The manila envelope had resided untouched at the bottom of Leroy’s jeans drawer for a full week now. A very full week. Every single day had been busy from sunup to sundown. Sunday had been his nephews’ high school graduation party. The twins, Taylor and Tyler, had graduated last Friday, but the family celebration at Damico’s had taken up the better part of the day. Then, first thing Monday, Leroy began interviewing for the office manager position. Unsuccessfully. Added to that, he’d spent time training and supervising the new vineyard crew. Plus, he’d helped Garth organize an export shipment of pinot noir. And now perhaps most concerning, he had to ensure that Gina’s new tasting room, which Garth had dubbed the Pour House, didn’t actually land theminthe poor house.
“New plumbing and electric?” he asked after Gina shared the contractor’s estimates she’d just received. “I thought this was going to be arusticsetup. Just a few visitors tasting some wine in the barn. No big deal. Why do we need new wiring and plumbing?”
“Because right now, we only have two electrical outlets and two wired-in lights in the whole barn. And for water, we have the hose outletoutside.”
“So, what’s wrong with that?” He glanced over to where Babewas comfortably situated on a new dog bed that Gina must’ve tucked into a back corner. Nice touch. “This is a barn, after all.”
“Seriously, Dad?” Her eyes gleamed with irritation. “I thought you understood the plan. It’s a barn that is being renovated into a tasting room.Remember?”
Instead of responding, he glared down at the barn’s shiny wood floor then over to a corner where Gina had already arranged a few pieces of furniture. He couldn’t deny the place was looking pretty good. And the display of wine bottles on the back wall behind the tasting counter looked like a work of art. But these bids for work were not only unexpected, they were downright exorbitant.
He shook the bids at Gina. “Is this what it really costs to put up a few more lights and install a sink for washing glasses? Because it’s perfectly ridiculous!”
“I got several bids. They’re not that much different from each—”
“Well then, I’m in the wrong business, Gina. I should be a plumber or electrician. And, really, if I had more time, I could probably just do it all myself—for free! But I’m too busy. Besides this is supposed to be your project.”
“It is my project, Dad. And I’m trying to handle it. And FYI, the bids aren’t just for lights and a sink. They also include restrooms and a—”
“Restrooms? Are you kidding? If we actually get anyone to come out here to visit the tasting room, let ’em use the outhouses—”
“Dad!You can’t expect guests to use the work crew outhouses.”
“This is getting too elaborate, Gina. And way too expensive. There’s no reason it should cost this much.” He handed the bids back to her. “My answer is no.”
Gina took in a deep breath, signaling this battle wasn’t over yet. “The other reason these bids are so high is because this includes a kitchenette. With a fridge and dishwasher and—”
“We do not have that kind of a budget.” He knew his voice was too loud, but he couldn’t help it. Gina might be stubborn, but so was he. He’d already told her that the vineyard’s finances wereextra tight this year. “You do understand that I still need to hire a new office manager and the south vineyard won’t produce—”
“But don’t you understand that we’re building for the future, Dad? In order to do that, we have to invest in the present. It’s just a business fact.”
“Where are you getting your business information, anyway? TheNew York Times?Forbes? This is Sonoma, Gina. Not Bordeaux or Tuscany. We’ll never be able to compete with places like Chateau Montelena. We’re not a fancy vineyard, and that’s the way I like it.” He ran his fingers through his hair, lowering his voice. “I’m sorry, but we’ll just have to make do with arustictasting room. Seems to me that’s what you said it would be originally.”
She frowned but said nothing.
“Ornotasting room at all,” he said firmly.
“Fine. I guess it’ll just be a rustic old-world tasting room with no modern conveniences whatsoever.” She brightened slightly. “Hey, maybe that’s what I’ll really call it. Sorrentino’sOld-WorldTasting Room. And I’ll keep everything in there old-world and rustic.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought you were doing.” He felt relief rush over him.
“It is. I plan to enlarge some of the old photos too. Get them stretched onto canvas to put on the walls,” she said. “Unless you think that’s too expensive.”
“That’s probably okay.” He knew he needed to give her some concessions.
“And I’ll still recycle a lot. I can probably rig up some kind of makeshift sink. Maybe use an old metal tub. But I’ll have to bring the glasses into the house to wash in the dishwasher. Do you mind?”
“Not if it saves me tens of thousands of dollars.” He smiled. “And who knows, the rustic bit might be a novelty for your visitors.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure they’ll think that using an outhouse is really novel.”
“Well, for now, it’ll have to do.”
“For now.” She nodded with a determined look. “But someday, Dad—you’ll see. We’ll bring Sorrentino’s into the new millennium.” She grinned. “Without sacrificing the good old days.”
“Well, I’ll be impressed if you can make this work. I mean, with what you have to work with. And if it doesn’t, well, at least I got my barn all cleaned out. Could always use this space to store barrels. Garth would like that. He mentioned he needs more room.”
“That’s so not happening.” She made a face and socked him in the arm. “Speaking of Garth, Sophie was just in here. She left Lucy and Addison with Garth this morning. She plans to attack your house.”
