A Toast to Murder Read online

  “I’ll say.” Savannah smiled. “Look here. I brought some old photos and an annual from when we were in college.” She picked up the album, practically shoved it into Nikki’s hands, and pointed at a photo with a bunch of people in it drinking beer.

  As Nikki took a closer look, she saw Derek doing a beer bong with college kids all around him laughing, and a pretty dark-haired woman had her hands on his shoulders standing behind him. “Looks like you had a lot of fun.” Savannah was next to the woman standing behind Derek in the chair. She was all made up with her boobs practically falling out of her tight tank top. Not exactly the demure woman standing before her now. “Was this your girlfriend?” Nikki asked, pointing to the dark-haired girl.

  Derek looked over her shoulder. “No. That’s Nancy. She was going out with our friend Zach. In fact, they got married. I invited them to the wedding, too. It looks like only Nancy is attending though. I don’t know where she’s staying because they live in L.A. I doubt she’s driving up and then heading back. That’s a long drive.”

  “Divorce,” Savannah said. “I still talk with Nance and it’s kind of an ugly deal.” She waved her hand in the air. “She just filed. I think she told me she’s staying up at Calistoga Ranch.”

  “Why didn’t she just make reservations here?” Derek asked.

  “Maybe she wants some alone time. Like I said, it’s been a bit of a rough year.” Savannah flipped her hand in a nonchalant manner.

  “Don’t you think it’s weird that she’s coming and not Zach?” Tristan said. “I mean he was our friend. She was just the girlfriend and subsequently the wife who now isn’t the wife.”

  “Oh my God, Tristan, you can be so ridiculous sometimes. Nancy was friends with Derek, just like both Lily and I were. So are you saying that if we ever got a divorce that I couldn’t come to any of these occasions? What if this isn’t Derek’s last hoorah?”

  “It is his last hoorah,” Nikki replied impulsively.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean . . .” Savannah started.

  Nikki held up her hand. “No worries. Really. I know you meant nothing by it.”

  “Enough talk of Zach and Nancy. I don’t care which one of them comes. I wasn’t close with either of them back in the day. He was always a little too studious for me and she was way too serious,” the other man on the couch said. He stood, too, and reached out his hand. “Hi Nikki. I’m Jackson, this is my wife, Lily. Sorry for our walk down memory lane.”

  Lily also shook Nikki’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Finally a gal who can settle this guy down,” Jackson said. He smiled warmly. He was rounder than Derek or Tristan but pleasant looking. He wore glasses over his brown eyes, had thinning light brown hair, and looked to be a guy who spent a lot of time behind a desk—not much sun on the face. His wife was attractive—golden blond hair, hazel eyes, taller than her husband, her hair pulled back off her face. She looked far more pleasant than Savannah. Although Savannah exuded wealth and snobbery, Lily appeared a bit trendier, wearing a low-cut red dress and strappy sandals. If Nikki didn’t know better, she would have thought that Tristan went with Lily and Savannah was married to Jackson. So much for stereotypes.

  Nikki put on her Miss Congeniality smile, knowing the guys were important to Derek. The three of them had been fraternity brothers back in college. He’d been really excited about them coming out for the wedding.

  “It isn’t like this is his first marriage,” Savannah said.

  Tristan eyed her. “I don’t think Meredith counts.”

  Derek glanced at Nikki.

  “Weren’t you the one who helped put her behind bars?” Savannah asked directing her question at Nikki.

  “Savannah, I don’t think either Nikki or Derek wants to talk about that. This is their wedding, their time. Come on. That was such bad business.”

  “Of course. My apologies.”

  Nikki tried to maintain her smile while Savannah asked about Meredith, but she couldn’t help not only being put off, but also a little shaken as she remembered the note and photo from earlier that day. Maybe she shouldn’t have tossed it. She really didn’t want to put any type of credibility into it. She’d dig in the disposal when they got back from dinner and get it out.

  “Where’s Kenny?” Jackson asked. “He e-mailed me and said he was going to go ahead and come on in today, too.”

  “He is, but not for another couple of hours. Besides, do we really want to take Kenny to dinner with our wives?” Derek asked.

