‘So,’ said Helena, ‘to get this straight: Angie came down to get a break from Alice, but Alice decided to come down to give her a break, and now they’ve ended up together again?’

‘Yep,’ said Bette.

They were in the tasting room, waiting for Dani. Helena was in her customary off-day costume of sleeveless white blouse with khaki combat shorts and Timberland boots.

‘How are they?’

‘Oh, I have no idea. Alice goes between complaining about the smell and panicking because she thinks the dog’s gonna get carried off by a hawk, and Angie’s holed up in her room.’

‘Yikes.’

Bette’s zapper went off. Part of Karolina’s order for herbs and produce from the hydroponicum for making purees, oils and gels later in the week. Tina would pick that up.

‘How’s your mother?’ Bette asked.

‘As ever.’ Helena glanced about, as if Peggy might be eavesdropping. ‘She’s drinking more since Marilyn passed, but I daren’t mention it. Last time I did, she said, “That’s like Pablo Escobar tut-tutting in a crack den.”’

Bette laughed at Peggy’s wit, even though the analogy was undercut by Concetta’s low- and no-alcohol wines.

‘What if we matchmake Alice with her for the day?’ Helena said, perking up. ‘She’s got beauticians coming, I’m sure they can fit another one in.’

‘You getting spruced up?’

‘Oh, I think we all are, darling.’

***

Angie lay on her bed in tee-shirt and underwear, watching the sun gain intensity through a row of clerestory windows. It was bright and hot, always hot, here – except when it was cold. Diurnal variation was extreme if you got marine inflow through the Rainbow Gap. Temperature could drop fifteen degrees in an hour. Breakfast you’re outside in a swimsuit, lunch you’re indoors in a fleece.

She lifted her tee-shirt away from her stomach. A shower might be a thing. And her room had an en suite, so she wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. 

She closed her eyes. 

Last night, when she saw Alice, she wanted to get right back in the car. That would’ve made total sense: the reason she’d fled LA turns up at the vineyard, so she flees the vineyard. But as the evening went on, she remembered her aunt Kit saying that you have to love people even harder when they’re struggling.