Chapter Twenty-seven Remi
Chapter Twenty-seven
Remi
By now, Remi could check several things off her list. The contractors had finished their renovations—walls painted, floors done.
The tasting room was nearly complete, with its walnut bar top that had already been installed with pendant lights.
The fermentation tanks stood in neat rows, joined by crushers, and a newly installed bottling system.
Filtration systems were scheduled for installation in the coming week.
The past two weeks had been a blur of movement and momentum.
Remi had immersed herself in Napa’s bustling wine scene, attending industry events downtown, shaking hands, exchanging cards, asking questions, listening closely, and soaking up all the insight she could.
But tonight’s industry event was different.
It wasn’t just another networking opportunity; it was a chance to begin carving out Joie’s identity among the valley’s most respected names.
The stakes felt higher. She wasn’t just going to be there as an observer anymore.
She was stepping into the room as a peer, a new name in the world of winemakers.
Every detail mattered—the tone of her voice, the conviction in her pitch, her confidence.
This was where Joie’s story would begin to resonate outside of the winery walls.
She stood in front of the mirror and smoothed the dress over her hips, pausing to turn slightly, checking every single angle to be sure it fell just right.
The fabric hugged her frame in all the right places.
She slipped a pair of silver hoops into her ears and colored her lips with mahogany, the color adding just the right amount of drama.
Finally, she slipped into her black strappy heels.
Tonight she needed to look like the woman behind Joie.
The one who had earned her place at the table.
Downstairs the girls were gathered around the kitchen island, deep in conversation; their laughter could be heard before Remi reached the bottom step. Bianca relaxed on the sofa, her eyes lightly closed. She opened them when Remi entered the room.
“Woo-hoo. Look at you,” Zoe whistled.
“Do I look okay?” she asked nervously. “Is this dress too much? Maybe I should wear slacks.”
“You look fabulous,” Mila said. “And you are working that dress.”
Remi hesitated, then smiled. “Okay, I’m trusting you two.”
She reached for the small brown pill bottle on the island, shook two into her palm, then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Here you go,” she said, handing the pills and water to Bianca.
“Thanks.” Bianca smiled. “You look good, Rem.”
When the doorbell rang, Remi instinctively smoothed her dress once more before heading to answer it. She pulled the door open to find Leo standing there in tan khakis and a crisp blue blazer, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
“Ready?” he asked, not crossing the threshold, but sticking his head inside. “Hello, ladies.”
“Hey, Leo,” Zoe called from the kitchen.
“Hey, superstar,” he said with a grin.
“Hello,” Bianca and Mila both said in unison.
“Wish me luck,” Remi said to them.
“You’ll be fine, Mom. You got this.”
The winery hosting the event sat nestled in the hills just north of downtown Napa, it’s glass-paneled tasting room glowing against the twilight.
Rows of parked cars lined the gravel path leading to the entrance.
Inside the room buzzed with a crowd of vintners, sommeliers, and marketing professionals.
The voices intermingled with the sound of live jazz coming from a trio in the corner of the room.
Remi stepped inside, arm lightly hooked through Leo’s. She scanned the room, her eyes settling on a few familiar faces from previous mixers. A server passed by with a tray of sparkling rosé. She took a glass, the stem of it resting between her fingertips.
She locked eyes with Paloma, who quickly made her way across the room, wearing a blue linen two-piece suit.
“You made it,” she smiled and nudged Remi.
“Yes. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Hello, Leo,” Paloma said. “You both look great.”
“Thanks, Paloma. So do you,” Leo said, and then tapped Remi’s elbow. “I see someone I know. I’ll be right back.”
Leo disappeared. Paloma raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
She linked her arm with Remi’s. “There, across the room … gray slacks, green shirt. That’s Christian Carter. He owns a marketing firm in the Bay Area, Pinnacle Strategies. It’s a small firm, but very influential. I think Pinnacle would be a great fit for Joie. I’ll introduce you later.”
“Okay.”
“Go mingle. We’ll link up later.” Paloma slipped away and caught up with someone she knew.
Across the room a few women gathered around a well-dressed man from one of Napa’s most respected vineyards. A younger couple stood by the cheese spread, talking distribution. Remi took a deep breath and approached a group gathered near the fireplace, easing herself into the conversation.