  “There’re only two wives here,” Savannah said coyly and winked at Nikki.

  What was it with the Southern belle and her nastiness toward Nikki? Ooh, if Nikki wasn’t such a “nice” girl, she’d have bitch slapped her. The thought alone made her smile. “Soon enough though.” She cuddled in closer to Derek and decided to strike back a bit. “And I can’t wait to be Mrs. Malveaux.”

  Was Savannah glaring at her?

  “Kenny is coming here tonight?” Lily asked.

  Jackson looked at her. “Of course. We can’t have a shindig this size and not have Mr. Party Animal himself.”

  The guys laughed.

  “I think he’s obnoxious,” Lily said. “I can’t stand that guy. I don’t know how you all have remained friends with him. He’s a total loser.”

  “Come on, Lil. He’s just Kenny and that’s why we love him,” her husband said.

  “Jackson is right. He isn’t that bad. A bit off the wall, but I find his behavior charming,” Savannah said, butting in.

  “Charming?” Lily shook her head. “You’ve lost your mind, Savannah.”

  “I think we better get a move on. By the time we get to the restaurant . . .” Derek said.

  Savannah turned to Tristan. “Darling, I am not feeling well. I feel a migraine coming on. I think I want to go lie down in the room, maybe get a massage at the spa. It’s not too late is it?” she asked Derek.

  “No. It isn’t, but I’m sorry you don’t feel well. I’m sure you can get an appointment. It closes at eight.”

  She clasped her hands together, her enormous diamond ring sparkling. “Excellent.”

  “Savvy. Come on, baby. We haven’t seen Derek in a few years. Take some aspirin. Come to dinner. Let’s get to know Nikki.”

  She sighed. “Have you ever had a migraine? I don’t think so. As lovely as I know dinner will be, I think it’s best if I rest, and then I’ll be more than happy to get to know Nikki tomorrow. We do have—what is it? Three days here?”

  Three days too many. Nikki was pleased the woman was suffering a headache. If she came to dinner, Nikki was afraid she’d be the one needing Tylenol. She decided to put in her two cents. “I do know what migraines are like. We’d love to have you join us, but by all means rest and, yes, we will have plenty of time to spend together.” Not if she could help it, they wouldn’t.

  “Thank you.”

  “I can stay with you,” Tristan said.

  “No. I’m fine. Go. Just go.” She waved a hand at him, and took the photo album from Nikki, setting it back down on the coffee table. “We can look at this tomorrow. There’s some fun stuff in here.”

  Oh, goody.

  They all piled in to Derek’s Range Rover and on their way out dropped Savannah at the Malveaux Hotel and Spa, also located on the winery’s property.

  The property was acres and acres of rolling vineyard. On the highest peak, with a fantastic view of the valley, sat the hotel and spa, done in an old-world Tuscan style that was intended to make guests feel as if they’d really stepped out of the hustle of life and into luxury and relaxation. Farther back from the hotel was the winery where wine tastings were held daily. Connected to the winery were the offices where Nikki and Derek worked. Back behind the offices stood the warehouse and large metal wine vats. And about half a mile from there stood the old mansion where Derek had grown up and which now served as home to Simon, Marco, and Violet. Derek and Nikki’s home was a smaller ranch style that was located just behind t
he front gates and to the side of the entrance of the property, set against a lovely pond that a handful of ducks had made their home.

  “The place looks lovely as always,” Savannah commented as they took the short drive to the hotel. “I love the addition of the hotel and spa. It’s truly exquisite.”

  “Thank you,” Derek replied. “Nikki worked with the decorator and helped design everything.”

  “Oh yes. I do think that the colors inside could be a bit brighter. They’re a tad muted for my taste.”

  Savannah was definitely scoring points.

  “Here we are,” Nikki said, ready to place a foot in the back of the woman and kick her out of the car.

  “Have a wonderful time,” Savannah said.

  As she shut the door behind her, Tristan muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, “If you two want to stay in love, whatever you do, don’t get married.”

