“Are you back at your house?”
“Not yet, but that’s one of the reasons I was calling. I’d love to have you come to visit. I’m ready to go back to my condo, but I’m at Cheryl’s guesthouse. Cheryl and her family went back to Mexico, which they do a few times each month, and she doesn’t want me by myself without her close by. And, honestly, I don’t think she would be happy if I left without her blessing. I love my niece, but even though she lives in a mansion, I always feel that her adult stepchildren are always underfoot. I know they work for their father in the winery, but you’d think adults would want to get out on their own.”
Jeannie had only been around Juan and Maria occasionally in Mexico but hadn’t wanted to spend any more time than necessary in their company. She understood working for the family business. She understood taking a family trip to their uncle’s winery’s estate in Mexico. She certainly understood wanting to save money by living in the family home but didn’t get the feeling that money was an issue. They were polite to Cheryl but didn’t seem to go out of their way to build a relationship with their stepmother and certainly not with Maggie. For the short time she’d been around them, they’d been polite, but she’d felt an undercurrent of distrust.
Maggie broke through her musings. “Personally, I find Juan a bit creepy although I can’t say why.”
Jeannie barked out a laugh as she sat down on her sofa again, propping her feet up on the coffee table. “I know what you mean. I was only around him for a little while in Mexico but felt like he was always staring at me when we were together, and I certainly never wanted to be alone with him.” Especially after he got handsy once. Of course, I never told Maggie about that.
“I was so glad we were in the guesthouse in Mexico,” Maggie said. “When I’m at Cheryl and Vincent’s place here, they always put me in one of the rooms in the family wing. Thank goodness that for the last several days I’ve been in one of the winery guesthouses. I absolutely insisted to Cheryl that I wanted to get used to doing things myself. I suppose I should be grateful that my niece married so well and lacks for nothing, and, certainly, Vincent has always been lovely to me. But still, I’m very glad to have my own quarters now until I get back to my condo.”
“I can come to visit you tomorrow. I still have time off before I go back to work, so I could come by whenever it’s convenient. You just need to give me the directions.”
“Oh, perfect! When you come to the estate’s main gate, just tell the guard that you’re visiting me in the guesthouse.”
Deciding upon the time, they said their goodbyes. Excited about seeing Maggie again, Jeannie got ready for bed. A few hours later, still tossing and turning, she could not shake the strange foreboding that had slowly crept over her. Maybe I do need to just go back to work! All this time off isn’t doing anything but making me crazy!
The next day dawned bright and sunny, typical for the area, and Jeannie enjoyed her drive north to Santa Maria, following her GPS to the Garza winery. She passed by the visitor entrance for the winery and continued along the road as it wound beyond several hills before leading her to a small guardhouse. The man inside did not have a weapon slung over his shoulder, but a sense of déjà vu filled her. Rolling down her window, she smiled. “I’m here to visit Margaret Collins in the guesthouse.”
“Name?” he barked.
“Jeannie Carnes. I was hired by the Garzas to be Ms. Collins’ nurse—”
He grunted, flipping through several papers. “Go on through.”
His impatience surprised her, but following his line of sight, she glanced into her rearview mirror and saw a truck behind her. “Can you direct me to the guesthouse?”
“Follow the road. Straight, then take a left.”
His instructions were brief, but she assumed she’d be able to find Maggie. Opening her mouth to thank him, he was already waving her past as he shouted instructions to the driver in the truck behind her. His dismissal was obvious, so she continued forward.
It didn’t take long to discover that his brief instructions were incomplete. Taking the first left she came to, she wound around toward the back of the winery, seeing workers loading and unloading several large trucks. Several stopped to stare but offered no smiles. This can’t be right. Her three-point turn morphed into a five-point turn on the narrow drive, and she headed back in the direction she came.
Taking a right, she continued to wind down the road past rows of grapevines creating candy stripes along the hills and covered greenhouses, reminding her so much of the Garza Mexican vineyards. Coming to a large building that looked as though it might be a barn, she spied another truck parked nearby but saw no workers. Sighing, she pulled to the side of the truck where there was more room for her to turn around. The words ‘Tecate Foods’ were printed on the side of the truck in small letters. She remembered seeing trucks like that on the small roads of Mexico. I think it was easier to traverse those roads than here on this estate!
She finally turned at the next opportunity, and that road took her directly past Vincent and Cheryl’s mansion. I must be getting close. Continuing down the hill for another quarter of a mile, she came to the guesthouse. Smiling at the sight of Maggie in the doorway waving toward her, she heaved a sigh of relief. Climbing from her car, she hurried over the stone patio and threw her arms around the older woman. Their tight hug was just the balm she needed. Leaning back, she exclaimed, “I’m so sorry I’m late! I was completely lost while trying to find you.”
Maggie’s brow crinkled, and she asked, “Did the guard not give you the directions?”
“He gave me directions, but they were very incomplete and not correct!”
Maggie rolled her eyes and laughed. “Well, at least you’re here now.”
She followed Maggie into the guesthouse, finding it as luxurious as the one they’d occupied in Mexico. Ornate tables, oversized furniture with comfortable, brocade cushions. Artwork on the walls. Massive flower arrangements on the tables. And a kitchen worthy of a top chef. “Wow, Vincent and Alonzo know how to offer their guests five-star accommodations, don’t they?”
Another eye roll from Maggie followed. “As lovely as this is, I can’t wait to get back to my condo. I always feel like I’m going to make a mess or break something when I’m here.”
“Do you want me to fix some lunch?” Laughing, she added, “I’m pretty sure I can figure out how to use this kitchen!”
“Cheryl arranged to have a luncheon for us. One of her housekeepers brought it, and we can have a nice visit while we eat.”
Just then, Jeannie's stomach growled, and she nodded. “Sounds like a perfect idea to me.”
She helped Maggie set the food on the table, and they ate while chatting and catching up. She discovered Maggie had seen a doctor and a physical therapist over the past week, both agreeing that there was no reason she couldn’t go back to her independent life.
As they lingered over the raspberry cheesecake dessert, Maggie held her gaze. “I’ve done a lot of talking about me, but what about you?”
“Me?” Jeannie laughed. “I’m afraid there’s not much to tell.”