The Sparkling One

15

As Zach drove along the road leading to the hacienda, he could see changes from his last visit. The leaves on the vines were bigger and darker green. At some point the grapes would begin to form. Later they would be picked and, through some process, be turned into wine. That pretty much exhausted his knowledge on the topic. Maybe he should ask Katie for a few of the details, the next time he saw her-assuming she didn’t kick him in the head first.

The actual seeing would be in a matter of minutes, he reminded himself. She was supposed to be at the hacienda. For reasons of physical safety, he’d considered messengering the papers to Brenna instead of delivering them by hand, but he refused to be chased off by a woman. Especially not one he found charming, sexy, and a worthy adversary. Besides, he’d seen her naked.

The latter thought made him smile…and want. The memory of her anger, not to mention her accusations that he’d made up the story about David kissing Julie, tempered his pleasure. He understood why she didn’t trust him, but he didn’t like it.

Zach pulled his car to the side of the hacienda, then stepped out into the warm spring afternoon. Brenna met him at the front door. For once she didn’t look as if she’d been blindsided.

“Hi,” she said, sounding surprisingly cheerful. “I swear I’m going to start driving down to L.A. to get my own papers. I feel bad about making you come all this way.” She took a step back to let him in the house.

“I don’t mind,” he said, following her inside. “Grandma Tessa invited me to dinner. How could I resist?”

“Her pasta has that effect on people.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the sitting room, then closed the door to the foyer. After glancing around the small space, as if checking to see that they were alone, she spoke.

“Here’s the thing. Francesca and I have come up with a plan.”

“I get nervous when clients have plans.”

“No. This is a really good one. Remember I told you about Jeff’s call? That he said he’d back off on wanting a piece of the winery if I backed off on repayment for putting him through school?”

“Sure, but his lawyer denies Jeff ever made that call. It would be your word against his.”

“The man’s a sleaze and his word can’t be trusted. Which is why we have to get him another way.”

She quickly outlined a plan of setting up Francesca to “chat” with Jeff in a bar. “He’s always had a thing for her. So we’re hoping he’ll get drunk, say more than he should, and we’ll have him on tape.”

Zach was willing to give her points for creativity, if nothing else.

“Katie doesn’t want us to do it,” Brenna continued. “She says it’s tacky and probably illegal and that I’ll get hurt, but I think it’s brilliant.”

“She’s right about the illegal part. As your lawyer I have to tell you that it’s not something you should do. The law frowns on that sort of thing. There’s also the can of worms you could be opening. Do you really want to hear Jeff coming on to your sister? Is that going to make you feel any better?”

Brenna shook her head. “You sound like Katie, which is both weird and unattractive. But I know what you mean. What she meant. Do I want to know exactly how horrible Jeff is?”

“I’d think about it.”

“Fair enough. But assuming I want to go forward with it, do you think it will work?”

“As your lawyer-”

She rolled her eyes. “Zach, be a regular guy for once. It’s not like I don’t know you slept with my sister.”

He took a step back and bumped into the sofa. He hadn’t blushed since he was about fourteen, but he would almost swear he felt heat climbing his neck.

“She didn’t”-he swallowed-“Katie-”

“Spilled the beans. Details and all. We were trés impressed.” Brenna laughed. “Stop looking so horrified. I’m teasing. She said you guys did it and that was all. Despite the large quantities of wine we had all consumed, she kept to generalities. Neither Francesca nor myself would be able to pick you out naked in a lineup.”

“Great.” He might never have had a sibling, but if he had, he doubted he would have shared this much of his life with him or her.

“Now that I can blackmail you in front of my grandmothers, answer the question. Do you think my plan to use Francesca against Jeff will work?”

“Brenna, I can’t commit-”

“Yes or no?”

He grinned.

She clapped her hands together. “I knew it!” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re the best. Now go be tortured by my grandmothers. I’m going to call Francesca and tell her it’s on.”

Brenna hurried out of the sitting room. Zach followed more slowly. While he applauded her ingenuity, he hoped her plan didn’t jump up and bite her in the ass.

