Chapter Six Remi
Chapter Six
Remi
With straw hats perched upon their heads, Bianca and Remi wandered through the heart of Napa Valley—with its old town, family-run eateries and historical buildings.
The first stop was Oxbow Market; a vibrant forty-thousand-square-foot marketplace nestled along the Napa River.
The air buzzed with the scent of Moroccan street food, wood-fired pizzas, high-end meats, and the sweetness of freshly picked produce.
They stopped by a vintage candy shop in the heart of Napa and sampled the handmade chocolates. Bianca bought a dozen of their wine-infused truffles and had eaten nearly half of them before they even left the shop. She’d threatened to go back for a dozen more.
“These things are dangerous,” Bianca said in between bites.
“Pace yourself, sister,” Remi warned with a giggle. “In fact, gimme the bag.”
Bianca playfully slapped back Remi’s hand. “Touch these and draw back a nub.”
They both laughed heartily.
After lingering in the cozy bookstore, they found themselves tucked into an artisan café on the riverside deck, sharing a cheese board and sipping glasses of brandy, the water beside them glistening in the late-afternoon sunshine.
“This is the life.” Bianca raised her glass in the air.
Remi raised her glass too. “Can’t believe I’m drinking brandy in the middle of the day. I’m going to be an all-out alcoholic, as my daughter put it.”
Bianca laughed. “Stop.”
“It’s true. This place makes you want to drink.”
“We’re on vacation.” Bianca kept a smile plastered on, laughed in all the right places, but her fingers kept brushing against her phone, seemed to be itching to check it.
Remi narrowed her eyes. “Okay, spill. What’s going on with you?”
Bianca shook her head. “Nothing. Just tired. Didn’t sleep much.”
“That’s not it. You seem spooked about something.”
Bianca hesitated, then she let out a deep sigh. “I got a message from an unknown number.”
Remi blinked. “What kind of message?”
Bianca lowered her voice. “They told me to stay away. Said I wasn’t invisible.”
Remi’s expression turned sharp, concerned. “That’s … creepy. Who do you think it was? You think it’s Harry’s new girlfriend?”
Bianca shook her head. “No.”
“Well, who, then? Tell me.”
Bianca sighed and hesitated before saying, “I was sort of dating this guy recently, and he wasn’t very happy when I broke things off.”
“What guy? You haven’t told me about anyone new.” Remi’s eyes settled on her, studying her friend. They had shared everything with each other since childhood.
“We were keeping a low profile. I didn’t want to tell you until I thought it was something to tell.” Bianca smiled sheepishly. “Plus, you’ve been busy with your classes and laying the groundwork for your business. Then Gerard …”
“Not too busy for you,” Remi said. “You should’ve told me about him.”
“He’s stalking me.”
“Bianca!” Remi’s voice dripped with concern. No … with fear.
“I know. I didn’t want to tell you. Didn’t want you to worry.”
“Well, now I am worried. Have you gone to the police?”
Before Bianca could answer, a tall, handsome man approached their table and interrupted their conversation. “Remi, is that you?”
“Leo.” Remi rose to her feet and hugged the man. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” He grinned, showing off a beautiful set of white teeth. With deep curls in his hair, the body of a gym rat, and perfect, flawless skin the color of chocolate, he asked, “Gerard playing a round of golf this morning?”
Remi’s face was solemn at the sound of Gerard’s name.
The painful thought that he would no longer play a round of golf ever again pierced her heart.
The more days that passed, the reality of his absence was becoming even clearer, and with Leo standing in front of her asking a question that she so desperately hated answering—awaiting an explanation that she was already so tired of repeating, caused her further pain.
Her shoulders were slumped, and with a toneless, quiet voice she said, “Leo … Gerard had a heart attack last month. We lost him.”
The color left Leo’s skin immediately. His face became a dull, grayish color. He stared at Remi for a moment, as if he expected her to tell him something different.
“Oh no, Remi. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” His hand stroked her arm. The genuineness of his tone was clear, and without hesitation, he pulled her into a firm hug; a solid, endearing one.
As Leo wrapped his arms around Remi, she caught sight of Bianca just over his shoulder.
Her friend’s eyes flicked to the bare ring finger on Leo’s left hand, then back to Remi with a lifted brow.
The gesture was small but unmistakable. Remi knew that look.
Bianca’s curiosity was piqued, her silent question loud as hell: Who exactly is this man, and is he single?
