They were back on track now, she thought with a happy feeling in her heart. After the renovation and the immediate rush of summer tourists at the inn, they both needed this respite. Perhaps her husband needed it more than she did.
Yet another reason not to concern him with her excavation project.
Once Ivy and Bennett were ready, they made their way toward the sounds of lively chatter. As they joined other guests on the bougainvillea-draped patio, Ivy spotted her sister in the crowd talking with Tristan and Emilie, who wore a long, understated black dress with a chunky necklace.
Wearing a vivid, bead-embroidered boho dress, Shelly waved them toward her and Mitch.
“I’m so glad you could join us,” Tristan said, pouring glasses of wine for them. “This is one of our best vintages we reserve for special occasions. In this case, we’re celebrating an excellent harvest that’s well underway.”
“You’re harvesting now?” Ivy asked.
Emilie’s face lit with a smile. “We started last week. This is turning out to be an excellent year. For most of our blocks of vines, harvest has been a little earlier than last year due to the weather. Only this area surrounding us remains, and it should be ready to pick next week.”
“How do you know the right time?” Shelly asked.
“The berries tell us when they’re ready,” Tristan replied. “It’s a natural process calledvéraison, when the grapes deepen into a dark reddish-purple color. The acidity declines and the natural sugars rise, so we test to determine the best time to harvest. Science and modern tools are our friends.”
They raised their glasses and tasted the wine.
“This is incredible,” Ivy said, enjoying the rich, dry flavor with elements of earthiness and spice.
Emilie put her nose to the glass and inhaled. “The climate and soil create an excellentterroir, so we’re quite proud of this vintage. That was a very good year, and this year might be even better.”
“Here’s to an excellent harvest,” Ivy said, raising her glass again.
Emilie gestured to a table that held a cornucopia of delicacies. “We also have an assortment of cheese, bread, pâté, and olives. Please help yourselves.”
Shelly caught Ivy’s eye and nodded across the patio. Not too far away, a younger, tattooed man approached the barn, his longish brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Heled a horse, stroking its neck and speaking to it as he walked.
Shelly raised her brow. “Horse whisperer?”
“Actually, he’s the finest doctor around,” Emilie said. “Excuse me, I should have a word with him before he leaves. We asked him to stay for the party, but he has another appointment. He’s very much in demand.”
Mitch asked Tristan a question about the winemaking process, and soon he and Bennett were immersed in conversation.
Several young women beside them noticed the doctor, too. Shelly nudged Ivy. “Looks like he’s part of the show.”
Ivy shot her a look and smiled at her sister’s antics. “It wasn’t that long ago you were one of those women. Not anymore.”
Shelly tossed her hair back. “I’m married, not dead. I can still appreciate art in all its forms. My sweetie knows I’m all his.”
Ivy leaned in toward her sister. “Do you know the big secret that Emilie and Tristan are planning for tonight?”
Shelly grinned. “I can’t say, but I promise it’s something you’ve never done before. Go with the flow, Ives. You’ll love it.”
When Ivy cast a look of concern toward Bennett, he simply shrugged, so she let it go.
3
Ivy circulated through the party with Bennett, chatting with old friends and meeting new people.
“Having a good time?” Bennett asked, tapping her glass.
“Wonderful,” she replied. “It’s good to see everyone here.” She was sure that whatever Emilie and Tristan planned as a surprise for the evening would be fun.
The breeze carried aromatic scents from the vineyard and garden beyond the patio, along with the aroma of grilled seafood and barbecue. Just outside the area set up with dining tables was a wide vat of grapes from the recent harvest. She wondered what they would do with that.
All around them, guests were chatting and laughing. She and Bennett spoke with Carol Reston, the Grammy Award-winning singer, and her husband Hal. Indie filmmakers Megan and Josh Calloway were also there. Megan filled her in on new research she’d discovered about Ameliain Switzerland for the documentary she’d been working on about her.
