Tabby-Cat Merlot

Work smarter, not harder, one of his father's favourite sayings ran through Liam's head.

The sommelier was visiting this afternoon, Liam thought he had enough time to get the tractor running again. Changing the belt should have fixed the problem, it didn't. Liam had rushed his troubleshooting and now was in the midst of a larger repair.

His grandparents taught him everything he knows about farming. Liam didn’t grow up here, but spent every summer on the farm, playing, working and eating Grandma’s pies. Those were some of his happiest childhood memories. When they told him they'd planned on selling, Liam asked if they'd consider selling to him.

Liam sighed in frustration, he needed to be smarter about this. He also needed to clean up before Ms. Miller arrives.

“Liam?” a voice rang out. Too late, she was already here. “I’m here for the wine tasting,” she called from the door.

“Yes, sorry, I’ll be right with you,” Liam responded from under the tractor. He tightened one last bolt, hoping that it would start the next time. He couldn’t afford a new tractor, not even a new-to-him tractor, Liam had to make it work. He invested almost everything into the boutique winery. The sommelier’s visit today could result in getting his wine into some of the restaurants in town. Dirty and underneath a tractor was not the impression he'd hoped to make.

Liam pushed himself off the floor, wiping his hands on his coveralls in a fruitless attempt to remove some of the grease. He extended his hand, “My apologies, this was supposed to be a quick fix and took a lot longer than -,” he froze mid-sentence.

“Tabby?” Liam’s mouth gaped, “Tabby? What are you doing here? How? I thought I was meeting Ms. Miller?” questions poured out, but weren’t at all the ones he wanted to ask her. Liam retracted his hand, painfully aware of the dirt.

“It’s Tabitha Miller, these days,” she replied.

______

She hesitated outside the shop, dreading this appointment. Liam wasn't at the house, she knew she would find him here.

Tabitha took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The shop had changed significantly since she'd seen it last. It had Liam all over it. He was a contradiction, the tools were lined up perfectly, yet he was incapable of being on time. She risked a peek behind the curtain he'd rigged in the corner. Suspicions confirmed, Liam had an art studio. In sharp contrast to his neat and orderly shop, it was in disarray, littered with canvases and paintbrushes. He’s still painting, she thought to herself, isn’t that something.

Tabitha backed out of his studio area and called his name. She wasn’t prepared to see him, but couldn't delay any longer.

When Liam stood up and came towards her, Tabitha’s breath caught in her throat. The man in front of her hardly resembled the Liam she knew, he'd changed in the eight years since they last saw each other. He was taller and more muscular, but his warm, brown eyes were the same. He rambled on before she interrupted, “It’s Tabitha Miller, these days.”

______

Liam couldn’t believe his eyes. They were seventeen the last time they'd spoke. People tell stories about the one that got away, Tabitha was his first love, and biggest regret.

Tabitha’s family lived a quarter-mile up the road from his grandparents’ farm. From the age of six, they were inseparable. She’d been his best friend. They’d explored the countryside on horseback, chased chickens, been chased by turkeys, snuck into abandoned barns and caused mischief, always together.

Tabitha was the sommelier, which was wholly unexpected. And she was married? Where had she been? When he had moved here three summers back, he’d asked about her. The last anyone heard, she was still living out West.

“How long have you been back home?” he asked after a stunned silence.

“Only a few months,” Tabitha replied. “But I do have other places to be, you were expecting me, right?” she raised an eyebrow at him.

So much for small talk, he thought. “Right, come on back to the outbuilding.” Liam ushered Tabitha out of the shop.

“We’ve converted this into a small shop and tasting area,” Liam said as he held the door open for Tabitha. “Sammy!” he called out, “You remember Tabitha, right?”

The young man behind the counter grinned and rushed towards them. “How could I forget my favourite babysitter? It’s amazing to see you! What are you even doing here?” he had an infectious grin that Tabitha couldn’t help but reciprocate.

Tabitha and Sammy caught up while Liam excused himself to clean up. He took a moment in the mirror to reassure himself, “You can do this. Just because it’s Tabby doesn’t mean that the wine won’t stand up. Let the taste speak for itself. You can do this.” He rubbed his hands together and headed back to the main tasting area.

______

Seeing Sammy again was a welcome surprise, she found herself relaxing somewhat. “How did you get roped into all this?” she asked him.

“I started helping around the farm and with the renovations a couple of years ago. When I turned nineteen, Liam brought me into the shop,” he shrugged. “Liam didn’t tell me that you were the sommelier!”

Tabitha was poised to answer when Liam came around the corner, “Okay, Sammy, let’s show Tabitha what we’ve got.” It didn’t feel right when he called her Tabitha, she'd always been Tabby to him. This is business, she needed to stay professional.

Liam and Sammy brought bottles for Tabitha to taste. The pinot grigio and a sparkling rosé were particularly excellent. For a new winery, Liam’s product demonstrated potential. Sammy ran to the warehouse to fetch a final bottle for Tabitha to try.

