Page 15 of Twin Babies For The Grump

Tiff says, “We’ve got seven restaurants right now, and we’re talking about upping it to an even ten by the end of the year. There’s no way that I can start handling a winery on top of it.”

“You think the advertising company takes less time?”

“No, no, I didn’t mean that! I just— You know, I’ve been saying for years that you should settle down,” says Tiff.

Irritation curls through me. I know that she didn’t mean it that way, but sometimes, it’s hard not to take things a certain way. “I’m not going to settle down with someone, just because I’m not in San Francisco anymore. That’s not how it works.”

“I know, I know. Forget that I said anything about settling down.”

It’s hard to. Getting a family started is on my list. And considering I’m forty, maybe it should be higher up on the list.

But I won’t do that until I’m content with the rest of my life. The advertising company has felt a little stale lately, it’s true. Even Edward has noticed it. But does that really mean that I should make this switch?

“Think about the rest of it,” says Tiff. “Please?”

“I’ll think about it.” I pause, more frustrated than I had been before the call, and then I say, “I’ve got to get off here, Tiff. I’ll call you later.”

Her expression falls. “Alright. Just don’t wait too long, okay? Let me know what you decide—”

“And we can go from there, right, goodbye.” I click the button and end the call. And then I just sit there at the island counter for a long time, trying to sort out my thoughts.

That’s how the whole day goes, actually. The next one too. I don’t leave the house, I just look through old family photo albums and think about Dad and Mom and Delia Winery.

When the next morning rolls around, I’ve decided that someone needs to take over the family estate. I won’t let it get sold off to the highest bidder. Dad put too much of himself into that place. I have no choice but to go back to the winery and run it.

Easier said than done.

Tiff isn’t the only one that can’t split her time easily. But I’ve got a backup, something that she doesn’t.

My heels clack against the tile floor of the building as I make my way through the hall, and up to my office. Early morning sunlight casts through the window; no one else is in yet. Dawn is barely turned from pink to yellow outside, but I slide into my office chair and start up the computer all the same.

Last week, I had someone attempt a buyout on Bale Enterprises for a ridiculously large amount of money. I had dismissed it at the time, but now… Maybe I need to reevaluate my view. Fate works in funny ways, ways that I don’t expect.

The buyout is an act of fate.

Right?

My dad would have wanted me to give the winery my all. I should have been doing that from the start, from the moment Dad started to get up in years. Guilt twists in my chest and my lips thin out, but I try to crush those thoughts.

If I wasn’t meant to be moving to Napa Valley and running the company head-on, I wouldn’t have gotten the buyout offer.

Simple as that.

“Come on, don’t second guess it,” I tell myself, pulling up the email. “You know that things happen for a reason. Thisisthat reason.”

So I email them back and take the offer; I decide, once and for all, that it’s time to leave.

Of course, it’s not that easy. The email sets into motion a whirlwind of activity, both at home and in the office. I have to hire a company to pack the penthouse, and I have to make arrangements so that Edward’s going to have somewhere to stay out in Napa.

I need to inform my employees and friends, the people I’ll leave behind.

The company transfer will take a few days, figuring out what fine print gets put down. I don’t want my name on a company that goes under, but I don’t want the buyers to take all the fame for what I’ve built. But I also don’t want to delay the funeral, so I take all measures to speed things up.

The more I think about it, the more I’m looking forward to getting out of the city and having a cold glass of wine.

Chapter Six

Tess

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