Page 77 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

“All in all, you’re both lucky,” he said to Kayla. “Good thing you were driving a Volvo.”

Kayla nodded numbly, sat beside Rosie, and put her arm around her. “We’ll get you home and help you rest.”

“Why don’t I drop Rosie and Lori off at your house and come back here to help you with your car, while you talk to the police,” Griff said to Kayla.

“I can drive your car to Rosie and Kayla’s place, if that will help,” Lori said.

“Yes. That will save time,” said Griff, handing her a set of keys to his Jeep. “I’ll call Pete to come get us.”

Though Rosie acted dazed, she gave her a lopsided smile when Lori told her she was taking her home.

Kayla gave Rosie a hug. “Lori will help take care of you until I finish up here. Be sure to keep your arm and shoulder still, even in the sling.”

Lori led Rosie to Griff’s Jeep and helped her inside.

After getting behind the wheel, Lori turned to Rosie. “Better give me directions.”

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Lori pulled into the parking area of the apartment complex on Solano Avenue and got Rosie to the apartment she shared with Kayla.

Inside, Lori helped Rosie to the couch in the living room. “What can I get you? Water? Soda?”

“I’d love some ice water,” said Rosie. “I’m glad you’re here. I want to talk to you about the store. A big order is being delivered tomorrow for our weekend open house event taking place in Napa. Will you and Cristina be able to open the boxes, put the items in our inventory, and arrange them on display?”

“Yes, I’m sure we can do that. Cristina knows inventory routines, and I can display the items.”

“The display is a lot like what we talked about. You’ll see where everything should go,” said Rosie, trying to stifle a yawn.

“You’d better lie down. I’ll bring you some water, and you can rest. I’ll stay right here until Kayla comes,” said Lori.

She poured a glass of water, gave it to her, and pulled a blanket up over Rosie, who’d begun to shiver in response to all she’d been through.

While Rosie catnapped, Lori sat in a chair, lost in thought. Seeing the EMTs, remembering the times she’d had to call them to help get Nick off the floor, her eyes filled with tears. It had been such an awful time that seemed to go on forever with an ending everyone expected.

Lori checked to make sure Rosie was all right and then went onto the balcony outside the apartment. From this side of the building, she could see the hills in the distance. She loved this part of the country. She thought of her family waiting for her to return home. She owed them for all the ways they’d helped her, though these last two days in California would be difficult for many reasons.

###

Later, Griff and Lori sat in the kitchen of the main house at Adeline Hills Winery eating a cheese omelet Lori had put together.

“Even though you didn’t get to all the places I wanted you to see, I hope you saw enough to know how outstanding Napa nightlife can be,” said Griff.

“I like Napa and your friends,” said Lori. “I was there long enough to see how much fun it could be.”

“Thanks for helping Rosie tomorrow. Knowing you were there meant a lot to her. She promised me the store would be ready for this weekend,” said Griff.

“Having Cristina work with me will help a lot. Together, we’ll get the job done, no matter how long it takes,” said Lori.

“I like how you can easily adjust to changed plans,” said Griff. “Growing grapes and making wine is filled with variables.”

Lori sighed. “Life itself is always changing.” She had no idea how she’d come to regret those words.

###

Lori lay in bed the next morning, reviewing the day ahead in her mind. After a quick breakfast of coffee and toast, she’d head to the wine-tasting center and the store. Rosie mentioned that deliveries usually start to arrive by nine o’clock, including two big deliveries from rush orders for items with the winery logo on them.

Before starting the day, she took a few moments to savor the memories of lovemaking with Griff. He was such a generous, passionate man.