Page 14 of One Last Night

Robert is a dashingly handsome man of sixty-one with a movie star smile and a build that is lean and fit in spite of his age. Were he not plagued with such a haughty attitude, I might find him very attractive indeed, but his arrogance ruins his looks.

“What an interesting quality you’ve layered into this Pinot, Victoria,” he says after tasting his first glass of the vintage. “It’s practically dripping with acid. Not whatIwould choose to highlight, but then, you’ve always had such a unique perspective when it comes to winemaking.”

Victoria, for her part, doesn’t budge an inch. She laughs and says to the smug Robert, “Well, you don’t become the most successful winemaking family in New England for generations running by sticking to tradition. Not that there’s anything wrong with tradition. There will always be a place for more easily accessible wines such as yours.”

The young Kevin—the spitting image of his father with the same bright blue eyes and trim physique—chuckles and hides that laughter badly. Victoria’s grin widens, and Robert flashes his son a glare before turning a smile back to Victoria. “There can be no doubt that you market your product better than anyone, Victoria. If there’s one thing you can do well, it’s make something appear enticing.”

Victoria keeps her own smile, but her eyes harden. “It’s quite easy to appear enticing when one’s target audience lacks willpower.”

Robert is prepared for this. “Why appeal to the strong when the weak are so easily overcome?”

Victoria is equally prepared. “A question the weak must struggle with every day.”

Julian arrives before Robert can retort, Nathan and Luann under his arms. I gasp in surprise. What are they doing here? Why would he bring them to a wine tasting? Was he simply trying to rebel against his mother’s wishes?

For their part, the children appear less than enthused at this forced meeting. Luann blushes deeper red than the wine, and Kevin looks at Luann with a longing so clear I find it hard to believe that Robert and Julian can’t see the attraction between the two of them. As for Nathan, he looks between the other two with an expression halfway between amusement and disgust.

It's the adults who react most forcefully, however. Robert looks coldly at Julian, making no pretense at politeness, not even the thin veneer he wears while sparring with Victoria.Julian curls his lip upward in a sneer and likewise makes no pretense. “I see mother has once more extended an olive branch to a snake.”

“Unlike some, your mother understands politeness.” Robert shifts his gaze to Victoria. “Even if her honey is laced with venom.”

Perhaps it is the presence of the children that causes Victoria to have a stronger reaction to this than his earlier comments, but she reddens and says, “The children don’t need to be a part of your foolishness. Either of you. If you insist on having an argument, do it outside of my house.”

Nathan and Kevin both chuckle at this, then shoot each other the look of camaraderie children often share when they catch their elders behaving like fools. Luann’s eyes are fixed firmly on the floor.

I snap out of my funk and get to my feet. I clear my throat, and the three adults flinch and turn to me. “Perhaps I should take the children inside.”

Julian reddens. Clearly, he didn't realize I was listening in. "Yes. That's probably best. Nathan, Luann, go with Mary. Robert, would you like to send Kevin with them? He can't participate in a wine tasting, and I'm more than happy to keep him occupied while you find some vapid excuse or another to insult your betters."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Kevin does no such thing, and he and Luann share a look that tells me both of them have spent much of their private time complaining about their fathers’ pettiness.

A pettiness Robert is all too happy to contribute to. “I need no excuse to point out the inferior quality of your product, Julian. Perhaps instead of reacting negatively to criticism, you might accept that others occasionally know better than you. Itmight prevent you from finishing three places behind me inWinemagazine's annual vineyard rankings."

Kevin stands. “You know what, I think Iwillgo inside with Luann.” As an afterthought, he adds, “And Nathan. Dad, Mr. Bellamy, enjoy your argument. If you end up slap fighting, take a video so I can laugh at it later.”

Robert snaps to his son in horror. “Kevin! That is not appropriate! Apologize to Mr. Bellamy!”

Kevin scoffs. “Okay. Mr. Bellamy, I’m sorry. Dad, I’m not sorry.”

Robert gets to his feet so abruptly that his knees slam into the table, and he nearly knocks over the wine glasses. He grabs Kevin hard enough to make the boy wince. "I see we're not truly welcome here," he says coldly. "Victoria, I would think you'd made enough of a joke of my family. It seems I was wrong."

“You’re a joke all on your own, Robert,” Julian retorts. “You don’t need my mother’s help.”

I take Nathan and Luann inside before they can witness any more of this. They are all too eager to follow me.

When we’re inside, I turn to the children and say, “I’m not in the habit of apologizing for my employers, nor am I in the habit of speaking ill of one’s parents and grandparents. However, I am heartily sorry for what you two just experienced. It was inappropriate and uncalled for. Those three shouldn’t have made you witness to whatever petty argument they’re having.”

I really shouldn’t be this blunt, but I’m infuriated. Does no one think of the children? Does no one think of the damage that can be done by treating them like furniture? They should be grateful that Nathan is well-behaved and Luann is only meeting the neighbor boy at night. If this is typical behavior from Robert, Julian and Victoria, then it’s a wonder they haven’t turned out worse.

The children both laugh. I’m surprised by the reaction, but I suppose it’s encouraging that they can let what happened outside roll off of their backs. “New in town, Mary?” Nathan jokes.

Luann affects a Southern drawl. “Why lawd, Miss Mary. The feud between the Cartwrights and the Bellamys has been going on since the dawn of time.” She switches to a normal tone and says, “Seriously, though, it’s no big deal. All they do is trade playground insults. Nathan and I joke all the time that we should give each of them boxing gloves and stick them in a ring just to watch them stutter and huff and shuffle around without throwing a single punch.”

Nathan laughs at that as well, but his face grows more serious a moment later. “Honestly, I wish sometimes that theywouldjust fight. Maybe they’d get over it. Whatever it is.”

“Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with you two or with Kevin. Pay them no mind. They’re grown men, and they can either choose to act like it or suffer the consequences of their own poor behavior. Now, shall we play a board game together? I’ve had my fill of movies.”

The children giggle. “Aboardgame?” Luann says. “Come on, Mary. You’re notthatold.”

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