Pink and orange ribbons threaded their way across the morning sky, washing it in glorious color. Everything was fresh and new, giving Luna the hope that things might turn out okay, despite her deception. Luna reached for her mug and took an appreciative sip of spicy orange herbal tea as she settled back in her seat. Her lightweight jacket was perfect for this time of the morning. Judging from the cool breeze that kissed her cheeks, Luna guessed the current temperature to be in the low fifties. By midday, it would rise to the upper eighties. While the residents of Sonoma considered that to be sweltering, Luna found the arid heat pleasant, as opposed to the suffocating humidity of Alabama in August.
Her gaze soaked in the gently sloping hills, graced with neat, tidy rows of grapevines, stretching as far as the eye could see. She was too far away to see the clusters of plump red and green grapes that loaded the vines. Harvest time was fast approaching. According to Todd Giles, the founder and owner of the vineyard, the perfect time for picking the grapes would be next Tuesday, starting at eleven p.m. when temperatures were cool.
A mist hung over the vineyard, giving the landscape a magical dewy feel. Even though Luna had only been in Sonoma, California a few short weeks, she was starting to think of this place as home.
It was crazy how much Luna’s life had changed since her vivacious, resplendent identical twin sister waltzed into her life. Luna had been waiting tables at The Muscadine Café in Nashville, Tennessee, writing songs with the slim hope that they might get published one day. Then, out of the blue, she received a private message on Facebook from a woman claiming to be her birthmother. Having lost her adopted mother when she was sixteen, Luna was hungry for a familial connection. Her birthmother set up a time for them to meet at a diner in Atlanta, Georgia. When Luna saw Norma Phillips, a heavy blanket of disappointment fell over her, dashing any hope of a fond reunion. Luna was instantly repelled by the emaciated woman with her hollow, vacant eyes and splotchy, loose skin. With that aversion came pity for the woman’s state, along with a fair amount of anger at having been given up for adoption. Luna had been sitting at a booth across from Norma, trying to figure out what to say to the woman who’d given her life, when Ava sauntered in like a fresh breeze. She, like Luna, had come to the diner at Norma’s request, expecting to meet her birthmother, never dreaming that she had an identical twin sister.
Ava slid into the booth beside Luna, and the two of them listened as Norma shared her story. She’d gone to Nashville in the hope of making it as a singer but had gotten addicted to drugs and alcohol. Norma’s life was the sad, regretful tale of an addict who’d been in and out of rehab numerous times. She explained that she was dying of lung cancer and wanted to make peace with her daughters. As Norma unfolded her story, a heavy gloom descended over Luna. It was bad enough for her to be floundering in her life, but then to realize how tainted and damaged her origin of existence was … well, it was a bit too much to take. Norma had been with so many men that she had no idea who the twins’ father was.
Luna was surprised when Ava reached over and caught her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The two of them shared a brief look, and Ava smiled in genuine understanding. In that moment, Luna realized that while her birthmother was nothing like she’d hoped, all was not lost. She had a sister! Not just a sister but an identical twin. It was uncanny to look into Ava’s face and see the mirror image of herself.
Norma quietly passed away a week later. Ava was distraught over the death, saying that she wished they’d had more time to get to know her. Luna, however, felt a strange sense of relief that she could finally put the past behind her and move on. Even though Luna’s adopted mother had experienced many emotional ups and downs, Luna loved her with all her heart and missed her terribly. She’d never felt the need to have another mother … that is, until her adopted mother died. Luna had felt the void then, but it was soon replaced with her Grandma Peach, a crusty, efficient woman who had no trouble taking life by the horns.
From the very start, Luna had been intrigued with Ava’s description of her glamorous life on a vineyard with adopted parents who doted on her. Ava was polished, glamorous, vivacious, feisty—in a nutshell, everything that Luna wished she could be. Luna voiced her envy of Ava’s life with a wistful, “I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat.”
Ava got a certain look in her eyes, and then a large smile spread over her lips. “Let’s switch places.”
Luna had balked at the idea, mostly because she didn’t feel like she could ever fill Ava’s shoes. However, the more Ava talked, the more Luna warmed up to the idea. After all, what girl didn’t want to live in an actual vineyard with a house grand enough to be a palace? Now, here she was, several weeks later, pretending to be Ava Giles. There had been a few tense situations where Luna feared the curtain would be pulled back, exposing her as a fraud. However, all in all, she’d done a decent job of being Ava.
