.
She felt a nudge behind her. Sophie whined.
Cami sat up. Smoke!
Heart thumping in her chest, Cami jumped out of bed and raced to the sliding-glass door that led to the outside deck. The sky held an orange glow.
“Drew! Wake up! Fire!”
She grabbed Sophie, raced down the hallway, and stepped outside. The orange-yellow glow was coming from the property to the north of her.
Barefoot, in only an oversized T-shirt, she ran out onto the front lawn. Here the smell of smoke was overwhelming. Flames were visible in the sky and a roar filled the air.
“Oh, my God!” she screamed. “It’s Rod Mitchell’s place, and it looks like it’s heading this way. We have to get out! I have to go to the inn!”
“Hold on! I’ll get dressed and drive over there to find out what’s happening,” said Drew in a smooth, firm voice that quieted Cami. “You call the inn and warn them that there’s a fire in the area.”
“Oh, my God! What if the fire comes here?”
“Remember, I insisted on making fire breaks around your property and Rafe’s. Even so, sparks could cause damage here or at the inn. In case we have to evacuate, pack up your computer and important papers while I go see how bad it is. I’ll be right back.”
The sound of sirens split the night air, sending a frisson of fear through Cami as she raced to the house. Barking, Sophie stayed right at her heels.
As Cami searched for everything she wanted, she wondered what had caused the fire. They’d had rain a few days back, but the summer had been a dry one. She thought of the rows of grapevines and wondered how they could ever survive. The 2017 wildfires in California wine country had ruined many crops and vineyards.
Trying to hold herself together, she worked quickly to fill a couple of suitcases with papers, photos and items she considered irreplaceable. Funny, she thought, with the many material things she had or had been given, it came down to so few items of true importance. She leaned over, picked up Sophie, and hugged her to her chest.
When Drew pulled his truck into the driveway, she ran outside to greet him. “What is it? How did the fire start? How bad is it?”
He held up a hand to stop her. “Whoa! One thing at a time. It looks like the fire started in the grove of trees where the luxury tent and facilities were set up. Rumor is that Vanessa and Bernard were spending the night there, fell asleep, and let the campfire keep burning. The wind kicked up a spark and with the dry weather we’ve been having, sent everything up in flames.”
“Oh, my word! Are they okay? Is the house okay? Anybody on the property hurt?” Cami’s stomach churned with acid at the thought of someone getting badly burned.
“Everyone is fine. The fire department is getting a handle on the fire. Looks like they won’t be able to save most of the vines, but the house is intact and being protected.” Drew shook his head. “It’s bad, but it could be a lot worse.”
“I’m calling Becca and the inn and then heading there,” Cami said. “Guests will be upset and I want to keep them calm.” She studied Drew. “You don’t think I have to worry about things here?”
“I honestly don’t think so. Our fire department is joined by two others in the valley. At this point, the fire is contained but will continue burning. I’ll stay here. With Rafe’s property on the far side of you, I’m not worried about the fire reaching it. But I’ll call there to make sure his nephew is aware of everything and will keep an eye on things.”
Cami embraced him. “I’ll get my things and then leave.”
Drew helped her load the suitcases and other items into her car. He leaned in and kissed her. “Be careful. I love you.”
“Love you too,” she replied. Then she and Sophie took off for the inn.
Even though quick action had tamed the fire, the glowing sky behind her resembled a fiery monster attacking the land.
At 4:00 AM inside the inn, guests were sitting in the lobby area, conversing with one another, their faces creased with worry. The night clerk, a young man Gwen had suggested for the job, was in their midst.
Cami walked into the group. “Hello! For those who haven’t met me, I’m Camilla Chandler, owner of the inn. I’m sure you’re wondering what is going on. First of all, I want you to know you’re safe here. The fire is at the Lone Creek Winery, and I’m told it’s being brought under control by the capable fire fighters of our local fire department. A few other departments have shown up, as well. Secondly, if any of you have breathing problems, I suggest you stay inside. Our air conditioning system should help keep the indoor air relatively clear, but the air quality outside isn’t healthy right now. Last, but not least, we’ll be refreshing the coffee service area momentarily for those of you who might not choose to go back to bed.”
Cami studied her guests. Many were wearing the white terry bathrobes that were placed in each guest room. Others had obviously hastily dressed with odd combinations of clothes and were looking harried.
Cami turned as Becca rushed up to her. “What can I do for you?” she asked Cami.
“You can help me in the kitchen. We need to set out some snacks and refresh the coffee service area with fresh coffee, bottles of water, and a selection of juices.”
In the kitchen, Becca gave Cami a worried look. “Did you hear? Vanessa and Bernard could have been killed. They were asleep inside the tent when everything caught fire. They barely made it out alive. All their personal belongings were left behind in the tent, which is why they couldn’t call for help right away. Rod Mitchell made the call to the fire department from his house.”
“Were they drinking? Is that why they didn’t notice something was wrong?”
Becca shook her head. “I don’t know for sure, but I would guess so, which complicates the matter.”
