Blush - Jamie Brenner Page 0,131

said.

She walked over to his side of the bed and reached for his hand.

“Come with me,” she said.

“Where?”

“Night swimming,” she said, fully anticipating his rebuff. To her surprise, he climbed out of bed. “Really? You’re coming?”

“As soon as I change into my trunks,” he said.

“Don’t change—let’s just be spontaneous.”

Again, he didn’t protest. Vivian hurried them both down the stairs and outside before he could change his mind.

The late-summer temperatures held in the seventies. In just two days it would officially be fall, and pretty soon after that Leonard would pull out the tarp for the season. It might be one of their last evenings by the pool.

Usually, she wondered where the summer had gone. But this year, she could account for every day, every hour of worry. Thanks to Leah, she could put that behind her. Leah, and also Leonard—for being open to change.

Untying her robe, she inhaled deeply. She felt a tremendous weight off her shoulders, and she knew it wasn’t just her newfound hope for financial stability; it was being unburdened of her secret about the baron.

Leonard pulled an upright chair to the edge of the pool. She pulled off her peignoir and waded into the heated water up to her shoulders.

“You really are in a spontaneous mood tonight,” he said.

“Come in—the water’s heavenly.”

Leonard hesitated. “I’m afraid I’m not as unconstrained as you, Vivian.” He smiled. “I’m just here to keep you company.”

She swam over to the side and held on to the ledge, looking up at him. He was more relaxed than she’d seen him in a long time. Deeply tanned, his white hair in need of a trim, he was as attractive to her as ever. What had led to her moment of betrayal all those years earlier? Maybe, like many women with young children, she’d felt her own needs become invisible. Maybe, because Leonard was consumed with the winery and shut her out of the decision-making, she’d felt neglected or bored or frustrated. Either way, it was one moment of weakness that she was just now able to put behind her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about what happened with the baron,” she said. “I was afraid. And I didn’t want to hurt you. And I didn’t want you to hate me. I just hope you know . . . that nothing like that ever happened again. I love you, Leonard. And I have since the first night I saw you.”

Leonard stood, and for a panicked second she thought he was leaving. But then he unbuttoned his pajama top and stripped down to his boxers before jumping into the pool with a splash. He surfaced, shaking his wet hair from his eyes.

“You’re right—the water’s perfect,” he said, swimming over to her.

“So much for you not being spontaneous,” she said, delighted. He touched her shoulder, his face turning serious.

The water rippled between them. She sensed her heart beating in her chest, her every breath feeling amplified like it always did in the pool.

“Vivian, I wish you’d told me sooner about the baron—not for my sake, but for yours. You didn’t need to carry this alone all these years. I’d have ended the partnership back then myself if you’d told me the truth—not to punish him, but to keep you safe. And I certainly never would have allowed him back. My biggest regret is that you felt you couldn’t confide in me, so I couldn’t do my most important job: taking care of you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m just thankful we didn’t lose the winery to him.”

Leonard leaned forward and kissed her. “You were right, what you said at the beginning of the summer: the vineyard is something we need to pass on to our family. To our children, and grandchildren, and their children, god willing.”

“And you think you can make that happen?”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I think we can make that happen.”

Vivian exhaled. Suddenly, it all made sense, every moment of struggle and doubt. It had all been leading to this moment, one of the happiest of her life, standing there above the fake stars. And looking up at the real ones she’d wished upon as a girl.

Sixty

Leah set her alarm for five in the morning, as she had been doing every day since harvest began. She dressed and made coffee in the dark kitchen, then made her way out to the vineyard, where she would inspect the fruit, on high alert for peak ripeness.

The morning was bright and