8. Jacob

Frank was waiting for Jacob when he got to the barn. It was just after nine. By the jump in his step, Jacob could see Frank had been waiting for a while. He continued to his office and settled into his old chair. Frank followed and tried to lean against the door frame casually, but his anxious gargantuan frame gave him away. Jacob smiled inwardly, and realized it was the first time in a while. "Ok, Frank, how'd it go?"
Frank stepped inside the door frame eagerly. "Well, it's time. The pH levels are just right. The Brix is a little low, but not enough to worry about. It would be better to wait a day or two, but it's supposed to rain tonight. We should get the grapes in today."
Jacob smiled at Frank and saw a younger version of himself, excited with the prospects of every vintage. He also smiled at the words. It was so simple, yet so scientific, with its pH, and its Brix and acidity. And he laughed at the pretentiousness of Brix, which was just a fancy word for sugar content. No wonder people thought wine was for snobs. Jacob blamed the French, and he laughed at that, too. Jacob looked out the window and watched the tops of the trees swaying slowly, the wind tickling the leaves and making them chirp like excited schoolchildren. He could see a few gray clouds pushing towards the sun. A small dust devil circled the courtyard and dissolved into a row of vines.
"Tomorrow."
"Jake, I really think we should do it today. If it rains, we're screwed." Frank's concern was endearing.
"Get in the big ones. The Cab, the Merlot, the Zins, and all that. Leave the grapes for the meritage. We'll take a chance on them getting perfect."
Frank studied Jake's face for a moment. He looked sure of himself, and Frank was never one to second guess him. "Alright. We'll get started."
"Frank, we'll start the others first thing tomorrow morning. I'll be down earlier in case we need to hustle to beat the rain."
Frank nodded and left the office. Jacob was glad Frank was here. The harvest would be much easier with Frank to shoulder some of the responsibility.