by SJ McCoy
He put his arm around her shoulders, and they went back out to the patio. “We’ve got the rest of our lives.”
She smiled. “I know, but I wanted today.”
“Maybe tonight. If you feel like it.”
She nodded and sat down. “What do you want to do with today, since I spoiled our plans?”
He sat down beside her. “You didn’t spoil them. I was making a plan for this afternoon, anyway. If you’re interested?”
She smiled. “I am. What are you thinking?”
He told her about the Hardy estate and her eyes widened.
“Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “I don’t mean for us to live there.”
She shook her head rapidly. “No. I didn’t think you did. We’ve talked about that. It’s just, well, that’d be so awesome! Even I know that the Hardy place produces some of the best grapes in the whole valley. That’d be so awesome for you.”
He hugged her to him. “You don’t mind?”
She chuckled. “Mind? I’m thrilled. I know you’ve changed. I know you have different priorities now, but I’m glad that making wine is still important to you. I hoped you’d find that it was something you couldn’t live without. It’s a big part of who you are; I’m glad you haven’t lost it. And I know that if you’re going to do it, you’re going to want to be the best. The Hardy place would give you the opportunity to do that.”
She was amazing. It seemed she knew him better even than he knew himself. “Thanks, Molly. I’m glad you understand.”
She nodded happily. “I do. And I think I know what you’re planning with the Dawson place too.”
He nodded. “What do you think?”
She shook her head. “I think it will depend on how you structure it. Grant’s not going to accept any kind of charity.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t insult him by offering it. I see a win-win for all of us.”
Molly smiled. “How so?”
“Well. I don’t want to go big scale. I just want to cultivate a few vines, make a few bottles of wine.”
She laughed.
“You know what I mean. I want to keep it small scale, a boutique label. And that’s pretty much what Chelsea and Grant are doing with Zosca—and don’t forget that they already have Zosca. If they take on Dawson Dale, it’d be a big expansion for them. I’m seeing the possibility of some kind of cooperative. We can help each other out on production, and we can share costs.”
Molly gave him a knowing smile. “That means they can help you with production and the hands-on side, and you can help them out by financing most of it.”
He smiled. “If that’s what they want. I just want to make wine. I want to have a label that we can call our own. That you can serve at Molly’s, and it’ll bring people in because it’s the only place they can get it. Chelsea and Grant love working it every day. I don’t want to be there, because I want to be here with you.”
Molly smiled. “Except most of the time, I’m at work.”
“And I know you don’t want to give that up.”
“Not completely, no. I’m more like Chelsea and Grant. I need to be there. I am willing to take more time off, though. Grady can handle it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “You’re scheming again, I can tell. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that when we’re ready to have a family—to adopt—I can be a stay-at-home dad.”
Her mouth fell open.
“You don’t like the idea?”
She laughed. “I don’t know what to think. I never thought you’d want to. I don’t know. I’ll need to wrap my head around it, but right now my first instinct is to be jealous! Of you getting to stay home with the baby—and the baby getting to stay home with you.”
He chuckled. “We can both stay home if you want to; we’re lucky, we have that option.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but right now we’re getting ahead of ourselves, first—”
Marcos’ phone rang.
“You should get that.”
“It’s just Ken. He’ll be telling us what time we can go look.”
She laughed. “So, answer him and find out! I’m excited to go and see the place.”
~ ~ ~
When they pulled up outside the main gates to the Hardy estate, Molly looked up the long driveway in awe.
Marcos looked over at her. “What do you think?”
She shook her head. “It’s beautiful. Do you like it?” He kept saying he was happy to live at her place with her, but she wasn’t so sure. Was it fair of her to make him? This grand estate was more his style. It was what he’d grown up with, what he was used to.
“I do. It’s one of the nicest estates around. I’m interested in the land, and I’m interested in how we could separate the house off from the rest of it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’d be crazy to buy it and let it stand empty. There are all kinds of possibilities. The most straightforward would be to put it on the rental market. It has five bedrooms and five bathrooms; it could accommodate groups or just be a high-end vacation rental. Or if we wanted to get creative, we could turn it into a venue for events. It could host weddings.” He raised an eyebrow at her.
Was he asking what she thought he was? Would she want to get married here? She looked up the long driveway again and imagined herself arriving here in a white limousine, or, no, better yet—a horse-drawn carriage. She smiled. Yes. She loved the idea. She wasn’t one of those girls who’d dreamed of her wedding day—at least, not since he’d left—but she could picture it now—here—and she loved the idea.
“It could,” she said. “I think it’d be perfect.”
He smiled back at her. “Okay, then.”
They both turned to look as the realtor’s car pulled up beside them. He rolled his window down, and Marcos did the same. “Hey, sorry I’m late.”
“You’re not,” said Marcos. “We were early.”
“Okay. I’ll pull up to the gate first and enter the code, and then you can follow me through. The caretaker’s here, but other than that, we have the run of the place for as long as you need.”
