Page 4 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

There had been a handful of men in Talbot’s life. She cared deeply for everyone, except she couldn’t say she loved them and could never pull them into Corbin’s life. She didn’t want her son to get attached to a man she wouldn’t marry.

Merlot had her heart.

She stared down the street at the construction in front of a new business—a karate school of some kind.

There were a few other new shops in the center of town, but for the most part, not much had changed in this sleepy little town.

She slipped from the vehicle and made a beeline for the coffeehouse. She shouldn’t, but all she could think about were those damn strawberry drinks Merlot’s baby sister, Zinny, used to beg them to buy her when Merlot had been tasked to babysit. Talk about a kid with energy.

Zinny was as fiery as her red hair.

A little Weezer.

Or at least that’s what everyone called her, but Talbot thought the girl to be sweet, kind, and always had something complementary and intelligent to add to any conversation.

Talbot had accepted her fate but had never forgotten the River family.

She stepped inside and immediately her senses were assaulted with the sweet smells of cinnamon mixed with vanilla and topped off with the rich aroma of brewing coffee. She and Merlot used to meet in town, come to Green Bean and grab a couple of flavored drinks and a few pastries, then go sit in the park and talk for hours. She loved to listen to him discuss the finer points of making wine. He’d get all excited and his face would light up like the night sky dotted with bright stars.

Except for when Rachel, his brother’s girlfriend, would show up. What a piece of work that girl had been. Her family traveled in the same circles as Talbot’s father, so she had to spend a fair amount of time with Rachel and they never got along. Every once in a while, Talbot would google Merlot and his family. She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help herself. She needed to know he’d moved on and lived a happy life.

Learning he’d gotten romantically involved with Rachel had been a real punch in the gut.

But the hardest one had been finding out Merlot had left the family business to become a parole officer. That didn’t make sense. He’d never had an interest in criminal justice or the law. The few times he’d worked for his father at the law firm, he’d scoffed at doing anything related to the profession. Last she checked on Merlot, he’d moved back to Candlewood Falls, and his name was listed on the River Winery website, but his position in the business wasn’t clear.

It didn’t matter.

She would stay clear of him and his family.

The line to order was ten people deep. Not too bad, considering it could have been out the door.

Reluctantly, she took off her sunglasses, tucked them into their case, and tossed that into her purse. But she kept her big hat on.

The closer she got to the counter, the faster her heart raced. The longer she stayed inside, the more likely she’d encounter someone from her past. So far, she didn’t recognize a single soul, but that didn’t mean anything.

“Welcome to Green Bean. How can I help you?” a young woman asked.

“I’ll take a strawberry frappe and cinnamon roll, warmed please.”

“Absolutely. May I have your name?”

“Talbot.”

“It will be ready in a few minutes. You can wait down at the end of the counter,” the woman said.

Talbot scurried to the other side of the room. A familiar deep laugh filled her ears as a tall gentleman entered the coffeehouse with his arm looped around a gray-haired woman.

Time had changed Carter and Weezer. They had both aged, but Talbot would recognize them anywhere.

Weezer might not have that vibrant reddish-brown hair she used to have, or her flawless complexion, but her stunning blue eyes were just as piercing.

And Carter’s hair might have thinned some, and he’d put on a few pounds, but he was still incredibly handsome and had the same smile as Merlot.

As all his boys.

She turned, keeping her back to the entrance. Thank God, there was a back door. She'd go to the courtyard as soon as she picked up her order.

“Talbot,” a gentleman called her name and set her drink and snack on the counter.

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