wasn’t very good at small talk,”
“Well normally I can keep up a witty repartee but I’ve just been wondering what kind of reception I would get from Montgomery,” Carter said.
“You’ve had some run-ins in the past?” Lexi asked.
“You could say that.” He’s been trying to buy my land for years and I basically told him to get off my property and never come back.”
“Hmm, well you are my guest so if you are not welcome we will just leave,” Lexi said.
It was about twenty past seven when they arrived at the Montgomery Winery and there were already a lot of cars parked in the lot adjacent to the main house. It was clear this was where the party was being held. Carter parked and came around and opened the door for Lexi, taking her hand as she got out of the car. The two walked up to the entry of the house where several people were still making their way in. Geoff Montgomery and a woman that Lexi thought might be his wife were greeting people as they came in.
“So much for sneaking in,” Lexi whispered to Carter.
“Be brave,” he said. “You’ll be fine.”
“Well good evening,” Montgomery said as the pair approached. “I wasn’t sure that you would come, Lexi.” Then to the woman on his right, “Dear, this is Lexi Thomas, Max’s niece and Carter Munroe. Good to see you Carter.”
“Thank you,” Carter said.
“It’s nice to meet you Lexi, I’d have known you anywhere by those dimples,” the woman said, she was tall and slender with auburn hair that skimmed her shoulders. “I am Grace Cummings Montgomery. I knew your mother.”
“Really,” Lexi said.
“Yes, she and I were school chums but sadly I hadn’t seen her in years. I was very sorry to hear about the accident.”
“Did you know my father also?”
“Not really. He was older and years ahead in school.”
“Please come in and enjoy yourselves,” Montgomery said, interrupting.
“Of course,” Then to Mrs. Montgomery she said. “I would love to get together with you and hear about my mother. Would that be possible?”
“Yes, of course dear,” she said. “You must come for tea one day. In the meantime, please go on in and enjoy yourselves and please eat. We have enough food for a small country.”
The two walked through the large foyer and into a massive great room. There was a quite a crowd. Waiters were moving through the room with glasses of wine on trays and there was quite a line forming at a large buffet table in the dining room area. Lexi and Carter each took a glass of wine as a waiter passed by and he was followed closely by another waiter with hors d’oeuvres.
“She wasn’t kidding about the food,” Carter said. But let’s explore first.”
The pair made their way across the room and out one of the three sets of French doors onto a terrace. There was a magnificent view of the valley and the vineyards and they could see that many of the rooms in the house opened onto this same terrace. Down a few steps was a large swimming pool surrounded by lounges and tables with umbrellas. They walked a little farther along the terrace pretending to enjoy the view while trying to get close enough to see in the rooms.
“Can’t really see much,” Lexi said.
“Let’s go and get some food,” Carter said.
“Good idea,” she said. “I’m starved.”
They got in the line for the buffet table. There was something for everyone. Salad upon salad and vegetables lined the centre of the table then roasted chickens and a massive roast beef and ham were being carved at the other end. The two filled their plates and then tried to find a place to sit. They ended up going out onto the terrace again and sat at one of the tables by the pool. Several people must have thought that a good idea because it wasn’t long before they had company. Lexi excused herself to go and find a washroom.
She went through the great room and out into the foyer where she passed a waiter whom she asked for directions. The powder room was
“Well normally I can keep up a witty repartee but I’ve just been wondering what kind of reception I would get from Montgomery,” Carter said.
“You’ve had some run-ins in the past?” Lexi asked.
“You could say that.” He’s been trying to buy my land for years and I basically told him to get off my property and never come back.”
“Hmm, well you are my guest so if you are not welcome we will just leave,” Lexi said.
It was about twenty past seven when they arrived at the Montgomery Winery and there were already a lot of cars parked in the lot adjacent to the main house. It was clear this was where the party was being held. Carter parked and came around and opened the door for Lexi, taking her hand as she got out of the car. The two walked up to the entry of the house where several people were still making their way in. Geoff Montgomery and a woman that Lexi thought might be his wife were greeting people as they came in.
“So much for sneaking in,” Lexi whispered to Carter.
“Be brave,” he said. “You’ll be fine.”
“Well good evening,” Montgomery said as the pair approached. “I wasn’t sure that you would come, Lexi.” Then to the woman on his right, “Dear, this is Lexi Thomas, Max’s niece and Carter Munroe. Good to see you Carter.”
“Thank you,” Carter said.
“It’s nice to meet you Lexi, I’d have known you anywhere by those dimples,” the woman said, she was tall and slender with auburn hair that skimmed her shoulders. “I am Grace Cummings Montgomery. I knew your mother.”
“Really,” Lexi said.
“Yes, she and I were school chums but sadly I hadn’t seen her in years. I was very sorry to hear about the accident.”
“Did you know my father also?”
“Not really. He was older and years ahead in school.”
“Please come in and enjoy yourselves,” Montgomery said, interrupting.
“Of course,” Then to Mrs. Montgomery she said. “I would love to get together with you and hear about my mother. Would that be possible?”
“Yes, of course dear,” she said. “You must come for tea one day. In the meantime, please go on in and enjoy yourselves and please eat. We have enough food for a small country.”
The two walked through the large foyer and into a massive great room. There was a quite a crowd. Waiters were moving through the room with glasses of wine on trays and there was quite a line forming at a large buffet table in the dining room area. Lexi and Carter each took a glass of wine as a waiter passed by and he was followed closely by another waiter with hors d’oeuvres.
“She wasn’t kidding about the food,” Carter said. But let’s explore first.”
The pair made their way across the room and out one of the three sets of French doors onto a terrace. There was a magnificent view of the valley and the vineyards and they could see that many of the rooms in the house opened onto this same terrace. Down a few steps was a large swimming pool surrounded by lounges and tables with umbrellas. They walked a little farther along the terrace pretending to enjoy the view while trying to get close enough to see in the rooms.
“Can’t really see much,” Lexi said.
“Let’s go and get some food,” Carter said.
“Good idea,” she said. “I’m starved.”
They got in the line for the buffet table. There was something for everyone. Salad upon salad and vegetables lined the centre of the table then roasted chickens and a massive roast beef and ham were being carved at the other end. The two filled their plates and then tried to find a place to sit. They ended up going out onto the terrace again and sat at one of the tables by the pool. Several people must have thought that a good idea because it wasn’t long before they had company. Lexi excused herself to go and find a washroom.
She went through the great room and out into the foyer where she passed a waiter whom she asked for directions. The powder room was
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