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“Antonio Christopher Grado.”
Oh shit.
My mother, on speaker, did not sound pleased. When she said my name like that, I felt like I was twelve and not twenty-eight.
“Yes, Mom?” I was in Min’s office writing “News from the Vine” for the wine club. My sister wanted me to do it at least once a month, and now that the harvest was over, I had a second to breathe and work on my to-do list. But it seemed it would have to wait a little longer.
“Ninety-four points? Your first big write-up inWine Advocateand you don’t think to tell me?”
“It’s been crazy around here.”
“Neo...”
I gave up on the laptop. The newsletter would have to wait. “So we’re trying not to ruin your vacation with work talk, remember?”
“First of all, this isn’t work talk. This is me being a proud mom.”
“And second of all?”
I looked up as Min walked in, clearing her throat to get my attention.
“There is no second of all,” Mom said. “Hi, Min.”
“How the hel—heck did you know I just walked in?”
“I could hear you clear your throat. Do you still have that cough?”
Min looked at me as if to ask,How does she mind-read?As if I knew.
“A little bit. I’m fine.”
"You know, Min, you could’ve told me about Neo’s write-up too,” she scolded. Min made a guilty face. I smiled, happy not to be the only one in trouble here.
“To be fair, we were preoccupied with the festival. Who told you?”
“Grant at Aonair. He congratulated us when we walked in.”
“Are you still there? Tell him I said hello,” I said. “And that the next time I get out to Napa, Aonair will be my first stop.”
“Will do. I better go. Just wanted to call—”
“And yell at me?” I teased, though only half kidding.
“And congratulate you,” she said. “Dad and I are so proud—oh! I almost forgot.” She was so much like my sister, with her abrupt changes in subject, it was scary. “Brooke told me about Sarah Gibson. That’s so exciting.”
“But putting the cart before the horse,” Min said, attempting to shove me out of her seat. “She’s put the Finger Lakes on her short list apparently, but there’s no guarantee she’ll come here.”
“I have faith Brooke will make it happen.”
Since my brother’s girlfriend had become Grado’s full-time marketing director, she had worked wonder after wonder. She and Cosimo were a powerhouse for sure.
“Agreed,” I said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”
“Up,” Min said. “I need to get some paperwork done.”
“Geez, can you give me two seconds?”
“One, two.”
