“I see that now,” he said. “I don’t want to be a bystander in the lives of my grandchildren. I won’t promise to make sweeping changes in my personality, I’m much too old to change everything . . . but I do promise to try and be a better father.”
The door to possibility with her father opened enough for her to step inside. “I’d like that.”
Her dad looked her in the eye and, for the second time that day, pulled her into his arms.
“I love you, Em.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
He cleared his throat as he pulled away and offered a smile. “I’m proud of you. What you’ve done here,” he said, looking around the empty vats just waiting for wine.
“I couldn’t have done it without Giovanni.”
Robert shrugged. “You could have. After all, you’re a Rutledge.”
“I’m about to be a D’Angelo.”
“But you’ll always be my daughter.” He placed her hand in the crook of his arm and started back outside. “I heard you’re already looking for more vines.”
“Gio’s been planning his own winery long before I thought of this place. We want to bottle the D’Angelo label right here at Casa de Emma.”
“If you need any h—”
“We’ll scrimp and save and do it on our own,” she said, cutting him off.
Robert hesitated, looked at her, and seemed to change his mind on what he was about to say. “Fine. But I’m paying for the wedding.”
Emma smiled as the sunshine from outside touched her face.
EPILOGUE
Gio stood back from all the chaos and held Emma in his arms.
Both of their families laughed and drank, teased and played. It was everything he’d ever envisioned for his life.
“I don’t want a long engagement,” he whispered in Emma’s ear.
“I don’t want a huge wedding. These people right here . . . maybe a few more, but that’s it.”
“We can do that.” He kissed the side of her head.
“After harvest?”
“Sold.”
“I can’t believe you asked my father if you could marry me.”
“Oh, I didn’t ask, bella. I told him I was going to and wanted his blessing.”
Emma chuckled. “Did he really tell you you weren’t good enough?”
Gio nodded. “Asshole.”
“I think he’s going to try and redeem himself.”
“Good. You deserve better.”
She leaned into him and sighed. “I want one of those.”
“One of what?”
Emma pointed to their family. “Leonardo.”
Could this day get any better? Gio let her go and started to walk away.
“Where are you going?”
“To throw away your birth control pills.” She’d taken the IUD out weeks ago and depended on a pill to do the job.
Emma grabbed his hand and pulled him back. “Stop. Let’s get married first. Besides, the doctor said we should wait a little longer.”
Gio brought her back into his arms. “And here I didn’t think you were listening to my questions.”
“I’m always listening.”
“We’re going to have the best life.”
Gio kissed her for so long he thought for sure someone was going to turn on the sprinklers. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“We should probably get back to the party.”
They walked to the table, took the ribbing of those who had watched them.
“We’re going to make beautiful babies,” Gio announced.
“Can you marry her first?” Robert asked.
“Leave their options open, Robert. I’m not getting any younger,” Mari scolded.
The laughter at the table cut off when a stranger walked around from the front of the house, rolling a suitcase.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“Can we help you?” Gio asked the man.
“Is there an Emma Rutledge that lives here?”
Emma started laughing beside Gio. So much so that she started to double over. “That’s . . .” Her laughter grew.
Next thing Gio knew, Nicole started laughing as well.
And as laughter does, everyone at the table started to chuckle even if none of them knew why.
Gio laughed with her. “Amore . . . what’s so funny?”
She pointed. “My suitcase.”
Rob, Pierre, and Chris chimed in the loudest. “Holy shit.”
“It’s a little late,” Rob said.
The stranger looked at them as if they were crazy. “The airline sent me to a condo complex. They gave me this address.”
Gio walked over to the guy, reached in his pocket, and handed him a tip. “It’s okay. Her lost luggage gave me the chance to help her buy panties before our first kiss.”
The stranger waved. “Thanks.”
Emma looked at the tags on the bag. “It must have flown to Italy and back three times.”
“Zio Gio?”
“Yes, darling?”
“Girls don’t need boys to help them buy panties. We can do that all by ourselves.”
Gio sucked in his smile with the seriousness of his niece’s face.
“C’mon, Franny. Let’s go get some cake.” Mari grabbed her hand and started toward the house. “Stop talking about panties in front of your niece.” His mother pushed a finger into his chest.
“Better start practicing what you say in front of children now,” Emma suggested.
Gio gave her bottom a playful swat. “We need to make those babies fast.”
“Wedding first!” Robert reminded them.
Gio and Emma locked eyes.
“Mrs. Rutledge?” Luca caught Beth’s attention.
“Yes?”
“How soon can you plan a wedding?”