Molly smiled at Marcos as he brought the car to a halt on the circular driveway in front of the grand entrance. “I’m excited to look around.”
“I am too. Though I think I’m more interested in the vines, and you’re interested in the house.”
She laughed. “Only to see what it’s like, and to see what the possibilities are.”
“Come on. We’ll look at the house first.”
Ken greeted them both with a smile. Molly knew him well; having grown up and lived all her life here, she knew most of the locals, especially since she owned one of the most popular eateries in town.
“It’s good to see you, Molly. How’s your dad keeping?”
“He’s doing well, thanks. He’s loving Arizona.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Give him my best when you speak to him.”
“Thanks.”
Ken led them up the steps to the front door. “I’m going to let you in and leave you to it. I’ll be out on the back terrace when you’re done, or if you have any questions.”
“Thanks.” Marcos took Molly’s hand as they went inside.
She looked up at his face, wondering if this would feel more like home to him than her place did. She hoped not. To her, it was like a big fancy hotel. It was beautiful—gorgeous to look at. It had everything you could want or need to live well, but it didn’t feel like a home.
They went through into the great room, and she had to catch her breath. The view was amazing.
Marcos smiled at her. “Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
She shook her head. “Me neither. It’s stunning.”
He nodded and went through to the kitchen.
She caught his hand when they got there. “Do you want to live here?”
He frowned. “Do you?”<
br />
She made a face, not wanting to influence his answer.
She could tell he was choosing his words carefully when he spoke again. “If you want to, then, of course, we can move here.”
“But what about for you? Would this make you happy? Take me out of the picture.”
He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “No. It wouldn’t. If you were out of the picture, nothing could make me happy. I don’t want a picture that doesn’t have you in it. It hasn’t been long, but I’ve grown to love living in your house with you. It feels like home to me.”
She smiled. “You’re not just saying that?”
“No. I wouldn’t. My interest in this place is in the land. I like the house. It’s beautiful, but it doesn’t suit us and who we are right now.”
“No. You’re right. We’re young, we’re just getting started on our life together. Maybe one day, when we have a house full of kids, we’ll want more space, and we’ll want to come and live here. I don’t know that I’ll ever want to give up my place completely, but we can keep it and maybe one day one of our kids will want to live there.”
He held his arms open to her, and she went to him, resting her head against his chest as he closed them around her. “We have all the time in the world to decide what we want to do.”
She nodded.
“I do have one question though.”
“What?”
“Before we have children, I want us to be married.”
Her heart started to race.
“Do you want that?”
She nodded against his chest.
He landed a kiss in the middle of her forehead. “And would you want to get married here, in this house?” He took hold of her hand and led her to the patio doors. The terrace was huge, set in front of that amazing view of the valley.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Yes.”
“Okay, then. Let’s see the rest of it and then we can walk the vines.”
“We haven’t done that since we were kids.”
“I know. I haven’t done it since I’ve been back here. It feels right to do it now. This place, you and me.” He shrugged. “It’s like we’re marking the beginning of the next chapter.”
Chapter Fourteen
Molly stood at the servers’ station rolling cutlery. The lunchtime rush was over, and she was about ready to take her break. She was worn out, but then she’d been feeling that way all week. She’d had another couple of episodes with that awful dizziness and nausea, but luckily Marcos hadn’t witnessed it—so she hadn’t mentioned it. It was only some kind of stomach bug; it’d pass soon enough. She didn’t want him worrying or making her go to the doctor.
She looked up as the front door opened and smiled when Chelsea came in.
“Hey, girlfriend. I wondered if I’d find you here.”
Molly laughed. “Where else would you find me? I’m always here.”
“I used to think so, but whenever I come in these days, I’m just as likely to see Grady as I am to see you.”
Molly smiled. “I seem to remember you being the head cheerleader who wanted me to get out more and have a life.
Chelsea grinned. “I know. It’s awesome, and the best part is that you’re back with Marcos.”
Molly smiled. “It is kind of wonderful.”
“He’s all kinds of wonderful, and that’s what I want to talk to you about. Can you take a break? Have a chat with me?”
“Sure. What do you want to drink?”
“Just an orange juice.”
“Okay. Have you eaten?”
“Yeah. I’m fine, but have you?”
Molly shook her head. “No. Let me go and ask Darren to make me a sandwich, and I’ll be right back with our drinks.”
When she came back out of the kitchen, Chelsea had taken a seat in a corner booth—which made Molly feel like this was some kind of clandestine meeting.
“What’s up?” she asked as she slid in opposite her.
“Nothing’s up. I’m happy. Your man—my cousin—is wonderful.”
Molly smiled. “I like to think so.”
“Has he talked to you about Dawson Dale?”
“Yes. Isn’t it a great idea?”
“You think so? You really wouldn’t mind?”
“Mind? Why? He wants the land that comes with the Hardy estate. Dawson Dale is part of the sale. If he can then turn around and sell it to you and Grant, everyone wins.” She frowned. “You don’t like the idea?”
