The Villa

came back in. "You've made your mama happy tonight. Everything's going to be all right now."
    " You sure know how to show a woman a good time."
    Jerry ran a hand over the butt of Rene's snug black pants. "You haven't seen anything yet. This is going to be a night to remember. For everyone."
    They moved through the vineyard now. It had been a long hike from the car, and the sack he carried seemed to gain weight with every step. Still, there was something to be said for doing the job himself that he hadn't experienced before. Not just the amused gratification he'd felt at other times, but a deep and personal excitement.
    And if anything went wrong, he'd simply sacrifice Rene. But he didn't intend for anything to go wrong.
    He knew the setup here. Between Don and Kris and his own observations, he was aware of the security setup, and how to avoid setting off alarms. It was simply a matter of patience and care. And a single driving ambition.
    Before the night was over, Giambelli would, one way or another, be in ruins.
    "Stay close," he told her.
    "I am. Not to spoil the party, but I wish I was as sure as you are this is going to work."
    "No second thoughts now. I know what I'm doing and how to do it. Once the winery's on fire, they'll come spilling out like ants at a picnic."
    "I don't care if you burn the whole fucking vineyard to ashes." In fact, she got a thrill out of the image, and of her dancing at the edge of the flames. "I just don't want to get caught."
    "Do what I tell you and you won't. Once they're out here busy trying to put out the fire, we go in, plant the package in Sophia's room, get out. We're in the car and heading back five minutes later. We call the cops from a pay phone, give them an anonymous tip, and we're back at your place popping champagne before the smoke clears."
    "The old lady'll pay off the cops. She won't let her precious granddaughter go to prison."
    "Maybe. Let her try, it won't matter. They'll be ruined. Sooner or later you find the right straw, and that's the one that breaks the back. Isn't that what you want?"
    Something in his voice had a chill snaking up her spine, but she nodded. "It's exactly what I want."
    When he reached the winery, he took out the keys. Don had been slick enough to make copies, and he'd been smart enough to duplicate those. "These get tossed in the bay when we're done." He slid the key into the first lock. "No one's going to need them after tonight. They'll have a hell of a time explaining how a fire started inside a locked building." With that statement, he opened the door.
     
    Sophia lay on the massage table and looked up at the stars. "Mama, am I obsessive?"
    "Yes."
    "Is that a bad thing?"
    Pilar glanced back from her stance at the edge of the patio. "No. Occasionally annoying, but not bad."
    "Do I miss the big picture because I'm drilling on the details?"
    "Rarely. Why do you ask?"
    "I was wondering what I'd change about myself if I could. If I should."
    "I wouldn't change anything."
    "Because I'm perfect?" Sophia asked with a grin.
    "No, because you're mine. Is this about Ty?"
    "No, it's about me. Up until… well, I'm not exactly sure when, but up until I was sure I had everything figured out. Knew what I wanted and how I was going to get it."
    "Not sure anymore?"
    "Oh no, I'm still sure. I still know what I want and how I'm going to get it. But the things I want changed on me. I was wondering if they were there all along, and I was just missing the big picture. I… could you give us a minute," she said to the therapist. She sat up, holding the sheet to her breast when she was alone with Pilar. "Please don't get upset."
    "I won't."
    "Not that long ago I still wanted you and Dad to get back together. I wanted it because I didn't know how to want anything else, I think. Because I felt if you did, he'd be what I needed him to be. Not what you needed or what he was, but what / needed. That was the detail I kept obsessing over, and I missed the big picture. I'd change that if I could."
    "I wouldn't. You would've been a good daughter to him if he'd let you. You were willing to be, you needed to be. No, I wouldn't change that."
    "That helps." She took Pilar's wrist, turned it to check the time on her watch. "It's just midnight. Happy wedding day, Mama." She pressed Pilar's hand to her cheek, then started to lie back.
    "What's that? It looks like… Oh my God. The winery! The winery's on fire. Maria! Maria, call nine-one-one. The winery's on fire."
    She rolled