Page 11 of Twin Babies For The Grump

I wouldn’t call my years at the winery as actual work, but I know how that business is run very well. Or at least, how it used to, almost twenty years ago.

“Tiff was never interested in it,” I admit. “You need to love the place to run it. It’s your whole life.”

“You’re very good at making work your whole life,” says Edward.

“Sure. But I’ve made this my whole life.” I gesture around me, at the car, at the pile of papers brought home from work. “Bale Enterprises has always been my baby.”

“I wouldn’t call it a baby,” says Edward, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. “I would call it a vampire. It’s very consuming.”

I let out a harsh laugh. Edward always knows exactly what to say to bring me out of my funks. “Are you saying that my company is draining the life out of me?”

Edward hums.

“You know, this business is the only reason I can sign your checks,” I point out, with a click of my tongue.

“Blatant lies,” says Edward. “You could pay me in full right now, and it wouldn’t even make a scratch in your savings. I’m well aware of your worth, Owen, and I’m well aware of the fact that it’s not linked solely to this company.”

Fair points.

The winery gave me a strong start. And I’ve amassed a large fortune of my own over the years, to go with that. I could never work again for my entire life and wouldn’t have to worry.

Ever.

But that just makes my decision even less clear. I love what I do, but I don’t need to keep doing it. Bale Enterprises has been my life for twenty years. And with my father gone and the vineyard waiting for someone to come take care of things…

Maybe it’s time for me to at least consider making a change.

Chapter Four

Tess

WelcomebacktoNapaValley, I think to myself, as I step out of the airport.

My gaze sweeps through the parking lot, easily spotting the bright yellow punch buggy that’s come to pick me up.

Adela is in her late fifties, and she never outgrew her hippy phase. Her long, blonde hair is held back with a bright orange headband, the bright orange crop top shows off her butterfly tattoo, and her bell-bottom jeans, while expensive, also look like they came straight from a photoshoot in the seventies.

She waves when she sees me, but she doesn’t look happy.

“You’re not smiling,” I say. The wheels of my suitcase rattle against the pavement behind me as I hurry toward her. “Why aren’t you smiling? You’re always smiling.”

“Tess,” says Adela, “Breathe.”

“No, no, there’s no time for breathing. Seriously. I can take one look at you and tell that something is wrong.”

Adela looks away and then admits. “It’s Thomas. He passed away yesterday. Robert found him in the study. It looks like he must’ve had a heart attack.”

I gasp, dropping my suitcase handle and covering my mouth with both hands. “No!”

“I’m so sorry,” says Adela, wrapping me in a tight hug. “I know that you two had gotten close this past year. If it means anything, they don’t think that he suffered. They think that he just… It was painless, that’s what Robert said. He’s still at the winery. I think that he’s waiting to talk to you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re the closest thing to an acting manager we have. And the news crews are coming in starting tomorrow,” says Adela. “They’re going to want a statement on how the winery is going to handle things.

“Shit.” I race around to the trunk and pull the hatch to pop it, then heft my suitcase into the back. “Okay, okay. This is— We can manage this.”

“You have a lot of work to get through,” says Adela, sliding in behind the wheel.

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