The Gift, page 19
His three-point-turn skills don’t hide the look of horror I view from this side of his face.
After I fill him in through uninterrupted sobbing statements, he speaks. “We’ll get you your winery if that’s what you want. Or if you want to stop everything if you get LA Phil, that’s what we’ll do. You deserve to do what makes you feel fulfilled.”
Warmth spreads over my body like I’m under my cozy blanket on the couch. “How do you always know what to say to make me feel better?”
“I’m just being a good friend.”
“And you are. You always are.” I manage a close-mouthed grin as I turn to look his way.
He does the same and quickly returns his attention to the road.
“Alright, enough of this what if business. Let’s have a good day and get the information we need on our own.”
“Okay.” I match his accented words in rhythm. “Let’s do this.”
Somehow, I believe David that we’ll have a good day, regardless of how it started. And I know I deserve fulfillment in life. I’ll just have to make it happen.
Chapter
Thirty-Five
By the time we get to the outskirts of my happy place, I’ve cried, laughed, and was able to feel joy in the day again. Thank God for friends who love you for you and who always bring relief. That’s a true gift I hope everyone has in their world.
“Wanna go back to the first winery we went to last time? That guy was nice.” David searches for new music, landing on a song from his favorite band, Boyz II Men.
“Gio at Little Street Wines,” I remind.
“Yeah, that’s right… But you said that was the place where Christian had—”
“A moment,” I finish his sentence.
Instead of commenting, David belts out the chorus of “End of the Road,” so I join in, both of us singing at the top of our lungs until the song ends. A loud release is just what I needed.
The last words, about belonging to someone, linger in the stillness. I’m not going there right now, though. Nope, nope, nope. Quick, say something. “We can visit Gio after meeting Lesley. Sorry, I got sidetracked and never answered you. Yes, I’d love that.”
“I wasn’t sure. And okay, you got it.” He switches screens on his dashboard to view the GPS. “We’ll be at the meeting spot in five minutes.”
Right on the dot, we pull into the gas station and see a car matching the description Lesley sent me. “There she is, I think.” I point to the maroon sedan.
We park next to it, and I give a hesitant smile at the lady in the driver’s seat.
She returns the gesture with a secure smile and wave, immediately opening her door and shouting “Hi!” outside my window.
I wave back and inch open my door so I don’t hit her.
“Hi, Lesley. I’m Toni, and this is David, my friend.”
David walks around the back of his car and says, “Hello, Ms…?”
“It’s nice to meet both of you, but please, just call me Lesley.” She shakes both of our hands then directs her attention to me. “I lined up a few options for you today based on what you submitted online and from our communication. I know you want to see different stages of prospective wineries to get a better idea of which direction to head.”
Vibrancy radiates from her—another thing I can use today. “Sounds great! Thanks for meeting us,” I say.
“Well, if you’re comfortable, I can drive you around, and you can leave your car here, David. That way, we can still chat along the way.”
“It’s alright with me.” I look at David for confirmation, enlarging my eyes to signal a response.
He looks around the area. “Yeah, as long as you think it’ll be safe.”
“Oh, you can’t get safer than wine country in Temecula Valley.” Lesley bobs her head. “Now, let’s go.”
As soon as we’re all seated, she explains, “This first property is five acres of land on a southern-facing slope, which, as you know, is great for sunlight.”
I do know that!
She continues, “This one is just the land, so you’d have to consider cost to build from the ground up.”
“I’m keeping my options open.”
“That’s right, my friend. I knew I liked you already. My kind of woman.” Her dangling gold-leaf earrings rock back and forth in her enthusiasm.
When we step onto the land of the first property, I stare at the top of the small hill in the near distance. Even though it’s just weeds and scattered grass with dirt, there’s beauty in the division of land and true-blue sky. Taking in a cleansing breath, I know I’m on the right track being here today.
And Lesley knows her field well. All of her information keeps coming at allegro speed, like the fast-paced piece I auditioned with last week. Jeez, I should’ve been taking notes during the fifteen minutes we’ve been here.
“Toni, are you ready for the next stop?” Lesley is much taller than me, so she bends her thin frame at her waist as she asks.
“Yes, let’s keep going. I think this one is too much for me to take on.”
“I have a feeling you may like what’s behind door number two.” Her lips twist upward as her eyes glow.
As she drives, she continues the stream of choices. “You can start from scratch, like what I just showed you, but on a much bigger scale for acreage—that’s if you want to sell wholesale.” She pauses. “Do you? I didn’t think so at this point.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure, but I’m going to go with no since I need to start as small as possible, yet still within my vision.”
“Ooh, your vision. That’s what I’m talking about! Go with that. Fill me in. But wait, let me continue, then fill me in.”
Now she’s running at prestissimo—think, allegro times three—which is why I couldn’t tell her more of my vision by phone in the first place. But something about her personality is infectious, and I follow every note of her words with ease. I like it. And her.
“So, as I was saying, you can also think about land that used to contain vineyards, but I don’t suggest it.”
