“Do you have any pets?”
“No, sadly, I do not. I’m not home enough to have a pet without feeling guilty that they’d be neglected. I thought about a cat, but cats really choose their humans, more so than humans choose a particular cat, don’t you think?”
“I agree. Half the people I know with a cat just had them show up on their doorstep. It’s like, “hey, I live here now, thanks.”
“Total confidence that they’ll be accepted. It’s amazing.” I tuck my hands in my pockets as we walk. “I feel like every fall we have a cat show up at the rick houses and just target an employee. By the time the leaves have fallen, their Chosen One is taking them home.”
She gives a soft laugh. “That sounds about right. What’s a rick house?”
“The warehouses where we store the bourbon barrels for aging. They’re racked on top of each other.” I can’t keep the pride out of my voice and Winnie picks up on it.
“You love Four Brothers Bourbon, don’t you?” she asks.
I nod. “It’s my baby. My recipe. Yes, my brothers are the marketing and businessmen who make it all possible, but the bourbon itself? That’s my creation and I’m really damn proud of it.”
“I can tell.”
“I’ve given years of my life to raising it up,” I say, giving her a shrug and a smile. “When we launched I was really damn terrified people wouldn’t like it. That would be like having someone tell you your baby is ugly.”
“Oh, God, yes, that would be terrible. I can’t imagine your baby would ever be ugly though.” Barrel suddenly jerks to the left, in pursuit of a sniff. “Ack!”
Winnie gets pulled along with him.
“He’s definitely the toddler who had too many treats today.” I pause in front of my house. “Here we go.”
Winnie drags Barrel back and looks up. “Wow, this is so pretty, Ian. I love it.”
“Thanks. I haven’t devoted as much time to it as I’d like but I do love the house. The Wanted Garden Club keeps sending meinvites to join, which feels a little passive aggressive. I think they just want me to up my curb appeal.”
“Or maybe they just want to hang out with you.”
“That’s possible. I do feel a little isolated here, I’m not going to lie. I’m so busy working all the time and I haven’t quite found my footing.”
“Everyone seems in your corner. They all speak highly about the distillery.”
I just nod. “It’s a great working relationship between us and the town. We’ve hired a lot of really competent people.”
As we go up the front walk, Winnie finishes the rest of her water while Barrel christens my lawn.
“I think the fresh air and the water cleared my head quite a bit. I almost feel normal. Almost. But I can’t wait to sleep.”
“I don’t have an official guestroom. I never got around to that. You can sleep in my room and I’ll take the couch.”
“Oh my gosh, Ian, no! You’ve already been generous enough. I’ll take the couch.”
“Forget it.” Unlocking the front door, I flick on a few lights and then lead her right upstairs. “Let me just grab a change of clothes.”
“You’re so…tidy.”
Winnie says it like it’s a character flaw.
“I’m not home that much.” She hovers in the bedroom door as I grab a change of clothes for myself. “There’s an extra blanket in the chest at the foot of the bed. Let me get you a T-shirt or something to sleep in.”
“I can sleep in this.” She plucks at her sweatshirt. “Where should Barrel sleep?”
“He can bunk with you. I don’t mind.”
The smile she gives me is worth a few dog hairs in my bed. “Really? Yay!” She brushes Barrels’ fur back with her hand. “We’re having an adventure tonight, silly boy. So be good, okay?”
