Second Chance Vows novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Glass

I crossed the room in three steps and knocked the glass out of my father's hand.

It hit the floor and broke, and the wine ran dark across the boards toward Cosima's shoes.

"Perry!" My father stared at me. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Don't drink it, Dad."

"That is my nephew's gift! He came to say sorry!"

Trent stood very still with the bottle in his hand.

"It's only wine, Perry," he said. "You're being rude."

"Then you drink it," I said.

Trent laughed. "I have to drive home."

"Then wait on the porch an hour after," I said.

His smile held, but it took effort.

"You're allergic to alcohol, so you don't know how good it is," he said. "Don't spoil your father's evening because you're angry at me."

"I'll let you off," I said. "One glass. One sip. Here, in front of him."

I held out the second glass from the case.

Trent looked at it, and then at my father, who was frowning at both of us.

"I don't have to prove anything to you," Trent said.

"No," I said. "You don't."

He put the bottle back in the straw, and he shut the lid with a click.

"I'll take it home," he said. "Uncle, I'm sorry. I wanted to make peace."

He walked out without another look at me.

My father sank into his chair.

"You embarrassed him, and you embarrassed me," he said. "In my own house."

"I know, Dad."

"What do you think is wrong with that wine?"

"I don't know yet."

I did know, because my first life had told me.

In that one, Trent had brought me a bottle on this birthday, too.

I had refused it and gone home angry, and I never learned what was inside.

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