The Buried Secret by Jen Talty

Trey

Trey stood in front of the main building of The River Winery. The letter from Doctor Robert Allison burned a hole in his back pocket. The note by itself proved nothing other than Robert knew someone who could help Trey’s parents.

But it had been the note from his mother that had chilled him to the bones.

A few people left the building carrying a couple of bottles of wine. They smiled and said hello as they passed him on their way toward their cars.

He glanced around. The leaves on the trees had started to turn brown and fall to the ground. He hugged himself as a cool breeze hung thick in the air. Soon snow would be falling from the sky. His entire life he’d lived in a city. Trees weren’t something he saw a lot of. Wide open spaces with rivers and waterfalls didn’t exist in his world. He never thought he’d ever live anywhere where he needed a car, but he was committed to figuring out where he came from.

Pulling open the big wood door, he stepped into the gift shop. It smelled like a combination of cork, cheese, and the finest wines. He wished it were five o’clock.

He could use a drink.

“Good morning,” a gentleman about his age who was stocking jams said. “How can we help you today?”

“I just moved to town. As in today and I was driving by and thought what a nice gift to bring my new colleague.” He lifted one of the bottles placed on display. “Only, I’m wondering if she’s related to the owners now. Her name is Riesling River.”

The man laughed. “Yeah. She’s my sister and you must be Treyton Jefferson, our new doctor. I’m Malbec.” He stretched out his arm.

“Please. Call me Trey.” He took it in a firm shake. “She told me her family owned a business in town. She didn’t tell me it was the local winery.” Of course, he hadn’t given her the chance and he wouldn’t mention that Doc Harden had filled him in on much of the local gossip. Besides, Trey needed to play it cool. He had a lot of information to uncover, and he had to be patient. This wasn’t going to happen overnight, and he had no idea if anyone on the winery even knew what the good doctor had been up to.

“I’m happy to put together a basket of all her favorites,” Malbec said. “Fair warning, she hates her namesake wine. She’s the only one of us kids who does. It’s weird because it’s a good blend. She enjoys our Pinot Noir with my mother’s home-baked crackers.”

“Your mother makes crackers?”

“My mom makes a lot of things. Mostly she makes us all crazy,” Malbec said with a slight chuckle.

“I heard that,” a woman said from somewhere up above.

Trey tilted his head and scanned the room. A woman with grayish shoulder-length hair strolled down a set of stairs. She wore jeans, combat boots, and a flannel shirt.

“Did I also hear correctly that this is our new doctor?” the woman asked.

“In the flesh,” Trey said.

“It’s pleasure to meet you. I’m Weezer River. Owner of this fine establishment and Riesling’s mother.” Her beaming smile took up the entire room. “Don’t you go listening to my eldest son about me and crazy. Nor should you take stock in anything anyone in this town has to say about me either. Especially if it’s nice. If you want to know something about me, come to the source.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Malbec, put together a welcome to the neighborhood basket for Trey.” She looped her arm through Trey’s and tugged him through the gift shop. “This one is on us.”

“Oh. No. I can’t let you do that, Mrs. River—”

“It’s Weezer and just say thank you.”

“I wouldn’t argue with my mother. Not if you know what’s good for you.” Malbec went about finding different things from the shelves and placing them in a large basket.

“Make sure you still do a basket for Riesling. Get her one of those pies we get from the orchard. Sam Wilde brought some over this morning. She’ll love that.” Weezer patted Trey’s biceps. “So, tell me. What made you decide on Candlewood Falls?”

“The idea of being a small-town doctor appealed to me,” Trey said. It wasn’t a truthful answer, but it wasn’t a total lie either. When he’d finished with his residency, he hadn’t wanted to work in a big city or have a large practice. But it would have been nice to have partners. It wasn’t that he was opposed to a physician’s assistant. Not at all. He found them to be knowledgeable and an asset.

But they weren’t doctors.

However, Riesling would prove to be valuable in more ways than one.

“I wanted to experience something different and went looking for exactly this. It took me a few years to find it, so I was thrilled when I got the job.”

“You’re going to love working with my Riesling,” Weezer said. “Do you like kids?”

