Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
GRAY
“ W hat do you mean you can’t find her?” I demand into the phone and pace my condo.
“Her car is here,” Dad says, frustration thick in his voice. “I’ve been through the house twice, and I can’t find her. I just got home from work, and she had some ladies over for tea this afternoon.”
“She has a broken hip,” I remind him. “She can’t have gotten far.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Dad counters, his voice rising, but then he pauses. “Jeannie? Oh, honey, where were you?”
“Oh, I was just out looking at my garden, but the flowers have died.”
“I found her,” he says, relief in his words. “She’s okay. She looks tired. I’ll call you later.”
Dad hangs up, and I stare out my window in frustration.
Mom’s getting to the point that leaving her alone isn’t smart. She has a nurse who looks in on her throughout the day, and Maya tries to be there as much as possible, but Spokane is still at least a thirty-minute drive away—in good traffic.
They arranged the tea party this afternoon so she wouldn’t be alone for long between the nurse’s visit and Dad getting home.
Without giving it too much thought, I dial Maya’s number.
“Wassup?” she asks when she answers.
“When was the last time you were with Mom?”
“Why? Has something happened?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I was there on Sunday,” she says. “What happened?”
“Dad got home from work today and couldn’t find her.”
“ What ?”
“He called me in a panic. She ended up walking in from outside, where she said she was spending time in the garden.”
“How? She’s injured, for God’s sake?”
“That was my thought. She’s not getting better. Mentally, I mean.”
“I know. She’s not worse, either—which is good. But she can’t just wander outside with a broken hip. And she can’t get approved for a twenty-four-seven nurse. So, I’ve decided I’m going to quit my job and go live at home for a while.”
“Maya—”
“No, it makes sense. Sid’s got her career happening in Nashville, and you have a law firm to run. It makes the most sense for me to do this. I’m not a nurse, but I’m at least a familiar face that can be there with her to make sure she takes it easy and isn’t in danger. If she were to fall again, it could be catastrophic.”
“I know.” My voice is soft. “I wish Dad would retire and stay home with her.”
“He would go mad in a week,” she reminds me. “He’s not ready to retire, Gray. I want to go spend some time with Mom. In thirty years, I’ll be happy I did.”
My sister has the biggest heart and always thinks of everyone before herself.
She’s the caretaker.
“I’m always a phone call away.”
“I know. Don’t beat yourself up, Gray. It’s going to be okay. Maybe once she’s recovered from the hip, things can go back to normal for a while.”
“I hope so. When is all of this happening?”
“I’m packing up this weekend. I already gave notice at the job. Movers are coming on Monday, and then I’ll be at the ol’ homestead.”
“I mean, it’s not a bad place to hang out. Stella enjoyed it. Maybe we’ll come visit again soon.”
“We’d all like that. How are things with Stella, anyway?”
“Good. Things are good.”
“I know you won’t give me any details, so I’ll let you go. I’ll call Dad really quick. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“No, thank you , Maya.”
“Hey, this is what kids do, right? We take care of our parents.”
“I just don’t want you to think that Sid and I are putting all of this on your shoulders.”
“It’s fine. Really. And if it ever isn’t fine, I’ll let you know.”
“Do that. And keep me posted.”
I hang up and sigh, staring out at the city. I love living in Seattle and the life I’ve built here, but damn, it’s hard being so far away from my family when the shit starts to hit the fan.
I know that Maya will keep me posted and will give it to me straight.
For now, I need to be content with that.
It’s been two weeks since I met Stella’s parents. I haven’t spent a lot of time with her over the past couple of weeks because she’s been swamped with work since she’s now doing double-duty, and I’ve had my own plate full of cases and things to see to since I was gone for that week in Idaho.
But I’m taking Stella out on a date tonight. I don’t think we’ve been out since our first date, and given how long ago that was, I need to up my game.
Stella deserves to be wined and dined and pampered. She works her ass off.
And I’m completely in love with her.
“I’m here,” Stella says as she bustles into the condo in a mad dash. “I know I’m late, but I had to finish up some things at the office.”
She runs right past me into the bedroom in a gorgeous, blond flash.
