Page 40 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

He opened the door and she scurried past him, pausing at the opening.

“Please, you have a—”

He slammed it shut. Leaning against the wooden object, he closed his eyes tight. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alone.

8

TALBOT

Talbot spent the next twenty-four hours nursing the worst hangover of her life, only to be compounded by the inability to stop crying.

She’d called and texted Merlot a dozen or so times.

He refused to respond.

For all she knew, he was on a plane to Timbuktu.

She pulled the covers to her chin and tried to focus on some stupid reality show her son loved to watch. She could never understand why Corbin liked shows like this, but she always enjoyed watching them with him whenever she could.

God, she missed that boy so much.

She hadn’t been thrilled the day he dropped out of college after his first year and told her he had joined the Army. He hadn’t even asked her what her thoughts were on his decision. He’d just up and enlisted.

He’d been lost and she wondered if maybe she’d pushed him too hard about his education. Some of his friends were taking a gap year and perhaps she should have let him do the same. However, the Army had turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to that kid.

He thrived in the environment. He’d gotten his bachelor’s degree in record time and was now an officer. He had the start to an incredible career. She couldn’t be prouder.

Ding-dong.

The noise halted her tears for the first time since she ran from Merlot’s cottage.

She leaped from the sofa, raced to the door, and pulled it open. “Oh, hi, Weezer,” she managed. Her disappointment that it wasn’t Merlot rang full force from her voice. “I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood for visitors.”

“I’m sure you’re not, but I’m not just anyone.” Weezer held up a basket. “I come with homemade bread, my world-famous macaroni and cheese that you used to gobble up like there was no tomorrow, and some sugar cookies with peanut butter cups in the middle. I remember how much you loved those.”

A smile spread across Talbot’s face. “That’s very kind of you.”

“Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold in this town of being the resident bitch.”

Talbot laughed. “Come in.” She couldn’t think of any good reason to send Weezer packing. The woman had never been anything but generous to Talbot. Many of the other kids growing up were terrified of Weezer, but not Talbot. She knew the real woman behind the mask. She also knew never to get on her bad side. “How’s Merlot?”

“I’m not exactly sure except he hasn’t left the cottage and I’m pretty sure he’s been drunk the entire time. He won’t talk to me or Carter. I know the twins have tried, but he threw an empty bottle of tequila at them, so they told me until he sobers up, they won’t have anything to do with him. Those three haven’t always gotten along.”

“I remember.”

“Malbec stopped by to see him and Merlot let him in, but the conversation went downhill quickly.”

Talbot sat on the sofa and ripped the lid off the pasta. She took the fork Weezer had provided and dug in, realizing she hadn’t eaten since the party. She moaned as her taste buds lit up. “I’ve tried a million times to make this, and it has never tasted this good.”

“I’ll give you the recipe, but you can never tell anyone my secret ingredients.” Weezer made herself comfortable in the chair kitty-corner. “You should know that everyone in our family now knows.”

“That wasn’t smart and they all must hate me.”

Weezer leaned over and patted her leg. “No one in this family could ever have bad feelings for you.”

“Merlot certainly does.”

“He’s hurting. Give him time and he’ll come around,” Weezer said.

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