Page 124 of Just for Tonight

“Why would we do that?”

“Because it’s too big for us and too big for Rhodes Vineyards, but it’s so big that each of us could have enough, and Ralph could retire, knowing there were grapes growing on at least part of his organic land.”

There is silence, the silence of Mike pondering a possibility. He can’t be rushed when he does this, so I wait, trying not to tap my fingers with impatience.

“I’d be happy with half. I bet Augustine would be, as well.” Mike is still musing. “We’re in the slow part of the year. How about I head over there this week and talk to Augustine? He might hate the idea, but then again, he might love it.”

“Everyone needs room to expand.”

“And he might do the deal with me that he’d never do with Dad.”

“Can you conference me in on your conversation?”

Mike laughs. “Always got to be in charge.”

“Call it a weakness. And hey, could you maybe try to think of a way to use the soil under any potential greenhouses built on Graham’s farm?”

“What? Float them in the air?” Mike laughs.

“I don’t know. Talk to your fancy friends in Europe. They might have some new idea brewing.”

“But if you built space under the greenhouse floor, it would be dark,” Mike says. “And cool from the concrete.”

We both say the same thing at the same time. “Mushrooms!”

“Can it be done?”

“I don’t know. I’ll ask Elke. Maybe they’ve already built something similar,” Mike says. “And Ethan’s orchard?”

“I’m thinking about a hundred-year lease instead of a sale.”

“And you’ll make the terms friendly.”

“It’s a self-preservation plan. Happy people leave me alone,” I say but Mike just laughs.

“You’ve caught the bug from Luke. You’re determined to improve what you can.”

We laugh and end the call, but this isn’t about that. This is about doing something good for someone you like.

I like Mackenzie. I love Mackenzie. And the one thing I want to do more than anything in the world is make it possible for her to achieve her dreams.

I take a deep breath and then a sip of Scotch.

It’s time to move a mountain and this is a big one.

38

Mackenzie

Sloane and I have driven down to the supplier who is going to sell us the rootstock of Vidal for the spring planting. I wanted to confer with them about the drainage. That parcel of land is inclined to be mucky, and it would make more sense to put in the drainage before the vines. I asked Sloane to come along as a learning exercise for him, and it was a long day of talking vines – with crappy driving on either end of it. The congestion on the Queen Elizabeth Way was unbelievable and by the time we get back to Empire, I just want food.

It’s raining and a bit cool, which was why we chose to head to the grower today. We’re partway through the harvest of the white grapes for table wine, but won’t really dig into the red until next week. Maybe the week after. I want as much as possible of this year’s sunshine on those grapes.

“Buy you dinner?” I suggest and Sloane is on board with that. This guy must eat his weight in protein every second day. He’s young and interested and focussed. I like his dedication to the work and can see a bright future for him in viticulture. He’s really blossomed since I took Opa’s advice.

I park down the street from The Carpe Diem Café before I see the red sports car closer to the restaurant. I hesitate just a second. I can’t change my mind now without Sloane asking questions. The only people who know about me and Jake are my friends, and they’ve probably assumed it’s over after nothing happened at Daphne’s wedding.

Maybe it is over.