Page 2 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

He failed.

Miserably.

That very night, after he brought her home, her father went into a rage. He smacked her mother around and then put his hands on Daisy. His eyes burned, but he couldn’t bring himself to cry. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

“You should be,” a deep voice rumbled.

He turned. The taste of bile filled his throat. His muscles twitched. Fear prickled the back of his neck as he stared at Daisy’s father.

His friends joked about being afraid of his mother. How they never wanted to be on her bad side. Everyone in town had all heard the stories of Weezer chasing someone down Main Street in her housecoat, curlers, and combat boots while holding a loaded shotgun. His mom enjoyed her reputation and played into it. When Merlot was in grade school, he hated how the other children shied away from being his friend, but now that he was a senior in high school, he wore his family’s strangeness like a badge of honor.

He squared his shoulders, doing his best to cover his fear.

“You’ve been nothing but trouble ever since you started coming around.” Mr. Berkin inched closer. “My family is gone, and I blame you for this sham of a funeral. I’m surprised you didn’t pretend to die with them.”

There had never been any love lost between Merlot and Mr. Berkin. From the moment they’d met as small children, to when they started dating, Mr. Berkin did what he could to keep them apart. It had gotten so bad that they hid their relationship from her father. His family knew, and her mother did, but to keep the peace, they pretended they weren’t a couple.

Until two months ago when Mr. Berkin caught them at the park. He’d been furious. The next day, Daisy didn’t come to school. Later, Merlot found out it was because she had a black eye, thanks to her old man.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Merlot wiped the tears from his cheeks. Daisy wouldn’t fake her death. That was insane and only happened in the movies. It didn’t matter that they’d discussed the possibility, the idea that she’d do it without him made no sense.

“Right. Leave. You are not welcome here,” Mr. Berkin said. “And if I ever catch you near this gravesite again, I’ll beat your punk ass.” He poked Merlot in the center of his chest.

“You touch my son again, and you will live to regret it.” Merlot’s father appeared at his side as if from nowhere. His dad tended to sneak up when he least expected it. He often hated that, but in this case, it was a welcome gesture. “That’s not a threat. It’s a promise.”

Mr. Berkin raised his hands. “Just keep him away from my daughter’s grave and we won’t have a problem.”

Merlot’s father looped a protective arm around him and guided him toward the path. “I know you don’t want to hear this, son, but I think it’s best if you take heed and stay clear for a while.”

“That man belongs in jail.”

“I’m well aware of that fact,” his father said. “But he didn’t start that fire. That’s something you need to accept, as hard as it is.” His father squeezed his shoulder. “Grief isn’t an easy thing and I wish I could tell you that it goes away. But you will get through this. If you can learn to see past all the anger and hurt, you will love again. You’re seventeen years old. You have your entire life ahead of you. If the tables were turned, I know you’d want her to go on living and that’s what you need to do.”

Merlot wouldn’t want Daisy pining for him for years and years. If he’d been the one who died, he’d absolutely want her to go out into the world and live a full life. It wouldn’t be fair of him to expect anything else.

And it wouldn’t be right.

Her kisses were sweeter than any wine his family could make, and living was the best way to pay homage to their love.

“I know,” he managed. “But I feel like a horrible person for wishing it had been Mr. Berkin in that fire, and not Daisy and her mother.”

“That doesn’t make you a bad man, Merlot.” His dad paused, taking him by the shoulders and locking gazes. “I’ve had many negative thoughts when it comes to Richard Berkin. He’s not a nice person and I need you to keep your distance. You’re going to be going away to college soon. There’s a lot left to prepare for that.”

School was the last thing on Merlot’s mind, but he knew his parents meant well and wanted him to focus on the positive things in life, even though he couldn’t think of one good thing.

His father paused, taking him by the shoulders. “I know the world feels like a grim place right now and will for a while.” He placed his hand on the center of Merlot’s chest. “No matter what happens to you in life, there will always be a part of Daisy that you carry with you. No one is telling you to let go of that. All I’m saying is that over time, this intense pain will be lifted and all the wonderful memories you have of her will be something you can look back on and cherish.”

Merlot wanted to believe his father. However, it felt like his heart burned in the fire with Daisy.

1

PRESENT DAY

TALBOT

Talbot Grant unlocked the door to the rental her boss, Claudia, had secured. She stepped into the modest home and glanced around. “What the heck?” The place was filled with—dare she think it—junk. It looked like everything had been pulled from a dumpster.

She sneezed, thanks to the inch of dust piled on everything. It would take her hours to clean this place up to make it habitable.

---