For I Will Be Your Wine
They looked down at the goblets with strained expressions.
"Well," Victoria began, "It's very kind of Mother to arrange this for us."
"Yes," Victor replied, his tone hesitant.
The two continued to stare.
"Mother never asked for my input on anything before."
Victor looked at her. "But she wanted your input on what kind of wine to serve at a dinner party?"
Victoria bit her lip and grimaced. She seemed to consider it. She shook her head, instead. Victoria reached for the nearest bottle. Black and long. She unscrewed it and poured it into the two cups. Victor took both, offering one to Victoria.
Poison.
Poison.
Neither of them could drink.
Barkis's blue face, twisted with horror, appeared in his mind. The goblet fell to the ground with a clank. He was dead. That could've been Victor, once upon a time. If he drank the wine instead of Barkis.
"Victor," Victoria whispered, "I don't know . . ."
"Me neither."
She looked at him from under her eyelashes. "It's been months, but I still can't . . ."
"Get him out of your head? I can't either."
They paused. Victor placed his glass back on the table.
Wine was a lifestyle when one thought about it. Everyone who was anyone drank it. The poor. The rich. Yet neither Van Dort could get themselves to drink wine. Not since Barkis. Most other wines were safe. The wine of ages wasn't. They knew that, but couldn't get that scene out of their minds.
Victoria placed hers down, too, sighing. "Why don't we have Emil pick one out for us instead?" She paused. "I'm sure he'd be happy to."
"Let's do that," Victor said, nodding.
That was better.
This one was pretty short, but I hope you enjoyed it all the same! Thanks for reading!