  Peach Galette with Gouda Cheese

  and Bonterra Rosé

  What’s a bride-to-be to do when she’s likely being stalked, her hair is not her own—well it is, but it doesn’t look like her own—her fiancé’s friends are freaks, and her maid of honor keeps insisting on tails for his tuxedo? Pour herself a good glass of Rosé and slice herself off a piece of peach galette and Gouda cheese. It’s decadent, it’s divine and, no, it is not low calorie. But what the hell? She’s getting married after all.

  Whether or not you’re a bride-to-be, life has all sorts of stresses. Take some time to be decadent, treat yourself. Like Nikki, you deserve it.

  In making their Rosé, Bonterra used a market basket of varietals to contribute surprising complexity to this beautiful salmon-colored wine, focusing in particular on Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Syrah from the Indian Creek vineyard in the Sierra Foothills of Amador County, where they source Syrah as a blender for many of their wines. The knock-your-socks off color is just the beginning. Chilled a bit, the wine reveals aromas and flavors of strawberry, tart cherry, fragrant tea, luscious raspberries, some watermelon, a touch of spice and vanilla in a lingering, unexpectedly joyful finish. Bonterra is serious about making a serious Rosé, and it is time to spread the word that real wine lovers drink Pink. This recipe and pairing would also make a wonderful treat to eat for a bridal shower.

  PEACH GALETTE

  2 cups unbleached fl our

  ¾ tsp salt

  ½ cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small

  pieces

  7 tbsp cold solid vegetable shortening, cut into small

  pieces

  ¼ cup ice water

  1½ lbs peaches

  3 tbsp granulated sugar

  1 egg yolk whisked with 1 tsp of water

  1 tbsp coarse sugar

  ¾ lb aged Gouda or Gruyère

  To make the dough: In a food processor, combine the flour and salt. Pulse three or four times to blend. Add the butter and pulse a few times, just until evenly distributed and coated with flour. Add the shortening and pulse a few times, until coated with flour. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Drizzle with the ice water while tossing with a fork, just until dough begins to come together in clumps, then knead dough to get it to hold together. Shape into thick round patty, then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours.

  Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel and slice peaches. Set aside.

  Put dough on a lightly floured work surface, top with a fresh sheet of plastic wrap, and let stand for ten minutes to warm slightly. Roll dough into a 15-inch circle. Transfer dough to rimless baking sheet. Trim edges as needed to make 15-inch circle, reserving the trimmings. About two inches from the edge of the dough, arrange the peach slices in a neat ring, overlapping the slices slightly. Fill in center with peaches. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.

  Gently fold the edge of the dough over the peaches to make a wide border. Make sure there aren’t any cracks. Use trimmed dough if needed to patch.

  Brush the border with a little egg wash, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until crust is golden, about 50 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve warm with cheese and wine.

  Three

  THE five of them had dinner at a new restaurant in St. Helena called Corked. It was upscale, gourmet, painted in creams, sages and golds, with dark hardwood floors and soft lighting. In the bar, a pianist played mellow jazz that carried into the dining area. Almost as soon as Tristan had said the harsh words about marriage, he’d retracted them, and thankfully Jackson’s wife Lily was on the ball. She immediately started talking about their home life in upstate New York and their three children, two dogs, and a cat. Lily was normal, cool, sweet, and she and Nikki chatted quite a bit over dinner, as they were seated next to each other. The guys were busy carrying on about the good old days, the fraternity parties and pranks. After some time their stories only amused themselves, and Nikki found herself in conversation with Lily over a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and a scrumptious grilled pork loin in a sun-dried cherry Cabernet sauce.

  “Our kids are great. Ryan is twelve and Katie is ten. Our oldest Jonathan is eighteen, which I can’t even believe. We waited a bit after Jon was born to have more children. I wavered at first because I did want to continue the career path. They’re all so much fun. Definitely worth it. Ryan is really into hockey and Katie is all about ballet. And Jon is heading off to school in the fall. He’s going to Stanford! We are so proud of him. He wants to be an attorney. His dad is bursting with pride. I mean we both are.” Lily sipped her wine.

  “That’s wonderful. Are you a stay-at-home mom?” Nikki asked.

