Page 58 of Just For Her

“Oh.” Kayla bit back an embarrassed smile. “Sorry. Seemed like everyone here was a Fredriksson by birth or marriage.”

“I’m not familiar with these ‘Fredrikssons,’ but my significant other is.” The woman gestured to a bottle of wine passing by on a waiter’s tray. “She and her brother are the head of Bel Cielo wine. Maybe you’ve heard of it. By Salem.”

“I’ve seen it around.”Remind me to try some later.Kayla only liked wine as much as her partner at the moment did. “You guys are here on business, then?”

A large but delicate hand perched atop the railing. “Something like that. Stefani told me that this town is one of the biggest local buyers of our reds. So, I said we should visit. Turns out we had a standing invitation to come visit whenever we wished. I love visiting more of this state.” The more she spoke, the gentler her accent became, as if the European stranger found a bigger footing with a language that was not her mother tongue. “I’m sorry. My name is Yulia. Yulia Petrova-Valetti. My wife is the gorgeous brunette currently speaking with your family’s headmistress. You should say hi if you’re ever allowed to speak over there.”

Kayla nodded in understanding. “I’m Kayla.” She didn’t bother with her boring last name. “I’m with Tove, over there.” She gestured to her girlfriend, currently trapped in a conversation with cousins Eleonora and Kristina.Probably a Grendel too, for all I know.

“Ahh, an older woman.” One knowing look later, Kayla knew who she was dealing with. “Doesn’t seem like a bad family for that kind of work.”

Kayla knew exactly what Yulia was talking about, but didn’t take the bait, innocently or not. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Please.” They both glanced over when Polly ugly-laughed at one of her husband’s lame jokes. Not too far away was Oskar with a young woman who wasnotShae from the vacation home.I’ve already forgotten the new one’s name.One of the older uncles, who walked with a stylish cane and dressed as if he were at a perpetual wedding, had a thirty-something on his arm. Kayla wondered what agency she originated from. “If I weren’t happily married, I’d be working this crowd, too. I bet some of these gentlemenlovea Russian accent.”

“Is that where you’re from? I couldn’t quite place your accent.”

“It’s what happens when you’re in America long enough and some of your wife’s extended family still have Italian accents. Ah, America. Such a melting pot, when it’s more like a delicious salad.”

“What ingredient are you?”

Yulia’s immaculate blond eyebrows shot up. “Hm. Is it too much to suggest I might be the kidney beans?”

Kayladefinitelyliked her now. “Only if this lot gets to be the iceberg lettuce.”

“Yet here you are, trying to win one over.”

“What can I say? Sometimes lettuce hits the spot.”

“I don’t have any room to talk. My marriage was arranged for me by a third party. Can’t say I’m complaining, though. I got everything I wanted.”

“Oh?”Like a mail-order bride situation?

“I got a nice home, a nice family, and I have my son waiting for me. I’ll spare you the hideously boring details, but Stefani and her brother have been nothing but wonderful. Didn’t even know I could love girls like that before her. How about you?”

“Excuse me?”

Yulia took a moment to rethink her words. “Did you date girls before your… what’s her name again?”

“Tove.”

“Before yourTohr-vah?”

“No. Didn’t even occur to me. But when you know, you know, right?”

“Yes. Good luck. I think I see my Stefani coming this way.”

Kayla was soon introduced to Yulia’s wife, the petite but vivacious Stefani Valetti. They spared a short conversation about the vintner business before Kayla was called to Tove’s side.

“I see you’ve met the Valettis of Bel Cielo,” she said with a surreptitious sip of her wine. “My aunt was close friends with Stefani’s parents. They died rather tragically. They don’t seem to be doing too badly for themselves though.”

“That woman was interesting. Apparently, she’s from Russia, and the marriage was arranged by a ‘third party.’”

Tove grunted. In disbelief? In agreement? Kayla couldn’t tell. “That’s the rumor, all right. I think the official story is that they met online. Not much better, according to my family, but it hasn’t stopped them from stocking their wine in all of their businesses. Like this club.”

“You don’t seem to mind it.”

“Hey, finding out the daughter was queer like me only made it more delicious. My money is easily swayed sometimes.”

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