Miles passed the bucket with Ana's tee shirt on the way to his office. Here was his excuse to call her! He tried not to remember the many reason getting involved with her was a bad idea. Miles was annoyed to walk into his office and find Todd sitting behind his desk. He quickly slipped the card with Ana's numbers into the back pocket of his jeans.
Todd looked at him. "Greg Romano's not going to like you any better, now that you're hitting on his wife."
"I understood that they were divorced some time ago. Besides, nobody's hitting on anybody. Ms. Executive there is just out here for fun and games, she's not looking to get into winemaking." Miles wanted to make Ana sound like someone who he saw as both unattainable and uninteresting. Otherwise, he was afraid that Todd would keep talking about it, and some gossip might work its way around, to Greg, even to Ana herself.
"Miles, we've got to do something about the stock shortages. I know it's not much, a case here and there, but it concerns me."
"I don't know what else I can do, Todd. I'm not just counting every full case we sell, it now seems that I'm expected to deliver each one, too."
"I heard about that, Miles, and I don't think you should be dealing with the customers after spending the morning out in the vines. You know, muddy boots and all."
Miles seethed. Where were Todd and Brandon when he'd taken over running this place eight years ago? Back then, Miles personally greeted the few customers that came between all of the jobs that had to be done. Miles even installed an intercom so the customers could buzz him while he was out working in the vines. After Jimmy started hanging around, they took turns minding the store. Before Miles took over, Jack Formby just wouldn't bother to open on the days he worked on the vines. People who found the place open before Miles' time tended to be the exception, not the rule. But posted and specific hours of operation was a standard Miles instituted immedlately, and he had conducted many a tasting wearing his work clothes. He felt it helped his credibility as a winemaker, and led to greater respect for their product. Not that Miles minded the hired help now – he could focus on the vines, and the wines – still, he thought there was a little something missing when the winemaker didn't get to explain his wines in person. Miles reluctantly admitted to himself that Brandon, although he could be lazy, was the best of the bunch at conducting a tasting. Jimmy had worked with him extensively and Brandon, unlike Todd, had spent one full season working in the vineyard, and spent time each year working on the wines themselves. Beyond that, Brandon was a born entertainer, and had a great sense of humor. In stark contrast to Todd's conservative appearance, Brandon wore his hair long, in a ponytail that extended halfway down his back, and favored bright, Hawaiian style shirts in the summer, and a cowboy look during the cooler months. He was flirtatious with everyone, female or male, and could entertain children while educating their parents about grape types, or how to pair food with wine. It was rare for anyone to leave one of Brandon Formby's tasting without buying a bottle or more of wine to drink there or to take home. When Brandon was asked to leave the state university after his sophomore year, Miles wasn't pleased at being saddled with him at the winery. At this point, however, Brandon Formby would be Miles' pick in a minute to replace him after he'd gone. Unless they would consider hiring Jimmy, but Miles was certain they'd want to keep things 'in the family.' And, Jimmy and Brandon got along well – their friendship had over time developed into something more serious - Jimmy would probably stay around to help if Brandon, not Todd, was in charge.
"You must realize, Miles, that your history becomes a concern, when anything is missing." Todd had watched Miles closely during his musings.
Miles pounded his fist on the desk. "Damn it, Todd. Think about it! I have more wine than I can probably drink in my life! Wine is the last thing I need. And, although I made it, I wouldn't steal that... crap that's missing. I know we have to produce what sells, but you and I know that I just don't care for that sweet stuff. Besides, I resent the hell out of your insinuation that I am, or ever have been, a thief!"
Todd retreated a little. "What about your girlfriend du jour? I seem to recall that our Niagara Creek is her favorite." Niagara Creek, a wine made from the sweet, native American Niagara grape, was the winery's best seller. Miles was continually improving the quality of the drier wines, but the sweetest wines, the types of wines long associated with the Midwestern, continued to be hugely popular. Miles sometimes thought he was fighting an uphill battle, trying to get people to learn to drink drier wines. But, he wouldn't stop trying, and little by little, the sales figures for the varietals like Chardonney, Cabernet Savignon, and, Miles' pet project, Cabernet Franc, were creeping up. It helped that the events at the winery – from wedding receptions to concerts to graduation parties, even the Saturday cook outs – continued to bring new and different people to visit Creek Valley. The winery had a great location - it was just less than an hour drive from the center of the state capital, but, except for the small town of Creekboro and the University the land all around was undeveloped, giving the winery a very remote and private feel. Increasingly, the crowds who visited for various events were fans of the dry California and European style wines Miles was trying to emulate.
