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“Oh,” Maddy said, surprised by the disappointment that washed over her at his words. Why do you care, Maddy? the voice in her head asked. Well, I don’t, she told herself. He can do whatever he wants. “See you later, then,” she said, her voice purposefully airy.

“Do you want a ride back? The bugs are getting pretty nasty out here.” He didn’t wait for her response as he reached for her bike.

“Oh, sure. Thanks.” She watched his strong arms lift the bike onto the truck bed as she climbed into the passenger seat. The ride was short, and neither of them spoke much. But the quiet between them wasn’t awkward. In fact, as Maddy leaned against the worn seat, she realized she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this at ease.

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After they pulled up to the house, Maddy stood on the porch steps as David retrieved her bike from the back of the truck. He revved the engine, waving as he drove off down the driveway. Not that Maddy wanted him to stay longer. She was much too good a girl for that.

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Chapter Twelve

!

Mouth agape, Maddy stared up at the Robertsons’

concrete and glass house in front of her. “What is this place? A huge sculpture?” she whispered to her mother, who was examining the twenty-foot steel-beamed ceiling.

“A lot of the vineyards up here are doing an ultramodern thing,” her mother whispered back. “I feel like I’m inside a Picasso.” They wandered up the remainder of the stone path to the house, with Dad following behind. All around them, little knots of well-dressed wine lovers stood chatting, long-stemmed glasses in hand, or strolled through the fields, inspecting the fruit and vine leaves. A buzz of conversation rose above the murmur of the evening wind in the treetops 103

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and mixed with the heavy scent of grapes that hung in the air.

For a nice change, Maddy was feeling a

Maddy narrowed her eyes. “Hi, Rain,” she said deliberately. She was pleased to see the girl blush a little. She should, after the porch incident. But Maddy’s fleeting sense of triumph faded fast.

“Hi,” Rain said smoothly, tossing her hair over one shoulder. She met Maddy’s gaze coolly and confidently, with no hint of embarrassment.

Maddy gritted her teeth. Her mom tapped her shoulder. “Daddy and I are going to say hi to the Robertsons,”

she said. “We’ll see you inside.” They strolled away, hand in hand.

Thanks a lot, Mom, Maddy thought as silence descended. She was stranded. Walking away now would make her look like a complete doofus. “How’s it going?” she asked in her frostiest voice, pretending to inspect the red flowers on a tree next to her. Really, though, she was eyeing Rain’s outfit. Once again, she’d 104

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gone with the outdoorsy look: sage green cotton sundress, thin leather flip-flops, and a simple silver bangle on one wrist. Her hair was done in two loose, tousled braids. Maddy fidgeted with the tie of her own black jersey wrap dress. It had seemed so elegant when she put it on an hour ago, but now it felt stuffy next to Rain’s earth-girl freshness.

“Great!” Rain said aggressively. More silence, which was broken by the sound of a woman calling from the house.

“Di

Laughing and talking, guests began streaming up the path in twos and threes, clutching their glasses, the women picking their way carefully in high heels. Rain turned with a huff and flounced toward the house. Maddy tried to look nonchalant as she followed, attempting to squash the miserable anger welling up inside her.

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complaining. Dad had already said the shed looked even better than he had thought it would. They had to let her go to the city. Her a

Her mom looked up from her steak. She smiled fondly at her daughter. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“Well, I was thinking about my birthday. . . .” Mom looked at Dad and set down her fork. Maddy rushed ahead. “And you know how I had mentioned maybe I could go down to the city for a couple of days? Or just overnight?” she added hastily, seeing her mother open her mouth as if to object. “I mean, you know, since the tasting room is looking so good—right, Dad? A couple of days off wouldn’t hurt.”

Maddy’s mother sighed and set her plate on the glass table in front of her. She looked at her husband. He chewed thoughtfully. “Maddy, you know it’s not about the work up here,” he said. “You’ve done a wonderful job so far—your mother and I have been very impressed. But of course, we’re concerned about what happened before. You know that’s why we’re reluctant to let you go to the city.”

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was stupid to throw that party—I totally admit it! But how long are you going to punish me for it? Haven’t I shown you I can be responsible?” Her voice rose. A couple sitting a few feet away looked around curiously, but Maddy was too upset to care.

Her dad shook his head. “Maddy, it’s not just the party. We have to wonder what other rules you’d disregard if we were to let you go back there alone. It’s time for you to show us that you understand what it means to be a part of this family. We know you miss Brian and Morgan and Kirsten, but your mom and I think it would best if you had just a small, family celebration for your birthday this year. We can do something low-key—maybe go into town for di

Maddy could feel her face getting red. “Di

Maddy leaped up from the bench, almost knocking the glass table over in the process. Ignoring the wideeyed stares of the people around her, she fled into the 107

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house, angry tears starting in her eyes. She looked wildly around for a bathroom and spotted it through a halfopen door. She darted in, turning the lock behind her, and stared furiously into the mirror. Her face, red and blotchy, stared back at her. They’re holding me prisoner here, she thought. Who knew what this would do to her relationship with Brian? He wasn’t going to be happy about it, that was for sure. He was probably going to forget about her, stuck up here in this pit! Maddy sat down on the closed toilet seat and reached for a tissue. She was going to lose her boyfriend over her parents’ stupid vineyard, and it was all their fault. She couldn’t spend all evening in the bathroom, so after a few minutes, Maddy splashed some cold water on her face and dried it with a soft blue hand towel. Gazing at her reflection again, she took deep breaths to get her heart rate under control. She rubbed on a little lip gloss and combed her hair. There. Now at least she didn’t look hysterical.