Page 140 of Love Among Vines

Rett looked like he was holding his breath. “How’d we do?”

“As long as Margie’s not going to price gouge me, likely enough for first month, last month, and security deposit.” She waved a check in front of his face.

He threw his arms around her and pulled her close. “I knew you could do it. See? You don’t need the gallery.”

“Well,” she said, “if I ever manage to paint the way I used to, I might need the gallery. But for now, fuck ’em.”

It felt amazing to take a step in the right direction. Her hope of an art career wasn’t gone forever. And maybe she’d dabble in graphic design, at least enough to stay stable.

One trip to the Finger Lakes had completely upended her life. She had come here at rock bottom, weeks away from becoming homeless. She had folded herself into the fabric of this town stitch by stitch, and now it was home. A new future awaited her.

And if everything worked out, she just might help save the winery too. After she bribed him with a free portrait of his Chow Chow, Lindon had agreed to come to Rett’s party. If it went well—and it would, thanks to Rett’s unparalleled levels of control freaking—Antoine would write a glowing review, and New York’s elite would visit the vineyard in droves.

The rest of the week passed in a blur.

Rett had visibly relaxed since Chris and Alexa had disappeared. While Jade’s morning runs were less peaceful than they used to be thanks to Rett’s swearing and sweating, they were falling into a rhythm. They showered together, made breakfast, and wrapped themselves in blankets to eat it on thedock. They stole heated moments together in the storeroom and his office between brainstorming and setup for the party.

It was the happiest she had ever been. Mornings were spent in the café, fiddling with the mural. She and Penny haunted the winery until closing time, experimenting with graphic design software and reading books in the gorgeous lighting of the tasting room and, on more than one occasion, sharing a glass and a story with Margie.

There was something intoxicating about seeing Rett in his natural element. He was so confident and charming. The way he schmoozed the customers, earnestly answering their questions and enthusiastically discussing his process. At some point during his shift, he would shrug his suit jacket off and sling it over the back of her chair, like he was claiming her in front of everyone. Together they mapped out the table arrangement for the party, planned the set list for the string quartet, and cleaned every crevice of the speakeasy.

Even her driving lessons were improving. Rett let her drive all the way to one of the decorating centers to procure some of the remaining décor. She hadn’t even crashed into a single parked car.

At one o’clock on Friday, Jade put her brush down and stepped back. The wooden floorboards of the café creaked beneath her weight. Conversations buzzed around her and the seductive scent of the daily special beckoned, but she only had eyes for the mural.

It was done. Everything she loved about Hammondsport—every townsperson who had touched her heart, every friend she had made, every grain of sand that littered the beachfront splayed out in front of her. The illustrated story of her redemption. Of finding herself again. Learning that she could love again.

And here it would stay, a permanent part of the town that had come to mean so much to her in such a short period of time.

The door banged open, and footsteps thundered on the hardwood. She turned to find Cindy, Gemma, and Elena with scowls on their faces. They came up to her like they were about to challenge her to some kind of duel.

“Why did we have to find out from Tom that you’re moving here?”

Jade’s mouth froze in an O of surprise. With all the party planning, she had completely forgotten to pass the good news on.

“I’m so sorry. I finally talked to Rett and he said he didn’t want me to leave. I was honestly convinced it was a fever dream and I forgot to tell you.”

Cindy sidled up next to her. “So you’re done doing the whole fake relationship now?”

“I think so? Technically we didn’t put a label on it. But I’m moving into Margie’s for good.”

The girls surrounded her, jumping up and down and squealing. Finally, they stepped back to take in the mural.

“It’s so beautiful,” Gemma said, one hand outstretched to touch the unicorn leaving a trail in the cotton candy water. She snatched her fingers back. “Right. Shit. Wet paint.”

“It’s amazing,” Elena said, coming around the front to administer one of her bone-crushing hugs.

Cindy grabbed her hand. “I can’t believe you’re really staying. Now you get to come to our legendary Halloween party. And if you think Hammondsport is adorable in the fall, just wait until you see Christmas. It’s a whole-ass Hallmark movie.”

“It’s everything I ever wanted,” Jade said.

The door opened behind them, and they all turned to greet the newcomer.

Jade’s heart stuttered in her chest. There was Rett, a bundle of aster and goldenrod in his arms. Gemma, Elena, and Cindy offered hurried farewells on their way out the door, but he only had eyes for Jade. And the mural behind her.

“Hi,” he said after the flurry of activity. He stooped down for a kiss, then took a step back to stare at the wall.

“It’s finished,” Jade said.

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