"If you're asking if Kayla's a thief, I don't think so. Remember, she can't seem to find the strength to carry a case, let alone to steal 20 odd. Todd, we go through the books every month with Greg. What's strange is that we may be missing inventory, and the sales figures are off, but not by exactly the right amount. That's why I'm so convinced that the issue is somewhere in our record keeping. I sent a copy of our last six months data to our software company – to see if there is a flaw in the software or our entry process. I'm expecting to hear back from them any day. Until that time, I'll just try to keep daily track of all case sales on paper."
Todd seemed satisfied with this, or at least couldn't think of anything else to offer. But he wouldn't leave without a parting shot.
"You know, you're right. As far as Ana goes, I mean. Greg is still her ex husband, for all his talk about them getting back together. Seems a shame not to get to know her better. I think I'll give her a call, follow up on my invitation to give her a private tasting and tour. You wouldn't happen to have Ms. Palmer's number, would you?" He drew out the 's' sound in 'Ms.'
"Sorry," Miles lied. "My contact is through Chester Van Meter." Miles knew that Todd Formby, married with 3 children, couldn't call Chester for Ana's number without feeling awkward. Todd stared at him. Miles was certain he knew he was lying, but couldn't prove it or press the matter. At least, not yet. Todd left, slamming the office door. Miles sat and looked at the weather forecast on the computer. Tomorrow would be another hot day.
Ana decided to go shopping on Friday morning. She had a late lunch date with Greg, but she wasn't to meet him until 2 o'clock. She looked in the yellow pages and decided to go to a large 'general store,' advertising a good selection of tools and gardening equipment as well as work boots and clothes.
Ana emerged from the store after an hour with several of what she considered major purchases – real work boots, a set of sharp hand clippers with a cushioned handle and a light brown work coat. Despite her months of severance pay and 'nest egg,' Ana was tight with her money since she no longer had regular employment. The last thing she wanted was to retreat to Greg merely for financial security. If their reunion was destined to work out, it would be because she wanted it to, not because she needed him. Something else was nagging at her now, the thought of a fair haired man with steely blue eyes.
Miles woke up early on Friday – 6 a.m. Jimmy was due to arrive at 7 and they were going to press yesterday's white grapes. Miles decided that he preferred the grapes with a little time 'on the skins,' after running through the crushed destemmer, so he allowed the crushed grapes to sit overnight. They loaded the grapes into the stainless steel bladder press and extracted the liquid. The press was another of Miles additions. He had replaced an old fashioned wooden basket press which operated by means of a crank handle and a series of wood blocks to created the pressing action. The basket press was extremely slow and difficult to run, it had a small capacity and required great physical effort. The bladder press, which essentially inflated a large inner tube to press the juice from the grapes was not only more efficient, but far less labor intensive, since the machine itself did the work.
After the pressing, Miles poured 5 gallon batches into plastic containers for the pickers. He marked the containers, making certain there were two for CVM – Chester Van Meter, one representing his picking and one for Ana's. Miles thought for a minute about how she had looked out in the vines – her slim figure crawling under the thick leaves to reach the bunches of grapes, extracting herself, with her hair disheveled with the elusive bunches of grapes – and then he thought of the telephone numbers left in his pants pocket.
With a shock, Miles realized that he had put the muddy work pants in with the rest of the winery's dirty laundry. It was picked up weekly and taken to a cleaner in the city. Worse, Miles remembered seeing the truck that morning. He started to blame Todd – after all, if Todd hadn't been in his office, he wouldn't have stuffed the card in his pocket - but, Miles still felt bad about lying to Todd. I should have given him her number, he thought. She had enough sense to see through him. Still, Miles felt better for preventing, at least delaying, Todd's access to Ana. He decided that losing Ana's telephone number was a sign of sorts – telling him that he had no business trying to pursue her. What would he do if something did work out? What if she was attracted to him, and started to develop feelings for him? Miles was already finding her regularly invading his thoughts. What good would a relationship do either of them, with his present situation?
Jimmy and Miles finished the pressing in the early afternoon. Jimmy planned to spend the afternoon at the winery – he and Brandon were trying out a new video game Jimmy bought. They had a small television hidden under the counter for any lulls in business during the day. Miles was going to go through the vines that afternoon and test everything left with a refractometer – which would give him an indication of ripeness. At this time of the year, with many of the grapes already picked, Miles did this with increasing frequency. The goal was to pick the grapes at maximum ripeness before a frost, or before a rainy period. Days like today, hot and sunny for October, provided a real temptation, but Miles wanted to wait as long as he could.
As Miles walked outside, Kayla stopped him. She had changed from her usual jeans and winery golf shirt to white shorts and a white tank top. She was wearing white sandals with a high heel. Kayla tried to look taller than her five feet, and rarely wore flat shoes. Her choice of generally impractical footwear also contributed to her reluctance to lift or carry. The white outfit fit her tightly and left nothing to the imagination.
