Page 17 of Twin Babies For The Grump

I can’t help asking, “And you know him?”

The thought of having a new boss take over is not helping with the stress. I don’t know what kind of person he is or how much he knows about the business. Thomas had mentioned his children a couple of times, but they have not visited the estate since I started working here.

“Oh, sure. I mean, it’s been a few years but—”

“Does he know what he’s doing with this place?” I ask. “Shit, that sounds awful. I just mean, do you think he’ll be able to handle Grapefest and everything else?”

Adela thinks about it. We walk in silence while she does. Eventually, she says, “It’s been a long time since we saw each other in person, but Thomas said that Owen has a great sense for business. He used to work here when he was younger, I think. So he’ll probably be able to keep track of things out here just fine.”

She gives me a smile and adds, “We just need to make sure that he has the right help.”

“I’m worrying for nothing, you can just say it,” I tell her, laughing.

“You’re worrying because you love the winery,” says Adela. “And that’s not a bad thing. But I’m sure Owen loves this place too. Who knows? You two might end up being a dream team!”

Maybe, I think.

And even if we aren’t a dream team, I think that I’ll settle for us getting along well enough to bring victory to the winery during Grapefest.

Chapter Seven

Owen

AsEdwarddrivesmetoward the farm, I can see in the mirror the way that his expression changes when we curve onto the dirt road that peels through the countryside.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

“I’m glad you’re sticking with me,” I tell him.

“Did you think I would turn down the offer of you buying me a house? I’m old, Owen, not senile.”

I laugh, rolling down the window and letting in a blast of fresh air. “You aren’t that old.”

“I’m plenty old.” Edward takes the cue and turns down the radio. “Are you nervous?”

I snort. “Do you think I get nervous?”

“I think that this is very different from what you’ve spent the last twenty years doing,” says Edward. “Not a nightclub or bar in sight.” A pause. “I’m concerned about you living on the property. You can’t stay at work twenty-four seven.”

“You don’t need to be concerned about me.”

“You haven’t been home—”

“Before midnight in weeks,” I repeat. “I know, you keep telling me that.”

Another reason why I can’t help but feel as though this change of setting might be fate. I had gotten to a point where I just never turned off work. It’s part of why I didn’t come out here very often.

My own hubris bit me in the ass with that; I will never be able to get back the time that I didn’t spend with my father.

But maybe it’s exactly the shake-up that I need, to remember how to function as a normal person with a genuine balance between work and personal life. It’s going to be hard to stay at the office all night when there is no office. At least that’s what I keep repeating to myself all these days.

Plus, there’s Tipsy and Blanc to think about.

Speaking of…

“Do you like dogs, Edward?” I ask.

Edward gives me a very unamused look through the rearview mirror. “I’m a driver, sir. I do not dog sit.”

---