23. Jake #2
“What if I never meet the perfect match? It wouldn’t be a surprise.
Statistically, if you consider how many of us are crowded onto this planet, finding your soul mate has to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Some of us aren’t going to succeed. Probably a lot of us will miss out on that brass ring, statistically speaking. ”
“You’ll never find your soul mate if you stop looking.”
I exhale. “True. I’ll reconsider my strategy. Thanks.” She’s quiet again and I know she needs a nudge. “I find it hard to believe that you’re calling me out of the blue to learn more about my romantic expectations.”
“I had to talk to someone, someone who would understand. I thought of you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I went to BC because my mom wanted to fix me up.”
I remember that. “And everyone is on board with her choice but you have doubts.”
“Yes.” I can hear her relief. “And I don’t know what to do.”
“Why? Isn’t it obvious? Isn’t he your Mr. Darcy? Rich, handsome and in need of a wife?”
“He might be Darcy but I’m not sure he should be mine.”
I refuse to explore my satisfaction in this confession. “Not measuring up?”
“That’s just it, he does. On paper, it looks like a perfect fit. That’s why I thought of your comment about, um, Chelsea.”
“You’ve got to listen to your instincts, Mackenzie.”
“But it’s easier for men. You can start a family whenever you want.” Her tone hardens. “As I have been reminded, my biological clock is ticking.”
I am surprised. “He did not say that.”
“He did.”
“Then he’s too stupid for you, Mackenzie. Or too socially inept.”
She laughs but her amusement fades too quickly. “He assumes we’re going to run his family’s vineyard in the Okanagan. Rhodes Vineyards isn’t even a consideration. He says their organization is bigger and more successful and can benefit from both our expertise.”
“But your heart is in your Opa’s endeavor.”
She breathes out slowly. “Yes. I have such plans.”
“The ice wine.”
“And more.”
I settle into my favourite chair. “Tell me.”
“I want to talk to the Grahams, but I don’t want to be pushy.”
I have to think for a minute. “The farm to the east and north of your land.”
“Three hundred acres, Jake, and they’re easing toward retirement.” The excitement in her voice is palpable. “If I had that land, we could be huge.”
“What would you do?” I lean back, loving the sound of her enthusiasm.
“Oh, I’d plant it. More red than white, some special varieties that need a bit of pampering and don’t always perform.
When they do, they’d give the winemaker something special to work with.
I’d experiment with the irrigation and the drainage.
I’d try new techniques for planting.” She laughs a little at herself.
“We could build a visitor center with a tasting room and a restaurant. Right now, that would take too high a percentage of our land. But imagine. Imagine! We could host events and even weddings. There could be regular tours and the dining room could look over the vineyards, and… Oh. Sorry. I have so many ideas! It’s not even for sale yet, let alone owned by us, but it feels like I’m being asked to walk away from the only opportunity I’ve always wanted.
” She pauses. “Actually, no, I’m not being asked.
My plans and hopes are being ignored. It’s assumed that I will want what he wants, forever and ever, and oh, that does not sit well. ”
I can’t blame her for that. Mackenzie is too ambitious to just become someone’s submissive little sidekick.
I’m really liking this guy, actually. My mood has improved a thousand times since hearing about him. I don’t need to jinx his campaign to propose to Mackenzie. He’s doing a great job at that all by himself.
I ask about her plan, because the sound of her enthusiasm is the very best thing. “If you got the land, could you afford to plant it?”
“No. Are you kidding? Maybe ten acres a year, at least right now. That’s another thing.
I’m not sure where we’d get the capital to even acquire it, but maybe the Grahams would make a deal.
You know they’ve been farming organically for thirty years.
” Her sigh is rapturous. “Ralph was way ahead of his time.”
“You could rent out the fields maybe while you do incremental planting. Who’s adjacent on the other sides of their land?”
“That might work,” she cedes and I hear her thinking.
“There are three farms on the borders or close to it, as well as a greenhouse operation.” She laughs a little.
“There hasn’t even been a chance to buy it yet.
I feel like we’re just finding our rhythm at Rhodes, like my ideas are finally being given the chance to influence the future and grow our business the way I’d love to see.
Opa trusts me now and there are so many possibilities. ”
I get it. “You’re being asked or expected to cut bait on your dreams.”
“Yes. Is it wrong for me to resent that?”
“No. You’re just listening to your instincts. In my experience, if the fit requires that one party makes all the compromises, it’s not a good one. It might not even last long as a result of that.”
“I’ve known him less than a week, but he doesn’t appear to negotiate.”
“Ah. A warning sign.”
“I think so, too.”
We sit in silence for a long moment.
“But what if this is the best possible option?” she asks and I hear her real fear. “What if I’m choosing the potential of a dream over the reality of what my future could be? What if passing on him means I’ll be alone forever?”
“You won’t be alone forever.”
“Seriously, Jake. What if this is my last chance?”
“You can’t believe that.”
“I feel like it might be.”
“Well, you can always call me.” I meant it to be a joke, but as soon as I utter the words, I know they’re true.
“But we’re not having either a fling or a thing.”
“So, I guess we’ll have to be friends.”
Another silence, then Mackenzie’s voice is a husky whisper. “I’d like that.”
“Yeah,” I agree, feeling the silence warm between us.
Eventually, she clears her throat. “Did I interrupt anything?”
“No, just working on the big plan.”
“What big plan?”
“The one that winds up my duties as executor before I’m dead. The math just doesn’t work yet.”
“Tell me,” she invites, deliberately echoing me, and I do.
“I’m thinking we can liquidate my father’s real estate portfolio and if that happens quickly enough, it will provide the capital Candace needs for her financial security.
I’m also thinking that each of my siblings and my father’s heirs could choose a property, in lieu of the cash inheritance the will said they would get but the estate can’t pay. ”
“On account of there being no money.”
“That’s the thing. I got the idea from Luke wanting to buy our grandmother’s house for Abbie, and the cash infusion from you buying that parcel of land.
There’s a lot of property. I can’t get the math to work, though.
The number I need for Candace to keep the house is too high given that the real estate market in Empire is so soft.
Paula has been giving me some projections on selling the properties.
I have to make the allotment for each heir the right amount so the total still works.
” I sigh. “And then I have to convince my entire family to agree to it, which is the long shot of the century.”
“They might be happy without whatever you can manage, especially if it means Candace is financially okay.”
“Something instead of nothing,” I summarize.
“That’s big. I’d lead with it.”
“I was planning to.”
“When’s the big presentation?”
“Not scheduled yet. I’m working out the details and Paula is still compiling the database.” I rub my eyes. “The idea is that she’ll list the properties for sale after choices are made. Thanks for the introduction, by the way. She’s great.”
“I’m glad. Aren’t you doing something for Mike and the greenhouses?”