Corked by Cabernet (6 page)

“You will get through this. He will get through this. He’s a strong kid, Alyssa.” Petie lived with a heart disease called cardiomyopathy—a disease of the heart muscle where the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively. He was currently on a heart transplant list, along with two hundred and seventy-five other children under the age of seventeen. Nikki knew the strain it had placed on Alyssa. Petie was sweet, silly, and from everything Nikki had seen of him, a fairly rambunctious and normal three-year-old boy. But everyone at the winery knew that Petie wouldn’t live a long life if he didn’t get the transplant. “You are a strong woman, and if you need anything at all from me or the winery—time off, whatever—you know all you have to do is ask. I would love to have Petie come stay with me and Derek for a weekend so that you can get away. Why don’t you do that?”

Alyssa smiled even though tears dampened her eyes. “Maybe. Thank you. That might work. I don’t know. I don’t know if I could leave him for a weekend, but maybe a night. I would like to go and visit my sister in Vegas.”

“Absolutely, and you should. We’re here for you.”

Alyssa wrapped her arms around Nikki. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re my friend.”

“Hey, now. Come on. Why don’t you go sit in the café and have a glass of wine or a cup of tea?”

“No. Maybe after I’m done here. I like checking people in and meeting them.”

“You sure? There have been some strange birds walking in here this afternoon,” Nikki warned with a grin.

“Oh yeah?” Alyssa laughed.

It was good to see her smile. Alyssa was by far one of the strongest women Nikki had ever known. She’d been through hell and back even before Petie came along and then she found out he was sick. She was a pretty, petite brunette, brown-eyed woman, who had just reached her twenty-fifth birthday. She’d handled quite a lot in her young life and she’d done it with elegance. Nikki admired her and also felt somewhat protective over her—like a mother hen. If given the chance, Nikki figured she’d probably make a decent nurturer. It was something she liked to do, and when Alyssa needed it, she was there for her.

“Oh yes. These S.E.E. members are, to say the least, interesting.”

“I’m not surprised considering Simon and Marco are involved.” Alyssa’s comment made them both laugh.

Nikki gave her the list of those who still needed to be checked in and she started to walk back to Derek’s place—oh yeah—Derek and what was also her
casa
now. She walked past the rose garden and waterfall that cascaded like slick glass against one of the stone walls of the hotel. Although she’d never been to Italy, she was sure there had to be sites there like the waterfall at Malveaux. It was pretty spectacular. She stopped to take it in for a minute. It was her moment of meditation. Alan Sansi had to be able to appreciate that. She took in a couple of breaths. What was that? Here she was breathing in, listening to the water, and . . . she could hear raised voices. Yes, that’s definitely what they were. One was accented. Asian, maybe? Definitely both males. She peered around the waterfall wall and spotted Alan Sansi, hands on hips, facing an Asian man who had his suitcase in tow. Nikki didn’t recall checking him in. She couldn’t make out the words they were exchanging, but the guru did not look happy. He stood there shaking his head while the other man kept trying to hand him a DVD of some sort. Now this was interesting. No. No. Nikki stopped herself; this was none of her business. Ah, hell, but it was interesting! Alan the guru didn’t strike her as one to argue with anyone. Didn’t the guy just
breathe
? That seemed to be his prescription. Stress was not on his agenda.

And then, in a seemingly totally uncharacteristic Sansi move, Alan poked the man in his chest and said loud enough for Nikki to hear, “That is not what this is about, Iwao! I don’t want to see the DVD. It’s none of my business. I don’t want to interfere and I would appreciate it if you did the same. Now leave me and my daughter alone. Take what you have there and get rid of it. Let’s get back to our purpose here. Thank you!” Alan turned on his heel and stormed off toward his room, leaving the Asian man shaking his head and Nikki with her mouth gaping open.

Okeydokey. None of that made sense at all. Nikki hemmed and hawed before heading toward the man. She stopped as she passed him. “Can I help you, sir?”

“I am checking in. I am part of S.E.E. group. My name is Iwao Yamimoto.” He bowed.

“Oh yes, Mr. Yamimoto. I’m Nikki Sands. I manage the winery here and have been involved in scheduling the week for all of the members.” She remembered seeing Mr. Yamimoto on the list, along with a woman’s name—Mizuki, presumably his wife. They were some of the last to check in. She wondered where his wife was. “The front desk is that way.” She pointed. “Just go around the rose garden and in through the large archway.”

He bowed again. “Thank you very much.”

She smiled and nodded. It was all she could do not to ask him if there was a problem between him and Mr. Sansi. She literally bit down on her tongue as she turned and watched him head toward the front desk. Hmmm.
Leave it alone. None of my business.
Oh, boy, that was quite a task to ask of Nosy Nikki. She was aware that people in Napa had coined her with that nickname, but c’mon, it wasn’t as if her curiosity had not been applied toward the good of all mankind. Or at least for the good of those in her neck of the woods.

To her dismay, Derek wasn’t at home. She looked at the clock. Almost five. He really should have been getting ready for his trip back East. Then she spotted his suitcase packed and ready to go, and it was impossible not to feel sad. How silly. He would be gone for only a few days, but she didn’t want him gone for even one.

Ollie was there to greet her, though. He didn’t exactly get up, all one hundred pounds of him too comfortably tucked into Derek’s leather chair to move. The dog raised his head and thumped his tail as best he could with it wedged between his rear and the chair. She walked over and gave him a pat on his head. He replied by closing his eyes and going back to sleep. “Nice to see you, too.”

