Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Okay, let’s do this,” she says as she walks past the closet. “Gray?”
“Coming.” With my jacket draped over my arm, I join her. “Let’s go.”
“Cuppa de Vita wines?” she asks beside me as I pull into the parking lot.
“Do you know it?”
She turns that wide smile on me and then laughs. “You could say that. My uncle, Dominic, owns it.”
“Your family never stops surprising me.”
“You’re not the only one,” she says. “This will be so fun. I haven’t seen Uncle Dom and Aunt Alecia in a long time.”
I escort her inside where the tasting room is and hear a shriek of excitement from behind the bar.
“Stella!”
She’s swept up in a hug, and then the woman glances my way.
“I’m sorry, how can I help you?”
“I have a reservation for two,” I reply with a smile. “Grayson Sterling.”
“I’m the plus one,” Stella adds.
“Oh, how fun. I get to meet the new boyfriend. I’m Alecia, Stella’s aunt.”
“Does the whole family know?” Stella asks her.
“Of course. Now, come on. I’ll get you started with a glass of wine and our spread of goodies. I have pasta lined up for dinner and a special surprise for dessert.”
“When did you start offering a three-course meal?” Stella asks.
“About a year ago,” Alecia replies and gestures to a table by the window that overlooks the rolling hills of vines. “This is a pinot noir taken from that plot right there.”
She gestures to the vines closest to where we sit as a young woman holding a tray approaches.
“Oh, thank you, Emma. This is just an appetizer to whet your appetite.”
“Hey, Em,” Stella says to the young woman. “How’s school?”
“Meh, it’s okay,” she says with a shrug. “I can’t wait to graduate and go live in the new family compound in the city.”
“Don’t let your mother hear you say that,” Stella advises. “Also, you should come hang out with me soon.”
“Yes, please,” Emma says with gratitude. “I can’t bring you the hard stuff, but I can deliver food to the table, so if you need anything at all, just flag me down. I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, kiddo,” Stella says with a wink and turns to me when Emma walks away. “She’s the youngest of the cousins, and she hates that title. She’s ready to grow up and do all the fun things that she sees the other cousins doing.”
“Of course, she does.”
“Liv and I try to get the younger cousins together now and then so they can have fun, too. We can’t have them coming to the cousins’ parties at the house because of the drinking, though. That’s not even a possibility. But I feel bad that they feel left out.”
“You’re a good person.” I reach out for her hand and take a sip of the wine. “And this wine is the best I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
We look up and see a man standing nearby.
“Uncle Dom,” Stella says with a grin.
“Hello, bambina,” he replies with an Italian accent. “How did I get so lucky to see you tonight?”
“Gray brought me,” Stella says, gesturing to me. “I didn’t know he was bringing me here until we pulled in.”
“I love your wines,” I add and offer my hand to shake. “They’re some of my favorites, and I thought it would be fun to bring Stella for a tasting. I had no idea the vineyard was a family one.”
“We have a big family,” Dom replies with a smile. “It takes a while to learn all the ins and outs of us all. My wife made something special for dessert, so you’re in for a treat. Be sure to find me before you go so I can see you.”
“I will.”
“Your family is something,” I say, shaking my head. “So nice.”
“Kindness runs in our DNA,” she confirms.
“I am a little surprised, though. Dominic doesn’t look anything like anyone else in your family.”
“Well, that’s because how he came to be was a bit of a scandal.” She clears her throat and sips her wine. “My grandparents were separated for a while after my uncle Caleb was born. While separated, my grandpa had an affair.”
I feel my eyes go wide.
“I know, right? Dom was the result of that. Grandpa didn’t know about him until Dom was an adult and came to find him after his mother died.”
“How did your grandma take it?”
“From what I heard, she took it all in stride. She welcomed Dominic into our family, and everyone moved on. I think that all my uncles struggled a bit, but no one thinks of Dom and his family as anything but a part of us.”
“That’s…extraordinary.”
“Speaking of family, how’s yours?” she asks and bites into a piece of cheese.
“Difficult.” I tell her about my dad’s call, and then my follow-up call to Maya. “Part of me is relieved that Maya will be there to help, but part of me feels guilty. She shouldn’t have to take on the burden on her own.”