David cuts in, “Because it has poor soil or something, and that’s why it became deserted?”
“No, because there may be bad juju there. I’m Jamaican by heritage, and in my family, we’re careful about trying to be successful where others have failed.” She clutches the steering wheel tighter. “I’m always cautious for my clients.”
“Funny you mention family, because that’s what started all of this. I’d like to honor my ancestors since they owned wineries in the past. Two failed—one due to a fungus and one due to Prohibition.”
“Ah, yes, my boonoonoonoos friend.” Lesley smiles then looks in my direction.
I return the smile, drawing my eyebrows together. “What now?”
“It means you’re a special person.”
“Aww, thank you.” I feel blood rush to my face, in a good way.
“She is, Lesley,” David adds.
I look back and say, “Thanks, man. Right back at ya.”
“You should’ve heard me trying to teach my granddaughter that word.” Lesley shakes her head, followed by, “Ha. Well,” she resumes the longest ever explanation of choices, “another way to go is land that already has the facilities on site that you’ll need. You know, a tasting room or one with a room plus an area for production and storage. Now, some sellers offer the equipment and the whole kit and caboodle, and some only have good bones to sell.”
“Wow, you weren’t lying about there being so much to think about. I forgot about this option but remember it from my research now that you say it.”
“I would never lie to you.” Her tone reflects a continued lightness. “So, tell me about this vision of yours. I need the full picture.” She moves her hand in the shape of a rainbow.
“I guess it’s mostly about the outside space. I keep seeing images of the vines at a certain distance from the tasting room. Close, real close. I want cars to park right in front of them so when visitors get out, they can be in the vines already.”
“An immersive experience,” David adds from the backseat.
“Exactly. And I really like this one tasting room I visited here, Little Street Wines. It’s clean, modern, simple, fresh.”
“These are good buzz words for me. I’m storing them in my memory moving forward,” she says, tapping her head with the tips of all her fingers.
“The details for a production and storage area are still a little hazy in my vision. I just know everything has to start small for my business.” My mouth shifts to the side, and I bite my cheek.
“That’s how to be a winner in this business. Most wineries expand in their first five years, at least once, maybe twice,” she informs, “so that’s smart.”
“Oh? That’s great to know.” And it means more than she knows to hear that last word. “I’m adding that info to my mental list of facts—start small so there’s room to grow.” Check.
“Most definitely. You sound like you have the right way of thinking, Toni. And now…we’re here.”
She parks in a neglected dirt lot in front of a, um…rustic building that resembles what once may have been a tasting room. The roof is missing shingles, and the stucco walls are in desperate need of a paint job. The barren land surrounding us adds to its bleakness. She was excited about this place?
“Now, Toni, I know this looks like a lot of work, but you never know. It’s just cosmetic from what I know from the listing. An inspector would have to certify that, though.”
I exchange a suspicious glance with David, and we follow Lesley to the front door of the building.
Inside, the state isn’t as bad as I thought. The large empty white room surprises me with gorgeous black stone counters, one for a bar and one off to the side as if for merchandise. I see a diamond in the rough.
Lesley has much to say, as always, so I nod and pay attention as much as possible, but also roam the area to imagine what it would feel like to work here. To live in this place. To breathe in its spirit.
Closing my eyes for a second, I know something isn’t clicking yet, so I politely stop Lesley’s spiel. “I’m sorry. I can see promise here, but I don’t think it’s for me.” The feeling, whatever that is, must come immediately—or at least that’s my assumption of the space meant for me.
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s the right place either,” David adds.
“That’s alright. Tell me what turns you off so I can narrow my search.” Lesley taps the navy-blue polished nail of her pointer finger on her phone and looks like she’s ready to take notes.
Great minds think alike.
“I…I don’t know. I’m just not feeling it. I wish I knew how to describe the reason.” I squinch my nose while I look upward and around the room.
“I hear you, I hear you. Well, is it that it needs some tender loving care? Some clients can’t see the quality of a structure because of that.”
“Maybe. I think it feels overwhelming to have to do so much from the start when I know I already have a lot to learn. I’ve never even owned a house.” My thoughts obviously go to Christian’s one desire in life.
Wait, how would I have money for a down payment if he’s not in favor of this purchase? I wouldn’t be able to use what we’ve saved. Well, I have been saving money from private lessons for a while, hoping to surprise Christian someday with the news, so I could use it for this reason instead. It’ll at least help. I wonder if my heart knew our relationship was changing before my head, and it knew that I’d need the money for another reason. Ugh, I can’t go there right now.
So, let’s get back to how both savings accounts are the only means I have going for me at this point for a loan, and that’s a maybe at best. I shake my head, reminding myself that I can worry about it later. I may as well enjoy time in the vines.
Lesley glides closer to me. “Everything will work out. We’ll get you in a place you want.”
She’s good at reading people.
“Yeah, I just need to stay focused on that part. You know, I may want to see properties that are selling everything and need very little renovation.”