He headed for the kitchen, then stopped when he spotted Katie in the living room. He entered through the arched doorway and found her sitting on the floor. Stacks of beaded lace flowers stood in piles all around her. As he watched, she counted out groups of ten and placed them next to those already counted. With each group of ten, she made a note on the pad of paper resting on her right thigh.

He glanced around the room. Bags of lace flowers stood by the rust-colored leather sofa. Small containers of beads cluttered together on the glass-and-wood coffee table.

Plans for the wedding, and the dress, were moving forward. He’d expected to have it stopped by now. But David and Mia hadn’t broken up, and the wedding date crept closer.

A lace wedding gown lay draped over the loveseat. He frowned, not realizing Katie had already started sewing the dress.

“Hi,” he said as he approached. “They let me in the house. Want to run and grab the pepper spray?”

She turned toward him. For a second her expression didn’t change, and he wondered if she was still mad.

“I don’t think I’d go for anything that boring,” she said. “Instead I’d attack you with pruning shears.”

“Sounds painful.”

“At the risk of being rude, why are you here?”

He sat down. “I have some papers for Brenna.” He frowned as he realized not only had he left them in the car, but they hadn’t talked about them. “Grandma Tessa found out I was driving up and invited me to stay for dinner.” He leaned forward. “I’m in love with her cooking.”

“We all are.”

“Still mad?” he asked.

“Not at you. David’s not one of my favorite people.”

“He’s a kid.”

“He’s cheating on my sister.”

“Maybe it was just one of those things-cold feet, a last hurrah.”

She shook her head. “That hardly makes it all right. He’s cheating or just cheated that one time. Neither is acceptable.”

“So you believe me?” He wouldn’t have guessed that was possible.

“I finally realized you wouldn’t lie. You’re way too upfront for that. Why slip in a side door when you’re willing to blow up the main entrance?”

“An interesting metaphor choice.”

“I’m an interesting woman.”

“Yes, you are. Interesting, beautiful, exciting. Desirable.”

She grinned. “Zach, this is my grandfather’s house. You can’t possibly have sexual thoughts under this roof. If you do, your pride and joy will shrivel up to the size of a walnut.”

“That would be tragic for all of us.”

“I’m not going to say yes. You already think too highly of yourself.”

He smiled. “I’m not the one who was screaming that night.”

She ducked her head. “A gentleman would never bring that up.”

“I thought my bringing it up was the entire point.”

Her mouth twitched. “You’re evil.”

“I’m tempting. There’s a difference.”

He straightened and decided to give them both a break. Mostly because this was her grandfather’s house and he didn’t want to risk his dick.

He pointed at the piles of lace stacked around the room. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out where we are, numbers-wise, with the lace flowers. Everyone is complaining about being tired of beading, but we still have a long way to go.”

“When did you start sewing the dress?” he asked.

She frowned. “I haven’t. I’m thinking I’ll get it started next week. I made an under-dress first.”

He pointed at the finished gown draped over the love seat. “What’s that?”

She followed the direction of his finger, winced slightly, then ducked her head to focus her attention back on the lace flowers. “Inspiration. It’s an old dress Grammy M made. I wanted to study some of her workmanship.” She made two more piles of ten, then returned her attention to him. “So how are things with you?”

Maybe it was a trick of the afternoon light, but he would swear he could see flecks of gold in her brown eyes. She wore a sweater that hugged her curves, and tight black jeans. The combination made it difficult to follow the conversation.

“Great,” he said when his brain finally kicked in. “David and I had a long heart-to-heart. Things are better now.”

“I’m glad,” she said sincerely, then finished her counting with a sigh. “Just like I thought. We’re not keeping on schedule. I guess everyone has so much going on.” She grinned. “I don’t suppose now that you and David are speaking that you’d be willing to bead a flower or two?”

“Not a chance.”

She glanced at the doorway, then at him. “Any more news on Julie?”

“No. I haven’t seen her around, but I don’t see much of David.”

“I want to talk to Mia about it, but I don’t know how without telling her what you saw.”