“Hey, you,” a cultured voice said. “I thought I might find you out here.”
Luna turned as Beverly Giles, Ava’s adopted mom, padded up to the table in her slippers and robe. She pulled out a chair and sat down beside Luna. There were faint sleep lines across her cheek and her red hair was mussed. Without makeup, she looked younger than her sixty-four years. “It’s so early,” she said as she stifled a yawn. “You’ve been getting up at the crack of dawn. That’s not like you.” She threw Luna a pointed look. “Who are you, and what have you done with my daughter?”
Luna stiffened. Before she could utter a single rebuttal, Beverly’s crystal blue eyes zinged with amusement. “Well, whatever you’ve done, keep doing it, would ya? I like the change.” She threw Luna an affectionate grin.
A glow of warmth splashed over Luna as she returned the smile. “Thanks,” she murmured, lifting her cup to her lips and taking another sip of the warm liquid. It was nice to be appreciated. Luna and Beverly had been getting along fabulously. That had not been the case with Ava and Beverly.
“Where’s Dad?” Luna asked. It had been hard, at first, to get used to calling Beverly and Todd Giles Mom and Dad. Now, it was second nature. Luna was growing so fond of the couple that she was starting to think of them as her own parents. Luna had called them Mom and Dad when video chatting with Ava recently. She could tell that Ava was taken aback by that. Was it so wrong to want a real family? Especially one so endearing.
“He’s sleeping in a bit. I figure he needs his rest, especially with the harvest coming up.” She glanced behind her. “Have you seen Rosalyn this morning?”
“No.” Rosalyn was the housekeeper of the palatial home and Beverly’s go-to for everything. While Beverly wouldn’t admit it, Rosalyn was more than just a housekeeper and cook. She was one of Beverly’s dearest friends, much truer of a friend than those stuffy women Beverly hung out with at the country club.
The corners of Beverly’s lips drooped. “That’s too bad. I’d like a cup of coffee, some toast, and a poached egg.”
“We can go to the kitchen, and I can make you something,” Luna offered.
Beverly’s eyes rounded in surprise as she touched Luna’s arm with a censuring laugh. “Don’t be silly, darling,” she sang. “I’m sure Rosalyn will be here soon. She’s just not used to us getting up this early.” She yawned, water springing to her eyes. “I’m surprised you’re up so early since your flight got in late. By the way, I forgot to ask you last night. How’s your friend doing?” She scrunched her brows. “What was her name?”
“Amanda.”
“Amanda,” Beverly repeated. “How is she doing?”
“Much better,” Luna said casually, feeling guilty for lying to Beverly. She’d gone to Nashville to check on her twin Ava, who’d been shot by a mentally and emotionally unstable backup singer who was terrorizing Cash Romeo’s tour. When Luna first got wind of Ava getting shot, she panicked and caught the first plane to Nashville. Luckily, Ava was recovering and would soon be able to go back on tour with country music superstar Cash Romeo. It had been wonderful to see Ava and Cash so much in love. Luna figured it wouldn’t be long before the two of them got engaged.
Everything had happened so quickly that Luna hadn’t told Beverly or Todd that she was going out of town. To cover her tracks, she’d called them both the day after she left, claiming that she was visiting a college friend in Nashville.
Luna explained that her friend had been injured while hiking and was in the hospital. It was better to keep the story as close to the truth as possible. Still, Luna felt like a sleaze for lying to Beverly and Todd.
Beverly sat up taller in her seat, pulling the tie of her robe tighter around her waist. “Okay, we need to talk about our lunch meeting today.”
“Lunch?” Luna asked dubiously, her hands cupping the mug. Her brain was still a bit cloudy from the travel. Also, she was trying to make sense of her life … wondering how Hudson Davenport was going to play into her future.
“Yep, Juliette’s joining us.” She gave Luna a meaningful look.
Luna’s eyes widened. “Oh.” She took another drink of herbal tea. Juliette Davenport was Hudson’s mother. Part of the reason Ava had wanted Luna to switch places with her was because Ava was being pressured into marrying her childhood friend Hudson Davenport.
“Has Hudson given you any indication of when he’s going to propose?”
“No,” Luna answered carefully. An invisible fist gripped her stomach as she swallowed. If Beverly knew how tenuous things were between Hudson and Luna right now, she’d freak.
The faint lines around Beverly’s eyes and mouth tightened as she nodded. She forced a smile. “I’m sure it’ll happen soon.”
