to fire you.”
“Me, either.”
He urged her to sit at the kitchen table, then tell him what had happened.
“It was awful,” Mackenzie said, wiping away tears. “She fired me and told me to get out. Just like that. I didn’t know what to do. So much for being the daughter of the heart.”
“She was in shock. She’ll come around.”
“You really believe that?”
He hesitated. “Maybe.”
Despite everything, she managed to smile. “You are so lying.”
“Just a little. I am sorry.”
“I know. Me, too.”
She told him what had happened with Lori.
“That almost shocks me more,” he admitted. “I’ll go talk to her.”
“Don’t. It’s done now. I guess she and I weren’t friends. I can handle it. If Stephanie turns on me, I’ll have a big problem, but I can deal with Lori not being a fan.”
Rhys took her hands. “How can I help?”
“Listening is big. Thank you. And it would be nice if you got my personal stuff from my desk at the office.” She tried to smile. “At least I have more time to work on buying Painted Moon. Oh, and I need to find a place to live.”
“No. You’re staying here, just like we agreed.”
“Rhys, no. It will make trouble with your mom.”
He grinned. “All the more reason to stay. Look, you and Bruno are paying cash for the winery, so you can close in a couple of months. Stay here until then.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Before she could say anything else, Stephanie raced into the kitchen.
“I just saw your text. Mom fired you? How could she?” she demanded, hurrying over to Mackenzie and hugging her. “Are you okay? How can I help? It’s early to start drinking, but I’m all in if you want to go that route.”
Mackenzie felt a little of her fear fading. “All I need to know is that we’re still friends.”
“Always.” Stephanie sat next to her and grabbed her hand. “Best friends. Come on, I’m not going to let my mother get between us. Who do you think I am? Lori?”
Mackenzie found herself laughing and crying. “Never that.”
“I’m here,” Stephanie told her. She waved at Rhys. “Go back to work, big brother. I’ve got this.”
He nodded and stood. “Text if you need anything.”
“I will.”
When he had left, Stephanie leaned in. “So I’m thinking we find a witch and make a voodoo doll of my mom.”
“I don’t think witches do that sort of thing.”
“Whatever. Come on. We’ll go online and search for mystical revenge. That should bring up some really fun websites.”
Mackenzie hugged her. “You’re the best.”
* * *
Barbara sat at her desk, trying to catch her breath. She felt as if the room had started spinning, and she couldn’t make it stop. Fury welled up inside of her, making her want to throw something, but under that was a growing sense of betrayal and panic.
Mackenzie was leaving! How was that possible? They were a team, they’d always been a team. The two of them and the wine and everything they’d done together. Mackenzie was Bel Après. Without her, there was nothing.
The bitch had betrayed them all and, yes, that had to be dealt with, but first, what was she going to do now? If Mackenzie left—
“She can’t,” Barbara said aloud. “I won’t let her. I’ll take her to court. I’ll have her arrested. I’ll do something!”
She reached for her phone only to realize her hands were shaking. Two attempts later, she managed to pick it up and place the call.
Giorgio picked up on the second ring.
“I was just thinking about you, my love,” he said, his voice full of affection. “But that’s how I spend most of my time, so I doubt the news is a surprise.”
At the sound of his voice, she started to cry. The action shocked her nearly as much as the news about Mackenzie—she never cried. Not once in twenty-six years. The last time she’d cried had been at James’s funeral. Standing there as they’d lowered his coffin into the ground, she’d vowed to be strong, and she had been—until this.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice thick with concern. “What happened?”
“I need you. Can you come to my office?”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it together.”
She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her, and hung up. She was still shaking, and her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she thought she might throw up.
She had to focus, she told herself. Start thinking about what this all meant and how to make the situation workable.