That was kind of an odd question, considering he was a family doctor. Or what people referred to today as a general practitioner. He didn’t specialize in kids, but he could certainly treat them. “I love them, why?”

“Are you single?” Weezer ignored his question and continued with her own.

“Mom,” Malbec said with a stern tone as he set the basket on the counter and added a few more smaller items. “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting my fiancée about wedding plans shortly?”

“I have fifteen minutes.” Weezer narrowed her stare. “So, Trey. Are you single? Or is a lucky young lady following you to our lovely town?”

Trey laughed. “Much to my father’s dismay, I’m still single.”

Weezer held up her hand. “For the record. I’m not playing matchmaker. I’m just suggesting that you ask my daughter, who happens to be single, to show you around town,” she said. “And on that note, I better go find Eliza Jane.” Weezer scurried out of the building faster than bee chasing honey.

“Sorry about my mom. She’s been looking forward to your arrival.” Malbec shook his head. “And any other single man she can fix up my sisters with.”

“How many do you have?” Trey winked. “In case Riesling doesn’t work out.”

“There’s Chablis and Zinfandel. Both equally frightening in different ways.”

“Should I be scared of Riesling?”

“You should run for the hills,” Malbec said with a hearty laugh. “But less because of Riesling and more because you made my mother’s day.”

Trey didn’t completely understand what Malbec meant, but he didn’t have any siblings, and after his divorce, he thought it best he stay away from women for a while. He pulled out his credit card.

“Nope. My mom said this one was on the house and if she found out I took your money, she’d try to fire me, which is funny because I actually run this place now. She just likes to pretend she does.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to be thoroughly amused by your family.”

“Let’s talk in a week and see how you feel about that.”

Trey took his baskets and headed out toward his Audi.

Stella.

He had no idea why he named her that other than he felt like he was supposed to give the vehicle a good strong name. Of course, people named their boats. Not their cars. Or maybe they did. What the hell did he know? This was the first car he’d owned since his wife took the one he’d bought when they’d married.

He pulled out the papers in his back pocket and unfolded them. He pushed the letter from Doctor Robert Allison to the back and scanned the one from his mother.

Find your birth mother. I won’t be able to rest in peace unless I know she willingly gave you to me. I’m sorry. I know this is a shitty thing to do to you, but your father will never go down that road. He believes the doctor was telling the truth. And maybe he was. But I need to know and I bet you do too.

Trey sighed.

“Yeah, Mom. Now that you’ve opened that can of worms, I need to know. But this has also piqued my curiosity even more on who I am and where I came from.”

Riesling

Riesling offered Brad a hand.

“I can manage myself. Thank you.” Brad hopped off the exam table. “You can wipe that smile off your face now.”

“No. I think I’ll savor this one for a long time. Besides, I’m a few dollars richer thanks to you.”

“I’m well aware of the co-pay.”

“Oh. I’m not talking about the office visit fee.” Riesling opened the door for Brad and guided him toward the lobby. The office was an old farmhouse that the previous doctor turned into his practice about thirty years ago. Doc Harden rented out the top half to either his assistant, a nurse, or someone who needed a cheap place to stay.

Now the new doctor was going to live there, which meant Riesling and Ashling could rent the two-bedroom cottage on the property or find a place in town.

She opted for the cottage, or should she say her mother all but insisted. Not to mention it was close to town, near school, and it was dirt cheap. It was a quaint little place. Quiet and out of the way. A stone’s throw away from the doctor’s office, which was nice. But mostly, it was far enough away from her meddling mother that she wouldn’t have to deal with Weezer all the time, but close enough that both her parents could babysit on a regular basis.

Which she needed because she couldn’t afford day care.

“I’m not following,” Brad said as he rubbed the brace on his fractured wrist.

“I bet my family that you’d be in need of my services before Doctor Jefferson arrived on-site.”

“You jinxed me.”

She shrugged. “Make sure you follow my orders; otherwise, I’ll be sending you to a specialist for a consult on surgery.”

“Now you’re just trying to scare me.”

“That’s true.” She nodded. “But I’ve always scared you, so don’t be stupid, Brad.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Brad turned on his heel and stomped off through the lobby.