“You’re not that late,” I say as I casually follow her. Stella spends more nights here than she does at her place, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just last week, she brought a suitcase of clothes to my condo because she was wasting so much time driving home each morning to get ready for work, only to turn around and come back into the city.
“My uncle Will called. Now that they’ve closed on the house next to mine, they want me to help with some of the renovation ideas. So, I met them there earlier today. Since I was already next door, I went ahead and grabbed a few more things that I need over here. And then I had a meeting in my office.”
She disappears with a bag into the closet and starts putting some things away in the drawers and on the hangers that I emptied for her.
“But don’t worry,” she continues, “I just have to change and freshen up my makeup and then I’m ready to go.”
“Do I look worried?”
She stops, blows a strand of her hair out of her eyes, and looks at me. “No. Actually, you don’t.”
“Because I’m not. We have time.”
I cross to her and frame that gorgeous face in my hands, then lean down to kiss her.
“We don’t have time for this,” she murmurs against my lips and then pulls away to get ready for our date. “Where are we going, anyway?”
“Wine tasting.” My mouth goes dry when she shimmies out of her form-fitting dress, leaving her in only a tiny pair of panties and a matching bra. “With food, of course.”
“Oh, fun. That sounds awesome.”
She wiggles into a pair of jeans and a little tank top thing and then pulls on a short, green sweater that hits at her waistline.
She slides her feet into brown, knee-high boots and then runs for the bathroom.
As I listen to her shuffle around in there, I look at the walk-in closet.
I like seeing her things mingled with mine, and, honestly, that surprises me. I’ve never felt enough for a woman to ask her to stay with me, to move in with me.
And now, the thought of Stella leaving makes my chest ache.
“Okay, let’s do this,” she says as she walks past the closet. “Gray?”
“Coming.” With my jacket draped over my arm, I join her. “Let’s go.”
“Cuppa de Vita wines?” she asks beside me as I pull into the parking lot.
“Do you know it?”
She turns that wide smile on me and then laughs. “You could say that. My uncle, Dominic, owns it.”
“Your family never stops surprising me.”
“You’re not the only one,” she says. “This will be so fun. I haven’t seen Uncle Dom and Aunt Alecia in a long time.”
I escort her inside where the tasting room is and hear a shriek of excitement from behind the bar.
“Stella!”
She’s swept up in a hug, and then the woman glances my way.
“I’m sorry, how can I help you?”
“I have a reservation for two,” I reply with a smile. “Grayson Sterling.”
“I’m the plus one,” Stella adds.
“Oh, how fun. I get to meet the new boyfriend. I’m Alecia, Stella’s aunt.”
“Does the whole family know?” Stella asks her.
“Of course. Now, come on. I’ll get you started with a glass of wine and our spread of goodies. I have pasta lined up for dinner and a special surprise for dessert.”
“When did you start offering a three-course meal?” Stella asks.
“About a year ago,” Alecia replies and gestures to a table by the window that overlooks the rolling hills of vines. “This is a pinot noir taken from that plot right there.”
She gestures to the vines closest to where we sit as a young woman holding a tray approaches.
“Oh, thank you, Emma. This is just an appetizer to whet your appetite.”
“Hey, Em,” Stella says to the young woman. “How’s school?”
“Meh, it’s okay,” she says with a shrug. “I can’t wait to graduate and go live in the new family compound in the city.”
“Don’t let your mother hear you say that,” Stella advises. “Also, you should come hang out with me soon.”
“Yes, please,” Emma says with gratitude. “I can’t bring you the hard stuff, but I can deliver food to the table, so if you need anything at all, just flag me down. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, kiddo,” Stella says with a wink and turns to me when Emma walks away. “She’s the youngest of the cousins, and she hates that title. She’s ready to grow up and do all the fun things that she sees the other cousins doing.”
“Of course, she does.”
“Liv and I try to get the younger cousins together now and then so they can have fun, too. We can’t have them coming to the cousins’ parties at the house because of the drinking, though. That’s not even a possibility. But I feel bad that they feel left out.”
