Marc squeezed my hand reassuringly before responding. “Currently, I’m working as a mechanic at my family’s auto shop. But I’m starting my own landscaping business.”
Tina’s perfectly sculpted brows lifted in surprise. “Landscaping? How…interesting.”
I gritted my teeth, waiting for the condescension to follow. But before she said anything more, Caroline leaned forward eagerly. “That’s fantastic, Marc! What made you decide to branch out on your own? And what kind of services will you be offering?”
As Marc launched into an explanation of his vision for eco-friendly landscape design and drought-resistant native plantings, I glanced at my sister, grateful. She always had a knack for smoothing over awkward moments with her genuine warmth and interest.
Just then, I spotted my father and Jerry in matching linen shirts and khakis, making their way back from the vineyard, their faces ruddy from the sun and exertion. My stomach clenched with nerves as they approached, my father’s steely gaze landing on me.
“Kendall,” he greeted me gruffly, extending a hand for a firm shake. “Glad you could tear yourself away from finger painting long enough to join us.”
I bristled at the jab but plastered on a tight smile. “Hi Dad. Happy birthday.”
He grunted in acknowledgment before turning his attention to Marc. “And who might this be?”
“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Marc Mendez. Marc, my father, Richard Parker.”
The two men shook hands, my father’s grip looking painfully tight. Jerry stepped forward to introduce himself as well, clapping Marc on the shoulder with a friendly grin.
As we all sat on the balcony patio, enjoying our lunch while overlooking the vineyard, the conversation flowed as easily as the wine, to my surprise. Jerry, always the curious one, remarked on the abundance of wineries they had passed on the drive in. “It’s really quite something, seeing all those rows of grapevines stretching out across the hills. I did not know this little corner of Texas was such a hotspot for wine production.”
Marc leaned forward eagerly, wiping his mouth with a cloth napkin. “It’s all about the microclimates in this region. Elevation, soil composition, even the temperature variations between day and night. They create the perfect conditions for growing certain varieties of grapes.”
A warm sense of pride bloomed in my chest as everyone around the table turned their attention to Marc, their faces alight with interest.
“Really? I did not know there was so much science behind it all,” Caroline said with a chuckle, inspecting her glass before taking a sip.
To my surprise, even my father leaned in, his usual stern expression softening with interest, chatting with Marc about local grape varieties.
As I sat there, my hand rested on Marc’s thigh under the table. I don’t know why I was surprised that he’d effortlessly charmed my family, but here he was, with his knowledge and enthusiasm for those plants and dirt, making them see him for the intelligent, passionate person I knew him to be.
Tina caught my eye across the table, a small, approving smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She gave me a subtle nod, as if to say, “He’s a keeper.”
After lunch, Marc joined my father, Tina, and Jerry as they headed out for a more in-depth tour of the winery. Caroline stayed behind, so I joined her on the patio.
Caroline leaned against the railing, her auburn hair catching the afternoon sun. “Marc seems nice, Ken. I’m glad you brought him.”
I sipped my wine, the rich flavor lingering on my tongue. “Thanks. I almost didn’t ‘cause I was worried about how Dad would react.”
She rolled her eyes, a gesture so familiar it transported me back to our childhood. “Ken, you’ve got to stop taking everything so personally. Dad’s a jerk to everyone, not just you. It’s just who he is.”
Her words hit me like a splash of cold water. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve always been so sensitive about Dad’s criticism. Even when we were kids, you’d take his comments to heart while the rest of us just learned to let it roll off our backs.”
Hmm. Memories of countless family dinners and tense conversations came flooding back. Had I really been misinterpreting things all these years? “But he’s always so hard on me, Caroline. The constant digs about my career, my life choices…”
She sighed, placing a hand on my arm. “Ken, he does that to all of us. Remember when I first started at the firm? He rode me so hard I nearly quit three times in the first month.”
I blinked, surprised. Caroline had always seemed so confident, so at ease in our father’s world. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. You were too busy feeling sorry for yourself.” Her tone was gentle, taking the sting out of her words. “Look, I’m not saying Dad’s behavior is okay. It’s not. But it’s not personal, Ken Doll. It’s just… Dad.”
I let her words sink in, relief and embarrassment coursing through me. Had I really been so self-absorbed that I’d missed my sister’s struggles?
Caroline continued, her voice softening. “He was pretty disappointed when you didn’t join the family business like I did. I think that’s part of why he’s so hard on you.”
I snorted. “Me? In finance? Can you imagine?”
