“That’s right.”
He motioned to Brix, who stood behind him. When he moved to the side, Tryst pushed his chair from the table and got to his feet. “In the last five years, wine sales worldwide have drastically decreased from the highs we previously experienced. Many of us here today have struggled in the same way we all know the Hope family is now.”
Was I the only one here who hadn’t been aware of their predicament?
“We also know that Lucas Hope will not come to us for help.”
Malcolm Warrick, who’d come close to losing his own home and winery less than a year ago, spoke up. “No one understands his position better than I do. I would not have come to you either if it hadn’t been for my daughter and son-in-law.” Malcolm’s eyes met Bit’s. The acceptance and appreciation on his face was met with Bit’s obvious affection for the man.
“There’s one other thing I should mention. Saffron isn’t aware that I know about the foreclosure. Like her father, she’s a proud woman, whom I’m giving the time and space to tell me when she’s ready.”
“Spoken like a man in love,” my brother Kick said under his breath.
Tryst raised a brow. “Spoken like anhonorableman.”
I was humbled by my uncle’s praise. I was nine years old when my father passed away from a sudden heart attack, and Tryst had stepped in as his surrogate. “Thank you,” I said to him.
“There’s one other thing I need to point out. The journal Saffron found contained only the varietals used in the wine.What we don’t have is the formula that would include the percentages used.”
More murmurs went around the room. I waited until it quieted down, then continued.
“Saffron found another passage that I’ll read aloud. ‘We have agreed—each of us keeps our portion. What we created can never be made again. Perhaps someday our children and grandchildren will find a way to reunite our efforts.’”
Unlike many other things I’d said thus far, what I read next was met with surprise. “As you can imagine, there hasn’t been much time for us to search for the missing formula. Saffron and I will be undertaking that while also planning the harvest.”
“We can help,” Bit offered.
More murmurs of agreement went around the room.
“Whatever we can do to ensure this wine gets made will be greatly appreciated.”
Tryst stood slowly. “Excuse me for a moment.” He left and retreated farther into the caves. When he returned, he was carrying something wrapped in cloth.
He set it on the table in the center of our circle and unwrapped the fabric.
A wine bottle. Old, dusty, the label faded, but still legible—Christmas Blessing Wine, 1955.
“Holy shit,” Kick muttered.
“This is the only known bottle in existence,” Tryst said. “It’s been in the rare room for as long as I can remember. Worth a small fortune to collectors, but worth more for what it represents.”
I stared at the bottle, my mind racing.
“You could have the contents analyzed,” Tryst continued. “Modern technology can identify every varietal, every percentage, perhaps even fermentation temperatures. Butunderstand—once you open it, it’s gone forever. The only bottle of Christmas Blessing Wine that I know of will cease to exist.”
The weight of that settled over me.
“May I?” Bit asked, reaching for the bottle.
“Of course,” said Tryst.
My brother held it up to the light, studying the wine through the dark glass. “If we don’t open it and Hope Winery goes under, this bottle becomes nothing but a reminder of what could have been both then and now. The wine was supposed to be a blessing. The name itself says so. How does something kept in a bottle for over seventy years bless—benefit—anyone?” He set it down carefully. “But if we open it, if we use it to save the legacy…doesn’t that honor what this wine represented better than keeping it in a dark room?”
“He’s right,” Brix murmured.
“The decision is not one to be made lightly.” Tryst turned to me. “Or without the Hopes’ consent.”
The only way to help Saffron and her family was to admit I knew her reason for wanting to make the wine. Something she’d likely see as a betrayal. It also meant her father would need to know what she intended to do.
