Almost Forever by Kathy Clark

take care of her and to make her smile again. It had nothing to do with her outward beauty, because inside she was clearly so much more complex and vulnerable than Mark ever gave her credit for—or maybe any other man, for that matter.
    “I should have packed up and left, knowing what I did. But I loved his family and this vineyard, and I wasn’t ready to let go of the fantasy life and future I’d let myself dream up.”
    “What’s next for you?” he asked gently.
    She wiped the tears off her cheeks. “I’m assuming things won’t change much around here.” She paused. “I suppose there should be a funeral. When will he be…released?”
    “I’m not sure. Probably soon. I think they’ve gathered all the evidence they can from his remains.” He glanced around. “Where’s your daughter?”
    “She’s spending the night with her friend from school. They went to the new Disney movie in town.”
    He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’d better get going. I want to visit the crime scene this afternoon.”
    Lori sat up straighter. “Can I go with you? I haven’t been there since…” She shrugged. “I can’t remember the last time I was on that side of the fence.”
    “Are you sure you want to?”
    “Maybe I’ll see something you would miss.”
    Justin didn’t think that was likely, but the thought of spending more time with Lori, even doing something as bizarre as visiting her dead husband’s makeshift grave, excited him. “We have to drive around the back way.”
    “I have a better idea. Come with me.” She took a drink of lemonade, then stood.
    Again she led the way, but instead of returning to the main building, she veered off toward what appeared to have been a stable at one time. Mackenzie had mentioned that they used to have horses. Lori pulled open both of the double doors and gestured toward two ATVs.
    “Not what I was expecting,” Justin commented.
    “Mark had a couple horses, but I couldn’t afford to keep them. Mackenzie has been after me to get her a pony, but animals require a lot of time and money. And I don’t have extra of either.” She took a cowboy hat off a hook and put it on before she swung her leg over the padded seat and sat down.
    Justin mounted the other one and settled his hat more firmly down on his head. “I know a lot about horses. I’d be glad to help you find one for her.”
    She flashed a grateful smile at him. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that when the time is right.”
    “My grandmother would tell you that nothing teaches a kid responsibility like taking care of an animal they love. We always had ponies and dogs when we were growing up.” He turned on the key and started the engine, and Lori did the same. He let her lead the way as they rode single file through the doorway and to the vineyard. The aisles between the vines were big enough for only one vehicle at a time, so the ride continued with no conversation until they stopped at the edge of a small pond that was surrounded by rocks. Bubbles disturbed the surface as the clear, pure water pushed up from an aquifer far below.
    She cut off the engine, and he followed suit. “This is what makes this land so valuable.”
    “Crystal Springs, I presume.”
    “It has the cleanest, best-tasting water I’ve ever drunk…and it’s free.”
    The pond was between the acreages dedicated to grapevines and olive trees, and Justin looked around to get his bearings. “How many acres do you have here?”
    “Forty in grapes and five in olives. I added all the olive trees about five years ago after taking a class at UT. Olive oil is getting to be a big business. I want to add flavored olive oil to the tasting room and, of course, in the gift shop. The crop this year will be my first, and I’m pretty excited about seeing how it turns out.”
    “How many trees?”
    “Six hundred. This was my proof-of-concept grove.” Her gaze swept over the full, healthy trees proudly. “I’ve got five more acres if it proves