Page 119 of Blush
“Mrs. Hollander,” she said to Vivian. “I left this winery years ago, thinking my work here was done. My son was grown. When I got the phone call inviting me back, well, I originally just wanted to come to see my son and husband. But standing now with all of you, I see the reason for being here. Just because our children are grown, we are not done. Just because we are older, we are not done. I look at what you andyour daughter and granddaughter are doing, and I think: the best is ahead.”
They embraced. Leah looked over at Mateo, but he was already heading over to help Sadie. He touched her shoulder, and the joy on her daughter’s face when she turned around nearly brought tears to Leah’s eyes.
That was when she noticed that Sadie wasn’t the only one getting support from her man: Leonard headed across the veranda straight for Vivian. He put a tentative arm around her mother. Together, they watched the buying frenzy.
Leah felt a pang that Steven wasn’t there to witness it. She pulled her phone out and texted him,Can you come down to the veranda?She waited while the dots appeared, and then:
Do you think I would miss your big moment?
He stepped out from the bushes just off the veranda steps. She hurried over to him.
“So you’ve been spying on me,” she said, smiling.
“Of course. I never know what you’ll get yourself into when we’re apart.” He hugged her. “I’m proud of you.”
She leaned into him, experiencing a flash of memory. It was something he said to her back in the spring, standing behind the counter of the cheese shop.
Change can be a good thing.
The view from the bedroom window was, for the first time in months, a source of pleasure instead of worry. Vivian stared out into the darkness; although she couldn’t see the fields, she was met by the bright half-moon. In the morning, she would open the curtains and look out at the vines, heavy with grapes, confident that the view would be hers for some time to come.
“Vivian, come to bed,” Leonard said. She turned to find him alreadytucked under the covers. It had only been a short time since he returned to her bed, and it was still a relief every time she saw him in his rightful place.
“I’m too wound up to sleep,” she said, well aware that it was close to eleven. The Harvest Circle had turned into a party that lasted for hours. Even the considerable amount of wine she’d consumed in celebration wasn’t enough to quell her energy.
“I feel the same,” Leonard said.
She walked over to his side of the bed and reached for his hand.
“Come with me,” she said.
“Where?”
“Night swimming,” she said, fully anticipating his rebuff. To her surprise, he climbed out of bed. “Really? You’re coming?”
“As soon as I change into my trunks,” he said.
“Don’t change—let’s just be spontaneous.”
Again, he didn’t protest. Vivian hurried them both down the stairs and outside before he could change his mind.
The late-summer temperatures held in the seventies. In just two days it would officially be fall, and pretty soon after that Leonard would pull out the tarp for the season. It might be one of their last evenings by the pool.
Usually, she wondered where the summer had gone. But this year, she could account for every day, every hour of worry. Thanks to Leah, she could put that behind her. Leah, and also Leonard—for being open to change.
Untying her robe, she inhaled deeply. She felt a tremendous weight off her shoulders, and she knew it wasn’t just her newfound hope for financial stability; it was being unburdened of her secret about the baron.
Leonard pulled an upright chair to the edge of the pool. She pulled off her peignoir and waded into the heated water up to her shoulders.
“You really are in a spontaneous mood tonight,” he said.
“Come in—the water’s heavenly.”
Leonard hesitated. “I’m afraid I’m not as unconstrained as you, Vivian.” He smiled. “I’m just here to keep you company.”
She swam over to the side and held on to the ledge, looking up at him. He was more relaxed than she’d seen him in a long time. Deeply tanned, his white hair in need of a trim, he was as attractive to her as ever. What had led to her moment of betrayal all those years earlier? Maybe, like many women with young children, she’d felt her own needs become invisible. Maybe, because Leonard was consumed with the winery and shut her out of the decision-making, she’d felt neglected or bored or frustrated. Either way, it was one moment of weakness that she was just now able to put behind her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about what happened with the baron,” she said. “I was afraid. And I didn’t want to hurt you. And I didn’t want you to hate me. I just hope you know... that nothing like that ever happened again. I love you, Leonard. And I have since the first night I saw you.”
