Page 126 of Before We Say Goodbye
“Can I give you a ride home? I’ll tell you on the way.”
Vance reluctantly climbed in and told Otis that his house was over on the Pasco side. Otis drove slowly as he spoke. “My mentor died this week. The same day you and I went to jail. It made me do a lot of thinking. I want to apologize for how I’ve treated you. You don’t deserve it. Not that I condone you shooting at coyotes. That happens again, we’re going to be right back to having a problem. But I didn’t give you a chance from the outset. Maybe you’re right. My wife listens to a lot of Pink Floyd, and there’s that song ‘Us and Them.’ You were a ‘them’ to me. That’s not right.”
“What’s your point?”
“I had an idea. Feel free to tell me to go fuck off, but I was thinking about your situation, losing your brother, inheriting that land. I don’t want to run you off, Vance. I want to help. Let me help you plant your land. I could teach you to farm vines. Give you the tools you need to make a living—if you’re tired of painting houses. I don’t know that I’m much of a role model, but I had a few in my life, and maybe I could be there for you.”
Otis felt embarrassed and wholly inadequate, but he stood firm. “Why don’t we start over? We’re neighbors. Let me help you bring to life what your brother wanted. Maybe there’s something in that. I don’t know if the wine bug will bite you like it did me, but you could give it a go. I’d be happy to teach you what I know. It’s a nice way to make a living. Even that ten acres you have is a great start.”
It was a long time before Vance said anything. “How much would it cost me to tear down the trees and plant grapes?”
“I’d pay for it.”
“You kidding?”
Otis shook his head, hoping Rebecca would be on board with the plan. Knowing her, she would.
“You did what?” Rebecca asked as she polished glasses in preparation to open the tasting room for the day.
Otis leaned on the other side of the concrete bar. “We don’t have to pay for it. I just thought ... I don’t know, Bec. I see a lost soul in Vance. Maybe instead of going to war with him, perhaps I—we—could make a difference in his life. Give him something to believe in.”
Rebecca held a glass up to the light. Satisfied, she slid it into the rack, then turned to her husband. “I think you’ve found your way, my love.”
“I don’t know about that, but it feels good to get outside of myself. Maybe that’s the secret to this life.”
Her smirk said it all.
“I know, I know. I’m late to the party. You figured this out a long time ago.”
“No, that’s not why I smiled. I have my issues. I spent a lot of years not taking care of myself. That’s equally important. I smiled because I fall in love with you more and more every single day.”
“I’m right there with you, wifey.” He leaned over the bar and planted one on her lips. “How about we go to dinner tonight? Try that new spot by the river?”
“Here I was thinking you’d forgotten about me.”
“Not a chance.”
Otis invited Vance over for Christmas Eve dinner. He wore a pressed shirt tucked into khakis, and he brought a bouquet of flowers. Flecks of paint from the day’s work lingered on his hands. After a few awkward moments, he loosened up and handled all the questions with grace.
Turned out his band was good—at least to the ears of some. They’d played gigs all over the country. Otis would have never known. Making it big was indeed Vance’s dream. “Maybe one day after my mom’s gone, I’ll take a chance.” Otis had invited her for Christmas as well, but Vancesaid she didn’t leave her nursing home anymore. Her condition was too extreme. She didn’t even know who Vance was.
Halfway through the dinner, Otis said, “Vance, we’d like to hire you, if you’d be interested. We need some help around the cellar. Be a good way for you to cut your teeth, get ready for your own vines.”
He grabbed hold of his beard. “Really?”
“Otis doesn’t joke when it comes to wine.”
“Oh, that’s not true.”
“I’d be honored,” Vance said, allowing a rare grin.
In May, Otis’s team planted two thousand vines on Vance’s property, mostly syrah and cabernet, with a smattering of chenin blanc for fun. Vance was out there the entire time, getting his hands dirty, and when they finished, Otis and Vance went down to the taco truck in Benton City.
While they waited for their orders, Vance said, “I want to thank you, Otis.”
“You already have.”
“I know, but ... no one has ever cut me a break like you. I’ll make you proud, try to grow good grapes.”
