Page 48 of The Vines Between Us
The edge in his voice cut deep, but I pressed on.
"They found a way to be together despite everything. Not perfectly, not openly, but they chose each other over and over for almost their entire lives." I gestured helplessly with the journal. "And I can't even manage four days without sabotaging everything because I'm terrified."
"Terrified of what, exactly?"
"Of wanting something I might lose." The truth of it ached in my chest. "Of being like my father if I stay. Of being like Henri if I go."
Hugo sighed and looked past me toward the setting sun. The golden light softened his features, highlighting the exhaustion etched there.
"What do you want from me, Alexandre?"
"Nothing you're not willing to give." I took a step closer. "But I want you to know that I'm staying. I'm staying to fight for the vineyard, for what Henri and Claude built together."
His eyes snapped back to mine. "And us? What about us?"
"That depends on you." I held his gaze steadily. "I won't push. I won't demand. But I'm not running anymore, Hugo. Not from the vineyard, not from this village." I paused. "Not from you."
Hugo turned away, resuming his pruning with short, sharp movements. "Pretty words. You've always been good with those."
"I know words aren't enough." I stepped into the row withhim, careful not to crowd his space. "But I'd like to show you the room. After that, whatever happens between us is your choice."
For several minutes, the only sound was the snip of his shears against the vines. I waited, giving him the time he needed. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the rows.
Finally, he straightened. "I'll come see this room. But not tonight. I have too much work to finish before dark."
"Tomorrow, then?"
"Maybe," he said noncommittaly, still not looking at me. "What about VitaVine? Rousseau told me he made you an offer."
"He did. I declined."
Hugo's hands stilled again. "He said you were considering it. That your job in Paris was at risk."
"It is. Doesn't matter."
This made him turn. "Doesn't matter? That job has been your entire life for years."
"It's been my escape. Not my life." I gestured to the vineyard around us. "This was my life. Is my life."
Hugo studied me, searching for deception. "Rousseau also mentioned that the bank is calling in the loan. Said you've got less than seventy-nine days now."
"He's well-informed." I couldn't keep the bitterness from my voice. "And yes, that's true. But I'm not selling to VitaVine."
"How will you save it, then? Even if we combine resources, we're both drowning in debt."
"I don't know yet." I met his skeptical look with honesty. "I really don't. But I'm not giving up."
Hugo turned back to the vines, considering. The silence stretched between us, filled with unspoken history and hurt.
"I can't do this again, Alexandre." His voice was so quiet I had to lean forward to hear him. "I can't watch you walk away a second time."
"I know." The admission felt like glass in my throat. "I don't expect you to trust me. I haven't earned that."
He nodded slowly, more to himself than to me. "No, you haven't."
The simple truth of it stung, but I accepted it, for now. "Will you still help with the vineyard? We could at least try to combine our efforts against VitaVine."
Hugo's shoulders relaxed fractionally. "Yes. For the vineyards, I'll help." He turned to face me fully. "But that's all I'm promising. A business partnership."
