CHAPTER FORTY
LORI
Lori and Griff arrived at a crossroads outside of town, where the accident had taken place. The flashing red lights, the uniformed police, and the EMTs filled her stomach with acid.
Kayla was standing by an ambulance, talking to one of the first responders as Rosie sat on the back step of their emergency vehicle, being checked by another.
An older model tan Volvo with one side badly damaged sat on the verge of the road. A red truck was parked on the other side, where a policeman was talking to a young man. Lori suspected he was the other driver.
Griff pulled his car to a stop beside the road and got out.
Lori quickly followed.
When Kayla saw them, she hurried over. “Thank God you’re here. I’m okay, but Rosie has injured her shoulder. They’re also checking the injuries to her face from the airbag.” She held out her hands. “I’m still shaking.”
“What happened?” asked Griff, putting an arm around Kayla.
“We were driving to town when that young kid in his truck went right through the stop sign and hit us. He tried to stop, but it was too late.” Kayla lowered her voice. “I think he’s high on something. A policeman is talking to him now.”
“How about you?” Lori asked Kayla. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
Kayla’s eyes filled. She shook her head. “I’m shaken and probably a little bruised, but I’m not badly hurt. It’s Rosie whom I’m worried about. The truck hit her side of the car.” She gripped her hands and looked at the damage to her automobile. “I think they’ll total it.”
“As long as you both will be okay, don’t worry about anything else,” said Griff. “You can use one of the vineyard’s trucks until you have the situation with your car settled. The important thing is to make sure both of you are all right.”
“Come see Rosie,” said Kayla. “Lori, I’m glad you’re here. Rosie wants to talk to you.”
When they approached the ambulance, the EMT workers turned to them.
“We’ve given Rosie something for the pain so we could put the dislocated shoulder back in place.
Rosie will need to wear a sling for a couple of days.
She’ll be able to resume most activities within a couple of weeks.
However, it takes about 12-16 weeks to completely recover. ”
Lori felt sick looking at the bruising and scraping on Rosie’s beautiful face.
“Rosie’s face will be fine. No broken bones,” commented one of the EMTs.
“All in all, you’re both lucky,” he said to Kayla. “Good thing you were driving a Volvo.”
Kayla nodded numbly, sat beside Rosie, and put her arm around her. “We’ll get you home and help you rest.”
“Why don’t I drop Rosie and Lori off at your house and come back here to help you with your car, while you talk to the police,” Griff said to Kayla.
“I can drive your car to Rosie and Kayla’s place, if that will help,” Lori said.
“Yes. That will save time,” said Griff, handing her a set of keys to his Jeep. “I’ll call Pete to come get us.”
Though Rosie acted dazed, she gave her a lopsided smile when Lori told her she was taking her home.
Kayla gave Rosie a hug. “Lori will help take care of you until I finish up here. Be sure to keep your arm and shoulder still, even in the sling.”
Lori led Rosie to Griff’s Jeep and helped her inside.
After getting behind the wheel, Lori turned to Rosie. “Better give me directions.”
###
Lori pulled into the parking area of the apartment complex on Solano Avenue and got Rosie to the apartment she shared with Kayla.
Inside, Lori helped Rosie to the couch in the living room. “What can I get you? Water? Soda?”
“I’d love some ice water,” said Rosie. “I’m glad you’re here.
I want to talk to you about the store. A big order is being delivered tomorrow for our weekend open house event taking place in Napa.
Will you and Cristina be able to open the boxes, put the items in our inventory, and arrange them on display? ”
“Yes, I’m sure we can do that. Cristina knows inventory routines, and I can display the items.”
“The display is a lot like what we talked about. You’ll see where everything should go,” said Rosie, trying to stifle a yawn.
“You’d better lie down. I’ll bring you some water, and you can rest. I’ll stay right here until Kayla comes,” said Lori.
She poured a glass of water, gave it to her, and pulled a blanket up over Rosie, who’d begun to shiver in response to all she’d been through.
While Rosie catnapped, Lori sat in a chair, lost in thought. Seeing the EMTs, remembering the times she’d had to call them to help get Nick off the floor, her eyes filled with tears. It had been such an awful time that seemed to go on forever with an ending everyone expected.
Lori checked to make sure Rosie was all right and then went onto the balcony outside the apartment.
From this side of the building, she could see the hills in the distance.
She loved this part of the country. She thought of her family waiting for her to return home.
She owed them for all the ways they’d helped her, though these last two days in California would be difficult for many reasons.
###
Later, Griff and Lori sat in the kitchen of the main house at Adeline Hills Winery eating a cheese omelet Lori had put together.
“Even though you didn’t get to all the places I wanted you to see, I hope you saw enough to know how outstanding Napa nightlife can be,” said Griff.
“I like Napa and your friends,” said Lori. “I was there long enough to see how much fun it could be.”
“Thanks for helping Rosie tomorrow. Knowing you were there meant a lot to her. She promised me the store would be ready for this weekend,” said Griff.
“Having Cristina work with me will help a lot. Together, we’ll get the job done, no matter how long it takes,” said Lori.
“I like how you can easily adjust to changed plans,” said Griff. “Growing grapes and making wine is filled with variables.”
Lori sighed. “Life itself is always changing.” She had no idea how she’d come to regret those words.
###
Lori lay in bed the next morning, reviewing the day ahead in her mind.
After a quick breakfast of coffee and toast, she’d head to the wine-tasting center and the store.
Rosie mentioned that deliveries usually start to arrive by nine o’clock, including two big deliveries from rush orders for items with the winery logo on them.
Before starting the day, she took a few moments to savor the memories of lovemaking with Griff. He was such a generous, passionate man.
Her cell phone rang. Cristina.
“Hello,” said Lori. “Are you ready for a busy day?”
“Oh, yes. I’m here at the store reviewing the items for sale,” said Cristina. “I’ve checked out the inventory system here and have all the pricing tags and stickers ready. If you don’t mind, I’ve got a routine set up that I think will work.”
“I bow to your expertise,” Lori said.
“And I am appreciative of your taking care of the displays,” Cristina said. “The shop has a lot going for it.”
“I agree,” said Lori. “I think there’s plenty of potential for a stronger marketing program, in general. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll have coffee and a breakfast treat ready for you.”
Lori took care of her morning routines and managed to get to the store in record time.
Cristina greeted her and led her to the employee kitchen, where she poured her a cup of coffee and handed her a plate with a slice of coffee cake.”
“Sarita made this for us,” said Cristina, taking a seat opposite Lori at the kitchen table. “How did you become involved with Adeline Hills Winery?”
Lori told her about meeting Griff at The Beach House Hotel and how they’d spent some time together and became friends.
Cristina’s eyes widened. “I’ve seen pictures of that hotel. It’s on my ‘someday’ list. Very nice.”
“It’s gorgeous, and the owners are especially caring. I can’t wait to go back someday,” said Lori. “Let me tell you the rest of the story.”
Cristina listened and said, “It’s almost as if fate was stepping in with a plan for the two of you to be together.”
“There’s one problem. Distance,” said Lori. “It’s keeping us from moving on to anything serious.”
“Just take it one day at a time,” Cristina advised her. “When you’re finished, I want to walk through the store with you while we discuss the changes. I’ve looked over the orders, and it’s a lot of merchandise.”
“The shop could use it. We just have to display it in a way that is enticing,” said Lori. “Rosie and I had similar ideas when we talked. And though you work with clothing, you’ll see what we were saying.”