Page 13 of Cherished Lands
"Yep, pretty much. Apparently, they're opening a cidery."
A sly grin spread across her face, and I braced myself forwhat was coming next. "That guy you've had a crush on since you were little, wasn't his last name Everton?"
Heat crept up my neck, and I fought the urge to hide my face. "Hey, I told you that in confidence over one too many cups of jungle juice."
Elena cackled. The sound filled my bedroom, bringing a flood of memories along with it. "How did we survive college?"
I smiled. "You survived by being the very best little pre-med student there ever was. I survived off the high I got seeing you let loose and get drunk."
"Man, it's been a while since I did that. But, hey, I was thinking..."
There was something hesitant in her voice that made me pause. "Yes, weirdo?"
"Maybe I could come visit. On December thirteenth."
I frowned. "That's oddly specific."
"Or the twelfth would be fine too."
"Well, of course. You know you're always welcome. But I might get us a room at the resort. I don't need my mother hovering over us like last time."
Elena was about to respond when I heard a muffled voice in the background. It was deep, masculine—unmistakably Peter.
"Oh! Is that Peter? Let me say hi."
Elena's face changed instantly. Her eyes widened, a flicker of something passing through them before she schooled her expression into a tight smile.
"Oh, um, no. Peter's busy right now," she said, her voice pitched slightly higher than normal. "We'll have to catch up another time. I've got to go, Tess. Talk soon!"
Before I could protest, the screen went black. Elena was gone.
I stared at my phone, my stomach twisting into knots. What the hell was that? Elena had never hung up on me like that. And that look on her face...
My mind raced, replaying every detail of our conversation. The specific dates she mentioned for visiting. The way her voice trembled slightly when she brought it up. And now this abrupt end to our call.
I bit my lip. Should I call her back? Text her? What if Peter was there, and I made things worse?
I fell back onto my bed with a heavy sigh, sinking into the plush, overstuffed duvet. The silk sheets whispered against my skin as I sprawled out, staring up at the ornate ceiling. Intricate crown molding framed a crystal chandelier that dangled above. Its facets caught the fading late afternoon light, scattering rainbows across the walls.
I stared around the room. Heavy velvet curtains framed floor-to-ceiling windows. Their deep burgundy hue contrasted starkly with the pale pink walls. A massive antique vanity dominated one corner, its surface cluttered with expensive perfumes and makeup I rarely used. The matching wardrobe loomed nearby, filled with designer clothes I'd be obliged to cast aside in a few months. Mom would have an aneurysm if I ventured out in public wearing last season.
Everything in this room screamed wealth and tradition, a carefully curated showcase of the Belmonte family's status.A tower fit for a princess.
But none of it felt like me.
The delicate porcelain figurines lining the shelves, the gilt-framed oil paintings of idyllic vineyard scenes, the sumptuous Persian rug beneath my feet—they were all just props in the production of my parents' perfect daughter.
Where am I in all of this? Where's the girl who'd rather be knee-deep in fermenting grapes than sipping champagne at galas?
My fingers traced the intricate embroidery on a nearby throw pillow. The threads formed a pattern of grapes and vines. Like everything else in this room, it was beautiful. But the beauty didn't touch me. The luxury concealed something hollow.
Empty.
A lot like my life.
Not one to sit around andmope, I hopped off the bed and made my way downstairs to the foyer. The house was blissfully quiet, meaning Mom and Dad were probably out. I tugged on my boots and coat before braving the chilly early-December air.
It was a little after five in the evening, but it was already so dark I could hardly see more than a few feet in front of me. It was one of the things I loved about Sable Point—no 'bright lights, big city' vibes. I tipped my head back to look up at the stars just as the first few snowflakes started to fall.