Liam fidgeted in the silence before blurting out, “Miller, eh? How long have you been married?”

Tabitha wouldn’t meet his eyes, she sighed before replying, “Not long, I guess. I’m divorced now.”

Liam paused for a moment, Tabitha wondered what he was thinking.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” he seemed genuine, but that was Liam. He wore his heart on his sleeve and let his emotions get the best of him. His temper broke her heart years ago.

“Do you have any kids?” Liam asked awkwardly. That question was one she heard all too frequently.

“No. Do you?” she fired back.

“Yes, I’ve got about a dozen,” he replied, matter-of-factly. She whipped around to look at him, finally meeting his eyes. He smiled, “They’re all out back in the pen. You should drop by on Sunday, we host a yoga class at 10 am.”

She stared at him. Moments passed. Then Tabitha snorted. “Goats? You have goats? And you do goat yoga?” she laughed.

______

Finally, a real laugh out of Tabby. She’d been the consummate professional throughout the tasting, but he’d hoped to catch a glimpse of the Tabby he’d known for all those years. Maybe some of that glacial indifference she’s been exuding will have finally worn off.

“Tab,” he started as Sammy came back in with the wine. Right, the Merlot. How could he have forgotten? They saved the best for last. Sammy presented the bottle to Tabitha.

“Tabby-Cat Merlot?” her voice cracked as she read the label.

Sammy paused, uncertain. Liam nodded for him to complete the pour. “This is the last one today, it's our top seller and my personal favourite. Sammy, if you’d like to head home a bit early, I’ll clean up.”

Sammy readily agreed, said his goodbyes and left Liam and Tabitha alone. Liam watched as Tabitha raised the glass to her nose. Tabby was banished again and Tabitha the professional had returned. “Aromas of black cherry, vanilla and cedar,” she said, sounding pleasantly surprised. Tabitha tasted the wine, paused in appreciation before relaying how impressed she was with the smoothness and the surprising cranberry aftertaste. “This wine is incredible, if you keep going, I think you’ll have an award winner in a few years.” Her smile filled his heart.

Tabby-Cat Merlot, a wine named after the last time they’d seen each other. Both seventeen, just graduated high school, Liam had come up to visit for a week before leaving for basic training. They’d always been friends, but Liam had hoped it could be more.

He’d acquired a bottle of Pelee Island Merlot from his grandparents' cellar and they’d stolen away to the hayloft to drink away the afternoon. She was beautiful. However he tried, he couldn’t get the words out to tell her just how he felt. As always, she turned the tables on him and said the words he’d longed to hear.

Then Tabby added the dagger. She told him that the military was the wrong direction, she'd held in her feelings for too long but she wanted to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life. He’d grown angry, she didn’t understand the pressure and expectations, he had to enlist for his father. Things grew heated and he’d told her that he only ever saw her as a friend, a sister, and nothing more. That lie had eaten away at him for years.

Liam grabbed a second glass from behind the counter and poured wine into both. He took a sip and sat back in his chair, watching her.

“You were right, you know. About me, about the military,” he gazed down into his glass. “You remember my sister?” Tabitha nodded, Liam continued, “She’s about to graduate this year from military college. Not Alexia, she’s just had a baby girl, they named her Georgina.”

“After your dad,” whispered Tabitha.

Liam agreed, “Charlotte is an officer in the Army, she loves it. You were right, it wasn’t for me. I lasted four weeks. When I called my mom she told me that it was two weeks longer than she thought I'd last” he chuckled softly. His mom knew him better than anyone, except for maybe Tabitha. She’d picked him up and reminded him that his dad would’ve been the first person to tell him to follow his heart. He’d ended up with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, and he’d spent every summer since apprenticing with Pelee Island learning every aspect of vineyards. After he graduated, he moved to the farm.

“Tabby, I’m so sorry. I tried writing you to apologize, but you moved away. I thought maybe it was better if I didn’t.” Liam took another sip, the wine tasted almost the same as it had that fateful afternoon, so many years ago.

“I was crazy about you then. I was trying to find the right words, then when you exposed my own doubts, I lashed out. You were my best friend, I lost so much that day, and I am so sorry,” he searched Tabitha’s face for signs that his words were making an impact.

Tabitha sipped her own glass, thinking for a moment. “I’ve missed you, Liam. I’m sorry for surprising you today, I didn’t know what it would be like to see you again. I can’t say that you didn’t hurt me, because you know that you did,” he was staring at her, he hated that he’d caused her pain. Of every mistake in his life, this was his biggest regret. “But,” she smiled, meeting his eyes, “I am not willing to live a life dwelling on the low points. It’s been wonderful to see you again today.”

“Friends?” he asked.

“Always,” she replied.

Liam reached behind the counter and pulled out a blueberry pie and two forks.

“Did your grandma bake that?” Liam nodded and Tabitha grinned, “You probably should have led with the pie!”

They shared the bottle of Merlot and the pie, each wondering if the promise to be friends again would herald more. Rest assured, Liam would not make the same mistake twice.