Page 48 of The Promise Of You

“Meaning…?”

“Not made with grapes, but with blueberries.”

“That’s… interesting. It tastes just like a… different wine.”

“I know!” She starts telling me about her plan to create a vineyard on the farm, and her current explorations into the different forms it could take. Including a cidery. And blueberry wine. Or a straight-up blueberry farm within her parents’ farm. “I’m just struggling with the concept. I don’t want to exclude anything. I want to explore. But I can’t call it a winery if I’m making beverages that are not from grapes. Right?” She looks around for help.

Grace widens her eyes.

Kiara says, “Just get started. Once whatever it is you’re doing comes into existence, you’ll find the name.”

“I don’t know,” Haley mutters. “I feel like an all-encompassing name would help.”

“How about a fermentory,” I suggest. “‘The Fermentory,’” I add with air quotes. “The King’s Fermentory.” Ideas start flowing. “The Princess Fermentory.”

Haley looks at me with awe. “Put a pin on all that. I looove it. It’ll be called The Fermentory.” She makes a big sweeping gesture like she’s seeing the sign already. “And we’ll have vintages or reserves that will be “The King’s, The Queen’s, The Princess’s, etc. Woohoo!”

“So when is this happening?” I ask.

Haley’s shoulders sag. “Someday.”

Kiara rolls her eyes. “Right now, only in her dreams,” she tells me. “You’re not getting any younger,” she says to Haley. “Get on it, sister.”

Grace has a small smile. “I can’t imagine the work and the investment that must be.”

“I can visualize it now. You know what that means? It will happen,” Haley declares.

“Does that mean if I visualize the restaurant’s street seating it will materialize?” I half joke.

“It might,” Autumn says. “What are you seeing?”

I think about this. “I don’t yet have a vision—literally—for what the place should be. I’d want something relaxed but with a chic feel. Laid back but still making people feel special. It would help if I knew the area a little better.”

“Makes sense,” Haley says. “I’m your guide if you want to explore.”

“Careful! I’ll take you up on that.”

“I sure hope so.”

The rest of the evening goes by real fast. People stop to say hello to the girls and welcome me to Emerald Creek. Everyone wishes me success. At some point Grace and I slide out of the booth to use the restrooms. As we’re washing our hands, I notice a wooden box with a sign that reads, “Leave what you can, take what you need.” Curious, I open it and see bills—some folded, some rumpled, some crisp—and loose change.

“What’s up with the cash in that box?” I ask Grace.

She adds a bill to the small stash. “It’s Justin’s way of helping people who are too proud to ask,” she says like it’s no big deal.

“Wow, that’s…” Thoughtful. And helpful. I settle for, “clever.” I dig into my handbag and add my own contribution. “No one steals anything?” I ask as we leave.

“Why would they do that? It’s neighbors helping neighbors without making them look like a charity case. Anyone who would take from those boxes without needing it would have a meeting with karma real quick.” She says that like it’s common sense, and god it feels good to hear. It restores my faith in humanity.

And maybe a little bit of my faith in Justin, for doing that.

“The nursery at Dewey’s Hollow is having a summer sale,” Haley tells me when we get back to the table. And after that, we could hit The Grange.”

“What’s the Grange?”

“Oh I loooove the Grange,” Autumn says. “Always great finds there. Let’s all go tomorrow!”

“I’ll have to pass,” Grace says. “Everyone’s booking facials and pedicures. Getting all spruced up for summer.”

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