Page 132 of Just for Tonight

Opa is the delighted host, making sure everyone digs in, while my uncle Victor keeps the beer flowing. There are lights strung over the patio and some music playing, but mostly we talk and laugh together. Mrs. O’Neill has outdone herself with cakes and pies, filling an entire table with them once we’ve devoured the mains, and the big urn of coffee soon needs to be refilled.

I just sit, so relieved that the grapes are all in, waiting on Uncle Franz to bring the news. I can’t read his expression when he strides toward Opa, but Opa grins from ear to ear when Franz whispers the yield to him.

Opa claps his hands. “Everyone, everyone! We must celebrate. This year, we at Rhodes Vineyards celebrate our largest yield ever, and it’s all because of you!” There is a round of applause and some hooting, then my grandfather beams at me. “And mostly, it is because of Mackenzie, our head of viticulture, who took a chance on Mother Nature and brought in not just the largest harvest yet, but with one that looks as if it will have the highest sugar count to date. Sometimes, you have to follow your instincts and take a chance, instead of doing everything the established way. Mackenzie reminded us of that this year.”

There is more cheering and Uncle Franz gives me a thumbs up.

“And so, it is the perfect moment to make this announcement,” Opa says and everyone falls silent. I can’t help noticing that Jake looks like he is in on the secret, whatever it is. “A company needs leadership, leadership with a vision for the future, to ensure that it grows and becomes all that it can be. I am proud to see that Mackenzie has undertaken the training to contribute to the future of Rhodes Vineyards, and even more proud that her experience and training has culminated in this year’s superior harvest. Unlike the rest of you, I am growing no younger.” There is a ripple of laughter. “And I see this as the ideal opportunity to make a transition. I am retiring from Rhodes Vineyards, the company I founded and nurtured for most of my life, and promoting Mackenzie to CEO in my place.”

I gasp. My uncles nod approval and my grandfather smiles.

“Mackenzie is the logical heir and also the most qualified person to assume that authority.” He winks at me. “She knows she can always ask for my advice and I will give it, but she also has grown to the point that she knows when to ignore me. I had once thought the leadership would pass to her when I was no longer with you all, but I want to see what she accomplishes, too. Let us all raise a glass to Mackenzie, the new CEO of Rhodes Vineyards.”

I am patted on the back and my hand is shaken. Jake toasts me with a bottle of Red Stripe from the other side of the patio. I have a feeling then that there’s more in the wind, and a reason he’s staying over there. Glasses are filled and toasts are drunk until my grandfather claps his hands again.

“But there is more. We begin to pass the torch to the next generation in other departments as well: my grand-daughter Jennifer will be returning from her studies to take up the assistant vintner post here, working with Franz to craft wines for the future.” There is a cheer and I’m glad to learn this. I like Jennifer a lot and we’ve had some great chats about gaps in our product list.

But Opa isn’t done. “And there is yet more! Mackenzie not only loves a challenge, but she has a vision for this firm, one that I am happy to facilitate today.” He raises a hand and Ralph Graham steps out of the crowd, along with his wife Linda, both moving to stand beside my grandfather. I didn’t even know they were here. “Mackenzie has a vision of these vineyards extending to the east, into the land that has been the Graham farm for several generations. She loves that it has been worked organically. She imagines not only greater yields and higher production, but a visitor center and a restaurant. And this week, with the help of our neighbours, Cavendish Enterprises, that vision has moved closer to becoming a reality.”

Opa gestures again and Mike and Jake join him, standing opposite the Grahams. Everyone seems to know what this is about, everyone but me.

“There was a time not so long ago when we were at odds with the Cavendish family whose land borders our own. But today, our neighbours came to help in our moment of need and they work for beer!” Opa laughs and everyone joins him. “I hope they are available often in future,” he teases and Jake shakes a finger at him.

“One time offer,” he says and everyone laughs again.

“But it is more than that. It is a sign of cooperation, and a hint of a future based on mutual success,” Opa says. “For Patrick Cavendish had secured a right of first refusal for Cavendish Enterprises to buy the Graham farm. But Patrick’s sons came to me with a suggestion, an idea that we buy the farm together and divide it, ensuring our mutual success going forward. Cooperating instead of competing. Helping instead of undermining. Being stronger together than apart.”

It is Jake, of course, who has the map. It’s on a huge piece of board that the five of them hold together, like one of those giant cheques given at award presentations. We can all see the headquarters of Cavendish Enterprises on the left. Rhodes Vineyards in the middle, then the Graham farm, wrapping around the vineyards and abutting the Cavendish land to the north. Jake drops an overlay into place, which shows three planned greenhouses in a row across the north, then new vineyards for us in the southern part of the farm. The greenhouses, I know, will block the wind from the north and west, and reflect sunlight back on the fields. Those fields will be warmer and more productive than they would be otherwise. They’re smaller than the existing Cavendish greenhouses, though I don’t know why.

My grandfather is explaining. “And the true beauty of this plan is what you do not see. These greenhouses will be of a different design than the current ones operated by Cavendish. They each have a lower floor, almost like a basement, where mushrooms will be grown in the organic soil that the Grahams have cultivated for so long.” Ralph is clearly delighted about this modification. “Ralph and Linda’s daughter has been cultivating mushrooms under controlled conditions in Asia and will be returning to manage this part of the venture, which will be joint between the Grahams and Cavendishes. This entire project was only made possible with the assistance and experience of Mike Cavendish’s connections in Holland, who are developing this new greenhouse design along with us.” My grandfather looks even more like Santa Claus than usual. “This is what can happen, my friends, when we work together instead of being at odds with each other. This is how we build a future for everyone.”

Luke hoots and stands to applaud, leading everyone else to cheer and clap, too. Excited conversations break out all around us and people crowd forward to examine the map and ask questions.

I can’t believe it. I stay where I am, amazed that everything I wanted is falling into my lap. Even better, I know who made it happen.

Jake moved a mountain and he did it for me.

I feel the weight of a hand on the back of my waist and know it’s Jake. From the corner of my eye, I see him set aside the bottle of Red Stripe, then his other arm is around me, too. I smile when he bends and kisses the side of my neck. My grandfather is watching and he smiles secretly before he turns to speak to Mrs. O’Neill. I wonder how long he’s suspected the truth. He probably knew I was in love before I did.

I turn to Jake. “Thank you,” I say and he smiles. “You all saved the day.”

“No, I saved tomorrow, so I could have you to myself then.” His arms tighten around me and I lean against him as his mouth closes over mine. It’s a good kiss, a sweet hot one, and one that promises a lot more soon.

I can’t wait.

“Big mountain,” I say when we part.

“Maybe the biggest ever,” Jake agrees, his gaze searching mine. “How’d I do?”

“Depends why you did it.” I know this, of course, but I want to hear it.

“You know.”

“I do,” I agree. “But you haven’t said it.”

“Actions speak louder than words?”

“They do, but I want to hear the words too.”