Season of Change(95)
“You’re going to serve a life sentence living in that house alone,” she said. “Wearing your ties and keeping everyone at arm’s length. Someday the kids in this town are going to call you Old Man Jennings. You won’t come out except at night when no one can see you and you’ll yell out the window at anyone playing in your yard.”
“I think you’re confusing me with Takata. I don’t plan on staying in Harmony Valley.”
“Oh, no, I’ve got you pegged.” She snuggled closer beneath his arm. “Faith and Grace will bring home the men they’ll marry and you’ll scare the crap out of them.”
“You’re assuming I’m letting them get married. I’m not going to let them date until they’re thirty, if then.”
“You wish.” She stroked his tie. “Why are you making this so difficult?”
He sighed. “I could say the same for you. You told me in the park that we could handle being friends.”
“I’m not the one who came out after I left.”
They turned the corner onto Nana’s street, the only sounds Christine’s sandals and his hard-soled shoes on the sidewalk.
“Maybe I didn’t like how you left.”
They reached Nana’s driveway.
“You, my friend—” she gently tugged his tie, as if that was the only thing keeping her from blurting out her true feelings and ruining everything “—don’t know what you want.”
“And you do?”
“I know I want a strong man by my side, someone I can come home to at night when my hands are stained purple from handling grapes all day, someone who won’t mind those purple hands all over his body.” She smoothed his tie. “I know I want to have kids and be a soccer mom, even though soccer season is during grape harvest. And I dream of one day owning my own vineyard with my own wine label. I’m a bit behind schedule, but I plan to have a long career, with at least one vintage of Harmony Valley Vineyards wines to my credit.”
She hadn’t realized until that moment that she wasn’t going to give up on the winery. Or him.
He didn’t say a word.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Christine slipped from beneath his arm.
“Wait.” He captured her hand.
She looked at their joined hands—his large and strong, hers seemingly delicate. But she was stronger than she looked. She could set aside blossoming love and wait for him to heal completely. “I’ve already put myself out there tonight. I’m not going to ask you for a good-night kiss and strike out completely. I like you.” I love you. “But you hold my future in your hands.” In so many ways.
When he would have spoken again, she cut him off. “I think there’s something between us and I’d like to give it a chance, but you have to meet me halfway.”
“What if I’m not ready?” His voice lacked the steady quality she’d become used to.
“Nobody with big career goals and dreams is ever ready. There’s always a condition attached or another column to fill.” She patted his stubbled cheek. “Good night.”
She half expected him to pull her close, as he’d done the other night, regardless of her protests. If he’d heard what Old Man Takata said perhaps something had sunk in, perhaps he’d realize that he needed to open up in order to move on.