1949

4. Replica

Regina pulled her black Mercedes into the parking lot, fitting it comfortably between a silver Lexus and a white Tesla.
Looking over, Regina could see Emma wrapping up a text to Beth Ann.
"Everything alright love?" She asked.
"Uh, yea. Just chatting with Bee." Emma replied, tucking her phone into her back pocket.
Emma watched as a tall, dark handsome man opened the car door for Regina, "Welcome back to Chateau' L'araunt." He said with a wide grin. To her right, opening her own door was another man. Slender, olive complexion, with a bit of scruff on his chin. The gold name tag on his white coattails revealed the name 'Killian'. With a smile, he opened Emma's car door. "Welcome." He said to her.
Although pleasant, Emma leaned in to whispered to Regina "I don't know why we come here."
Regina rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Regina," Emma continued, "All this fuss about pleasantries.. white suits and fancy bullshit, when we could just as easily open a few bottles of champagne in our own home with friends.."
"Emma, come on... you know Mal and Jaffi like coming here for a social get together every now and again." Regina explained, softly laying her hand in Emma's thigh, "They always pay for everything anyway, and Honestly, It's only polite to accept their yearly invite."
Emma said nothing. Slowly she nodded, blowing her breath out.
"I suppose." She finally replied, stepping out of the car.

Together, the two women walked up from the bottom steps of the chateau, to the top of the foyer. A deep red carpet was splayed out across the marble steps. Emma paused a moment taking in her surroundings. The mansion that housed the extravagant winery was nothing short of a marble fortress. The details of the stonework truly were something to behold. The two white, marble pillars that draped the sides of the main entrance were carved with such intricate details, that it almost seemed like the perfectly chiseled leaves that outlined the apple trees carved into the stone were actually moving with the breeze.
Emma remembered that if one was not too careful consuming the specialty wine here, they would be convinced that they actually were!
As Regina disappeared inside, Emma turned to look a moment over the stone's edge, out and across the vineyard. In the distance where acres of apple trees, and in the foreground, stood endless rows of grape vines. Red, white and purple fruit added splotches of color as Each vine twisted and tangled into the next.

Suddenly, Emma's thoughts were abruptly ended by the loud chattering of Mal embracing Regina.