apron and ran to give her a big hug.
“You look even prettier today than you did in your white gown. So glad you took the time to come see our little project.”
“So this is where you two live?”
“Yes, we just moved in last month. The escrow has been opened. We’ve got a strict timeline to meet, and we’re spending more time on business plans and discussions about hiring staff with money we don’t have than actually making wine.”
“One good thing about grapes, they grow no matter what, as long as you give them enough water and tend them.” Zak held up his hands, showing off three fingers that were bandaged. “I can testify that cluster thinning is an art and a damned difficult one, too. Twelve-year-old Mexican kids work circles around me, and I don’t think they’ve cut themselves since they were old enough to prune.”
Amy laughed, slipping her arm around her husband’s waist. “Come on, Zak, they just don’t think you can see. You’ve lost your depth perception with only one eye.” She planted a kiss on his lips and then addressed Lizzie again. “They’re very superstitious, and the children are afraid of him.” She drew him to her side again. “If they only knew what a pushover he is, especially around a golf course.”
Lizzie wasn’t sure what inside joke this was, but she’d ask Jameson later. Zak was actually blushing.
“Come, let’s sit and have some coffee. I made some scones too.” Amy directed them to the hand-hewn dining table that could seat twelve easily. They occupied the four seats at the end, two across from each other. Zak and Amy waited on them with the coffee, adding the fresh blueberry scones and butter to the table.
After Zak sat down, he held the plate of scones to her. “You know, Coop and Libby brought their brood over here last weekend, and the staff called little Gillian “Diablita.” She was into everything and nearly caused a cascading wine bottle mishap that could have buried her.
“They must think we’re nuts,” said Jameson.
“True. Old Mr. Santos was apparently a very strange bird. He had a very public brawl with the next-door neighbor. You’d recognize him. He’s Marco Zapparelli. He directed all those zombie decapitation films.”
“Oh, Lord. Don’t ever tell Alex and especially Sydney. She turns into a wild woman-beast when she gets a whiff of a zombie movie.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Anyway,” Zak began, “Maybe we could do a run over there so I can show you what a world class operation looks like.”
“Yea, with someone who has millions to spend, which we won’t and probably never will have,” added Amy.
“From what I hear, it’s a trophy winery. It’s all about branding, finding your niche. That way they won’t mind so much if the wines aren’t good,” said Jameson.
“Except their wines have won shows all over the world. They’re really excellent.”
“LA County Fair? San Francisco?”
“Very good, Jameson. Yes, they’ve taken gold in both.” Amy winked at her.
Lizzie was surprised he knew so much about the business. “That’s very impressive.” He accepted her praise with a grin, followed by a kiss.
“You’re very impressive this morning, Mrs. Daniels,” Jameson murmered.
“Okay, you guys. Let’s keep it clean—for now!” Zak laughed, his arm around his wife. “It’s great to have you two here. Want you to work on those guys on your deployment, Jameson, get them to commit. We could do this. Not like the neighbor, of course, but with a little luck and some investment, I really think we got something.”
“I intend to. I think most of them are already in.”
“You thought up a name for the winery yet?” Lizzie couldn’t wait for the answer.
“Oh, sure. We’ve got Frog Heaven, or Haven. There’s Vintage Toad.”
“Vintage Trident?” Jameson offered.
“I like that!” Amy was animated.
They threw out some other names, most of them jokes, like Bottles and Bullets .
“You could do Pirate
“You look even prettier today than you did in your white gown. So glad you took the time to come see our little project.”
“So this is where you two live?”
“Yes, we just moved in last month. The escrow has been opened. We’ve got a strict timeline to meet, and we’re spending more time on business plans and discussions about hiring staff with money we don’t have than actually making wine.”
“One good thing about grapes, they grow no matter what, as long as you give them enough water and tend them.” Zak held up his hands, showing off three fingers that were bandaged. “I can testify that cluster thinning is an art and a damned difficult one, too. Twelve-year-old Mexican kids work circles around me, and I don’t think they’ve cut themselves since they were old enough to prune.”
Amy laughed, slipping her arm around her husband’s waist. “Come on, Zak, they just don’t think you can see. You’ve lost your depth perception with only one eye.” She planted a kiss on his lips and then addressed Lizzie again. “They’re very superstitious, and the children are afraid of him.” She drew him to her side again. “If they only knew what a pushover he is, especially around a golf course.”
Lizzie wasn’t sure what inside joke this was, but she’d ask Jameson later. Zak was actually blushing.
“Come, let’s sit and have some coffee. I made some scones too.” Amy directed them to the hand-hewn dining table that could seat twelve easily. They occupied the four seats at the end, two across from each other. Zak and Amy waited on them with the coffee, adding the fresh blueberry scones and butter to the table.
After Zak sat down, he held the plate of scones to her. “You know, Coop and Libby brought their brood over here last weekend, and the staff called little Gillian “Diablita.” She was into everything and nearly caused a cascading wine bottle mishap that could have buried her.
“They must think we’re nuts,” said Jameson.
“True. Old Mr. Santos was apparently a very strange bird. He had a very public brawl with the next-door neighbor. You’d recognize him. He’s Marco Zapparelli. He directed all those zombie decapitation films.”
“Oh, Lord. Don’t ever tell Alex and especially Sydney. She turns into a wild woman-beast when she gets a whiff of a zombie movie.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Anyway,” Zak began, “Maybe we could do a run over there so I can show you what a world class operation looks like.”
“Yea, with someone who has millions to spend, which we won’t and probably never will have,” added Amy.
“From what I hear, it’s a trophy winery. It’s all about branding, finding your niche. That way they won’t mind so much if the wines aren’t good,” said Jameson.
“Except their wines have won shows all over the world. They’re really excellent.”
“LA County Fair? San Francisco?”
“Very good, Jameson. Yes, they’ve taken gold in both.” Amy winked at her.
Lizzie was surprised he knew so much about the business. “That’s very impressive.” He accepted her praise with a grin, followed by a kiss.
“You’re very impressive this morning, Mrs. Daniels,” Jameson murmered.
“Okay, you guys. Let’s keep it clean—for now!” Zak laughed, his arm around his wife. “It’s great to have you two here. Want you to work on those guys on your deployment, Jameson, get them to commit. We could do this. Not like the neighbor, of course, but with a little luck and some investment, I really think we got something.”
“I intend to. I think most of them are already in.”
“You thought up a name for the winery yet?” Lizzie couldn’t wait for the answer.
“Oh, sure. We’ve got Frog Heaven, or Haven. There’s Vintage Toad.”
“Vintage Trident?” Jameson offered.
“I like that!” Amy was animated.
They threw out some other names, most of them jokes, like Bottles and Bullets .
“You could do Pirate
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