Luna reached out and squeezed Beverly’s hand, just as Ava had done that day at the diner. “Everything will be okay.”
Moisture rose in Beverly’s eyes as she let out a long sigh. Her hand went up around her neck. “I know you think your dad and I are terrible for wanting you to marry Hudson.” Her voice hitched. “It’s not just because of what it will do for the vineyard or our family.” Her eyes softened with pleading. “The two of you would be great together. If only you could see what I see. Hudson’s crazy about you.”
Luna fought the urge to laugh. Hudson might have been crazy about Ava at one time, but he certainly wasn’t crazy about Ava or Luna, rather, now. If only. An awkward silence passed. “How are things going with the vineyard?” Luna asked cautiously.
Beverly’s lips formed taut lines. “With our loans, we should be okay for a few more months. After that …” Her voice trailed off as she stared into the distance.
Luna felt for the Gileses. They were desperate for a solution that would put their vineyard and winery back in the black. Hudson’s family owned a large, booming vineyard that had been in his family for three generations. A marriage between Ava and Hudson would not only create a powerful dynasty, but more importantly, it would give Beverly and Todd the financial backing they needed to keep the vineyard solvent. Luna wasn’t sure what details Beverly and Todd had worked out with the Davenports, but evidently, they were being promised a truckload of money if the two families joined in a marriage. Interesting that the Davenports were so keen on the idea of their son marrying Ava. Maybe it was a rich people fetish, a way to keep all of that money and influence contained within two families.
The marriage had been a source of contention for Ava and her parents. Ava didn’t want to be forced into marrying a man she didn’t love. Also, Ava was tired of her parents trying to run her life. That’s why Ava had wanted to switch places with Luna—so she could escape her life and have room to spread her wings. Luna, on the other hand, had always felt trapped by her life of isolation with an eccentric adopted mother whose heart had been broken by her husband a long time ago, and she never got over it. Luna’s adopted father was a pediatric dentist. When Luna was six years old, he fell in love with his dental hygienist and divorced Luna’s mom. He was now married to the hygienist and had a passel of kids. Luna had never felt much of a connection to her adopted father. She resented him for all the pain and anguish he’d caused her mother. While Luna’s adopted mother provided a decent income for the two of them, there were large chunks of time when she’d shut down emotionally, making Luna feel completely alone. There were so many times when Luna craved having a real family, complete with a mom and dad. Ava didn’t realize how truly lucky she was to have the Gileses.
Sure, Beverly and Todd were a little pushy—Beverly more than Todd—and entrenched in their upper-crust world. Some of it seemed a bit over the top, even to Luna. She could see why Ava had no patience with the never-ending parties and gatherings that Beverly lived for. However, in Beverly’s defense, it was her way of connecting with her world and protecting her family through her association with influential people in the wine industry. As opposed to many families in the area whose vineyards had been handed down several generations, Beverly and Todd purchased The Arbutus Rim Vineyard and Winery in the late 1990s. Many of the staunch families in Sonoma and Napa Valley still considered the Gileses newcomers and were reluctant to allow them into their circles. Todd attributed some of this bias as part of the reason his vineyard was struggling.
While Beverly and Todd desperately needed the money and association that a marriage to Hudson Davenport would bring, Luna could tell that the couple cared deeply for their daughter. In their eyes, Hudson Davenport was the cream of the crop and the perfect match for Ava. If only Beverly and Todd knew the truth … that Ava was madly in love with Cash Romeo and that an imposter was now in her place. Luna, as opposed to Ava, enjoyed life on the vineyard and everything it entailed, including Hudson Davenport. Truth be known, he’d consumed her thoughts from the moment she first laid eyes on him. He was everything and more that Luna could ever want in a man. She couldn’t understand why Ava didn’t feel the same way about Hudson or her adopted parents. Beverly and Todd were loving and kind, and they were fully engaged in Luna’s … err Ava’s life. And, that was something Luna had never had before. Luna supposed that everything was relative to experience. She couldn’t help but wonder how different things might’ve been had she been adopted by the Gileses instead of Ava.
It was so tempting to tell Beverly about the plan that she and Ava had enacted to save Arbutus Rim Vineyard from financial ruin. In a strange twist of fate, when Ava was working at The Muscadine Café and pretending to be Luna, she’d met the illustrious Cash Romeo, who took a liking to Ava right from the start. It was through that relationship that Luna’s songs were getting purchased through High Cliff Republic Records. Luna and Ava were splitting all the profits 50/50 that they earned through Luna’s songs and Ava’s performances on Cash’s tour. The hope was that in a few months, Luna and Ava would have enough money to pay off the high-interest loans Todd had gotten. They’d decided to keep up the charade until the money was saved. At which point, they planned to tell Beverly and Todd the truth.
