Chloe woke up earlier than usual.
Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling for a long while before slowly raising her left hand. The morning sunlight streaming through the window slid in a thin line across the white gold ring on her ring finger.
“It’s real.”
She murmured softly, and a faint laugh slipped out. It wasn’t that yesterday’s events were confusing, whether they were a dream or reality. It was so real that it instead felt unreal.
On the nightstand beside the bed sat the ring box Brian had placed on her finger yesterday, exactly as she had left it. Next to it was the case for the second ring she had bought, and the sight of the two empty boxes sitting side by side pleased her in a strange way. Though she was the one who had purchased it, the very fact that he had slipped it onto her finger made who bought it completely unimportant.
After her shower, she stood before the mirror. As usual, she started to tie her hair back roughly and put on a cap, but she paused. For some reason, today she wanted to take more care brushing her hair.
When she went downstairs, her mother was sitting at the dining table. Amelia was holding a mug in one hand and looking at a tablet; when Chloe entered, she turned only her head to look at her daughter.
“You woke up a bit late today?”
Ever since she had taken over Roddy’s farm on her own and planted pear saplings, Chloe had never woken up after six o’clock. Farming had to begin at dawn, after all.
So waking up when the morning sunlight had fully flooded the house was certainly different from usual.
“Yeah. I got in late last night.” “Even when you come in late, you’re always up before dawn. Want some coffee?” “Yeah. Thanks, Mom.”
Chloe naturally sat down at the dining table and placed both hands on top of it. She hadn’t done it with any particular intention, but she left them just as they were.
Amelia stopped in her tracks in front of the table as she brought the mug over. Blinking, she stared at her daughter’s hand.
“Oh my!”
The mug clinked against the table with a sharp sound. Fortunately, it didn’t break.
“Oh my! Oh my, oh my, oh my! You… that…!”
“Mom, calm down.”
She waved her hand to tell her to calm down, but Chloe’s expression was already full of smugness. And since the hand she was waving was the one wearing the ring, the sparkle drew even more attention.
“How can I calm down right now?! Wait, wait! Honey! Honey, come here quickly!”
Amelia shouted toward the living room.
“Geez, what a fuss…”
Not that she looked the least bit annoyed.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Frederick, who had been getting ready to leave for work, came in from the garage. He wore a well-ironed dress shirt and beige trousers, with his favorite watch glinting on his wrist. He had been holding a car key in one hand, but Amelia practically dragged him toward the dining table.
“Look at this! Look at this!”
“What? What am I looking at?”
“Chloe’s hand!”
Frederick looked at his daughter’s hand for a long moment, then slowly set the car key down on the table. Even as he pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze remained fixed on the ring.
“You rascal… when did you get that?”
Though he hadn’t said anything all this time, it seemed he had been just as anxious inwardly, because an unmistakable smile settled at the corners of his mouth.
“Last night. But actually, rather than receiving it, I was the one who did it first.” “What?”
Frederick’s eyes went wide. Beside him, Amelia, who had been making a fuss, also froze.
“You made the first move?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know how long I’d have to wait if I just kept waiting around, so I bought a ring and prepared to do it myself. But guess what—Brian had bought a watch in Hong Kong. He was preparing to propose to me too, but he couldn’t buy a ring because he didn’t know my size.”
“Ah…”
“Ah…”
Chloe burst into a chuckle seeing the relief on her parents’ faces.
“What were you so worried about? And anyone can say it first if they want to, right?”
“That’s true, but… so did you pick out the ring?”
Since the result was good either way, Amelia turned her attention back to the ring and began fussing over it again.
“Yeah, isn’t it pretty?”
“It’s so~ pretty! You certainly have an eye for these things. Wait, let me take a picture. Hold your hand right there for a second.”
“What a bother…”
Amelia took out her phone. Chloe made an annoyed expression but relented, keeping her hand still on the table and flashing a bright smile at the camera. It was the kind of smile that meant big trouble if she had refused the photo.
