Page 25 of Pour Timing
I nudge him but he resists. “Slide in, pal.”
“No, I want to sit next to Kylie.” I raise a brow and take the opposite seat. We look over the menu, deciding on the toppings we want when I see Kylie's sister walk in.
“Hey, Sadie.” I wave. She smiles back and comes right to our table.
She glances at her watch then narrows her stare at Liam with a smirk dancing across her face. “How did you manage to get out of school so early to get ice cream?”
Liam’s eyes are wide. “Ice cream? Wh-what do you mean?”
“Well a little birdie sent me a text with a picture.” She pulls out her phone and flips it around, showing him. “You’re eating ice cream and wearingthatshirt.”
I laugh as he looks down at his shirt, trying to come up with a reason.
“I think she’s teasing you, pal,” I say, trying to ease his tension.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Love has skipped more than his share of school days. I won’t tell.” She winks at him and he relaxes.
“Dad and Kylie picked me up early to surprise me!” Liam says proudly. Sadie looks at me with a knowing grin.
“Oh? Your dadandKylie,together,huh?” I school my expression but stare her down as she acts like this is all news to her, and slides in next to me on the bench seat.
Liam bounces in his seat and tells the story. “Yeah, it was so much fun. They came to the school, then we went for ice cream and watched the ducks swim in the pond.” He takes a breath. “And then her and my dad were fighting with ice cream, not really fighting, but you know, play fighting, and now she’s in the bathroom washing off the ice cream she had up her nose.”
“Sounds like you were all having a great time together.” She elbows me and I ignore it. “You look like you still have some ice cream on your hands. Why don’t you go wash them?”
Liam looks at his hands and jumps up. “Dad, I’ll be right back!”
I close my eyes and take a breath because I know what’s about to happen. When I open them, she’s staring directly at me. “What are you doing with my sister?”
I let out a laugh, even though I'm suddenly nervous to be talking to Sadie. “She came to the winery for last-minute event details.”
“Yes, I know. I was on my way to help with the event when I got the weirdest text message.” She furrows her brows searching her phone once more. “Ah, here it is.Playing hooky with the Byrne boys. We’ll catch up tonight.I should have known ice cream and pizza on a school day would not have been your idea.”
I shrug. “Listen, it seemed she had something weighing on her mind. I asked a couple questions and she told me about breaking off the engagement. Getting out of there seemed like the best idea, even if she was corrupting my son for the day.”
“And?” she prompts.
“And maybe it was as much for her as it was for me. I enjoy spending time with her again. Coming back here was hard, and since I’ve been gone for so long, I wasn’t sure how anyone was going to accept me. Taking over for Uncle Paul is no small feat. And she’s helped ease that transition.”
Her face softens much like how Kylie’s does when she has lots of thoughts in her head. “I’m sure it was a big life change for you, but just know that everyone here is happy to have you home.” She leans in and repeats, “Everyone.” She sits back again. “I knew she wasn’t happy, and I’m glad she made the decision to end it. There’s only been one man that’s ever made her happy.”
Before I can ask more, Kylie and Liam come charging back to the table.
“Hey, sis. What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same thing, sis.” Kylie laughs and lets Liam scooch into the booth, and then she slides in next to him a little too close and pushes him up against the wall.
“Hey!” he exclaims, laughing and pushing back. They have a little rumble in the seat, and my heart constricts at seeing the joy on his face.
“I have a couple of things I want to show you, but I think we’re just about set. We just need to make sure we can get into the place Friday night.”
I interject, “Yes, I’ve already blocked off outside seating for that night so you can work out there. I’d help, but I was told the town likes to pre-game?”
The two women laugh. “They sure do. They fill the town by going to eat at every local restaurant they can. It’s like their big push to support the local businesses, and it becomes a big party. Don’t you remember these wine days?”
“Kind of, but it wasn’t as big then as what people are saying it is now.”
“I think this year is different because Paul isn’t here and they want to come out and support your family even more.”
