Something in the Wine by Jae Page B

26, in the calendar. “So why aren’t you out shopping for a present? Why are you calling me?”
    Loud honking made Drew flinch away from the phone. “You’re blocking the road, idiot!” Jake shouted. “There are people here who want to get somewhere before sunset!” Then he lowered his voice and grumbled, “Damn tractor.”
    Drew rubbed her ear. “Jesus, Jake, can you give me a warning next time before you start shouting in my ear?”
    “Sorry,” Jake said. “About Annie’s present ... I thought I could give her a good bottle of wine or maybe one of the wine gift sets you sometimes put together for your customers.”
    “Hmm.” Drew scratched her head. “I’m not sure if a bottle of wine is the best present for Annie right now.”
    For a moment, only drum beats from Jake’s car radio filtered through the line. “Why not?”
    “Well, after the wine tasting last weekend ...” The memory of a buzzed Annie put a smile on Drew’s face.
    “You didn’t get her drunk, did you? Drew, I’m warning you. If you—”
    “Chill out, and give the big-brother act a rest. I never have to ply women with wine. You know that. They all come into my arms quite willingly.” She paused to give Jake’s imagination ample time to picture Annie in her arms.
    Jake barked out a laugh that didn’t sound totally convincing. “Not Annie.”
    “If you are so convinced about that, why are you getting so defensive?”
    “I’m not—”
    “Yeah, yeah.” Drew grinned. It seemed he was beginning to have some doubts. “So, back to the topic at hand. Do you really think wine is a great idea for your sister’s birthday?”
    “You’re a vintner. What’s wrong with wine as a present?”
    “Nothing—if you’re giving it to a colleague or an acquaintance you barely know. But for your sister ... isn’t it a little impersonal?”
    The tick-tick-tick of Jake’s turn signal echoed through the line. “Impersonal? I don’t think so. Annie likes wine.”
    “If you insist. What kind should I put in the gift set? Red? White?”
    Jake turned down the volume on his car radio. “Um. White?” It sounded like a question, not an answer. “Ah, you pick whatever you think is best.”
    “Okay.” She would put together a nice gift basket with two of her best bottles of Cabernet, a few snacks, a bubble bath, and other things that would help Annie relax after a long day at work. “When do you need it?”
    A car honked in front of the house. At the same time, Drew heard the sound through the phone. “Right now,” Jake said. “I just pulled in your driveway.”
    Drew tapped the phone against her forehead. “You’re something else, my friend. One of these days, you’ll pay the price for doing important things at the last minute.”
    “Hey, it’s not my fault. My parents were supposed to remind me to buy a birthday present, but they forgot.”
    Drew sighed. Annie’s parents were just as bad as Jake. Poor Annie. Then and there, Drew decided that she would get Annie something nice for her birthday. Something Annie would like, not just the next best thing that was convenient to get. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
    * * *
    After one last glance to make sure the flowers still looked good, Drew rang Annie’s doorbell and looked at her watch.
    Already half past five.
    Driving to San Luis Obispo to get Annie’s birthday present had taken up more time than she had expected. By now, Annie was probably out, celebrating her birthday.
    To Drew’s surprise, the door opened immediately.
    Annie stood in front of her, dressed in a burgundy blouse and elegant pants that emphasized her long legs.
    Drew had to swallow before she could speak. “Uh, hello, Annie. Happy birthday.” She held out the bouquet of apricot-colored roses.
    “Oh. Thank you.” Annie took the flowers and stared at Drew as if she didn’t know what to do with her or the flowers. “How do you know it’s my birthday today?”
    “Uh.” Drew didn’t want to lie to her, but