“Thank you.” Remi rested her palm against Leo’s chest. She took her seat.
“Gerard was a great guy. He’ll certainly be missed. I wish I had known. I’d have flown to New Orleans for the services.”
Remi offered a light smile. There were times when she could live in the moment and not think about Gerard’s death, or the services, or the grief that consumed her at least twenty-three of the twenty-four hours in each day, but this wasn’t one of those moments.
No, at this moment she was back in New Orleans at the funeral.
“I know you would have. And I’m so sorry I didn’t call. It just all happened so quickly. The heart attack, the services … everything. And it was an intimate service.”
Remi was still fragile, triggered. And suddenly she felt guilty for not reaching out to Leo after Gerard’s heart attack. She’d been wrapped in her own pain, but it was no excuse. They had been like brothers.
“I’m Bianca,” she interrupted, and reached her hand to Leo. “Remi’s oldest and fiercest ally.”
“Pleased to meet you, Bianca. I’m Leo.”
Remi gathered her emotions. “Leo is a good friend and he owns the property next to ours.”
“Oh, the one with the massive wraparound veranda.” Bianca’s eyes lit up. “Gorgeous spot.”
“That’s the one.” Leo chuckled, then looked at her. “A pleasure meeting you, Bianca.”
“You as well.” She leaned forward, a little coy. “Let me guess—your wife insisted on that big veranda?”
Remi shot Bianca a look, eyes wide, her brows raised.
Leo’s expression shifted. “I’m a widower,” he said quietly. “I lost my Vivian two years ago.”
Bianca’s flirtatious edge dropped instantly. Regret shone on her face. She seemed a bit embarrassed, too, and pulled back. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Viv was a wonderful woman,” Remi said softly, offering Leo a smile of remembrance.
“She really was. Kindest soul I’ve ever known,” Leo said, his eyes a little sad. He recovered quickly. “I see they’ve started work on Paloma’s old winery. I’m guessing you bought the place. I remember you talking about it last summer.”
“Yes, I did. Hoping to have my first tasting by the end of the summer; if not, early fall. It will be a big to-do. I hope you’ll be there.”
“You know I will. Wouldn’t miss it,” Leo said. He glanced at his watch. “Listen, I’m picking up a few things for a barbecue tonight. Just a casual thing—music, some food, good people. You know, the usual crowd. You’re both more than welcome to come by. I’d love to catch up properly.”
Remi’s smile returned, this time a little easier.
“Gerard and I used to love your parties. We might stop by.”
“I hope you do.” Leo gave a nod and turned, his oak cologne lingering behind. He raised a hand in the air. “See you soon.”
Bianca watched him walk away, then looked at Remi with a grin. “He’s cute.”
“He’s kind,” Remi said, eyes still on the path Leo had taken. “He and Vivian were some of the first people to welcome us here.”
She remembered how the pair had shown up on their doorstep with a bottle of cognac and a homemade sweet potato pie that Vivian had baked.
She and Gerard invited them in, and the four of them talked for hours, drank cognac, and ended up playing cards for most of the night.
Loud music played on the stereo. Gerard and Leo remade their own rendition of Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee”, as they all became fast friends in a single evening.
They were family, and when Vivian died, Remi remembered grieving her death as if she had been her own sister.
She had worried that Leo wouldn’t recover, and she and Gerard took turns checking on him in the months that followed. He had grieved for so long.
“Seems like a nice man,” Bianca said.
“He is.” Remi exhaled slowly and looked out over the hills.
“Rem, a great party is exactly what you need.”
“You might be right.”
“I know I’m right.”
It was a full moon, and Boney James’s saxophone seemed to echo through the dark, moonlit night.
Laughter and conversation mingled in the air, rising above the low hum of voices and the sexy rhythm of “All I Want Is You.” Leo’s backyard pulsed with life, as it always had, with people holding glasses of wine or cognac, dancing, chatting, or simply soaking up the evening.
Remi wore a colorful summer sundress paired with embellished flat sandals.
The coolness of the night caused goose bumps to race up and down her arms, and she wished she had worn sleeves or brought a sweater.
Flames from the fire-pit danced and mesmerized her as she reclined on the outdoor sofa.
Across the patio, Bianca danced with one of Leo’s handsome friends, her sleeveless minidress hugging her curves.
The chill didn’t seem to bother her at all—likely thanks to the tequila on the rocks, of which she’d had at least three glasses.