Chelsea nodded vigorously. “I love the idea. I just needed to know you were okay with it. I mean, I thought you might want to have this vast estate now you’re going to be Mrs. Di Giovanni. You might not want your husband’s family renting the smaller estate that’s part of it.”
Molly shook her head. “What the …? You’re not serious, are you? There are so many things wrong with what you just said. First of all, we have no intention of living there—for years, if ever. We’re happy at my place—and you thinking I’m going to go all stuck-up Mrs. Di Giovanni on you is crazy. You know me better than that. And to call yourself my husband’s family instead of my friend pisses off.”
Chelsea gave her an apologetic smile. “I know. It’s all stupid. But it just seems too good to be true, so I’m going around trying to figure out what could possibly go wrong with it all—what could prevent it from happening. The only thing I could think of that would make me say no to Marcos’ offer would be if you weren’t happy about it. So, I had to come and see you.”
Molly laughed. “You’re a goofball sometimes, Chelsea, but I love you. I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all. I think it’s wonderful. I think it will bring us all closer. I’m happy for you and Grant; I’m happy for Marcos that he gets to make wine again. I’m even happier that he gets to go into some kind of partnership with the two of you. It’s all good. I’m happy.”
Chelsea grinned. “Good, then I am, too. And by the way, I get to be your maid of honor, right?”
Molly had to laugh. “Who says I need one?”
“I do! I know you’re not in any hurry, but I just want the two of you to finally be married. Don’t you?”
Molly nodded. “Honestly? I do. At first, I was so wary of even getting back together with him. Then we were taking our time proving that we’re still right for each other. Now I feel like we’re where we need to be—we’re ready to launch into the rest of our lives together. And that next step will come when we get married.”
Chelsea put both hands over heart and sighed. “Aww. The happily ever after we’ve all been waiting for. I hope he hurries up about it.”
Molly smiled. She was starting to hope so, too. “He can’t have told you what he’s considering for the Hardy house if you thought I wanted to live there.”
“All we’ve talked about is Dawson Dale. It means so much to Grant. He loves that place. He loved his granddad so much. We’re thinking we’re going to move into the house after we get married. I mean, we weren’t going to stay in my cottage forever.”
Molly smiled. “That’ll be perfect. You get to live in his family home.”
“Yeah, I guess. I never understood why that’s so important to people. It’s obviously important to you, just like it is to Grant.”
Molly shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child.”
“Anyway, sorry. You were going to tell me what he’s thinking for the Hardy house.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, it was only one of the possibilities, but using it as a wedding venue.”
“Oh, that’d be awesome! You should totally get married there.”
Molly smiled. “I’d like to, but there’s one problem.”
Chelsea’s smile disappeared. “What? What’s wrong?”
Molly laughed. “I’m only teasing. It’s not a problem as such. It’s just a timing thing. He hasn’t actually asked me yet.”
Chelsea smiled. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. We all kn
ow it’s coming.”
Molly wanted to feel reassured by that, but for some reason, she didn’t. She knew he wanted to marry her. She knew it was only a matter of time, but for some reason she wanted him to ask her soon. She was the one who’d forced them to take it slowly, and he’d been so good about respecting that. It was unreasonable of her to start feeling edgy because she now wanted things to go faster.
Chelsea gave her a puzzled look. “Is everything okay?”
Molly chuckled. “Everything is wonderful. I just keep getting this feeling that I want him to hurry up. All of a sudden I’m feeling impatient—as if there’s some reason we should get married as soon as possible. I know it’s crazy, but there’s just something inside me that feels that it’s urgent.”
“Maybe it’s some kind of women’s intuition? Maybe some part of you knows that you need to be married soon—for some reason?”
Molly laughed. “Yeah, I’m not buying that. What reason could there be to rush it? The only reason to get married is because you’re both ready and you both want to.”
Chelsea nodded. “I guess. Maybe it’s just your subconscious wanting you to hurry the fuck up. You took so long, you’re on the final leg, now you just want to get there.”
“Yeah. That’s probably it.”
~ ~ ~
Marcos hung up the phone and smiled to himself. Everything was working out well. Ken had presented his, admittedly lowball, offer on the Hardy place, and the sellers had accepted. He was surprised, but pleasantly so. Ken thought the sellers had been expecting the property to sit on the market for at least a few months, so an early offer, even if it was under the asking price, was better than they’d hoped.
Marcos had talked to Grant and Chelsea about his ideas, but they hadn’t made any firm agreements yet. That was fine. He didn’t need to sell Dawson Dale to them—it had produced good grapes in its day, too. He wouldn’t mind keeping it if he had to. He hoped that everything would work out, though. He wanted to see Chelsea and Grant settled into Grant’s family home. He wanted to set up their little cooperative and produce great wines. Everything was falling into place.
Now that the winery deal was in the works, he was ready to take care of the most important detail of his life. He wanted to ask Molly to marry him, but he needed to lay the groundwork first. He picked up the phone and then put it down again. Was this a conversation he wanted to have over the phone? He shook his head. No. It was one he needed to have in person.