Strolling behind the desk, she checked the appointments. Since Doc Harden had retired before the new doctor had gotten a chance to get to Candlewood Falls, a lot of people had rescheduled, wanting to wait for Trey.

She let out a long breath. She’d grown up in this town. People knew her and trusted her family. Even those who didn’t like her mother, still trusted the River name. Her father was the local lawyer for Pete’s sake. And most people used him for their legal needs.

But Riesling’s reputation became tarnished when she’d run off with a loser named Theo Markus Richardson. Most people around Candlewood Falls remembered Theo as the kid who nearly burned down the church over two decades ago, with the preacher in it.

Theo hadn’t known anyone had been in the church, and it wasn’t like he’d done it on purpose. At the time, he’d been remorseful. He’d been a teenager and a bit of a rebel.

But who wasn’t?

The thing with Theo was he’d never gotten over his childhood resentments.

That nearly made Riesling laugh. Neither had she, which is why she’d moved back to Candlewood Falls. It was time to grow up and put the past behind her once and for all.

But Theo’s idea of changing his life was always a get rich quick scheme that turned out to be a get in debt faster and owe bad people money scheme.

It was a never-ending cycle that always put Riesling’s life savings in trouble and her little girl’s heart on the chopping block.

At least Brad had trusted her enough to come in and get an X-ray. He could have really done some damage had he tried to keep working, and knowing Brad like she did, he could have done just that. Resigned that the day was going to be a slow one, she decided to head upstairs and make sure the residence was not only in good working shape, but clean. Doc Harden had said he’d have it professionally cleaned, but Harden was a cheap bastard and that probably meant he’d do it himself.

She was halfway up the stairs when she heard the door creak open. She turned. “Hello? Can I help you?”

“Are you Riesling?”

“I am.” She paused at the bottom of the stairs and desperately tried not to stare at the man standing in the lobby holding a basket from her family winery while sporting a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved black shirt, and a sexy unshaven face. “Treyton Jefferson?”

“In the flesh.”

“You’re a couple of days early,” she said. “I was just about to go upstairs and make sure everything was ready for you.”

“That’s awfully nice of you and totally not necessary.” He set the basket on the desk. “This is for you.”

She covered her mouth and laughed. “You do know that’s my family’s winery, right?”

“I do.” He nodded. “Your mom and brother helped me put it together.”

She peered over the side. “Oh God. That pie. It’s sinful and I’m going to gain like ten pounds eating it.”

“Why don’t you let me cook you dinner, and then I’ll be happy to help you polish it off.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but I take it my mom and brother didn’t inform you that I also have a six-year-old little girl.”

“I was not informed of that piece of information. Though your mom did ask if I liked kids.” He shook his head. “That said, I make a mean mac and cheese and we need to talk about how I do business and that can’t all be done during working hours and I wouldn’t want you to have to get a babysitter. So, what do you say?”

“I can’t tonight. But you’re on for tomorrow.” She held up her index finger. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t know what my mom may have said to you or implied. But I’m not interested in dating you or anyone else for that matter.” A thick lump formed in her throat as the word dating rolled off her tongue. Oh, in the looks department, Trey was all that and more. His eyes were this deep blue color, like the Mediterranean Sea. They were so intense it was nearly impossible to look away. He had light-brown hair that wasn’t short, but she couldn’t describe it as long either.

And he hadn’t shaved in what appeared to be a couple of weeks.

But she suspected he kept his beard and mustache that length at all times. It was a good look for him since he had a bit of a baby face, so it aged him just a tad.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be social that way,” he said. “I’m sorry if I implied otherwise.”

“No. But I bet my mom did.”

Trey laughed. “She might have a little. Does she do that a lot?”

“To every single man between the ages of thirty and forty who sets foot in this town.” Feeling a little less on edge, she leaned against the counter. “I do appreciate the basket. That was kind of you and so very not necessary.”

“If I had been smart enough to put two and two together, I would have stopped somewhere else.”

“No. This is perfect. I do love everything the family business offers, except my own name.”

“I heard that too.”

She cringed. “Well, just don’t believe everything my mom has to say about me. Or my siblings for that matter. Hell, this entire town has an opinion, and every single one of them enjoys expressing them.”

“I’ve never lived in a small town, so this should be interesting.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and glanced around. “Where is our receptionist and all our patients?”