  “I am. Yes. Jackson and I decided when I got pregnant with Ryan that it was time for me to lay off the career and stay home. Jon was six by then. I’d been pursuing my career while raising him, but it had kind of exhausted me, trying to balance it all. We knew at that point that we wanted more kids, and we’re both from traditional families, so it was a mutual decision.”

  “What did you do before?” Nikki asked.

  “Actually I ran a gym. I was really into bodybuilding, believe it or not, and I had inherited some money from my father’s estate, so I opened up a gym. I still work out, but chubby over there has kind of fallen off the wagon. He used to be right in there with me working out daily.” She lowered her voice, obviously not wanting to embarrass her husband. “I’m thinking about getting back into it soon now that all of the kids are getting older, and with Jon going off to college, life around the house will probably get a little easier. I work out three days a week with a personal trainer.” She made a muscle. “Feel my guns.”

  Nikki did so, a little embarrassed. The men caught on. “My wife at it again? She loves to let everyone know that she could totally kick my ass if she had to,” Jackson said with a laugh. “Did she also tell you that she’s a black belt?”

  “Really?” Nikki said. “That’s something. Impressive.”

  “I haven’t kept on it though. Like I said—kids. And husband and a home, all of that has sort of taken precedence.”

  Jackson smiled at her and shook his head. “Maybe. But you and I both know you’re sneaking those exercise videos when you get a chance. I was thinking of trying one of them myself.”

  “No need for that, honey. Just get back on that treadmill, especially after eating all that red meat I just saw you consume.”

  He waved a hand at her and then picked up his wine. “I’m balancing it with red wine.”

  Everyone laughed and seemed to be having a good time. Tristan had gone a bit quiet, possibly embarrassed by his wife’s behavior and his small outburst in the car. When Nikki had a chance, she planned to ask Lily how well she knew Savannah.

  The guys went back to their stories and Lily turned to Nikki. “I assume you and Derek want kids. Are you planning on starting a family?”

  Ah, the touchy subject. “We’ve actually been trying.”

  “Oh.” Lily looked surprised. “It’s not that I’m super old-fashioned or anything. I mean, actually I was pregnant with Jonathon before Jackson and I got married,
but . . .”

  Nikki nodded. “I know, kind of the backward way of doing things, even in this day and age. There are some complications. Some medical stuff.” She shrugged, not wanting to get into it. The facts were, Nikki had no idea if she would ever get pregnant. They’d been trying for over a year now with no success. They had recently seen a fertility specialist and the plan was for Nikki to begin treatments in hopes of raising her chances of getting pregnant. She and Derek had also discussed adoption after falling as madly in love as they had with Simon and Marco’s little Violet.

  “I see.” Lily grew quiet. “It’ll happen. It will. I’m sorry it’s so hard. I have never had that problem so I don’t know what to say or how it feels.” She looked down at her hands in her lap.

  Nikki noticed she was wringing her napkin tightly. “It’s okay. Thank you, though. It will all work out.” She lowered her voice and wanted to change the subject. “How long have you known Savannah?”

  “Since college days. Tough one to take. Always has been. Kind of interesting that we both married our college sweethearts. So did our friend Nancy. I’m sorry about Savannah. She was kind of rude to you back at your home. She can be a little difficult.” Lily looked up and Nikki followed her gaze. Tristan was looking at them. “We love her though.”

  Nikki wasn’t buying that at all, but figured that Lily didn’t want to talk trash about Tristan’s wife with him there at the table, although he probably would’ve joined in. There didn’t seem to be any love lost between husband and wife. Nikki hadn’t bought her migraine excuse one bit. For one thing, with a migraine coming on, the last thing Nikki knew she would ever want was a massage. When it came to migraines, darkness, no noise, and definitely no one touching her skin.

  Nikki took a bite of her pork loin and a decent size sip of Cabernet from her glass. When she looked up, she spotted a handsome, dark-haired man, light eyes, tall, strong looking and full of purpose. He was headed directly to their table. Before she could say anything, Derek saw him, too. He stood up as he said, “Zach? No way, man. What’s this?” He spread his arms wide.