Luna didn’t want to think about that. She wanted to continue basking in Beverly and Todd’s affection while living in this beautiful place.
“I think you should wear your green sundress to lunch,” Beverly asserted.
“The one with the sunflowers?”
“Yep.” She pursed her lips together as she critically studied Luna. “And you should wear your hair up, with that pearl necklace I got you for your birthday the year before last.”
Luna chuckled. “That’s specific.” No wonder Ava felt claustrophobic.
Beverly held up a hand. “I know you hate it when I tell you what to wear, but today has to be perfect. And, with your hair up and pearls … well, you’ll just look so sophisticated.”
She shrugged. “Sure. Sounds good to me.”
Beverly rocked back. “You mean, there’s no argument?”
“Nope,” Luna said pleasantly, taking another drink of tea.
“You have really changed,” Beverly mused, her eyes simmering with open admiration.
Warmth seeped into Luna’s cheeks. She probably should have put up more of a fuss but dressing as Beverly wanted seemed like such a trivial thing. The sunflower dress was exquisite, like all of Ava’s designer clothes. And, Luna rather liked wearing her hair up. The pearls were a bit stodgy for her taste, but it wasn’t a big deal.
Beverly’s voice was coated with emotion. “A few weeks ago … when we had our blowup about you marrying Hudson, and then you disappeared.” Her voice hitched. “I was worried that you might not come back.” She bit her lower lip, tears brimming in her eyes.
Sympathy welled in Luna’s chest. “I’m sorry,” she uttered automatically, even though Beverly was referring to Ava and events that occurred before she and Luna switched places.
“No, I’m sorry,” Beverly said hoarsely, “that you’re being put in a position where you have to save the family.” Her head swung back and forth. “No child should have to bear that responsibility.” A single tear rolled down her cheek. Hastily, she swiped it away as a tremulous smile wobbled over her lips. “On the upside, you’re marrying a wonderful man. He loves you.” She paused. “And I know you will one day come to love him.”
Luna’s eyes misted. “Yes, I believe you’re right,” she said hoarsely.
Beverly blinked, then gurgled out a laugh. “I don’t know what’s happened to you these past few weeks, but it’s wonderful.”
A large smile spread over Luna’s lips. “Really?”
“Really.” She reached for Luna’s hand, her eyes taking on a new luster. “I feel like I’ve gotten my daughter back.” She took in a breath as if trying to clear away the emotion.
“How are the plans coming for Dad’s birthday party?”
“I met with the caterer yesterday.” Her voice was tempered with a mild reproof. “It would’ve been nice to have you there, but you were out of town.”
“I know. Sorry.”
Beverly rushed on, talking with her hands. “Anyway, we decided on tri-tip beef with roasted potatoes, green beans, Caesar salad, and croissants.”
Luna wrinkled her nose. “I thought Dad wanted barbecue, potato salad, and baked beans.”
“Ugh! That’s so tacky.”
“It is Dad’s birthday,” Luna countered as gently as she could.
Beverly’s eyebrow slid up. “I am not going to serve potato salad and baked beans to our guests,” she snipped.
Luna laughed. “Okay, tri-tip beef, it is. What are you doing for the people who don’t eat red meat?”
“You mean the people like Juliette Davenport?” Beverly chimed. “Already thought of that. Herb crusted chicken.”
“What about dessert?”
“An assortment of cheesecakes.”
Luna sat back in her seat, stroking her chin. “Or, since it’s almost fall, you could have caramel apples and a station that makes fresh donuts on the spot.”
Beverly squealed. “Great idea! Your dad will love that.” She babbled on about the fresh flowers, the décor, and all the other details. Luna didn’t mind. She felt like a princess, planning beautiful parties.
“Oh, and I want you to perform.”
Luna’s heart nearly stopped. “Huh?”
Beverly’s eyes shimmered with excitement. “That will be the crowning event. Well, aside from you and Hudson announcing your engagement.”
Luna felt like she was going down a raging river, trying to keep her head above the rapids. “Uh, I’m not sure about that. Hudson and I aren’t really ready to—”
“Nonsense.” Beverly placed a hand on Luna’s arm. “You just leave everything to me.”
