“My wife’s idea. She was from Colorado and missed the mountains. It was our compromise when I moved back here to help my father run the vineyard when he was ill. Building this house made her happy for a while.”
Did that mean she was unhappy? She wanted to ask more but knew it would be too nosy. “Texas is a big change from Colorado.”
He laughed. “You think?”
He slowed and started walking. “You okay to walk the rest of the way? I did five, and my legs are protesting.”
Praise Jesus. She didn’t know how much farther she could have gone. Daphne slowed to a walk, wiping sweat from her brow and trying not to sound like Jason beneath the hockey mask with her breathing. “This is good. Those hills . . . whew. Killer.”
Evan smiled, and that grin did something to her stomach. The man was incredibly good looking. “Heather grew to appreciate Texas, but she never got over the heat. I lost her a few years ago, you know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I am, too. Especially for Poppy. She misses her . . . or at least she misses having a mom. Heather suffered from depression. I mean, I know you probably already guessed as much.” He gave her a cryptic look.
Daphne did not guess that. How was she supposed to infer that his wife’s death was related to depression? Had she committed suicide? The thought was horrific, and she didn’t know quite what to say. So she said nothing.
“Sorry I took the conversation in that direction. We were having a good time.” He physically shook himself and pasted a smile on his face. “So how is your daughter enjoying her weekend? I hope everything is meeting her expectations?”
Daphne couldn’t very well admit her daughter was so complicated she needed a road map to discern Ellery’s emotions. There were times she knew Ellery enjoyed herself. Like last night when Josh had finally arrived and then doted on her the entire meal, even spooning the hazelnut crème brûlée into her mouth and insisting she have an extra dessert. Ellery had finally looked pleased and reverted to her former glittering self. Daphne had found great pleasure in Ellery laughing and enjoying herself.
When Daphne had slipped off to bed, she’d glimpsed Ellery’s gang clinking glasses in the bar—Clay with them, thankfully unaware she’d peeked in. All looked to be laughing and happy. Daphne had hit the pillow comforted by the thought the weekend might turn out to be successful. Rex had even paid for the meal last night, which had been a nice surprise. “We surprised her with this destination, so she didn’t really have expectations, but she’s really enjoying it. We are doing the tour of the winery today and a tasting. I think everyone’s looking forward to that.”
“I’m so glad you came, Daphne. I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.”
“I’m really glad to be here.”
Evan looked inordinately pleased at her remark. “Okay, so we have a couple of tour guides, but I’ll make sure you get Gage ’cause he’s the best. He truly has a feel for the whole process of wine making. I’ve been trying to talk him into staying here and making One Tree Estates his career, but he’s been here longer than intended and has his own dreams. I don’t know much about what he does because I’m not a gamer. I played Tecmo Bowl back in the day, and that was about it.”
Daphne smiled. “I don’t even know what that is.”
Evan laughed. “You didn’t miss much.”
They’d stopped by his mailbox. “I better go. Poppy just woke up.”
“How do you know?”
He twisted his wrist, and she saw his Apple Watch. “I have a camera in her room. This button blinks when there’s movement. That allows me to go out for a jog each morning. Poppy knows how to use Alexa to call me. I got one for her room.”
“That’s smart. The things you can do with technology, huh?” Daphne said, impressed with his attention to detail. The waitress had said as much yesterday morning.
“See? That’s her now.” At that moment his watch lit up. Evan pressed a button. “Morning, pumpkin.”
“Morning, Daddy. Where are you?” a sleepy voice asked.
“Right outside your window talking to Dee Dee O’Hara,” he said, giving Daphne a wink.
The whole thing was so sweet that Daphne’s heart warmed. Or perhaps that was because she was sweating beneath her three-quarter-zip pullover. Either way Evan McCallum intrigued her