“A turn-key property. That was next on my list today anyway.”
David joins me to walk outside behind Lesley. “Knowing my friend here, I think that would be a good idea. She’d like to be able to start earning money sooner than later, right?”
“Who wouldn’t? And I don’t know about adding a layer of construction, permits, and all the stuff that may take months of precious time.” I make an exaggerated scared face.
“You definitely have a point there.” Lesley opens her door. “Next stop, here we come.”
Pulling up to the third option, my shoulders loosen, and I sink deeper into the cushy car seat while experiencing the feeling. This property is what I could see myself in without a doubt. Turns out, the feeling consists of fireworks lighting up my being in tingles of bliss. “Oh, Lesley, yes to this one. I don’t even need to go inside,” I joke.
“Sold!” David calls out from the backseat.
“You’re my favorite new clients. This is the easiest sale I’ve ever made,” she jokes in return.
We all exit her car, and I take in the view. Across the street, there’s another functioning winery whose vineyard frames the main road as well as the drive into their tasting room. The yellowish-green leaves, brownish-gray vine color dependent on shadows, and light-green grass invite me to smile and feel welcome. Turning back to the property for sale, I reflect on the flat land with a slight slope in combination with multiple tiny rolling hills filled with vines. They surround a streamlined ranch-style building I can’t wait to enter.
“This five-acre property again contains southward facing slopes, has enough of an incline for air drainage, and includes a California casual-style tasting room as well as a building behind it with all that’s needed for wine producing and cellar storage.” Lesley’s eyes light up as she speaks. “The couple who own it want to sell since they’re ready to retire. The business didn’t fail, so there’s no bad juju here, just a wonderful family business that’s been here for years.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.” I’ll take any blessing. “Ooh, let me stand on the soil over there, if you don’t mind. I know it’s a little strange, but—”
“But nothing. If that’s your thing, you go right ahead and do it. I’ll be right here.” She raises then lowers her chin in emphasis.
“David, look,” I call out while walking, knowing he’ll be as interested as me to step on the sandy brown soil. It’s steps away from where we parked, just as I want. “Lesley, I’m sorry, but I have to slip off my sandals and feel the soil.”
David, standing next to me, smiles. “She’s a unique one.”
“You go on being unique, Toni. Do what you need.” Lesley holds out her friendly arms. “Enjoy.”
The moment my skin touches the soft soil, I hear the melody of a song I’ve always loved—Haydn’s “Cello Concerto in C Major.” The smooth strokes of the strings soothe my soul when I need it most or come to me at times I feel like I’m in heaven. Experiencing the clay-like earth in between my toes qualifies as the latter.
“The soil in the valley is decomposed granite.”
Lesley’s, uh…interesting fact causes me to open my eyes, previously shut to outside consciousness.
David steps off the soil and onto the paved parking lot. “That sounds ominous.”
“I guess it does. Hmm. But it’s just what it is, the type of soil that allows water to easily drain from the vine roots. The harvest is over for the year, but look at those healthy, thick vines.”
“That does make sense.” David looks at me with raised eyebrows and a downturned mouth.
All I know is the coolness to the soil’s touch is inviting, and its function is just right. I caress the leaves next to me, wanting to smoosh my face into them, but maybe I’ll save that for when I have my own. Lesley may jump in her car and leave us weirdos.
“Let’s go inside.” I brush off my feet and slip them back into my sandals.
As soon as we enter the structure, my eyes dart to the sunlight shining through the titanic glass sliders leading out to a covered red-brick-paved area circled by trees. “D-a-v-i-d.” My mouth hangs open as I point.
“It’s a beautiful space, I know,” Lesley agrees with my reaction.
I speed-walk over to the area and can’t help but envision wine tasting on those comfy white couches by the fire pit outside, along with this room also filled with spaces to enjoy my wine. The seating areas inside with black, clean-lined chairs by the wall of wine bottles evoke images of customers relaxing for hours while tasting.
“I love the open-air feel in here.” Although it’s one story, the ceilings are high, and everything is crisp white in color, with a gray-and-white marbled counter for the bar. “Imagine how my cello would sound. The acoustics are perfection.”
“You can’t take the cellist out of the girl,” David says.
“You play cello, Toni?” Lesley asks.
“Yes, I do. But I’m looking for a career change from playing professionally.”
“I’d say so. But you could always knock out a song for your customers,” she suggests.
“I guess I could, now that you say it. Great idea. Wine and cello nights.” I look off to the side. “Yes. Just like you locked away my words, I’ll lock away that idea.”
“See, you don’t have to give up playing.” David continues to be supportive then asks, “Where does this door lead, Lesley?”
“That goes to the back room then the production space. Come on.” She waves us through, giving idea upon idea for making the best use of every inch of this beauty.
Behind the main structure, there’s a long, sleek, rectangular fountain. Its dark-gray concrete matches the modern look of the rest of the property. Water flows over the stacks of flat stone slabs hanging over the edge at the head, creating a serene purr.
