Excerpt: Heartbreak Hotel

Art and Vi rendezvoused as planned and headed out on their bikes for the local wineries. They pedaled along and chatted amicably as they rode. At the first winery, they parked and entered the dark, yeasty smelling tasting room building. As they swirled and swallowed they continued the easy conversation of their ride. Vi’s independence and intellect was fast drawing Art to her. She too felt a draw; she loved the intrigue of Art’s vocation, and felt attracted to him. The two biking wine drinkers ended their day walking their bikes back to the Heartbreak Hotel, as the tastings, even in their small quantities, still added up. They had promised to be back for dinner, so they had tried to save their appetites, which only intensified the effects of the wine’s alcohol content. The new couple staggered up the stairs intending to nap briefly before dinner, but at Vi’s door, the two of them walked in, and fell in an embrace on “Georgia’s” bed. They emerged an hour later, showered and refreshed, unable to keep their Cheshire cat grins to themselves. Their table mates tried to appear nonchalant, but failed. The entire group burst out laughing and as the laughter subsided, Lonny raised a toast to the Heartbreak Hotel, to which they all responded “Here, here!”