caveman on me and drag me off to your cave?"
He kissed me again, "Don’t tempt me to show you what I would do. I told you, this is it. I gave you your chance to get away; it's me and you forever now."
I loved the sound of that. I kissed him back. I pressed send on my text. The noise of a cell phone behind me made me turn around. Will gave me an emotional look. "Hey."
I smiled, "I knew you'd come. She's inside." I stepped out into the hall. Mike hugged Will and slapped him on the back. Luce followed us into the hallway. I watched as my mother placed the baby into Will's arms. He started to cry, hugging the small bundle. He shook his head, "She's perfect."
He looked awkward and smitten in the same breath. Brandi's hands were lifted to her lips. Her eyes were filled with tears and her hands shook as they rested on her lips.
He carried his new daughter to Brandi and the three of them embraced. Mom left the room, closing the door. She gave me a look, and then gave Mike a scowl, "Just marry Jacqueline before you impregnate her, please. It's bad enough the celebrity gossip pages are saying she had a nervous breakdown and Lucian left her."
She pat him on the chest and walked down the hall with Muriel.
Mike gave Luce a look but he just shook his head, "So weird your mom is gay now."
I looked at my mom and Muriel, suddenly seeing something I had been missing all along. The two of them linked arms and my mom leaned her head on Muriel's shoulder.
I felt shivers all over my body, "That explains so many things."
Mike folded his arms across his chest, "I like Muriel way better than your dad."
I nodded, "Me too." I looked at him, "What a year."
He smiled, "Things are never dull with you rich people."
Luce snorted, "To say the least."
I swatted at them both. Slowly we crept back into the room to see smiles and tears.
Will looked at me, "Thank you."
I winked at him, "I owed you one, I think."
June - One Year Later
Saturday morning - The day of the wedding
The bottles were lined up on display perfectly. I dusted the table once more and looked around the room. The barn renovation had gone perfectly. The old beams and glass were all that was left of the ancient structure. We hadn’t built like the Romans, it didn’t last.
The fresh paint smell had finally started to fade. I looked at the boys I'd hired from the university to pour and serve. "You are good if I go and check on the rest?"
They nodded, giving me an odd look. I was being a control freak.
I walked out onto the path of trees we had just planted in amongst the old black walnuts and willows. I touched one of the lemon trees and smiled. It would one day be my legacy. Albero di Limone was the name of my label, or Lemon Tree Winery for Americans.
The path led to the villas I had made for the guests. There were two, each functioned as a 60-room inn. It was perfect. They were mock-ups, not exact, of the villa Daniela and Tex had been married at. The view was of the vineyard and the sea. The hills with the vineyard was my favorite view, but I was alone in that. Everyone else loved that Carolina coastline.
We even had storm reservations for storm watchers who could come on short notice. If a storm was hitting, the room instantly was reserved for them. Some people were crazy and liked watching storms. They made me nervous.
The butlers were in proper attire and ready to serve. I scanned each one as I walked past, "You ready?"
They nodded.
I walked past it to the far side of the property, where the best view was. Our house was there, tucked away in the trees. It matched the villa in Rome but with considerably better updates. I walked in the front door. Mike and my mom were arguing.
Or rather she was yelling at him, "You can't, Mike, stop being such a…"
"Mom!"
She looked at me and blushed, "Sorry dear, we were just discussing the fact he was going to sign autographs at the winery. He, Lucian, and Will are all in protest."
I lifted my hand to my heart, "I think I'm having a heart attack and you two are fighting about autographs? Where the hell is Brandi? Jesus. I