“I bet Rod is furious about it,” Cami said. Rod Mitchell was nice to his neighbors only when he wanted something. He and Nonnee had fought for years.
“This is going to devastate Lone Creek Winery, not only the vineyards but the wedding business too. And goodbye to the luxury tent idea.”
“What a mess. I wonder what will happen to his plans to sell the property?”
“Who’d buy it now?” Becca said. “It’s such a shame.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
By the time Cami left the inn, breakfast was underway for the guests. Instead of driving home, she went to Lone Creek Winery. A number of cars were parked by the entrance, no doubt belonging to the volunteer fire fighters in the area who must have responded to help the Fire Department. Cami drove up to Rod’s house, parked the car, and got out.
Standing on the driveway, she surveyed the land beyond it. Burned and charred vines clung to trellises in straight lines across much of the landscape, marring its beauty. The sight of that hard work gone to ruin made her queasy.
She turned and headed to the front door. Neighbors took care of neighbors in situations like this, even if one of them was as difficult a person as Rod Mitchell.
Rosita Fernandez came to the door. She’d been Rod’s housekeeper for years. “Hello, Cami. How are you?”
“I’m fine, but you must be overwhelmed by all that’s happened. I’m here to see if there’s anything I can do to help. I can have food delivered or, if necessary, offer Rod a place to stay.”
“Who’s there?” came a deep voice from behind Rosita.
Rod’s face was covered with black soot, his hands too. “Rod, I’m so sorry for all that’s happened. I’m here to see if there any way I can be of help. Do
you need food? A place to stay? Anything?”
He nodded grimly. “I need to borrow some of your people. It’s going to take some time to check all the vines for viability. We’ll need to assess the pH levels of the soil, remove any burnt patches, check the strength of the trellis support systems, and trim away scorched vines, leaves and branches. It’s a hell of a mess out there.”
“I’ll talk to Adam Kurey about sending a couple of men on his crew to help you. I’m sure others will do the same. Good luck to you, Rod.”
“Thanks, Cami.” He paused. “For a minute, you reminded me of your grandmother. You look a lot like her, you know, and she would’ve done what you’re doing for me now.”
Cami lowered her head, touched by his words. She waved goodbye and walked away, her mind spinning with ideas.
When she got home, Drew was just stepping out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and gave her a kiss. “Hi, how are things at the inn?”
“Okay. I’m glad I went. Fire and smoke make people nervous, and I was glad I could reassure my guests that they’d be fine. Becca arrived soon after I did and helped me prepare refreshments for everyone. I waited until things were settled into a more normal routine before leaving, and then I stopped at Rod’s on the way home.”
“How is he?” Drew asked. “I’ve already committed one of Rafe’s staff to help with the cleanup.”
“He seemed shaken by all that’s happened. I forget how much older he is than Rafe, but he was showing his age. Any news beyond rumors about Bernard and Vanessa?”
“Neither one was around. I understand they each got superficial burns on their hands and arms trying to put out the fire and get their things from the tent. They were sent to the hospital for burns and smoke inhalation.”
“What is going to happen to Lone Creek Winery?” Cami asked. “Rod’s house escaped flames, but so many of the vines looked terrible.”
“One whole section might be ruined, but I think the rest will be recoverable. And along the south end, there wasn’t any damage at all. Still, I can’t imagine Rod will get the big buyer he was after.”
“I hope whoever buys it will be someone willing to work hard to restore the land,” said Cami. “It’s a shame. I didn’t like the way Bernard and Vanessa were acting toward me, but I certainly didn’t wish for anything like this to happen.”
Drew shook his head. “Neither did I. It’s hard to imagine anyone here in the valley would want to hire either one of them. You know how close knit we all are.”
“I think you’re right.” Even knowing Bernard might be out of her life gave Cami no satisfaction.
She took off her shirt and set it aside.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Drew asked, giving her a sexy grin.
“I have to get cleaned up so I can get back to work.”
Drew took off his towel and dropped it to the floor. “Great. I’ll help.”
###
Later that week, Cami was putting together Drew’s favorite chicken casserole for dinner when he called.
“Hi, I just wanted you to know that I won’t make it to dinner. And don’t wait up for me. I’ll be late getting home.”
“Oh? Anything I should know about?”
“Just a lot of details I need to take care of. See you later.”
Cami hung up the phone wondering what was going on. She’d started in on the casserole again when Becca called. “What’s up? Want to meet for dinner? Dan is working on some special project, and I want some company.”
“Come on over. I’m just putting together a casserole, Drew’s favorite, and I could use some company myself.”
“I’m on my way. Thanks, Cami.”
When Becca arrived, she handed Cami a bouquet of yellow sweetheart roses. “Thought I’d share these. They’re from Dan for the seven-month anniversary of our engagement. They’re too beautiful to leave at home.”
“How nice! I’ll put them on the table so we can look at them while we eat. How about a glass of wine?”
“As long as it isn’t from Lone Creek Winery. Some people are hoarding bottles of it, thinking those wines will never be the same. Silly, huh?”