They were discussing trends in sustainable winemaking, and she found herself contributing easily.
She talked about her plans for Joie, and the contemporary trends she’d already adopted.
A few people nodded, intrigued. As the evening wore on, Remi moved from conversation to conversation, her nerves settling a bit more.
She glanced across the room at Leo. He was watching her with quiet admiration—watching her shine.
A smile crept into the corner of his mouth.
Later, as Remi and Leo stood near the exit and the crowd began to thin, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to find a man she’d met briefly at another mixer, John Gabriel, who ran a midsized distribution in Sonoma.
“You’re building something that people are talking about,” he said. “I’d love to come by and visit Joie sometime. See what you’re doing over there.”
John Gabriel wanted to visit Joie? Her heart beat rapidly in her chest.
“I’d be happy to give you a tour once it’s up and running,” Remi said, attempting to keep her voice steady.
“I’ll look for the invitation,” he said and then slipped out the door, waving goodbye to a few of his colleagues.
As they stepped back into the night, Remi exhaled. Leo held the passenger door of his Mercedes open for her and she climbed inside. She didn’t have all the answers yet, but she was gaining her footing. Joie was becoming a name in the valley, and she was ready for whatever came next.
She found Bianca on the sunporch, a silk scarf on her head, an afghan wrapped around her shoulders. Soulful music drifted from a Bluetooth speaker.
The door creaked as she stepped outside.
“How did it go?” Bianca asked.
“Very well,” Remi said with a smile. “I made some great connections tonight. Think I might’ve also found a marketing company. And guess what? People are raving about Mila’s design. Her logo was the talk of the evening.”
“That’s cool. She’ll be happy to hear that.”
“A couple of people are interested in seeing more of her work. She needs to think about putting together a portfolio.”
“I’m sure you’ll have her a business plan worked up by morning—a whole presentation with scented markers and all.” Bianca laughed and then went into a coughing spell. She took a sip of mineral water.
Remi laughed too. “Ha ha.”
“I had to say it.” She regained her composure, sat up straight. “She’ll be a business owner before she’s twenty-one.”
“If she sticks with me, she just might,” Remi said. “I’ve already written her a check for the work she put in.”
“It’s really coming together for you, Rem. Congratulations. I had no doubt that it would,” Bianca said.
Remi took a seat in the chair adjacent to Bianca. There was a relaxed silence between them for a moment, only the sound of cicadas humming loudly.
“Did you have dinner?” Remi asked her.
“Mila whipped up a pot of homemade soup for me. Used some ingredients from the garden. She’s getting pretty good in the kitchen.”
Remi had noticed that too, and usually the thought of it unnerved her, but not tonight. She was still reeling from her evening.
“I’m not surprised. She’s a chip off the old block. Or should I say blocks.” She said it casually, masking her true feelings about it. Then she changed the tone of the conversation. “You know that little vintage candy shop you love so much … downtown?”
“The one with the wine-tasting bar?” Bianca asked and closed her eyes for a moment, appearing to be savoring the thought of it. “Oh my God, those darn wine truffles. They are to die for.”
“I had Leo stop by there, right before they closed their doors for the night.” Remi grinned. “I got you some of those truffles.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. They’re in the kitchen,” Remi said. “And if I were you, I’d hide them. Because if they’re still there in the morning, they’re fair game.”
“Well, I’d better hide them right away,” Bianca teased.
“You’d better.”
Bianca settled into the wicker love seat. “Not that it’s any of my business, but you and Leo seem to be getting kinda close lately.”
“You’re right. It’s not your business,” Remi replied with a small smile. “But if you must know, we’re just two friends—one helping the other through a difficult time. That’s it.”
Bianca nodded slowly. “That’s good. But if it ever turned into something more … I just want you to know you deserve all the happiness in the world, Rem. And fuck any judgment from anyone.”
Remi let the words sink in. They were comforting. Her thoughts moved to the kiss she had shared with Leo. There should’ve been guilt that followed, but there wasn’t.
She didn’t reply, just stood and headed toward the door. “You need anything before I head up?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” Bianca said. “I’ll be going up soon too. Got an early morning.”
“Radiation tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, we’re doing it together.”
Bianca nodded a yes. “Good night, Rem.”
“Good night,” Remi said softly.