She pulled herself together as best she could and made her way to Town Square. As she made her way to the Willow Winery booth, she spotted the back of Consuela and Carlos. From their body language, Eden could tell they were in an intense conversation. She dodged through the crowd to avoid them when she felt a hand reach out and grab her arm. It was Charlene.
“Shit!” Eden exclaimed. “You startled me.”
“I’m sorry. You were about to pass by our booth, and I wanted to make sure you found us.”
“Oh, thank you. I was distracted.” Eden tucked her hair behind her ears, still observing her surroundings so she could avoid a run in with the Alonsos. She exhaled, “What am I doing?” She looked at Charlene on the verge of telling her everything. Telling her that she’d felt lonely. Telling her that Rick won’t talk with her about the miscarriage. Telling her that they haven’t had sex for over six months. Telling her about her new awakened desire for Carlos.
She couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not there. Not in that moment.
Patrick approached them, “Hey ladies! Ready to run this bitch?” Charlene’s eyes rolled and normally Eden would have followed suit, but she was happy he interrupted them.
Eden leapt toward Patrick and gave him a hug. “Patrick!”
Charlene and Patrick were thrown off by Eden’s reaction.
“Wow. Nice to see you too, Eden.” Patrick realized this wouldn’t happen again and decided to embrace the moment.
“So how are things going? It looks like there is a good crowd again this year.” Eden looked back at the spot where she saw Consuela and Carlos. They weren’t there anymore.
“It’s been great. We’ve signed up 20 new wine club members so far.” Patrick boosted. Charlene rolled her eyes again. Leave it to Patrick to share news that wasn’t his to share. Charlene was the Director of Membership and that should have been her news to boost about.
“Great! Good job, Char!” Eden high fived Charlene while scanning the crowd to see if she could spot Consuela and Carlos. If she found where they were, she could at least be alert enough to hide if they made their way to the Willow Winery booth.
There they are! Eden spotted them. They appeared to be in yet another intense conversation. This time Eden could tell Consuela was getting after Carlos. Consuela’s eye shifted, making eye contact with Eden. Consuela pointed directly at Eden. Carlos swung around and Eden whispered, “shit!” There was no hiding.
Consuela and Carlos started in Eden’s direction. Eden felt nervous, Consuela always had that effect on her. When she was dating Carlos, Consuela would often make underhanded comments about Eden. Mostly she criticized that Eden didn’t treat Carlos like a king, in the way she treated Martin like a king. After two years of dating, she never warmed up. It wasn’t until Martin passed away that Consuela let her guard down with Eden. Out of respect for the family, Eden attended Martin’s funeral. She knew most of Lovette Valley would be there and the likelihood of seeing Carlos would be minimal. To her surprise, Carlos wasn’t at the funeral. Carmen mentioned to Eden later that Carlos took his father’s death hard and didn’t want to believe he’d passed away. His denial kept him from partaking in any of the funeral arrangements.
As she paid her respects to Carmen, Consuela had walked over in hysterics. She collapsed in Eden’s arms and thanked her profusely for attending. “My Martin would be so happy to see you.” She always referred to Martin as “my Martin.”
Following the funeral, Eden would see Consuela from time to time at the restaurant. Initially, Eden approached Consuela warmly and with excitement, but her approach was not matched. Consuela’s cold disposition was back, and they returned to the way things had been for the last 15 years. Sterile acknowledgement.
Now having made their way to Eden’s booth, Consuela pierced her lips and said, “Go ahead. Ask her.”
Eden was confused and nervous about what would happen next.
Carlos’ head hung low like a chided puppy. “I was hoping to bend your ear about something.”
Eden looked at Carlos begging for some sort of sign that said this wasn’t a nuclear attack. “Uh, okay.”
“Go on,” Consuela urged.
“I…I was hoping to bend your ear about something.”
Eden was dying inside. This scene couldn’t have been more drawn out than if she was in a Tolkien novel.
“Ma lined up an investor for the vineyard, but I looked this guy up and he seems too closely tied to the right, if you know what I mean.” It was typical Carlos, brave to a fault. Despite his mother standing next to him practically making him speak with Eden, he didn’t hold back in what he said.
Consuela shot a look at Carlos. “Eden is a smart girl. I’m sure she’ll tell you to meet with him.” That was Eden’s cue. If she didn’t jump in now to take Consuela’s side, she knew she’d feel the repercussions. The Alonso family had made a name for themselves over the years. If anyone ever crossed Martin, he would call his buddies around town and soon you would be iced out. Seemed Consuela grew accustomed to that behavior and took Martin’s place after he passed.
“Who is it?” Eden asked. She couldn’t bring herself to take a stance yet. She needed more information.
“A real estate developer, Thomas Lee Sachs.” Carlos said his name with distain and Eden couldn’t tell if it was because of Carlos’ opposing political views or that Consuela was making him meet with Mr. Sachs.
“Oh yeah I’ve heard of him.” Eden smiled at Consuela feeling like she was doing exactly what she had been brought into the conversation to do. “He’s heavily invested in vineyards around here. Quince, Ramble House and Michael Moon Vineyards. I’m sure there are more. Actually, I think he has a vineyard up north in Tanner County.”
“Well, I heard a rumor that he has ambitions to own the Lovette Valley wine industry and he isn’t going to own us!” Carlos’ eyes were fired up.
“Calm down, son,” Consuela was stoic. “There isn’t any harm in sitting down with the man.”
“When are you meeting him?” Eden asked.
“Today. Ma arranged a lunch at Fig and Fork.”
“Your mom is right.” Eden knew she was winning major points. “There isn’t any harm in having lunch with him. You aren’t signing any paperwork today.”
The sides of Consuela’s mouth curled up. “See.” Consuela was proud of herself. “Well, let’s get going. We need to meet him in 20 minutes.”
“Alright, I’ll meet with him and see what he’s all about.” Carlos had yielded to the fact that the lunch wasn’t one he could get out of if he tried. “See you later. Thanks.”
As they turned to walk away, Carlos whipped back around. “Hey Ed!” he called. “Are you going to the Wine Expo?”
“Next week?” Eden asked. “Yes, I’m going.”
His face lit up. “Rad. Me too.”
Chapter 8
Monday mornings are Eden’s favorite. It’s a school day for the girls and a workday for Rick. Even though she still has to work on Monday’s, the late start, really allows her to have quality time with herself. She usually sleeps in until 6 a.m. on Monday’s, a two-hour difference from her typical work mornings.