Page 13 of Vineyard Dreams

“What?” Harper asked, her own smile widening.

Elle looked away, her cheeks rosy. “I… Well, there had always been plans to expand someday, but it never really made sense, because it would mean picking up and starting over again somewhere else, somewhere that had more land. But now… Your land is there, unused. It was a dream of Stephanie’s, and I think it could work out nicely for both of us.”

Harper suddenly found herself blinking back tears. She’d already kind of come to terms with the idea that her father’s vineyard would never return to the way it was when Harper had grown up here. It was too much work for someone who had no idea what she was doing. But with Elle in charge? Now it was a possibility.

Elle reached across the table, her hand gently covering Harper’s. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down Harper’s spine. “I know it must have been hard for you, coming back here and finding your family’s vineyard like this,” Elle said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. “I want to help, Harper. I believe we can make this work. We can work out the details, but I was thinking that we could sign a lease. It’ll be official.”

Harper pressed her lips together. Elle was right to think that Harper would be apprehensive to put her trust in someone again. It wouldn’t hurt to have it all in writing.

Elle’s hand slid away from her own. “You can take some time to think about it. I just wanted to put the idea out there.”

Harper leaned back in her chair, contemplating Elle’s proposal. The idea of renting the vineyard to Elle seemed like a perfect solution, allowing her to honor her father’s legacy while entrusting the property to someone with the knowledge and passion to make it thrive.

For the first time since returning to the vineyard, Harper felt a glimmer of hope. “It sounds almost too good to be true,” she admitted, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

“I understand your hesitation, but I promise you, this is a genuine offer. I want to help, not just for the sake of expanding my business, but because I think it’ll make your life easier too. You could come and go, without worrying about more than your house. And I know I don’t know you that well, but if your vineyard was back up and running, I think you’d be able to let go of some of that guilt that you’re holding onto.”

Harper exhaled softly. “That really is how I’ve felt most days since I’ve been here. Guilty. Guilty for not coming back here sooner. For not being able to fix this mess.”

Elle’s expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. “And I think this might be the solution.”

“I think it might be too.”

“There is one thing I need to mention,” Elle said gently. “In order to get the vineyard back to where it needs to be, there will be some initial costs involved. I would need you to fund those expenses, but my team and I would handle all the work.”

Harper considered this for a moment, knowing that investing in the vineyard was a necessary step. She had the means to do so, thankfully, and the thought of seeing her father’s vineyard flourish once more made the decision easy.

“I’m willing to do that,” Harper said. “I want to see the vineyard thrive again, and I trust you to make it happen.”

“I’ll draw up some estimates and speak to my lawyer about drafting a document.”

“Let me know as soon as you have them and maybe I can cook dinner for you while we look over it?”

Elle smiled, the lines around her eyes fanning out. “That sounds perfect.”

Harper followedElle into the living room, a glass of wine in hand. The cozy space was adorned with personal touches, photographs, and mementos that told the story of Elle’s life. As they settled onto the plush couch, Harper’s eyes were drawn to a particular photograph on the bookshelf. It captured a much younger Elle, her chestnut hair tousled by the wind, and a stunning blond-haired woman by her side. They were on a beach, their smiles radiant and carefree.

Elle must have noticed Harper’s gaze lingering on the photograph because she spoke softly, “That was taken in Portugal, on our first trip together.” A wistful smile played on her lips as she added, “That was nearly thirty years ago.”

Harper turned to Elle, curiosity piqued. “Is that Stephanie?” she asked gently.

Elle nodded, her hazel eyes filled with a mixture of love and nostalgia. “Yes, that’s her. We were so young and in love back then. Portugal was where we truly fell for each other, away from the demands of everyday life.”

“She was beautiful,” Harper said softly, her gaze returning to the photograph. “You both look so happy.”

Elle’s smile widened, a glimmer of joy in her eyes. “We were. Stephanie had a way of making every moment feel like an adventure. She taught me to embrace life fully, to take risks and follow my heart.”

Harper sipped her wine, the rich flavor complementing the warmth of the moment. She admired Elle’s strength and resilience.

“Losing someone you love is never easy.”

Elle met Harper’s gaze, a flicker of understanding passing between them. “It’s been ten years, but there are still moments when the absence feels so raw.”

Harper reached out, placing a comforting hand on Elle’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Elle. I can’t even begin to imagine what you went through.”

Although even as she said those words, another heart-wrenching scene flashed across her mind. Harper had never loved someone like Lena had loved Clara or like Elle had loved her wife.

She’d never had that connection, but Harper had poured herself into Lena when she’d cradled Clara in her arms, both of them exhausted, bloodied, and bruised after they’d fought off the intruders that had stormed into their home in the middle of the night. But Clara had fallen backwards as one of the intruders elbowed her when she’d tried to attack him. Blood poured fromthe side of Clara’s head, and she was gone before the ambulance had arrived.

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