“Yes, and to get the winery up and running. There’s so muchthat needs to be done. Hiring contractors, getting licenses, and such. Zoe was going to meet us there after her finals.” Remi sighed long and hard. The tears were brimming, about to return. “But now …”
Bianca cut her off. “You and Zoe should still go. Get away for a while. I think it would do you good. And I think Gerard would want you to continue with your plans of gettingJoieoff the ground.”
“I don’t even know if I have it in me to open the winery anymore. The desire is gone.”
“You have to muster the energy. And I don’t believe the desire is gone. That’s all you’ve talked about for the past year. I mean, you’ve taken all these freaking courses in … God knows what.”
A faint smile flickered across her face. “Viticulture, enology, and winemaking.”
“Yeah that.” Bianca grinned.
It was true. In every spare moment she’d had over the past year, Remi had buried herself in the study of wine—taking classes at the local university, visiting local vineyards, obsessing over soil types and fermentation methods.
“It was the thing we argued about right before …”
“He would want you to move forward with the winery, honey.”
Remi sighed heavily. She was unsure about how Gerard would feel aboutJoieat this point. She knew that he loved Napa Valley as much as she did and cherished their summers at the beach, but after hearing the thunder in his voice that night, she wasn’t sure of his wishes about the winery.
“Joiewasmything.”
“And you’ve secured the capital for it. Therefore, you should move forward with it. Besides, it would be a great distraction for you.”
“It would certainly be a distraction. Take my mind off things.”
“I can help make some calls for you, or do some research. Whatever you need. I close the boutique at seven. I can come back by and we can hash things out. We’ll make a to-do list. It’ll be like when I opened Chic Threads—how you helped me,” Bianca said. “And you know Mila is a wonderful artist. Let her play around with a logo design for you. Even if you don’t use it …”
Bianca’s daughter, Mila—the girl who she’d known since birth—was studying graphic design at UCLA.
“You think she would?”
“Graphic design is her major. I think she’d be honored.”
Remi contemplated Bianca’s suggestion that she open the winery as planned. Honestly, it was the one thing that made her heart feel better.
“Gerard always said that if anything ever happened to him, to spread his ashes along the Sonoma Coast.” Remi covered her face with her hands. “I always just laughed when he said it—likethatwould ever happen. He was supposed to be here forever. He was not supposed to leave before me.”
Bianca walked over to the outside of the island and held her friend. She rocked Remi until she was consoled.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Remi whispered.
“I would not be anywhere else.” Bianca reached into the pocket of her jeans. “And plus, I got a key.” She held the bronze-colored key into the air.
“Yes, you have a key for emergencies.”
“Good thing too! Because today was an emergency. You weren’t answering your phone or calling me back. I didn’t know what was going on.”
“I felt numb.”
“It’s called grief, honey. I mean, it’s only been a few weeks. It’s all so new, but time will heal. You’ll get through it.”
“I know. Just like I did when Daddy died,” Remi said.
“Exactly.” Bianca made her way back to the stove. She tossed garlic and onion into a pan.
Remi cut a small piece of her omelet with her fork, tasted it. “I’ll go to Napa if you come with me.” She glanced at the television mounted on the kitchen wall. The weatherman was reporting that temperatures would be in the high eighties, which wasn’t unusual for May in New Orleans. Then she looked back at Bianca.
“What?” Bianca asked.