Page 33 of The Maxwell Brothers

Just another day in the Maxwell family.

My family left about two hours later. Paisley and I spent the evening at the lake before turning in for the night.

The next day, I took her to one of the vineyards I owned around Chicago. It was an hour away, not far from where I’d grown up. Maxwell Wineries owned vineyards throughout the country, though there was no need for me to visit them all; I had some very fine vignerons who knew the production process, and we were in contact often.

I always enjoyed being out in the vineyards. They relaxed me, and Paisley loved it too. She considered it a road trip, so I brought her out here every few months.

When we arrived, there was no one working the vineyard because it was Sunday.

“Daddy, the grapes look good. They’re a bit small, though, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they are. They’re young like you, honey. Thankfully the storm the other night didn’t damage them.” That was another reason I’d suggested coming out here today. My crew assured me the storm didn’t do any harm, but I wanted to double-check. So far, everything looked good.

For some inexplicable reason, I thought Lexi might enjoy being here with us. I’d been thinking about her constantly since yesterday. Usually, being in a vineyard cleared my mind completely, but I couldn’t shake her.

Paisley walked slowly in front of me, stopping every few steps as we checked the grapes together. I envisioned the day when she would take over Maxwell Wineries, but I’d never tellher that. I didn’t want to burden her with any expectations or pressure. My dad always told us that we could do whatever we wanted, that he didn’t expect us to want to work at Maxwell Bookstores. Dad had stepped into his father’s shoes without having had a chance to figure out what he wanted. He didn’t want the same for us, and I respected him for it.

“Dad, can we come here during the harvest?” she asked once we sat down on a bench next to the vineyard’s entrance. Paisley was taking out one of the peanut butter sandwiches I’d put in her backpack.

“Sure. We’ll find a weekend.” Depending on the weather, the harvest could begin as early as the end of August. It typically started later, though, and ended mid-October.

My phone beeped with an incoming message while Paisley ate her sandwich. I instantly tensed when I noticed the sender.

Nora.

Nora: Not sure I’ll be able to take Paisley on vacation this year. Thought you’d want to know so you can prepare her. I MIGHT be able to, but there’s a possibility I’ll have to take a rain check.

I ground my teeth, not even bothering to reply. She was taking a rain check from Paisley’s whole life.

“What’s wrong, Daddy?” she asked, and I quickly schooled my features.

“Your mom says she might have too much work to go on vacation.” I said this in a gentle tone, keeping any accusations out of it.

Paisley was silent for a few seconds before saying, “At least she’s coming for my birthday.”

“Yes, she is.”

Paisley considered her birthday the most important day of the year, which might be because a few years ago it became the unofficial Yes-day. But birthday parties had always beenlegendary in my family growing up, and I liked continuing the tradition with my daughter.

She was suspiciously silent as she continued eating her sandwich.

“Paisley, everything okay?” I asked.

She looked up at me, frowning, as if carefully considering every word.

“Daddy, wouldn’t it be nice if a lady was here with us?”

I blinked, jerking my head back. That wasnotwhere I thought this conversation was going.

“Maybe.”

“I can find you a nice lady. The blonde one from the beach last year wasn’t too nice.”

I had no comeback for that. I’d always been careful to keep my dating life completely off my daughter’s radar, but last year she’d met one of my dates through a mishap. We’d all ended up on the same beach, and I’d introduced them. Elizabeth, my date, had spoken to Paisley as if she were three years old, and at the end of it told me kids weren’t really her thing. Obviously, I never called her back.

“You don’t have to find me anyone, Paisley.”

My thoughts went straight to Lexi.