Michelle Major - A Stonecreek Christmas Reunion

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Griffin stalked into O’Malley’s Tavern after finally ditching Christian Milken. The man might run one of the hottest app-development companies in the industry, but he seemed like a total tool to Griffin. His distaste had plenty to do with Milken’s obvious infatuation with Maggie.

Griffin had come to the Winter Wonderland festival under the pretense of checking on the Harvest wine donation, but he’d also hoped to see Maggie. His life might be an unholy mess at the moment, but he wasn’t ready to give up on her. He understood the way he’d left had hurt her, and he wasn’t ready to talk to her about Joey, but he’d returned to Stonecreek and planned to stay. Now he just needed Maggie to let him back into her life.

Granted, she wasn’t aware of either of those revelations yet. In fact, Griffin had just made the commitment to himself earlier in the day. It was walking the fields with Joey that had done it. The boy had been fascinated by the rows of vines, reaching out to touch the curving stalks and listening intently as Griffin explained the growing cycle of the grapes. As his mother noted, the boy’s interest had reminded Griffin of himself when he was a kid. No matter what had been going on in his life and how bad things had gotten with his dad, he’d always found solace in the fields.

He understood that Joey’s grief from the loss of his mother couldn’t be easily overcome, but he believed with his whole heart that being in Stonecreek would be a help rather than a hindrance to the boy’s healing.

As it had become for Griffin.

Maggie and her unfailing dedication to the community were a big part of what had helped him feel connected to the town again. She had every right not to trust him, but he was bound and determined to convince her he deserved another chance. He’d be the kind of man who deserved her.

Even if that meant helping to convince that far-too-slick-for-Griffin’s-taste CEO to relocate his company there.

After just a few minutes in the guy’s presence, Griffin needed a beer. He’d texted his mom and she’d confirmed Joey was sound asleep. One quick drink before heading back couldn’t hurt.

He waved to Chuck, the bartender and longtime owner of the pub then slid onto one of the wooden stools in front of the bar.

“Fancy meeting you here,” a familiar voice said, and Griffin suppressed a groan as he turned to see his brother, Trevor, in one of the booths that ran along the wall next to the bar.

“I called you earlier,” Griffin answered, slapping down a crisp bill on the bar when Chuck placed a beer in front of him.

“You two plan to meet up like this?” the bar owner asked with a knowing wink.

“Lucky coincidence,” Griffin muttered.

So much for a few minutes to unwind. He picked up the beer and moved to the booth, slipping in across from Trevor.

“To Christmas in Stonecreek,” his brother said, raising a glass of amber liquid for a toast.

“I thought you only drank wine,” Griffin told him.

“I’m making an exception for the holidays.” He lifted his glass and drained it. “One more, barkeep,” he shouted.

“Fine,” Chuck called back. “But I’m cutting you off after that.”

“I can walk home from here,” Trevor protested.

“Understood, but your mom will kill me if you end up sleeping on the sidewalk. I’m not convinced you won’t pass out on the way home.”

“I’ll make sure he gets there safely,” Griffin said, looking back toward the bar owner.

Trevor gave a loud chuckle. “That’s right. My big brother has my back. Ask anyone.” His bleary gaze settled on Griffin. “Like Maggie.”

“I thought we were past that.” Griffin adjusted his ball cap then took a long drink of beer.

“Me too.” Trevor shrugged. “You left again, and it hurt her.”

“That’s my problem,” Griffin said through clenched teeth.

“It’s not right,” Trevor continued as if Griffin hadn’t spoken. “You get to come and go whenever the mood suits you.”

“It wasn’t like that. Not this time or when I left years ago. You know that.”

“Do I?” Trevor flashed a grateful smile at the waitress who set his drink on the table. “Thanks, sweetheart.”

“I’m off in an hour,” the young blonde told him with a subtle wink. “If you need an escort home, I’m happy to oblige.”

“Much appreciated,” Trevor told her. “But this night is all about brotherly love.”

The woman made a face.

“Not that kind of love,” Griffin clarified. “He’s too drunk to make any sense.”

“I make perfect sense,” Trevor countered. “You just don’t want to hear the truth.” He leaned forward across the table. “You can’t handle the truth,” he said, doing a really pathetic Jack Nicholson impression.

The waitress laughed then turned away.

“What the hell is going on with you?” Griffin demanded. “You never drink like this.”

“I got offered a job today,” Trevor blurted then sucked in a breath. He lifted the glass then set it down again. “I turned it down.”

“What kind of job?”

“Marketing director for Calico Winery.”

Griffin whistled softly. “That’s huge, Trev. Calico is the biggest and the best when it comes to Sonoma vineyards.”

“Don’t remind me,” his brother whispered.

“You didn’t even consider taking the job?”

“How could I when I’m going to have so much fun working for you?” Trevor held out his hands. “You can take off for over a decade, show up for a few months then disappear again and still...” He pointed an angry finger at Griffin. “Still Mom and Marcus want you to take the helm. I’ve been here toiling away, trying to make a name for Harvest and no one even gives a rip.”

“That’s not true.”

“I have plans for the vineyard,” Trevor continued. “Plans to make us the biggest organic-certified producer in the Oregon wine industry. All I get is pushback for any idea I bring forward.”

Griffin dragged a hand along his jaw, unsure of the best way to have this conversation with his brother, especially in Trevor’s current state. They’d never been exactly close, not with their father’s affection and approval so clearly favoring Trevor.

Dave Stone hadn’t done either of his boys any favors with his preferential treatment of his younger son. Instead, he’d subtly pitted one brother against the other. Griffin had loved the vines, but Trevor had been the company’s heir apparent.

Now that things were changing, Griffin understood it was a difficult pill to swallow. He also appreciated Trevor’s dilemma. As angry as Griffin had been when his dad had all but kicked him out of their lives, it ultimately had been something of a blessing. He’d had a few years to make his own way in the world. He’d joined the army and then worked in construction around much of the Pacific Northwest. When he finally made his way back to Stonecreek, despite his varying emotions about this place, he knew in his heart the choice to stay would be his.

Trevor never had that choice.

“Maybe your plans are bigger than what Harvest can hold,” he suggested quietly.

“Because you want to get rid of me?” Trevor’s lip curled into an angry sneer.

“Because I want you to be happy.”

Trevor’s head snapped back like Griffin had punched him. “Why do you think Dad acted the way he did with the two of us?” he asked after a long moment.

Griffin sighed. He’d only recently learned the whole truth around the start of their parents’ marriage. “Mom got pregnant with me to trap him into marrying her.” It pained him to say the words, both because of the shadow it cast over his mother’s character and what it said about how wanted he’d been as a baby. Which was not very much, at least by his dad.