“One more, one more. This time, make sure the ring shows.”
Just then, footsteps sounded from upstairs, and Brandon came down with a face that showed he hadn’t fully woken up. His hair was flattened to one side, unmistakably the look of someone who had just risen from sleeping in.
“What, why aren’t you guys going to work?”
Brandon grabbed a cereal bowl and spoke nonchalantly. Then, perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere at the table, he raised his head.
“Why?”
“Chloe says she’s getting married.”
When Frederick answered with a pleased expression, Brandon, as expected, showed no interest and merely shrugged.
“Really?”
Brandon had been pouring cereal into his bowl and speaking indifferently, but he soon stopped pouring the milk and turned his head.
“It’s Brian, right?”
“Of course!”
Chloe answered with a scowl, and Brandon, as if he had known all along, nonchalantly began eating his cereal.
“Then what’s the big deal? It was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn’t it? Rather than that, could you ask Brian if Redwood Holdings’ wine distribution might include our Fredericks Harvest too? I saw him exporting to Japan, so I bet it’d do pretty well in Korea too?”
Brandon had no interest in his younger sister’s wedding and was entirely focused on selling almond milk. Chloe was dumbfounded, but she felt it was truly just like him. If he had hugged her and cheered to congratulate her, that would have been even more awkward.
“If he does that much for you, shouldn’t you be growing your own company?”
“I know. That’s why I said to just ask, not that it’s a request.”
“Hmph!”
Chloe snorted at Brandon’s shameless attitude, and Amelia, whose interest in the wedding was immense, asked again.
“But when is the ceremony?”
“After the harvest. We’re thinking around December. We’ll have a bit more free time then.”
Frederick, who knew the state of the farm well, nodded.
“True, by then the wine shipments will be more or less finished, and you’ll have some breathing room.”
It was true that the vineyards, cherry orchards, and pear farms all needed winter preparations, but the level of busyness couldn’t compare to harvest season. Moreover, both Brian and his daughter had now reached the level of corporate farming, so they could have staff handle most ordinary tasks. It was a suitable time to hold a wedding and go on a honeymoon.
Amelia asked again.
“Where are you getting the dress fitted? What about the venue? Brian will have relatives in Korea too—should we inform them?”
“I haven’t heard anything about that.”
“If not, it’s easier for us. Anyway, we have to brag to the whole neighborhood that our daughter is getting married…”
“Mom, this is just the beginning. We can take it slow.”
“Take it slow, my foot! If it’s December, there’s only six months left! Don’t you know it takes two months just to get a dress fitted?”
“…Does it really take that long?”
“It does! I can’t just sit around like this. Make some time and let’s plan this out together. You, go to work now.”
At his wife’s dismissal now that everything had been said, Frederick laughed as if dumbfounded and went out. He knew that even if he stayed, he wouldn’t be of any help.
At that moment, at Redwood Winery.
I had come to the office earlier than usual. I hadn’t been able to fall asleep until late last night and had finally drifted off at dawn, yet it was strange that I had woken up earlier than normal. I had expected to be tired, but instead my head felt clear.
I touched the ring on my finger once. They had said it would be a thickness that wouldn’t get in the way of work, and it really was. I was still curious how Chloe had known, but I decided not to ask.
The office door opened and Warren came in. As usual, he held a freshly poured coffee in one hand.
“You’re here early?”
“Yes, I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why? You didn’t even drink yesterday.”
Warren sat down at his desk and took a sip of coffee. Then, over his glasses, he stole a glance at my hand.
“Aha!”
“So my sharp eyes are still alive and kicking. Yesterday, when Chloe came to pick you up, I had a feeling something was going on. You both had such strange expressions.”
I suppose this is why they say you shouldn’t ignore an old man’s experience.
“You noticed?”
“Don’t you know how quick I am to catch on? That’s why I stepped aside appropriately. An old man hanging around would have killed the mood.”
