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“As I said, he’s like a big brother.” She shrugged. “He was around the house and helped when everything went down with Mom. You aren’t the only one who cares for him.”

She knew that. She remembered the long days Chris would come to the house and sit on the couch and hold her hand as Mom retold the stories they’d heard over and over. Even if their love didn’t blossom in the way she hoped, he had been like a brother to all of them at that moment. He’d cared deeply for Sybil, like he would a second mother.

But tonight was not the night to air it all out. Tonight was for celebrating and for joy.

She faced her sister. “I don’t want to cause any drama on Sophie’s night. If he wants to, we could escape and find time to talk. He doesn’t seem in a rush to clear things up yet, and neither am I. Besides—” She placed a hand on Freya’s forearm. “I have bigger things to worry about.”

She could see the way Freya’s brain was working, her mouth twisting, her innate desire to want to snap back at Alana with some nasty comment. But the magic didn’t let her. It was holding her back, and Alana rather enjoyed watching it work in real time.

Freya puffed out air, then chuckled to herself. “It’s your lucky day, Alana Marien,” she teased.

Alana grinned. “That’s shocking. Because it never is.”

Freya’s face fell, and if she wasn’t mistaken, it almost seemed like her sister was sorry for her.

She ignored it, stepping away from Freya and over to where the girls were dancing. Sophie had a bottle of Riesling in her hand, and she was pouring generous amounts into everyone’s glasses.

Otto made an appearance, a tumbler of whiskey in hand, donning his favorite dressed-up flannel. He was laughing at some story that Cal and Chris were sharing with him.

Leo wasn’t in the crowd.

Alana scanned the barn. She didn’t see him anywhere. The music switched into a smoother, slower tone with an acoustic guitar.

She lightly tapped Sophie’s shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”

Sophie nodded, a beaming smile on her face. Penny held up a hand and whispered something in her sister’s ear. Sophie blushed, then nodded.

Alana made her way through the open double doors and out to the vineyard. The relentless summer heat had cooled off after a storm that rolled through last night, the air smelling of fresh water and pine and damp earth. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She had made her way through a number of vineyards in California, helping with multiple harvests so she could earn some extra cash. But there was never a vineyard that smelled like this. Smelled like home.

“Doing all right?”

Leo was a couple yards away. Bear paced around his feet, his snout digging in the dirt.

She nodded. “I was wondering where you ran off to.”

His face brightened. “I, uh, needed to take Bear out.” He pointed to the barn. “I was actually curious if he could handle being in there. He’s usually okay with the goats.”

Sophie had tied small bows around the goats’ necks for the occasion, and carrot sticks were on the table in plastic bags if people wanted to feed them. The goats didn’t seem interested in their shenanigans though. Most of them burrowed into the hay and fell asleep. All of them except Derby, who sat like the queen she was by the gate, expectantly waiting to be fed and pet.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Alana replied. She clapped her hands, and Bear responded, cantering over to her. She led him toward the barn doors. His tail wagged with enthusiasm when he saw Sophie and Freya, and he proudly made his way into the crowd. The girls coddled him, and he didn’t look bothered by it one bit.

The two of them stood by the open doors, watching.

A warm, calloused hand circled her wrist. “Come on.” He tugged.

She looked up at him. “Where are we going?”

He merely tipped his head toward the field.

She glanced back to make sure everything was in order. The only one paying any attention to the two of them was Chris. She bit her lip, wondering if she shouldn’t, especially in front of him. Then he slightly nodded his head, like he was giving her his approval. Like he was letting her go.

She nodded back, then let Leo pull her deeper into the field.

18

Fireflies danced among the vines, gliding up and down the vineyard, setting everything alight with a warm glow. The scene felt otherworldly. Alana always wondered how much of the magic was at play in these moments, or if she’d stumbled upon something that was truly lucky.

Leo stopped in the center of the field. His hand moved to her palm, then he lifted her arm and twirled her around. He pulled her close and placed his free hand at the small of her back, then began to sway side to side.