“Anna has the day off. It was easy to give it to her because everyone rescheduled until they could see you.”

He tilted his head. “And why didn’t they want to see you?”

“Some did.” Her stomach filled with doubt. Theo had taken money from half the people in this town and promised to double it in one of his early get rich plans. This was back when she was pregnant with Ashling and he was turning over a new leaf. He even had the blessing of Weezer and Carter and that meant something in this town.

But the company Theo had gotten involved in was nothing more than a small-time Ponzi scheme. Thankfully, because of her father, no one lost too much money, but still. It had tainted her name because she’d followed the father of her child out of this town as everyone had done him wrong.

And not the other way around.

“But there are a few who don’t trust me.” She felt she should be honest. “In part because of my ex and in part because when I was little, I used to try to undress all the little boys in town to play doctor. That didn’t go over too well with all the parents.”

Trey tossed his head back and let out a hearty laugh. It was deep and rich and it filled her belly with warmth like hot fudge smothering ice cream. “I hope you’re joking about the latter.”

“I am,” she admitted. “But I did chase everyone around with a stethoscope, trying to listen to their heart or get them to lie down so I could push on their belly. I had two strikes against me as a kid. My mother being The Weezer and me being the weirdo who actually had people believe they might have some rare disease.”

“You’ll have to explain to me about The Weezer but I get the whole diagnostic thing.” His expression turned serious. He ran a hand over his beard. “The worst part is when playacting becomes a reality.”

She was about to ask what he meant by that when the front door flew wide open. “Riesling,” old man Koontz said. “I need your help.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?” She raced to Koontz’s side.

He had to be pushing ninety at this point. He was hunched over, clutching his right side and panting for breath like a dog. “It’s Ella. We were in town enjoying the warm weather. She got stung by a bee and we don’t have her EpiPen. She’s in the truck.”

“Did you call 9-1-1?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have my cell. Forgot it. I swear I’m as bad as she is these days.”

“Don’t you worry.” Riesling pushed past Trey and into the first exam room where she found what she needed. “Trey, call an ambulance. Tell them we have a sixty-year-old woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s having—”

“I got it.” Trey held up his phone.

She nodded as she stormed out the front door. Ella should be in a long-term care facility. Hell, so should her father at this point, but they were all each other had and who was she to lecture either of them. She pulled open the passenger side of the vehicle and stabbed Ella in the leg before climbing into the truck and cradling the woman in her lap.

Trey was one step behind with an IV drip. “Ambulance is eight minutes out.” He began checking her vitals and finding a vein while she rested her cheek against Ella’s forehead.

The older woman’s breaths were shallow, but Riesling had seen her in a worse state before.

Koontz stumbled out of the old farmhouse and down the steps. He leaned against the hood of the pickup. “Is she going to be okay?”

“I believe so,” Trey said.

“Who are you?” Koontz asked with a dark tone.

“I’m Doctor Jefferson.”

“Oh. Well then, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Trey opened up the IV and pressed the back of his hand against Ella’s forehead. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a listen to your heart.” He pointed to Koontz. “What’s your name?”

“Edward Koontz and why the heck would you want to do that?”

Riesling glanced between Trey and Koontz and frowned. “Koontz. Let him do it. For me. Okay?”

“Anything for you, Riesling.”

Trey pressed his fingers to Koontz’s wrist as he lifted his stethoscope. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and then locked gazes with Riesling. “Edward. I think you better sit down.”

“No one calls me that, boy.”

“Okay,” Trey said. “Koontz. I think you need to take a seat.” Before Trey could help the old man anywhere, he turned completely white. Then blue. And passed out. “Shit,” Trey mumbled as he fell to the ground with Koontz. “Does he have a history of heart disease?”

“No. The man hasn’t had anything other than a cold since he was a kid. Hand to God. But his kids have all been cursed, like Ella here. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago. His son died of cancer ten years ago. His wife died five years ago of Parkinson’s.”

“Well, I think he just had a heart attack.” Calmly, Trey began CPR as the ambulance rolled to a stop behind the truck.

Riesling held on to Ella as she slowly responded to her medication.

What a fucking shit way to end the day.