I distinctly remembered that at first he hadn’t caught on and had kept making conversation, but I decided not to bring that up. After all, I was grateful that he had realized and stepped away later on.
“Thank you.” “No need for such formal thanks. So when are you doing it?”
“We’re thinking around December, after the harvest.”
For a moment, Warren’s brow furrowed slightly.
“In December, the first vintage fermentation at Castello will be nearly finished. Will it be alright for you to step away during the finishing stages?”
“We’ll have the initial fermentation curve mapped out by the end of August. And Marcus will execute it.”
“Marcus…? Will that be alright?”
“Yes. This winemaking isn’t something one person can pull through from start to finish anyway. If I try to handle everything myself, it’s hard for Marcus to grow too…”
At my mention of growth, Warren made an absurd expression.
“Isn’t Marcus pushing fifty? And you’re talking about growth?”
“Come on, you came to our winery to learn more too, sir.”
Perhaps left speechless by my words, Warren nodded.
“There’s a point there. Then I’ll keep an eye on things.”
“Thank you. And I won’t be away for long. I’ll just be gone for the wedding and the honeymoon; I won’t be absent for the entire fermentation process. And thinking about it… the first vintage of Castello will become the vintage of the year I’m getting married. I think that carries meaning in itself.”
At my words, a smile slowly spread across Warren’s face.
“Haha, that is indeed something. You said it’s not your wine, but the wine of this land, didn’t you? Then the fact that the greatest event of your life happened that year will be engraved in the wine.”
“That’s right.”
“Good. Let’s aim for December. But don’t make the honeymoon too long. If variables arise during the fermentation finishing stage, the problem could become significant.”
“Yes. I’m thinking a week at most.”
Warren nodded in satisfaction and drank his coffee. I also sat down and began sorting through the documents piled on the desk. Additional Castello soil analysis data, progress reports on the Margaux clone quarantine inspection, and underground winery construction progress reports.
As I spent time immersed in work, there was a knock at the office door. Leo, the intern winemaker, poked his head in.
“Boss, Chloe is here.”
“Huh? Already?”
“Yes. She’s parked at the entrance.”
Watching me get up from my seat, Warren grinned.
“Go on. I doubt work will hold your attention today.” “That’s not true.” “Liar.”
Warren waved his hand and pretended to focus on his work again. I left the office.
Chloe was standing on the terrace. It was almost lunchtime, so she had arrived just in time.
“Did you tell Mom?”
“Not yet. Didn’t you say you wanted to tell her yourself?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
I took her straight to my parents’ house. It was about a twenty-minute drive from the winery to my family home.
The moment I rang the doorbell, the door swung open. My mother stood there in an apron; it seemed she had been busy preparing upon hearing we were coming for lunch.
“Welcome! Welcome, Chloe! I’ve laid out lots of food.”
Inside, a full spread of Korean food was laid out on the table. Braised short ribs, japchae, bulgogi, and all the other dishes Chloe had said were delicious.
“But why are you two here so suddenly today? Just to eat lunch?”
My mother asked with wide eyes, and before I could even open my mouth, Chloe broke into a bright smile and spoke first.
“We’re getting married.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes! We’re even wearing rings.”
My mother covered her mouth, looked at the rings on Chloe’s and my hands, and soon her eyes grew teary.
“You did well… so well. I wondered when you’d get married, and here we are.”
My mother, who looked like she might burst into tears at any moment, took Chloe’s and my hands and continued.
“You two rely on each other and live well for the rest of your lives. Alright?”
I simply nodded silently, and Chloe, perhaps moved, pouted her lips.
“I will.”
“I can’t believe such a pretty young lady is marrying my son. Pretty, kind, hardworking… I’m grateful for all of it.”
“I’m the one who’s more grateful, for welcoming me so warmly.”
“Let’s be happy together?”
“Yes.”
We talked like that for a long while before we finally had to eat the food that had gone cold. But that cold food couldn’t have tasted better.