Chapter 4 - what was once holy water

The AWA coming to the vineyard was Beth's only concern for the next several days.  She was making lists and checking them twice, double checking that everything was done and done to her liking.
  

The grounds were perfectly manicured and the place was postcard perfect. All she needed to do was hang the pictures that she had framed in all the guest rooms.  A few years back Jon took a picture of the river one night when they were out taking a walk.  She remembers that day just like it was yesterday.  They were hand in hand and they were very happy.  She was pregnant with the twins.  Romeo and Jacob were with them, Cooper running lose.  It was a perfect night with her perfect man and 2 of her perfect future step children.  She looks at the picture and mumbles, "Never thought it would end up this way." and she shakes her head.  With a nail in her mouth she picks the spot in the 1st room and hangs the picture.  Stepping back she looks at it and gives it the accepting nod and moves onto the next room.  As she's hanging the pictures, she's in the honeymoon suite when she hears, "Excuse me?"  She turns around and can't believe who she's looking at.  She puts the picture on the sofa and walks toward her guests.

"Oh my God, how are you?" and she hugs Brian's mom.  "What are you doing here?"  

"Hello dear.  How are you?" Brian's mom hugs her back.  When Beth has the chance she hugs Brains dad and asks him how he is.  Both are great.  Brian's mom finally tells Beth, "We heard you were back out here, and when we seen that the AWA's were going to be here, we thought we would come check it out, come check on you."

"I'm super excited about the awards.  And check on me, what do you mean?" Beth smiles her half smile, "I'm good, really good."  She motions for them to sit and they do.

"We've been following you and we heard all that you've been through Beth Ann.  We are so sorry for your losses and all of the heartache you have endured; far more than anyone should have in a lifetime."  Brian's mom reaches over and pats her hand, "I wanted to reach out to you, but I didn't want to intrude."

"I wish you would have." Beth smiles again, truly wishing his parents would have reached out, but Beth could have too.

"How are you doing, considering?" Brian's dad asks her, "The newspapers were none too kind and we heard that crazy woman may get out of prison?"

Beth nods, "Yeah, they feel she's rehabilitated and think she should be set free.  There's a hearing for her next week that I will attend.  I just need to get the through this weekend first." She tries to smile, but the thought of seeing Melissa again made her stomach turn and her heart race.

"Have you and Jon stayed in contact, dear?  He really loves you." Brian's mom felt she needed to say that, even if it might have been a sore spot for Beth.

Beth gets up and tries to use up some of the nervous energy, with her sleeve on her shirt, she wipes some dust off the credenza and says, "We spent some time together a couple of weeks ago, but since then I've only talked to him once."  Beth has always been able to tell Brian's parents anything and now it isn't any different except she feels like she telling them, feeling like she's cheated on Brian.  She knows he's dead and never coming back, but talking about Jon to his parents didn't feel right.

"How is he?"

"He's good.  Busy with kids and work, but good." She replies quickly.  Really having no idea what he's been up to.  She certain that it's kids and music though.

"Will you see him next week?" Beth is starting to get a little irritated by the Jon questions.  Brian's parents have always and will have a place in her heart, but the Jon questions were starting to feel intrusive.

Standing above them, she asks, "Did you guys check in or do you need a room yet?"

"We are already checked in." Mom replies.

"Did you eat?  The lobster is delicious, but so are the buffalo wings" Beth laughs at the broad spectrum of the foods she stated, although it was true.  When she took the vineyard over, she made it family friendly.  And in doing that, she needed to add kid friendly food.

Brian's dad stands up and says, "We need to eat, service on the plane was terrible.  I knew we should have eaten in Chicago."  He reaches for his wife's hand, "we can see you're busy, we'll let you get back to what you're doing."

They both give her a hug and exit the room, leaving Beth a little baffled but thrilled she seen two people that meant the world to her, back in the day.  Back in the day before all of her loss and heartbreak.

Beth gets back to her task at hand with a smile on her face.  She was so surprised to see Brian's parents, she chalks it up to a great moment and holds it close to her heart.  She hangs up the pictures that she had left in her hands and when she's finished, she heads to the house to get cleaned up for dinner.  

In the dining room, she works the room and greets all guests, making it a point to be nice to everyone and to say thank you.  She knows how important face time can be in a service related industry and she wanted everyone to feel welcome.  She ends her hellos at Brian's parents table and joins them for dinner.  Two hours and two bottles on Bongiovi later, she makes her way home and calls it a night.

She went to bed knowing that her vineyard is ready for the awards and she had a fabulous dinner with old friends.  She can see life leaning more towards normal and she likes the view.