Free Identity by Nat Burns Page B

and address of this winery. And drinking this doesn’t classify as ‘drinking,’” she added. “This is an experience. I’ve always liked Rieslings but this one has them all beat.”
    Shay dipped her head, pleased that Liza enjoyed the wine as much as she did. Soon she had a feast spread before them and they both jumped in eagerly.
    As she chewed, Shay’s mind flashed back to her painful time with Pepper. Struggling, she tried to rise above the memory, tried to continue to enjoy this one moment of contentment. It was a battle but she got there. A part of her realized that Liza would never complain about Shay’s food preparation nor become abusive if things weren’t to her exacting specifications. She smiled. She bet Liza didn’t even have exacting specifications about anything. She appeared too easygoing for harsh regulations.
    Watching Liza’s gentleness with the shelter animals was the true measure of her character. Anyone who loved and respected animals the way Liza did would never harm another. Shay was sure of this one fact.
    Liza was talking about lettuce. Shay came back to the present with a start, upset by her rudeness in ignoring the other woman.
    “I do believe this is my lettuce,” Liza was saying.
    “Well, of course, silly. I wasn’t going to try and take it from you.”
    Liza watched her blankly as she chewed. “Huh?”
    “The lettuce. I won’t take it back. It’s on your sandwich, so yes, it’s yours.”
    She screwed up her freckled nose, wondering about Liza’s lettuce issues. She had to say, she’d never met anyone with a lettuce fetish before. Was that why Liza hugged her earlier? Because there was lettuce on her sandwich?
    Liza laughed at Shay’s expression. “No, you goose, I grow it. More than likely, this is some that I grew. Did you get it from McCormacks?”
    Now it was Shay’s turn to stare blankly. “Yes, yes, I did but…”
    “That’s what I do. I guess I never mentioned it. I grow things, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, peas, beans, tomatoes, beets, herbs. We even have some citrus groves in Montgomery, but I haven’t done much with that.”
    “You grow them?” Shay asked, making sure she’d heard Liza correctly.
    Liza nodded. “Have you ever heard of Meadows Produce?”
    “Omigosh, you work for Meadows? Everyone’s heard of them. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    “No, seriously. My ex and I started the business twelve years ago in Montgomery. She’s still there managing things.”
    They fell silent. Shay had so many questions that she was having a hard time sorting her thoughts into coherent order. “So she manages the business. What do you do?”
    Liza laughed as she began to peel an orange. “Swell up with my own importance mostly, at least that what’s my grandmother would say.”
    Shay lifted one eyebrow and held out her hand for a section of the orange.
    “No, like I said, I grow things. In the beginning, I did all the research since I’ve always been a little plant crazy. I never thought about doing this as a career, but doors opened one after the other and I just stepped on through.”
    “Meadows is big,” Shay offered, her face expressionless.
    Liza sighed. “Yes, yes it is. And growing all the time. I have to say Gina’s good at what she does.”
    “So she’s your ex?” Shay nibbled at her sandwich and licked mustard from her thumb.
    “Yeah, for about a year now.”
    “How is working together?” Shay watched Liza keenly.
    “It’s okay. We avoid one another mostly.” Liza had finished the orange and reached for the grapes. “I wish things had worked out. As the business grew, I…I saw a different side of her. I’m a little driven. She’s a lot driven.”
    “How do you mean exactly?” Shay nabbed one of Liza’s grapes.
    “Well, her idea of a good time was endless cocktail parties. She said she needed to press the flesh to promote the business.” She paused and laid back, contentedly rubbing her full stomach. “Not that I fault