“Yes, because they weren’t that great to begin with. Rod isn’t a vintner, and Bernard, for all his big talk, isn’t either.”
“I heard Vanessa is going back to New York and taking Bernard with her. They’re trying to get jobs at some of the upstate wineries in the Finger Lakes region.”
Cami shook her head. “Another disaster, no doubt.”
“At least having them gone will be better for Chandler Hill.”
Cami smiled. “Laurel has received several requests from brides who’d booked with Lone Creek Winery. Though I wish it were under different circumstances, she’s excited about it and so am I.”
“I can’t wait for my wedding. I’ve brought a couple of pictures of wedding gowns I want to show you.”
“How nice!” Cami said, wondering when Drew would think the time was right for him to propose.
Later, after choosing a wedding dress for Becca and enjoying a meal together, Cami realized how important it was for her to have a girlfriend like Becca. Working as hard as she did, it was difficult for Cami to set aside time for evenings like this. She understood as much as she loved Drew, she needed girlfriends too.
###
After Drew had missed three dinners and had taken a private trip into Portland, Cami finally confronted him one morning. “What is going on? You keep saying you’re taking care of details, but I need to know if it has to do with Rafe’s winery.”
“Yes and no,” he said mysteriously. “I promise I’ll be home for dinner tonight. Will you do me a favor and order some Beef Wellington from the inn and one of their special lemon tarts for dessert?”
“What’s the occasion?” she asked, studying the smile on his face.
“The details I’ve been working on. You’ll see.” He kissed her goodbye and headed out to his truck, whistling.
Cami frowned. It wasn’t like him to keep secrets. Details? What did that mean? They’d talked about expanding the tasting room at Rafe’s. Was that what this was all about? Some sort of surprise for him?
In her office, Cami was still mulling over Drew’s activities. After work she’d drive over to Rafe’s and see for herself what he might be up to.
Becca entered her office, stopped, and frowned. “What’s the matter?”
Cami shook her head. “Oh, it’s this suspicious activity of Drew’s. He keeps telling me he’s working on details. I think I know what it might be. We’d talked about expanding the tasting area at Rafe’s.”
Becca clicked her fingers. “That’s it. Dan has been working on a special project. He won’t tell me what it is, but now it makes sense if he’s working for Drew.”
Cami felt a smile spread across her face. Of course. That’s what it was about. The dear man was surprising both her and Rafe.
For the rest of the day, Cami was filled with satisfaction. Drew’s project would be a heartfelt gift for Rafe. She did as he’d asked and ordered Drew’s favorite dish from the inn. She’d have it delivered around eight o’clock and make sure everything was nice for his big surprise reveal.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Cami left the inn early. Drew wanted this evening to be special, and she was going to play along. At home, she changed out of business clothes and put on a filmy skirt he’d admired and pulled a cotton sweater over her head. In a shade of seafoam green, the sweater offset the red in her hair and brought out the sparkle in her brown eyes. She decided to wear Nonnee’s grape necklace and slid it around her neck, clasping it with satisfaction. Nonnee would love Drew’s kindness and the loyalty he showed Rafe.
Standing back, she gazed at herself in the mirror, then went to the kitchen to feed Sophie, who trotted at her heels, barking with expectation.
With Sophie fed, the table set, wine uncorked, and the menu ordered, Cami went out onto the deck to await Drew’s arrival. Next week, the
harvest of the grapes would begin, and Rafe would be home from his trip to Europe. It had been over a year since Nonnee had died—a year full of angst and self-doubt, of triumph, of finding a true love.
Lost in thought, she was startled by Rafe’s voice calling, “Hello.”
She whirled around. “What are you doing here?” She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Welcome home! I’m so glad you’re back. So much has happened.”
“Yes,” Rafe said. “I know all about it. Drew has informed me.” He patted her back and hugged her close. “I couldn’t stay on the trip another day. I missed you.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I missed you too. But I thought you were enjoying the trip. Didn’t you have a nice time?”
“The river cruise was fabulous. But staying an extra ten days was too much. I wanted to be here with you and Drew for the harvest. It should be an excellent year.”
Drew approached them. “A good year for many reasons. Let’s sit and have a glass of wine, and I’ll give you all the details.”
At last, Cami thought. She couldn’t wait to hear what Rafe thought of his surprise.
While Drew poured the wine, Cami put together a tray of camembert cheese, garlic stuffed olives, and crisp wheat crackers.
After they were all seated on the porch, Drew lifted his glass. “Here’s to the future!”
Rafe and Cami responded, “To the future!” in a chorus of excitement.
They’d taken a sip of the wine when Drew set his glass down. “As you know, Cami, and you now know, Rafe, I’ve been working hard to make something happen. I can now tell you exactly what it is.” A broad smile crossed his face and lit his eyes. “Dan Thurston, Rafe’s nephew, José, Adam Kurey, and I are now the proud owners of the Lone Creek Winery.”
Cami’s jaw dropped. “You mean you haven’t been expanding the tasting room at Taunton?”
Drew’s surprise was equally telling. “What? No. I wouldn’t do that without Rafe’s permission.”