Page 76 of Geordie

Five Months Later

We use the wee conference room off the barrel room for evaluations, brief meetings, and sometimes hosting a few clients for barrel tastings. Layla sits at the head of the table, blue glasses halfway down the bridge of her nose, peering at Connell and I, looking like we've been caught out at school.

She opens the first folder from a five-inch stack. “Arranging a meeting with the two of you has been impossible, almost an act of God. I can't imagine you were avoiding me.”

“With the harvest and Lochlan's visit, we've been busier than usual.” Connell pleads our case with wee effect.

I nod, giving support to my winemaker's dying cause.

Her narrow finger taps the folder like it's the stone tablet of the Ten Commandments and it is, only it's the rigid outline of how our public functions are to be run. “I'm aware of the season, but this time of year also calls for the distribution of the wine club member shipments and the Winemaker's Dinner.”

Arranging shipments and pickups for wine club members is straightforward, but cutting around at a Winemaker's Dinner is something I look forward to. With Lochlan not here, we're a man down and we'll need everyone in management to pull it off. “How can we help?” I ask.

Layla laces her fingers, placing them on the folder. She gives a half-smile, probably pleased that we're not whining about our duties. “Geordie, you'll take over the role of host as the manager. That means meet and greet and talking to all, and I meanall, of our guests. No monopolizing your pretty, adoring fans. Your job is to make sure every guest is having a wonderful time.”

I lower my head, giving her a sheepish agreement, but with all that glitter and loveliness, it's hard to resist.

“Connell, you'll be tasked with giving information about the wine at each course and answering questions. I'll need you to circulate as well. You've worked the dinner a few times as a server, so you know what goes on.”

“I'll do my best.”

“Oh, and Connell,” she says, pulling a card from the folder and sliding it toward him. “This is a formal party. You'll need to be kitted in full Highland dress. This is the tailor we use. I’ve instructed him to run up an appropriate garment and order everything you'll need, down to your Ghillie brogues. It's our gift to you.”

He looks at me for confirmation.

“Layla and I discussed it and agreed that you should have this. We want you to look bonnie for the dinner.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “I'll do my best.”

“Good, that's all I have for the two of you,” Layla says.

Connell springs up, with me not far behind. He streaks through the door.

“Geordie, could you stay behind for a few minutes? Something has come up about the Winemaker's Dinner that we need to discuss. It's about the food.”

I turn, standing in the doorway. “Aye?”

“The Highlander can't cater the dinner this year because their renovations took longer than they expected. We'll need to find another restaurant that can do Scottish fare.”

I rest against the doorjamb. This will be an easy solution. “Tell them to do their prep in our kitchen.”

She closes the folder, aligning it onto the stack. “I would, but we have back-to-back holiday parties booked. The kitchen won't be available until the day of the dinner. They tell me they need more time than that. They gave us suggestions, most of them from San Francisco, but they're all booked. I sent out a sample menu and asked for bids from other restaurants. Three responded.”

“Well, it appears you have your solution.”

“I do, but one of the restaurants is Dalliance. Here's their bid.” She produces it from the pocket of her sweater.

I step back into the room, scooping up the paper. “Cranachan is on their menu, along with a selection of Scottish biscuits.”

“Yes, that caught my eye, too,” Layla says. “Lily seems confident she can do the beef and lamb joints, haggis as well, and the vegetable pie as the vegetarian option.”

She hadn't mentioned she was bidding for the dinner. “What did the other restaurants offer?”

“Almost the same. With all of them bidding nearly the same amount, I'm considering using Dalliance. I was disappointed when they withdrew their application for Catriona, just before we were scheduled to do their final on-site.” She pulls out a paper from her folder. “I did some snooping. This is Dalliance's current menu. They've been incorporating a few Scottish dishes. What do you think?”

I scan the menu. She has the rumbledethumps I taught her to make. “When do you need a decision?”

She sighs. “As soon as possible, but if you can decide in the next couple of days, that would work.”

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