“I’m having the same problem with him. I was thinking-”

Before he could continue, he heard voices in the hallway. Both grandmothers swept into the room. He rose automatically, then wished he hadn’t when he found himself hugged, kissed, and cheek-pinched. Grandma Tessa might not be twenty anymore, but she had a grip that could snap metal.

“You’re too skinny,” Grandma Tessa said, poking a finger at his midsection. “Working too hard, eh? Not getting proper meals. Katie, why aren’t you cooking dinner for Zach? He’s family. We have to take care of him.”

Rather than answer, Katie only smiled, but Zach saw her lips moving and suspected whatever she was saying would cause her grandmother to dive for her rosary.

Grammy M clapped her hands together when she spied the wedding dress draped over the love seat.

“Oh, Katie, did you show this lovely gown to Zachary? Lookin’ at it still brings a tear to my eye.” She brushed her hands over the lace. “Hours we spent on this, but it was no trouble a’tall. We knew our Katie would be a beautiful bride.”

Grandma Tessa muttered something in Italian. She turned her dark gaze on Zach. “I’ve been good all these years, never cursing that boy’s name, but I’ve been tempted.”

Katie stood up and grabbed the dress from Grammy M. “I got this out to study how beautifully you put it together, Grammy M. Not because I was feeling nostalgic. As for the curses, Grandma Tessa, don’t bother. All Greg is guilty of is changing his mind. That’s still allowed, right?”

Grandma Tessa didn’t look swayed by her argument. Zach studied the dress in question with renewed interest. So this had been made for Katie, much the same way she now painstakingly sewed a dress for Mia. With luck it would be unworn as well.

Grammy M sighed. “What will you be thinkin’, Zachary?”

Suddenly all the attention in the room telescoped on him. Trapped didn’t begin to describe the sensation. He could see many minefields and lots of pits, but few escape routes. He went for the truth.

“The dress is beautiful and the guy who walked out on Katie was an idiot.”

Tension eased between the women as the Grands exchanged smiles. Grandma Tessa winked broadly at Katie and not-so-subtly said they needed to leave “the young people to themselves.”

Katie watched them go, then turned to him. “Nice save,” she said, then sighed. “They make me crazy.”

“First of all, I was telling the truth. Second of all, you adore them.”

She smiled. “True enough. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have fantasies about being an orphan.”

“My father, Antonio Marcelli, was a second son,” Grandpa Lorenzo told Zach that night at dinner. “He could have worked the land in Italy, but he would never have been in charge. Sometimes a second son is content, but sometimes a fire burns in here.” He thumped his chest with a fist. “For my father, the fire grew until he had to leave all he had ever known and travel far away. He came here and found this place. It was 1923.”

Zach listened, fascinated as Grandpa Lorenzo detailed the history of Marcelli Wines.

“This was virgin land,” Grandpa Lorenzo continued. “He broke the land himself, with a little help. Then he planted the vines he had brought with him from Italy.” A smile tugged at the corner of his thin mouth. “He might have gone into France for a sample or two before coming here.” Then he chuckled and touched a finger to his lips to show that was a family secret.

Zach figured it would have to be. Stealing clippings from a vineyard had to be a serious offense.

“At the time he had a good friend. Salvatore Giovanni. He, too, was a second son. Their land is next to ours, stretching out in the opposite direction. Together the two men tended their crops and waited for God to work his magic. In time they sent for wives, and a dynasty was born.”

Zach frowned. The name Salvatore Giovanni sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Brenna, sitting next to him, leaned close.

“The Giovannis own Wild Sea Vineyards. We’re mortal enemies now. Don’t ask.”

He wondered how many times Grandpa Lorenzo told the story of the founding of the winery. The family would know every word by heart, yet he suspected they didn’t mind hearing the tale again. In time, when Lorenzo was gone, Katie’s father, Marco, would do the telling. And so it would continue through the generations. Perhaps the story would change, perhaps it would stay true to history. Regardless, the heart of the adventure would remain, reminding this family of who they were and where they had come from. He envied them that.

“You’re going to have to protect all this,” Lorenzo said, staring directly at Zach.

Zach straightened. “Me?”

“Against that jackal. Brenna’s husband. We won’t give him anything!”

