“Oh goody,” Payton says, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Hope glances down at her Apple watch. “I’ve got a conference call in fifteen minutes and will be tied up for about three or four hours, but then I’m all yours.”
Payton raises her knees and props her feet on the edge of the chair, giving me a view of her endless legs. “Can’t you take a break for, like, five minutes?”
Hope stares at her sister, wide eyed. “I’m only working four hours today.”
“What a slacker.” Payton sighs. “What do you got for us, Gwen?”
Gwen picks up a sheet of paper. “So, we are all getting drunk later.”
Payton claps her hands. “Finally, the perfect to-do list.”
Gwen laughs. “Cat, is everything for the mixologist taken care of? She’ll be here around one.”
I speak up. “I’m working with Cat to get that done.”
Cat gives me a little scowl, but she doesn’t fool me. I know she’s happy about it.
Gwen smiles. “Perfect. We’ll start drinking around four to sample everything. I figure it’s best to dine alfresco, so as not to distract from the drink concoctions. Then tomorrow we’ll do the menu run-through with the cocktail selections and see how everything works as a cohesive dining event.”
Gwen keeps going, rattling off a bunch of other items on her list and tasking them out to various people in the room with the practiced ease of a woman used to taking charge.
When there’s finally a break in the conversation, I address Cat, ready to get on with the day before Gwen assigns us any more work. “Catarina, are you ready to get started?”
Jackson raises a brow, but I ignore it, focused on the woman who’s been intent on avoiding me this morning.
Her forehead furrows. “Don’t you need to get stuff ready?”
“I’ve taken care of it. I spoke to Lou before I came here. Everything should be ready for us to set up when we get to the tasting room.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Oh.”
Payton grins at me. “A man that prepares. I thought those were mythical beings.”
I take a sip of my coffee. “I have my moments.”
Cat gives a great big sigh and stands. “Well, I guess it’s time to get to work.” She smooths her hand down her niece’s silky blond hair. “Have a good day, baby.”
“Thanks, Aunt Cat. I’ll see you later when we all get drunk.”
That makes everyone around the table laugh, and Jackson says to his daughter, “You’re not getting drunk, young lady.”
“Oh, Daddy, I know.” She puts on a big pout. “But you’ll let me watch, right?”
“Most definitely not,” Jackson says, his voice stern.
“Please.” The little girl holds her hands together in prayer. “Please, please, please.”
“Nope.”
Natalie turns her attention to Gwen. “Can you please get him to be reasonable, Momma?”
Gwen’s features soften, and I can practically see her heart melting for the little girl that will be her daughter officially as soon as the adoption papers are signed.
She turns to Jackson. “We can let her stay for one, right?”
Jackson shakes his head at the ceiling. “Have we not talked about this? You’re supposed to side with me, to present a united front.”