Page 62 of The Spare

Now, with the heavy, protective warmth of Sam’s hand wrapped securely around mine, an unfamiliar thought slips into my mind. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t have to fight every battle by myself anymore.

But thinking thoughts like this is dangerous. Every day I’m inching closer and closer toward the end of our contract. And when that time comes, it will devastate me. Because try as I might, the walls I built are crumbling around me. And it’s a real problem.

Being infatuated with my husband was never supposed to be part of the deal.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sam

I sit at my desk in the vineyard office, head resting in my hands as I stare down at the harvest ledgers under the harsh desk lamp. It’s late. The estate is dead quiet, but my mind is spinning out of control, trying to drum up any possible way to increase revenue before the bank’s quarterly review.

The numbers on the page don’t lie, and right now, they’re brutal. We lost a lot more crop to the recent mold outbreak than I’d originally estimated, and the realization hits me like a physical punch to the gut. I’m actually going to have to consider purchasing from The Naked Grape.

I let out a harsh groan, leaning back and rubbing my face. Reaching out to Brandy is the absolute last thing I want to do. After the stunt she pulled recently, and the icy way Lexi addressed her, having to grovel to Brandy for fruit feels like swallowing broken glass. But if Sutter Creek doesn’t yield enough grapes, we won’t have the bottle inventory to survive another year. And there’s no way I’m asking Alexis to remain married to me in order to cash in on additional funds. Whether some miracle occurred, and she’d want to stay or not, it won’t be for money. It’s a matter of principle. I have to find a way to make this work on my own.

The heavy front door of the office clicks open, interrupting my downward spiral.

I look up, expecting Shep, but instead, my mother steps into the room.

Great. Because that’s exactly what this day needs.

She glides toward me, looking entirely out of place amidst the smell of oak barrels and soil. “Working late, dear,” her voice is cool and unaffectionate as she stops on the other side of my desk.

“Always,” I reply, leaning back and folding my arms. “What are you doing out here at this hour?”

Mother sets a sleek leather clutch on the edge of my desk, unbuttoning her jacket. “I came to deliver some good news, actually.” My shoulders stiffen. When has my mother ever dispensed good news to me? Much less driven all the way out here from her over-the-top mansion on a hill to do it? “A high-end commercial developer reached out to me this afternoon. They made a very generous, firm offer to buy the lower acreage and develop the land.”

“No,” I bark, the word cutting through the room like a whip. “Absolutely not.”

Her eyes narrow a fraction, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Don’t be reckless, Sam. A sale like this would settle the estate’s immediate liabilities and leave us with a substantial profit. It’s the smartest way out of this mess.”

“A mess you and Dad created. It’s the easiest way out for you,” I snap, rising from my chair to face her.

She doesn’t even flinch. That’s the bitter truth about my mother. She has never held any emotional attachment to Sutter Creek. To her, this land isn’t Pop’s legacy, nor is it the soul of our family. It’s simply an ATM machine. She’ll have quicker access to the funds allocated to her if the estate sells. She has absolutely no qualms watching Sutter Creek dissolve into dry earth or asphalt as long as she walks away richer. If it’s up to her, she’ll sell to the highest bidder and cut her ties.

“This land isn’t for sale, Mother.” I try to keep my voice low, but there’s no hiding the venom. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

She studies me for a long, cold moment before picking up her clutch. “We’ll see about that,” she murmurs quietly before heading out of the door.

By 9:00 I head back to the main house, dragging my feet upstairs.

A long, hot shower may have washed the stench from a long day in the hot sun, but it does nothing to clear my head. Stepping out of the bathroom with a fresh shirt on, I check the bedroom. Lexi isn’t home yet. There’s no way I can relax after discovering the harvest deficit and meeting with Mom today, so I throw on a dark jacket and grab my keys from the nightstand. I can’t do anything about The Naked Grape issue tonight, so I might as well try to secure revenue another way.

I decide to head down to Ash & Olive to see if I can catch Jason before they close and pitch him on an exclusive Sutter Creek tasting event. I’m walking toward the front door when it swings open, and Lexi steps into the foyer, looking exhausted from her shift at the clinic. She stops when she sees me with my jacket on. “Going out?”

“Yeah.” I step closer, giving her a quick overview. “I’m trying to set up an event with Jason over at Ash & Olive. I can’t afford a real marketing team right now, so I’m doing this grassroots style. Figured I should try pitching local spots. I don’t know if it will work. But I need to do whatever it takes to drum up business.”

Lexi sets her bag on the bench, tilting her head thoughtfully. “You know… you don’t just have to rely on local bars. You have a massive, gorgeous property sitting right here.”

I pause, looking at her. “What do you mean?”

“Meaning you could host your own events,” she says, a small spark of enthusiasm cutting through her tired eyes. “I’ve seen other wineries hold scavenger hunts through the vines, Easter egg hunts for families in the spring, charity walks… even outdoor karaoke and movie nights. People love an excuse to come out to a vineyard, drink wine, and do something interactive.” Lexi smiles, placing a hand on her hip. “I can brainstorm a few more ideas for you if you want. We can figure out some events that might actually bring people straight to the source. Set up a calendar on our website encouraging visitors to enjoy the vineyard year-round.”

“You know, during our wedding, I kept thinking there was more we could do to attract prospective clients. After seeing what you were able to pull together on a moment’s notice, I wanted to sit down with you and brainstorm any thoughts you had that might be appealing to couples planning their events.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. I think we could do a lot with the space we have. Indoors and outdoors.”

We.