Luna’s throat felt smaller than a toothpick as she swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll see,” Beverly chimed with a juicy smile.
“Buenos dias, amigas bonitas! You’re up early this morning. Oosh. It’s cold out here.”
Luna and Beverly turned as Rosalyn ambled toward them, rubbing her arms. Dressed in a black top, matching slacks, and white tennis shoes, Rosalyn’s dark curly hair was smoothed back into a bun, her only makeup was a touch of mascara and burgundy lipstick. Even so, she was a striking woman with her black eyes, olive skin, and distinctive features. From the moment Luna stepped foot onto the Arbutus Rim Vineyard, she’d felt a kinship with the no-nonsense, middle-aged housekeeper, probably because she reminded Luna a little of her Grandma Peach.
Rosalyn brought her hands together. “What would you ladies like for breakfast?”
Beverly placed her order of a poached egg, toast, and juice.
“How about you?” Rosalyn asked. Before Luna could answer, a knowing smile spread over Rosalyn’s lips. “I’ll make your favorite—blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs with cheese.”
“No, that’s not right.” A deep furrow creased Beverly’s brows as she turned to Luna. “You can’t stand blueberries.”
Rosalyn’s laughter cut her off. “That might’ve been the case in the past, but she certainly likes them now.”
“That’s true,” Luna conceded. She shifted in her seat when she felt Rosalyn’s astute gaze on her. Their eyes met. Hot prickles rained down on Luna like a thousand needles, and she got the distinct impression that Rosalyn knew she was an imposter. Then, as quickly as the feeling came it faded, making Luna wonder if she was imagining things. Rosalyn’s expression was now placid.
“Okay, make it unanimous. I’ll have blueberry pancakes too.” Beverly touched her stomach. “I guess this means I’m having a salad for lunch. I can’t do carbs two meals in a row.”
Beverly scooted back her chair and stood. Luna did the same. Her thoughts went to the upcoming lunch with Juliette Davenport. Luna had seen Hudson’s mom a few times in passing, and they’d exchanged pleasantries. From what Luna could tell, Juliette Davenport was the quintessential pampered woman who was regal to the core. Luna dreaded trying to make conversation while being put under a microscope. This is one of those times when Luna regretted her decision to switch places with Ava. She felt like a fish out of water. Were Beverly and Juliette ganging up on her? They were both chomping at the bit for Hudson to propose. This would be so much easier if Hudson would just tell his parents what he told Luna that first day she met him—that he had no intention of saddling himself with a woman who didn’t care to be married to him.
Maybe Luna should call Hudson and get his advice on how to navigate lunch with his mother and Beverly. After all, she couldn’t keep dancing around the topic of the engagement forever, especially when Beverly had her heart set on the marriage.
Yes, that was the answer. She’d call Hudson. He would know what to do. She’d contact him right after breakfast. Just thinking of talking to Hudson over the phone caused Luna’s pulse to ratchet up several notches. How was that for irony? Luna was being pressured to marry the man of her dreams, but surprise, surprise, he no longer wanted her because he thought she didn’t want him. There had been so many times over the past several weeks where Luna wanted to just throw caution to the wind and tell Hudson that she wanted a relationship. But then, her practical side had taken over. Luna wasn’t Ava. The two would eventually switch back, and then where would Luna be? She didn’t want to hurt Hudson by giving him false hope for a relationship that would never be. That’s why she’d held back.
Now, however, the situation was different. Ava would end up with Cash Romeo. She was on the fast track to becoming a country music superstar. It was doubtful that she’d ever come back here to live. Cash and Ava had been able to navigate their way through the twin switch thing. They seemed to be doing great. Could Luna do the same? What if Hudson learned the truth? Was it possible that he could love Luna, for her? A new hope pushed through her veins. Could she earn Hudson’s love? Did she dare try? Maybe she should be more like Ava—more willing to live in the moment and not fret so much about the consequences. Grandma Peach always accused Luna of getting too deep in her own head and psyching herself out.
Luna was tired of living in constant fear of the what if. She wanted to live a little, to earn the love of a great guy whose very touch lit her insides on fire. She wanted to have Hudson look at her the way Cash had looked at Ava, like she was a rare jewel that he’d scoured the earth to find.
She wanted to break out of her shell and become the person she could have been had circumstances been different. Now was her time to shine. She only hoped she could gather the courage to do it … before her time ran out and everyone learned the truth.