Brenna leaned back in her chair and grinned. “Not to worry, Grandpa. Francesca and I have a plan.”

The old man looked interested.

Zach didn’t think Brenna should share the details with her parents and grandparents, but before he could make that suggestion, Katie tossed her napkin on the table.

“You can’t be serious about this,” she said. “Brenna, it’s awful. You’re going to be swimming in regrets.”

“I believe your exact words were tacky and illegal,” Brenna said. “But who cares, as long as it works?”

“What are you two talking about?” Marco asked. “Katie?”

She sighed and quickly filled him in on the basics of the plan.

Grandpa Lorenzo looked thoughtful, but Grandma Tessa appeared to have bitten into a lemon.

“Jeff said that about our Francesca?” She reached into her pocket and pulled out her rosary.

Brenna brushed off her comment. “So what? Now we can use this.”

“Katie, dear, what’re you objectin’ to?” Grammy M asked.

Katie sighed. “It’s illegal for one thing. And it’s just plain wrong. This puts the whole family on Jeff’s level. Let him be slime by himself. But the worst of it is, I think Brenna’s going to get hurt more. She can’t want to hear that Jeff is interested in her twin. I refuse to be party to cutting open another vein and watching her bleed.”

“We’re going to have to agree to disagree about this,” Colleen said. “Let’s change the subject.”

Katie nodded gratefully. She didn’t want to fight with her family. It was never a pleasant experience.

Her mother glanced at her father. “We have some exciting news. Marco and I are buying Mia and David a house.”

“What?” Brenna asked. “Why?”

“To help them. They’re young and just getting started.”

“They don’t need your money,” Zach said flatly.

Katie mentally winced. He wouldn’t like the implication that he couldn’t take care of his son.

Her mother turned to him. “Oh, Zach, please don’t take this the wrong way. There’s a small house that just came up for sale. It’s on the edge of the property, so they’ll have privacy but still be close. We know David and Mia have been having difficulties working out their plans for next year, after Mia graduates.”

Her father touched his wife’s hand. “UC Santa Barbara would be a good compromise for them.”

“You’re buying them a house?” Brenna said. “You didn’t buy Francesca and Todd a house. You didn’t buy me and Jeff anything. You said we were on our own.”

Marco frowned. “This is different, Brenna.”

“How?” Francesca asked.

Katie understood her sisters might think the situation was unfair, but that wasn’t what bothered her. “Have you discussed this with Mia? She’s really set on going to Georgetown.”

“Mia will do what’s right for the family,” her grandfather announced. “She’s a good girl. She’ll listen.”

“Then you don’t know your granddaughter,” Katie told him. “This is crazy. You can’t plan her life, or David’s. They have the right to decide where they want to go to school and where they want to live.”

Her mother didn’t look pleased with her stand. “We’re being more than generous.”

“You’ve got that right,” Brenna muttered.

“You’re being high-handed and dictatorial,” Katie said. “This is crazy, Mom. Why are you planning Mia’s life without even asking if this is what she wants? Which I happen to know it isn’t.”

“You don’t know anything,” her grandfather said loudly.

“Lorenzo has a point,” Grammy M said.

Katie turned on her. “You’re in this, too? Is it a conspiracy? Don’t any of you care about Mia?”

“The family,” her grandfather began.

“Screw the family,” Katie said loudly, then could have kicked herself.

There was a collective gasp as everyone turned to stare at her. Only Zach looked sympathetic.

Her grandfather pushed to his feet. “What did you say?” he demanded, his voice booming.

She was shaking inside. Shaking, but determined. She tossed her napkin on the table and jumped to her feet. “You heard me. You’re thinking of what you want, not what’s right for Mia. Don’t any of you care about her?”

“You mock the family. You disrespect all of us.”

“I don’t,” she told him. “I care about everyone. But I respect that each of us has the right to choose.”

“Either you support the family or you don’t,” Grandpa Lorenzo told her.

“I refuse to offer blind support to something I know is wrong. Mia is my sister and I love her. I’ll stand against all of you before I let you force her to do something that will break her spirit.”

