Page 63 of Gone With the Wine

“Okay,” he says huskily.

Warmth curls deep inside me. I drag up a smile and scurry away toward the lab.

Later,I’m ready to go home and collapse onto my bed. I just need to check with Jansen about one more thing.

Carol has left for the day, but the tasting room is busy. I pause approvingly seeing the tasting room staff busy serving people who all seem to be enjoying themselves.

I do want to have that some day. I love seeing people coming together, tasting the wine, enjoying it.

I find Jansen in his office, working on his computer. “Hi,” I say from the doorway.

He looks up and his eyes warm when he sees me. “Hey.”

“Can I talk to you for a few minutes?”

“Of course. Come in.”

His desk is built in along one wall, so he just has to swivel his chair to face me. I saunter in and take a seat. “What are you working on?”

“Uh.” He swipes a hand down his face.

“Oh. Sorry. You don’t have to tell me. I got a little presumptuous there.”

“No, no, I can tell you. You might think it’s weird.”

I give him a curious smile.

“I’m reading up on what to do if ICE shows up.”

I blink. “Oh.”

“You mentioned it that day, and I’ve heard from a couple of other people about it. I want to know how to handle it and what my workers’ rights are if it happens.”

“Oh.” I gaze at him, my heart slowly softening. “I see.”

“I talked to Miles about it one day when we were running. He said they can come out and talk to the workers.”

“Won’t that scare them, if the cops show up?”

“It might,” he agrees. “But they would assure the workers that the police don’t have the power to arrest anyone for immigration violations.”

I nod, taking this all in.

“They have a ‘Know Your Rights’ toolkit they can give out.” Jansen goes on. “And a rapid response hotline number, and information about legal assistance.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. That’s good, right? I want everyone here to know we’re looking out for them.”

I suck on my bottom lip. “That’s really great, Jansen. Do you know your own legal obligations?”

“Oh yeah. I know it’s a felony to employ an illegal immigrant.” He meets my eyes.

“Knowingly.”

He smiles.

“I’m impressed. Maybe we need to talk to Deputy Romero again.” Apparently he’s been to Caparelli a few times because of the complaints that we assume came from Geno.

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