Barbara’s eyes filled with tears as she stared through the window.Luck had nothing to do with it.Claudia and Hans were special.No matter what happened, they would always be there for her.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She wiped her eyes and glanced at Theo.His blue eyes bored into hers.“You’re driving.Keep your eyes on the road.”
“Has anyone told you your bossy streak is—”
“Annoying?”
“I was going to say endearing.You’ve been talking to the wrong people if you think your bossiness is annoying.”
Heat streaked along Barbara’s cheeks.“My sisters don’t hold anything back.”
“I don’t imagine they do.What else do they say about you?”
“That I’m organized, efficient, and have the best spreadsheets they’ve ever seen.”
“There’s no greater compliment than telling someone they’re great at creating spreadsheets.”
Theo’s smile made the ball of grief in her chest a little easier to bear.“I appreciate their honesty.”
“Your tears aren’t from what your sisters said.What’s wrong?”
His softly spoken question made her sigh.She didn’t talk about Soren or how his death had changed her life.Some things were better left in the past.But, right now, her past was part of her present and she wanted to tell Theo about him.
“During my summer breaks at college, I worked at the winery in Dayton.I became friends with the owner’s son, Soren.He was one of the sweetest, kindest people I’d ever met.”She closed her eyes and held the memory of him close.“A year after I graduated, he died from meningitis.We were all devastated.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was so quick.He woke up one morning with a sore throat and a fever.By the evening he was groaning in pain.His parents took him to the hospital, but it was too late.He died the following morning.”Taking a tissue out of her pocket, she blew her nose.“We used to call and text each other all the time.It took a long time to get used to him not being here.”
“Do you see his parents often?”
“I visit them at least once a year.They’re lovely people.”
Theo reached across the cab and held her hand.“I’m glad you thought of moving Anne to the winery.”
“So am I.”She studied Theo’s face.He looked sad, as though he knew what it felt like to lose someone special.“What happened?”
Theo moved his hand back to the steering wheel.“It wasn’t as devastating as your experience.”
“It doesn’t matter how it happens.”
“I guess not.”He took a deep breath and glanced at her.“I was working in Seattle when I met Gabby.We were as different as oil and water but somehow we clicked.A year after we met, she was offered a job in Paris.It was everything she’d ever wanted.Within a few weeks, she moved to France, found an apartment, and fell in love with someone else.”
“That was quick.”
“Tell me about it.It made me wonder whether she’d ever loved me.It took a long time to trust anyone after that.”
“I thought your suspicious personality came from being a journalist.”
When Theo saw her smile, his frown disappeared.“Only sometimes.When did Anne last contact you?”
“About an hour ago.”Picking up her phone, she checked to make sure she hadn’t missed any texts.“I’ll tell her we’re only a few minutes away.”
Theo looked in the rearview mirror.“Did she tell you what she’s doing after we see her?”
“Finding you was her main priority.After that, she’s going home.You might want to slow down.We need to turn right at the next intersection.”
