No, that was silly. Aunt Pearl would have to constantly refresh the spells, something she would find too tedious and labor-intensive. She had absolutely nothing to gain from us being a couple. She certainly wouldn’t run the risk of her arch enemy potentially marrying into her own family.
Unless…she had a plan to stop things before they got to that point. I stared out the window as my uneasiness grew.
But that was silly. Tyler loved me, just like I loved him. We had a future together.
There was no attraction spell, only our mutual attraction, nurtured by our shared interests and spending time together.
I stared out the Jeep’s passenger window. People milled around the half-full parking lot. Most of the exhibitors had just arrived. They unloaded cases of wine from trucks and vans and carefully maneuvered dollies of their precious liquid cargo across the parking lot toward the gymnasium door, which was propped open.
Tyler maneuvered past Pearl’s Palace and pulled the Jeep into a parking spot next to Richard’s Corvette. The convertible’s top was down.
“I’d better find Richard so he can put the top back up.” Tyler glanced up at the dark storm clouds. “It looks as if the sky’s about to open up.”
As I got out of the passenger seat, I noticed two cases of Desiree LeBlanc’s Verdant Valley Vineyards on the back seat. If that wasn’t a blatant display of favoritism and corrupt power, I didn’t know what was. Desiree had probably planted them there on purpose, like she was marking her territory or something.
I told Tyler about Richard’s foreclosure warning and Desiree’s interest in buying Lombard Wines. “I hope things don’t get out of hand. Antonio doesn’t have a lot to lose. And he would do anything to prevent Desiree from buying his winery. Even if he refuses her offer, she can simply buy the winery once the bank forecloses.”
Tyler slipped his hand around mine and we walked hand-in-hand across the parking lot to the school auditorium entrance. “There must be something we can do. Richard wields far too much power in this town. He can make or break fortunes, even though he has discretion on how he applies the rules. Wine season is here now and so are Lombard Wines’ biggest earning months. Surely Richard can give Antonio a bit of breathing room. I’ll see if I can reason with him.”
“Go ahead and try. Richard’s already made up his mind though.” We had just entered the building when we almost collided with Aunt Pearl.
Her red sequined track suit and matching headband practically pulsated as the gym’s overhead lights reflected her every movement. She looked like a cross between a 1980s aerobics instructor and a disco queen. Thankfully, there was no disco ball or strobe lights.
She threw her hands in the air in an exaggerated panic. “Cen, we got a problem. Antonio—”
Antonio brushed past us. “Cen, I forgot the wine! Trina’s watching the booth while I go back home and get it. I’ll be right back.”
“How could you forget the whole purpose of—” I stopped myself, though I felt frustrated that all our work yesterday had been for nothing. Maybe subconsciously, Antonio really did want to give up and pack everything in. He couldn’t admit that to his brother, though. Or to himself.
But screwing up spelled an even bigger disaster because Lombard Wines wasn’t just Antonio’s livelihood, it was also his home. If it was foreclosed on, he would be homeless too.
I glanced at Tyler who was by now in a heated discussion with Aunt Pearl about the small parking spots and her crookedly parked RV.
“Move that monstrosity out onto the street, Pearl. Do it now and you won’t get a ticket.” He let go of my hand and faced her.
Aunt Pearl’s keychain jangled as she swirled it in the air, inches from Tyler’s face. “The school lot is private property, Sheriff. Your tickets don’t work here.”
“The lot is, but part of the RV is on the driveway. That part is public property.” Tyler pulled a ticket book from his jacket pocket and began writing.
Aunt Pearl pouted. “Ask me nicely and I might consider your request.”
“It’s an order, not a request, Pearl.”
I didn’t want to be involved in their spat, so I slipped quietly away and walked toward the gymnasium entrance. I walked in through the open door and entered the gym. Inside, exhibitors had set up booths for local and regional wineries. There were other booths, too. Local bakers and artisans had their wares for sale; everything from mouth-watering muffins to artisan honey and jam. I scanned the gym for the Lombard Wines booth and spotted it at the opposite side of the gym. Trina looked up at that very moment and waved.
I waved back and crossed the gym floor.
I was halfway to my destination when I almost collided with Desiree LeBlanc. She wore a long pink top with a scalloped neck that accentuated her perfectly tanned skin. Her white tights hugged her waist and hips, and were tucked into pink calfskin cowboy boots. She was a curvy size 2 without an ounce of fat.
Desiree let out an exaggerated gasp, as if I was the last person on earth she had expected to see.
“Cendrine! Exactly the person I was looking for. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet with you earlier in the week, but I was sooo busy getting ready for the festival. You can interview me now.” Desiree brushed a manicured hand across her long blonde hair. Each one of her inch-long fingernails was painted pink and adorned with a tiny gold-glitter wineglass.
“It will have to be later, Desiree,” I said. “I’ve got a few things I need to take care of first.”
“What about the photographs? Do you want them now or can it wait till later when I win?” Desiree puckered her lips and batted her eyelashes. She placed her hands on her hips in an exaggerated pose.
I looked past her to Trina. I wanted to talk to her about Antonio
