Page 136 of Red Mountain Burning
They turned back to the fire. Château Smooth would be nothing but ashes in a matter of minutes. Otis asked, “You sure you want to put up with another vintage? They’re not easy around here.”
Brooks looked deep into the orange flames. “What else do I have to do?”
* * *
A crowd stoodout front of Épiphanie a safe distance away from the action to the west. A firefighter in a red pickup truck had just come by to let everyone know that an evacuation wasn’t necessary. Château Smooth was no more, but they’d contained the fire.
Remi had reached Épiphanie from the eastern entrance to Red Mountain, and Margot stood with him watching the last of the flames die. He had his arm around Margot’s waist. “I know what they say about rain on your wedding day. How about fire?”
In the back of her mind, Margot had been thinking about the wedding, but hadn’t yet shared her thoughts. Though no one had wanted Château Smooth on the mountain, it was still a sad time.
“I know we’re feeling lucky, but I think we should postpone the wedding.” She turned to him and put a hand on his chest. “Even though some of us might be silently cheering, a lot of people worked hard to make what they did happen. It wouldn’t feel right.”
Remi nodded, as if he’d come to the same conclusion on his own. “As much as I want to lock you down, I agree.” Something occurred to him. “Gosh, I hate to waste all that food.”
Margot was thinking the same thing. “I think we should still have a party, but not make it about us. Let’s make it about the mountain. We’ll invite the firefighters, the Drink Flamingo employees, and anyone else who wants to come.”
“This is exactly why I love you,” he said.
