“It’s like fate.” Mike leaned toward her, elbows on his knees. “You’re here in the camp where you met and then you’re going to Sonoma where his family has a vineyard. What if you actually meet up with him down there?”
“Yeah.” Jan looked up from her phone. “Maybe you two are meant to be together, Brynna. What if that’s why you came on this trip with me?”
Brynna couldn’t help but laugh now. “I hardly think that’s possible. Maybe in fairy tales or Hallmark movies, but not in real life.”
“Why not?” Mike pressed her. “Stranger things happen all the time.” He told them about his older sister Leah and the way she discovered an old boyfriend online a couple years before. “They hadn’t seen each other for almost fifty years. Dan and Leah got married last year and have been living in Mexico ever since—happy as clams.”
“Well, I’m sure Leroy already has a life and a family.” Brynna was ready to end this conversation. “And besides, I don’t see how we can find someone when I don’t even know his last name. It’s not just ridiculous, it’s impossible.”
“What if it isn’t?” Mike challenged her. “What if we could find him?”
Brynna laughed. “And what if pigs could fly?”
“It would be an adventure to try.” Mike threw another log onto the fire. “But maybe you’re not the adventurous type.” He winked at Jan. “I know you are an adventurer. But maybe Brynna is more of a bystander.”
“I’m not a bystander,” Brynna shot back at him. Although, to be honest, she had spent most of her married years feeling like one. But it wasn’t who she really was. Not really.
“So are you a risk taker?” Mike asked.
She considered this. “Well, I came on this camping trip with Jan. And I’d never been camping before.”
“And how are you liking it so far?” Jan asked.
“I actually do like it.” Brynna smiled as she poked the fire with a stick.
“So are you an adventurer? Are you a risk taker?” Mike fixed his gaze on her, the campfire flames reflected in his eyes.
“I guess I’d like to be.”
“Then here’s to all of us having a risk-taking, adventurous summer.” Mike held up his cocoa cup in a toast. Jan and Brynna joined him.
“We can be like the Three Musketeers,” Mike added with a jovial laugh.
“Here’s to the Three Musketeers,” Jan said.
Brynna feigned enthusiasm but felt surprised at how easily Jan seemed to be pulled into Mike’s way of thinking. It seemed very un-Jan-like. And yet, Brynna was beginning to realize there was a whole different Jan underneath the no-nonsense vice principal facade.
“The only thing wrong with this evening is no s’mores,” Mike said.
“Yeah!” Brynna agreed. “Jan did such a great job in stocking that kitchen.” She turned to Jan. “I can’t believe you forgot the ingredients for s’mores.”
Jan slapped her forehead. “I didn’t forget togetthem, Brynna, I forgot to pack them. They’re back home sitting on my kitchen counter right now.”
They all laughed. Mike started to talk with enthusiasm about some coastal sights they should all see the next day. By now, it seemed he had fully included himself in their plans. And Jan seemed perfectly fine with it. In fact, unless Brynna was reading something into this, it almost seemed as if Jan was enjoying Mike’s company—and his attention. Could it be that Sergeant Bart had found her man? Brynna couldn’t imagine what the other teachers would say if they could see them now.
But really, Brynna would be happy for Jan if something came of this. Nothing wrong with a little romantic interest. And it probably would go nowhere anyway. Still, it made Brynna wonder about her place in all this. What if she were about to become the odd woman out? She hated to admit it, but the thought of being displaced or replaced or rejected was seriously disturbing. Maybe she’d been mistaken to join Jan on this journey. Maybe Jan didn’t need her company after all.
Chapter 12
A couple of days passed without Leroy disposing of the Brynna envelope. It seemed the longer he procrastinated, the harder it became until he finally put it in the old family safe that he rarely used for anything—just to get it out of sight and out of mind. Except it wasn’t really out of mind. The problem had come with reading the letters. That had been a mistake.
As Leroy and Babe came in from the south vineyard in the late afternoon, he could see several cars parked in the area that Gina had designated for visitors. He suspected this meant she had guests in the tasting room. Hopefully with Garth’s or Sophie’s assistance since they all knew that Gina was not old enough to host. Even though Sophie was on prematernity leave, she’d been spending more time than ever at the vineyard lately. And not only in the house.
For some reason Sophie had taken great interest in Gina’s new tasting room. So much so, she’d utilized her artistic talents to make an attractive sign that Garth had set out on the main road. And Sophie had even offered to step in for Garth if he was ever too busy. But Garth seemed to like this added responsibility. He claimed it forced him to be on his toes regarding elements like tannin, body, aroma, and color, instead of simply focusing ontaste like he usually did. But Sophie, not wanting to be left out since she’d always considered herself the expert in describing their vintages, made sure she was available as well.
Fortunately for her, Leroy’s mom didn’t mind staying with her great-grandkids for an hour or two in the afternoons. Impressive considering his mom would be turning eighty-five soon. The thought reminded him that Sherry wanted his help planning a party for their mother. Maybe he could sic Gina on that. Now that the website was up and the tasting room running, she could probably use a new challenge.
Not wanting to be conspicuous, especially since he still had on dirty work clothes, Leroy stuck his head in the barn to see Garth playing the role of host and vintner. He was explaining the difference between a cabernet sauvignon and a pinot noir, with Sophie standing nearby, ready to correct him if necessary. But as Leroy listened for a moment, curious to see how well Garth—a man who spent more time mixing grapes than mixing socially—could pull this off, he was impressed that his son-in-law was eloquent, informative, and surprisingly entertaining. The small crowd seemed appreciative as they clapped and eagerly asked questions. Perhaps Gina had been right about this whole thing. Maybe it had been a good idea, after all.