“You’re a good person.” I reach out for her hand and take a sip of the wine. “And this wine is the best I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
We look up and see a man standing nearby.
“Uncle Dom,” Stella says with a grin.
“Hello, bambina ,” he replies with an Italian accent. “How did I get so lucky to see you tonight?”
“Gray brought me,” Stella says, gesturing to me. “I didn’t know he was bringing me here until we pulled in.”
“I love your wines,” I add and offer my hand to shake. “They’re some of my favorites, and I thought it would be fun to bring Stella for a tasting. I had no idea the vineyard was a family one.”
“We have a big family,” Dom replies with a smile. “It takes a while to learn all the ins and outs of us all. My wife made something special for dessert, so you’re in for a treat. Be sure to find me before you go so I can see you.”
“I will.”
“Your family is something,” I say, shaking my head. “So nice. ”
“Kindness runs in our DNA,” she confirms.
“I am a little surprised, though. Dominic doesn’t look anything like anyone else in your family.”
“Well, that’s because how he came to be was a bit of a scandal.” She clears her throat and sips her wine. “My grandparents were separated for a while after my uncle Caleb was born. While separated, my grandpa had an affair.”
I feel my eyes go wide.
“I know, right? Dom was the result of that. Grandpa didn’t know about him until Dom was an adult and came to find him after his mother died.”
“How did your grandma take it?”
“From what I heard, she took it all in stride. She welcomed Dominic into our family, and everyone moved on. I think that all my uncles struggled a bit, but no one thinks of Dom and his family as anything but a part of us.”
“That’s… extraordinary. ”
“Speaking of family, how’s yours?” she asks and bites into a piece of cheese.
“Difficult.” I tell her about my dad’s call, and then my follow-up call to Maya. “Part of me is relieved that Maya will be there to help, but part of me feels guilty. She shouldn’t have to take on the burden on her own.”
“It doesn’t sound like she considers it a burden,” Stella replies.
“No, but?—”
“If she needs you, she’ll call,” she continues. “Gray, you can’t control everything all the time. It’s impossible. Unless…”
She leans back in her chair and watches me closely.
“Unless?”
“Unless you’re thinking that you should move home yourself.”
“I’m not leaving you,” is my immediate response. “No way.”
“Am I the only thing keeping you here?” She raises an eyebrow.
“No, of course not. I have a law firm and a home here. Friends. But I could leave all of that behind if I had to. You, however, I can’t.”
Stella watches me with flirty eyes over the rim of her wineglass, and I feel her booted foot along my leg.
“If anyone else in the world owned this place, I’d take you into the bathroom and fuck you blind.”
The words are said completely calmly, but Stella chokes on a cashew.
“Ew,” she says when she catches her breath. “No public bathroom sex. Ever. I mean, I know that they run a clean place around here, but no.”
“You didn’t mind when I fucked you in the shower this morning.”
“It’s a shower that I know was recently cleaned,” she clarifies. “I know who’s been in there. If I’m getting naked and bumping uglies with you, it’s in a clean place.”
“I had no idea that you were such a germophobe.”
“I am when it comes to being naked,” she says with her nose in the air. She sniffs and then drinks her wine.
“I hope you like pasta carbonara,” Alecia announces as she sets a large, heaping platter of steaming pasta between us before placing dinner plates before each of us. “Emma’s following me with some garlic bread and salad.”
“Oh, God, I’m so excited for this,” Stella says and claps her hands.
“Are you the chef?” I ask Alecia.
“These days, I am,” she confirms. “I never used to be, but I took some classes from a friend of mine. I was a quick study.”
“She’s an excellent cook,” Stella adds. “This will be the best food you’ve had in your life.”
“That’s pretty high praise,” I say.
“And a lot of pressure,” Alecia agrees with a laugh. “I hope you enjoy it. Save a little room for dessert.”
Emma delivers the bread and salad, then I dish up our plates.
One bite in, and I know that Stella’s right. I moan with happiness.
“See? Told you. I wouldn’t steer you wrong when it comes to food.”
“Do you think they’d let us move in here, just so we can eat this every day?”
“I bet we could work something out.”