Wed on His Terms: Million-Dollar Marriage Merger. Charlene Sands

Tony’s plea didn’t register with David. He continued, his voice so low that Tony had to bend over to hear him.

       “She won’t drink,” he’d confessed, and Tony immediately understood. Vintners drank wine like others drank water.

       David’s coherent pleas gave Tony hope, though he appeared so weak. So fragile.

       “Tony,” he’d implored.

       “I’m here.” He knew whatever David had to say must be important.

       “Don’t leave her alone. She deserves a good life. Promise me you’ll take care of her. And our baby.”

       “I promise, David. I’ll take care of Rena,” Tony whispered, looking deep into David’s fading eyes.

       “Marry her,” David said, grasping Tony’s hand. “Promise me that, too.”

       And Tony hadn’t hesitated. He squeezed David’s hand. “I’ll marry her.”

       David gave the slightest tip of a nod and closed his eyes. “Tell her I love her.”

       “Hang on, David. She’s coming. You can tell her yourself.”

       Frantic, Rena rushed up to David the minute they’d reached the hospital. They’d had time together, spoke their last words and Tony hung back giving them privacy. When David let go, Rena cried out. Her deafening sobs for David shook Tony and reached deep into his soul. He’d never seen a woman fall apart like that.

      Tony shifted back to the present and looked at his brother with a shake of his head. “I saw Rena today.”

      Joe wrinkled his nose and gave an understanding nod. “Which explains the haunted look in your eyes. Thinking of David, too?” he asked with genuine concern.

      â€œYeah, he’s never far from my mind. I’m the race car driver. I’m the one taking risks, yet he was the one to die in a crash.”

      â€œPeople die every day in car accidents.” Then Joe caught himself. He didn’t have a cruel bone in his body. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound callous, but you didn’t encourage him to get behind the wheel. And it was an accident.”

      â€œI wish Rena felt that way. It would make what I have to do a whole lot easier.”

      â€œSo, it didn’t go well today?”

      Tony shrugged. “She blew me off, but not before I made a dinner date with her.”

      â€œThat’s a start. It should get easier now.”

      Tony scratched his chin, the stubble grating his fingers. “Doubtful. Rena is as proud as she is stubborn.”

      â€œI hear you, Tony. I’ve learned my lesson with the opposite sex. No more relationships for me.”

      Tony looked his brother in the eye. “Sheila really did a number on you, didn’t she?”

      Joe lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m over it.”

      Tony believed him, noting the firm set of his jaw and his cool air of confidence, despite his casual shrug. Joe’s gorgeous New York assistant had played him, using her charms to snare him into an engagement. But the minute a wealthier man had shown interest in her, she’d dumped Joe for greener pastures and married a man who was twice her age. Joe had been burned, and he wasn’t going near the fire any time soon.

      â€œI’m on my way to the downtown office,” he said, changing the subject. “Good luck with Rena tonight.”

      â€œThanks. And Joe, keep this quiet.” It wouldn’t do for news to get out that Tony was dating his friend’s new widow.

      â€œI’ve got your back, bro.”

      Rena parked her car outside her home, her hands frozen on the steering wheel as she looked with numbing silence at the house in desperate need of paint and a roof that had seen better days. Her garden had been neglected lately, the grounds and outer buildings weren’t what they once were. But the vineyards beyond, whose budding grapes were the mainstay of her legacy, had the best terroir in the vicinity. Their merlot and cabernet wines won awards from the combination of good weather, soil and minerals. The vineyards had never let her down. “All I have left are those vines,” she mumbled, her voice shaky. “What am I going to do?”

      The news from Mr. Zelinski wasn’t good. She hadn’t known the lengths David had gone to in order to keep them in business until she’d pressed the banker to be brutally honest. She saw regret in his eyes and sympathy cross his features and knew of his reluctance to tell her the ultimate truth. Both the Fairfield and Montgomery families were part of the tightly knit Napa community and had been personal friends of the banker. She assumed it was out of respect for her mourning that he hadn’t been knocking at her door demanding his money.

      The grim news she received shook what little hope she had left. Not only couldn’t she qualify for a loan but David had taken out a home equity line of credit to keep them going these past few months. Until that loan was repaid and her credit restored, she couldn’t even think about asking for additional help from the bank.

      She owed more money than she originally thought.

      Tears welled in her eyes as the hopelessness of her situation enveloped her. From across the driveway, out among the vines she spotted Raymond checking the leaves, making sure the grapes were healthy.

      A sob escaped. She knew what she had to do, and it hurt to even think it. She couldn’t pay Solena and Raymond. She’d barely scraped up enough money to give them their last month’s salary. She’d let her other employees go, but hoped she could keep her friends on. Now, it was clear she had to let them go as well.

      Her heart breaking, Rena bounded out of the car and ran up the steps to her house, tears spilling down her cheeks. She couldn’t face losing them, not after losing David so abruptly. Everything around her was changing too fast.

      Yet she couldn’t expect Solena and Raymond to stay. She knew they’d have no trouble finding employment at another vineyard. Both were efficient, dedicated and knew as much about winemaking as she did. Selfishly, she wanted to keep them close, to have them work the land and be here when she needed them. Rena had sad facts to face, and she didn’t know if she was up to the challenge.

      Slamming the door shut, she strode to her bedroom, wiping at tears that continued to fall. She tossed her files and purse aside, kicking off her shoes as she flopped down on her bed. She lay looking up at the ceiling, searching her mind for a way to keep her business afloat. What avenues had she missed? Who could she turn to for help? Finally, after a half hour of torturous thought, she came up with the only solution that made sense. She had no other option.

      She had to sell Purple Fields.

       Three

      Tony debated whether to bring Rena flowers, remembering that she’d always loved the tulips that grew in the Carlino garden. “I like the purple ones best,” she’d said when they were teens. “They’re bright and happy, just waiting to put a smile on someone’s face.”

      But he knew giving Rena her favorite flowers wouldn’t put a smile on her face now. Nothing he could do—aside from vanishing off the face of the earth—would do that. He’d opted to knock on her door empty-handed, hoping that she hadn’t changed