She sighed and headed to the shower. After a few minutes of warm water spraying her, she felt a bit refreshed. She slipped into the old standby black dress and stood in front of the mirror, unable to twist off a tube of mascara that was tightly stuck. Time for a new tube. Weren’t you supposed to replace it every couple of months anyway? Not only did she need new mascara, but she realized she probably should’ve bought a dress with some color, some pizzazz, but her old accommodations had burned down several months ago along with all of her belongings. She had stayed in the hotel until Derek proposed living together a couple of weeks ago. Makeup and new clothes hadn’t been on the top of her priority list. Until now.

Maybe she’d do some shopping next weekend when things would likely have settled down. She thought about calling Isabel and asking her to go. They hadn’t seen each other in a while. Isabel was a good friend who owned a restaurant in Yountville called Grapes. The two of them had been bosom buddies until Nikki started dating Isabel’s brother, Andrés, and then kind of broke his heart. Well, really broke his heart. Nikki had been torn between Andrés and Derek and had eventually followed her heart, which led her to Derek. Isabel claimed to understand. She and Nikki talked, and occasionally did things together still, but it wasn’t like it used to be, and Nikki missed her and the close friendship they’d shared.

Derek came into the bedroom and shook her out of her thoughts. Many of her things were still in boxes stacked against the white wall. Derek’s room—now hers as she had to constantly remind herself—was white and blue, continuing that Spanish, ranch feel the house had. “Hi. How was the rest of your day?”

“Good. You’re running late, aren’t you?”

“No. I’m ready. Alan and I had a good talk and then I had to wrap up a few things. It’s funny. He’s far more human than I’d thought.”

“Tell me about it.”

He looked at her and made a face. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing. It’s just the way that Simon and Marco had made him out, I expected an angel with wings, halo, and all.” She didn’t want to reveal the conversation she’d overheard between Alan and Mr. Yamimoto. She knew how Derek felt about her curious nature. It definitely was not his favorite of Nikki’s traits, and they’d gone rounds with each other in the past over her inquisitive nature.

“Yeah, I know those two do hold him right up there next to God. But he is a very down-to-earth guy.”

“Uh-huh. I wish you didn’t have to go to New York tonight,” she said. “And I really wish I could drive you to the airport, but I have to do this wine train dinner. I’ll have to listen to some psychobabble on elevating my soul through the S.E.E. program instead of spending extra time with you.” Nikki did her best pout.

“Oh, don’t be so negative about it. Like I said, Alan Sansi is a decent guy. Who knows? Maybe there’s something you can learn from him.”

“Not you, too? Don’t go all Guru Sansibab’d out on me.”

He laughed. “Come here.”

She wrapped her arms around him and he kissed the tip of her nose. “I wish you could go with me, too. But I think you can handle all of this without me. I feel we’re in a good position to go forward with an ad campaign with Alan. Simon and Marco have worked up some great ideas. I know they can drive you crazy, but when you put them together and keep them focused, they can do a great job.”

“I know. That’s good news about Alan Sansi and this ad thing. It sounds as if he’s going to do the licensing agreement with us.” She pulled away from him and finally got the mascara tube open, only to find it almost empty. She made a face.

“I was hoping you’d be able to meet with us today. I know you were overseeing the arrivals, but Alan and I aren’t finished sealing the deal. I explained to him that, while I’m gone, you’ll be in charge. I left some notes on my desk that I took while we talked. They’re in the home office here. If you stay in touch with Alan regarding the key points, when I get back we should be ready to have contracts drawn up.”

“Sure.”

“And could you do me one more favor?” he asked.

“What?”

“Take off that dress.”

“Jeez. You don’t pull any punches. I know I’ve worn it a million times. I haven’t had much of a chance to get many new things since the fire. Give me a break.”

He smiled. “Oh no, I love the dress. It looks great on you. I just think it looks better
off
of you.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“I have to be ready in a half hour and you have a flight to catch. I still have to put my makeup on.” She waved the tube of mascara in front of him.

“Makeup schmakeup. We have time. I’ll make the plane.” He grabbed her, kissing her.

She dropped the mascara tube. Nothing like going
au natural
.

THE Napa Valley Wine Train is an experience no tourist visiting the area should go without. Nikki always thought of it like stepping back in time to an era of elegance and luxury. She always enjoyed a trip on the wine train. The décor alone made one happy to have come aboard. The mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and brocade and velveteen fabrics were reflective of the finest early-twentieth-century trains, such as the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the Andalusia Express.

Being a sort of Renaissance woman, Nikki had taken time to learn about the train and the railroad in Napa. Local craftsmen had turned the train into a travel dome of splendor. The “turn-of-the-century” Dining, Parlor, and Chef du Cuisine Kitchen cars had been purchased from all over the United States and Canada.

The group would be riding in one of the 1915 Pullman dining and lounge cars and milling in and out of the wine-tasting lounge, where Malveaux wine would be poured. The scenery alone would be something to die for as they rattled past vineyards, the grapes just now springing to life at the ends of healthy vines. Some had dark, thick, twisted branches, while others were longer, more elegant, their vines almost reed-like. It depended on the variety of grapes the vineyard grew. The passengers would pass large wineries with various motifs from the castle-like, Tuscan-like, redwood buildings, country and farm style to old stone wineries—there wasn’t anything less than spectacular on this excursion.

That was why Nikki had suggested it for Alan Sansi and his followers, which tonight included Marco and Simon, the Pearlmans, Mr. Yamimoto, and the woman Nikki assumed was his wife, Mizuki. She was dressed in a red and black kimono, her hair tied back with long ivory needles into a tight chignon. She looked several years younger than Mr. Yamimoto.

There was also a nice-looking young guy who Nikki hadn’t met who sat with Alan’s daughter, Sierra, the problem child. The publisher, Rich Higgins, sat next to Hayden Sansi, rubbing her back. There were a few other people whom Nikki had yet to meet, but her gut told her this was going to be somewhat like summer camp; by the time this week was through, she’d know more than enough about each of the S.E.E. members aboard the train.