Page 42 of Let it Breathe
I forced a smile and shook his hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Darielle. I was mighty impressed with the way you handled yourself at the summit. Got me interested in a business I hadn’t thought one lick about before now."
"Mr. Sanders is from Texas," Mom said and grinned. "He recently purchased a vineyard near his hometown and has an amazing concept to keep the vineyard going."
"He's investing?"
"Well, little lady, I would love for your father to stay and run the place, but I don't think his heart is in it anymore." He slapped my dad on the back, and they chuckled like old friends. "Won't make sense for the Darielle label to continue without the Darielle's."
My brother walked in, shuffling papers.
I narrowed my eyes and looked from my father to my brother. They both had the decency to look guilty. Even though I wasn’t exactly sure what they had done, they knew they were doing it behind my back.
"So this is a done deal," I asked. I needed them to say it, but Mr. Sanders answered for them.
"Signed the papers a minute ago." He turned to CJ. "Let's get some of that Shiraz and toast now that the whole family is here."
"It's really not necessary," CJ said.
"Nonsense. I have a daughter a little younger than she is who doesn't even know the name of my company, and it's Sanders," Mr. Sanders said and laughed a deep gutted laugh. My mother joined him. "You're a lucky man to get to work alongside your family for so many years."
"I'm very lucky," Dad said. He walked over and kissed me on each cheek. I fought the urge to run away from my whole family.
They had sold my future out from under me while I wasted my time and my heart on Donovan Bryant.
* * *
When Mr. Sanders left, my parents, CJ, and I gathered in the conference room. My mom opened another bottle; she was in the mood to celebrate and oblivious to my pain. All she saw was the opportunity to have her husband back, and I couldn't really fault her for that.
"It's really for the best, Chai," CJ said. He stepped toward me, but I backed away.
"I'm tired," I said to no one. "I'm going home."
"No, stay and celebrate." Mom reached out her hands and motioned for me.
"Dear," Dad said to Mom.
"Celebrate what?" I blinked back tears. "Everything I have ever wanted has been taken away from me. Forgive me, but I'm not in the mood to celebrate that."
"Chai, you knew this was coming. Why are you being so dramatic?" Mom asked.
"I guess CJ was right. I'm the only one who loves this place. I'm the only one who realizes the sacrifices our family made in order for us to have this little piece of land we could call ours."
The tears in my eyes stung. Like they were laced with poison.
"Damn it, Chai. Don't tell me I don't understand sacrifice. I've never had an option when it came to the vineyard, but you do." He looked at CJ. "You both do. You can go on and live your lives and not worry about whether the next harvest is going to wipe you out."
"Charles," Mom said as she grabbed his hand.
"No. I'm not going to feel guilty. This is my choice. I can leave this place by choice and with enough money to take care of my family." He turned and blinked back his own tears. "It's all I ever wanted."
I nodded. I stepped toward the door.
"Sweetheart, where are you going?" Mom asked.
"Home," I said without looking at any of them.
"Where's Donovan? Have him come up and take care of you. I don't want you to be alone."
The sound of his name felt like daggers to my heart.
"Yeah, well"—a strained giggle escaped my throat—"I don't think he'll be coming around anymore."
"Oh honey, why?" My mother reached out for me, but I sidestepped her grasp. "Didn't you have a good time in New Orleans.?"
"We had the best time, but just like this, I managed to screw it up. See, I gave him up because he distracted me from saving my winery." I wiped my face. "How's that for sacrifice?" I said to my dad. He stepped toward me, but I raised a hand to stop him. I lowered my head and left.
I went home and crawled into bed. I couldn't even cry anymore, so I slept.
