Her voice cracked. “Thank you,” she said softly. “And I know I’ve said it before, more times than I can count, but I’m sorry, Harry. For everything I put you through.”
“I’m not angry anymore,” he said quietly. “What happened … it was a terrible betrayal, yeah. But it didn’t change my relationship with my daughter. I’m still her father. I always will be.” He paused, then added, “Besides, forgiving you was really for me. My blood pressure was out of control.”
Bianca let out a soft laugh. “Have to watch that blood pressure. It’s no joke.”
“Trust me, I know it.” He chuckled. “But I’ve got it under control now.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” she said softly.
“I’ll send for Mila soon, so we can start looking at schools. Maybe LSU.”
“That sounds good.”
Her heart smiled. They’d had a real, rational conversation, and it felt good. She didn’t want to ruin it. She wanted to end it on a note of peace.
“Well, I hope traffic lets up soon.”
As if he didn’t want the moment to pass just yet, he said, “Take care of yourself, Bianca. Mila needs you.”
Her voice broke. “I know.”
After she hung up, she sighed deeply, then smiled.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Remi
By now, Remi could check several things off her list. The contractors had finished their renovations—walls painted, floors done. The tasting room was nearly complete, with its walnut bar top that had already been installed with pendant lights. The fermentation tanks stood in neat rows, joined by crushers, and a newly installed bottling system. Filtration systems were scheduled for installation in the coming week.
The past two weeks had been a blur of movement and momentum. Remi had immersed herself in Napa’s bustling wine scene, attending industry events downtown, shaking hands, exchanging cards, asking questions, listening closely, and soaking up all the insight she could. But tonight’s industry event was different. It wasn’t just another networking opportunity; it was a chance to begin carving outJoie’s identity among the valley’s most respected names.
The stakes felt higher. She wasn’t just going to be there as an observer anymore. She was stepping into the room as a peer, a new name in the world of winemakers. Every detail mattered—the tone of her voice, the conviction in her pitch,her confidence. This was whereJoie’s story would begin to resonate outside of the winery walls.
She stood in front of the mirror and smoothed the dress over her hips, pausing to turn slightly, checking every single angle to be sure it fell just right. The fabric hugged her frame in all the right places. She slipped a pair of silver hoops into her ears and colored her lips with mahogany, the color adding just the right amount of drama. Finally, she slipped into her black strappy heels. Tonight she needed to look like the woman behindJoie. The one who had earned her place at the table.
Downstairs the girls were gathered around the kitchen island, deep in conversation; their laughter could be heard before Remi reached the bottom step. Bianca relaxed on the sofa, her eyes lightly closed. She opened them when Remi entered the room.
“Woo-hoo. Look at you,” Zoe whistled.
“Do I look okay?” she asked nervously. “Is this dress too much? Maybe I should wear slacks.”
“You look fabulous,” Mila said. “And you are working that dress.”
Remi hesitated, then smiled. “Okay, I’m trusting you two.”
She reached for the small brown pill bottle on the island, shook two into her palm, then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Here you go,” she said, handing the pills and water to Bianca.
“Thanks.” Bianca smiled. “You look good, Rem.”
When the doorbell rang, Remi instinctively smoothed her dress once more before heading to answer it. She pulled the door open to find Leo standing there in tan khakis and a crisp blue blazer, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
“Ready?” he asked, not crossing the threshold, but sticking his head inside. “Hello, ladies.”
“Hey, Leo,” Zoe called from the kitchen.
“Hey, superstar,” he said with a grin.