Her grandfather began muttering in Italian. She knew what that meant.

She glanced around the table. “It’s always been this way with the family. There’s no room for personal opinion. There’s only ever one right way. One philosophy that fits. Grandpa’s. Sometimes that doesn’t work. You can’t force feelings. You can’t make someone want what you want. It’s wrong.”

“This has been decided.” Her grandfather glared at her. “You’re not a part of us. You’re no longer a Marcelli.”

Katie felt as if she’d been slapped.

“Pop, that’s enough,” Marco said. “Katie’s entitled to her opinion.” He glanced at his daughter. “Even if it’s wrong.”

Katie turned to him. “You’re getting to be just like him. You used to encourage us to think for ourselves.”

“That’s where he went wrong,” her grandfather said. “You should listen and do what you’re told.”

“Lorenzo!” her mother said. “Stop it. Katie will come around.”

“No, I won’t,” Katie said. She looked at Brenna. “While I’m being thrown out, I’m going to tell you one last time that you’re wrong about what you’re doing to Jeff. You may get what you want, but in the end you’ll regret it. And when you’re curled up and hurting, I’ll be there because I love you, even when you’re an idiot.” She turned back to her parents. “Don’t make Mia choose, because if she accepts that house, you’ll have lost her forever.”

“Get out!” her grandfather roared. “Never come back. You are not my granddaughter. You’re not anyone I want to know.”

Pain sliced through her. No one stood against him. Not one spoke up for her. She swallowed, then left the room.

Zach watched her go.

Marco faced his father. “That was unnecessary.”

“She needs to learn.”

“She already knows plenty,” Zach said as he stood. “She’s loyal, loving, and a whole lot more caring than any of you deserve.”

He tossed his napkin on the floor and headed toward the kitchen. From there he walked outside and found Katie seated on the bottom step.

He crouched next to her. “You okay?”

She shook her head.

He pulled her arms away from her knees, and she raised her chin. In the light from the porch he could see the dampness on her cheeks.

“He threw me out,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “He’s never done that to me before. To Brenna and Francesca when they were teenagers, but I was always the good granddaughter.”

“He doesn’t mean it.”

“He does right now. Later he’ll calm down, but it may take a while. Besides, do you see anyone but you out here? They’ve all turned their backs on me. They’re wrong about Mia.”

Tears spilled from her eyes. Zach sat next to her on the step and held open his arms.

She hesitated, then leaned against him. He held her close. “They’ll come around. You were right. They’ll figure it out eventually.”

“Not for a long time. No one will call me. They won’t leave messages, they won’t check on me. I’ll be alone. It’s like being dead.”

He wanted to tell her that she was confident and capable, but knew that wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Instead he stroked her back and said it would be all right.

“When?” she asked.

“By Thursday.”

She laughed, then sniffed. “Promise?”

“No. I can’t promise that.”

She straightened. “I know. I appreciate you trying to make me feel better.”

“Is it working?”

“Some.” She glanced past him to the house. “They’ll talk about it among themselves. The Grands usually support me, but they want Mia and David to move close, so this time they won’t. Obviously my folks want that, too. Brenna and Francesca are already mad because of Jeff. Mia…I don’t know what she’ll think.”

“That you defended her.”

Katie looked at him. “It’s probably not enough to get her to stand against the family.”

“Why don’t you go back inside and talk to them?”

“I can’t. My grandfather said I wasn’t a part of the family. I’m not welcome back until that changes.”

More tears spilled onto her face. Zach brushed them away, then kissed her cheek.

“Want to ride home with me?”

“I can’t leave my car.”

“Then I’ll follow you home. I want to make sure you get there safely.”

She nodded and stood. “At least I didn’t bother unpacking my car.” She pulled her keys out of her pocket, then looked at him. “You’re missing dessert.”

“I’d rather be with you.”

“That’s really sweet.” She wiped the back of her hand over her cheeks. “I guess this whole scene kind of proves your point about relationships. Maybe you have the right idea about walking away before things get messy.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I know. I just hate this.”

He didn’t know how to help, so he put his arm around her and led her to her car. “Come on, Katie. Let’s get you home.”