Napa Valley (3)

The next day I woke up to the sound of the alarm clock and it was blasting! Ugh it seems so early. I squint my eyes over to the clock since I don't sleep with my contacts on and the time is 6:00 am. Why the hell would I have to wake up this early?!?

"Sunshine, wake up, it's time for some breakfast and then you are off to work" says my way too cheerful mother as she walks in my room

"Ma! What are you saying? I am too tired to hear" I say and drift back to sleep

She comes over to my bed and shakes me. Wow she did not have to do that

"Ok! I am up...jeeze. You didn't have to wake me like that. What am I doing today? Working?" I ask cranky

"Yes, you Mark and Madison will be working on a project for your grandparents and Mr. Goods. You will be transforming the old wine room into a brand new one" she says happily

"What the heck is a wine room? Like a wine tasting room?" I ask

"No not quite. A wine tasting room is where guests come and taste the wine that we sell on the vineyard and if they like it they go over to the wine room. That is the room where we keep all the bottles of wine and they can purchase them in there" she explains

"Oh so its like a wine store?" I ask

"Exactly. It needs a new paint job, new rugs, new wine bottle holders, and some couches or chairs in case the customers want to sit a minute. Plus it just gives the room a whole comfortable feel, don't you think?"

"Mom I don't know. I don't know anything about wine or wine rooms. How am I supposed to do this job?" I ask

"Well that's why you are not alone. Madison and Mark will be helping out too. They will be here in a little while to get you" she says

"What about Danny? He doesn't have to work but I do?" I complain

"No honey, Danny does work. He has a far more tougher job than you. He actually works in the fields with the grapes and other crops in this heat. Why would you rather work with him and do that?" my mother asks sarcastically

"Absolutely not!" I say

"Ok then, get ready and wear some old clothes and throw your hair up because you may be outside a lot" she says

"But mom I never wear my hair up. And I don't have old clothes" I tell her
"Mandy who are you trying to impress? You don't have to look good all the time up here. You are a naturally pretty girl. I am positive that you will still look pretty in some old sweats and a t-shirt and your hair tied back in a messy bun. You aren't in L.A. anymore sweetie. You have to start getting used to it. This is your new life" my moms preaches to me

"Ok mom whatever. I will be down in a bit. Just let me know when they get here"

My mom closes my bedroom door after leaving. This is going to be a rough day. I have no idea what I am doing? Oh god what on earth am I going to wear?

I walk outside and see Madison and Mark. Mark is looking scruffy and is wearing ripped jeans and a wife beater. He looks tempting. Madison is wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top.

"Hey Mandy...those shorts are just so cute!" says Madison

"Thanks Maddie" I say. I am wearing short denim shorts and a tank top.

"You look different but I like this look for you" says Mark

"Mark you are too sweet but I probably look so ugly" I say

"Never. You are naturally pretty Mandy" Mark says

"I agree. Now lets go we have to get to work if we want to finish the wine room by the end of the summer" says Maddie

I smile at Mark and he gives me a wink. This kid just doesn't stop flirting! But I love it

We walk over to the wine room. It is a small brick square on the outside but on the inside it is pretty roomy. Right now it looks like a mess. The walls are all different shades of white and gray and the floors are not done.

"I think we should first clean this place up. I will get started on it. Can you girls start looking at the magazines for some wine bottle holders and other furniture and things you may like? I am sure you would rather do that than scrub the floors and walls" Mark says

"Oh I don't mind scrubbing" I say seriously

"Really? Uh do you want to scrub?" he asks

Maddie looks at me funny and says "Suit yourself"

"Ok Mark I think I will help Maddie today but tomorrow I am definitely getting down and dirty" I say and try to hold in my chuckle

"Ha-ha very funny" says Maddie

"That did not sound right Mandy" Mark says

"Get your heads out of the gutters guys" I say and we all laugh and get to work

Maddie and I are sitting on the bench outside the wine room flipping through all types of furniture and vineyard magazines. We found some samples of what we want but we still have to look some more.

"Oh hey what about this one?" asks Maddie

I look at the picture of the wine bottle holders. They are a deep mahogany red.

"Eh they are alright I guess" I say

"You don't look like you are having fun. You would so rather be in there with Mark scrubbing away wouldn't you?" she asks me

"No, what are you saying" I say with my head buried in a magazine

"You know you like him Mandy. I can even tell" she says

I shake my head no and say "You are wrong"

"Am I?" she asks knowing the answer

I smirk at her and say "Stop assuming things"

"Oh I am not assuming...I am stating a fact. Its so obvious! Just admit it"
I shake my head no some more and she begs me to tell her

"FINE! Ok I think he is hot but that's all. We are just friends" I tell her

She laughs and says "I knew you liked him"

"Never said that" I say

She laughs and says "Go inside if you want. I will be fine out here. I love doing this stuff anyway. I picked out everything so far so it's not like I really need your help. Go ahead. Go"

I get up and hand her the magazine I was looking at

"Thanks I owe you" I say and head into the room

When I walk in I see Mark on his hands and knees scrubbing the floors

"Boo!" I shout behind him and he jumps all the way up

"You scared the shit outta me Mandy!" he screams

"Sorry" I say and laugh

"What are you doing in here? I thought you were helping my sister" he says

"Nope that got really boring and she said she can handle it on her own. I don't really know what I am looking for anyway you know I never decorated a wine room before so I figured I'd let her do that and I can do something else and help for real" I say

"You are rambling. Come on grab that sponge and start wiping down the walls. Try to get all that white stuff and glue off" he says

"Yes sir!" I salute him

"Shut up!" he says

This shall be fun =)