Shit. Treading the grapes.
“Oh, yes,” Autumn responded. With her daydreaming, she’d forgotten all about Luna wanting to talk to her. Is that why Nico told her to stay?
“Come!Subito!”
They raced across the cobbled courtyard, then the main house and through a doorway in the back. What was it with these people and the maze of doors? Autumn thought as she followed the girl. Outside again, they walked around a shed and then another larger building. Finally, they walked to a giant vat filled with red grapes, were already crushed.
To Autumn, it looked like a pool of blood.
“Ah, she is finally awake!Buongiorno, Autunno!”
There were a couple of children running through the viscous liquid.
“No running, Ella, how many times… Maria…” Luna raised an eyebrow at the children. They giggled as they froze. The older woman’s stern expression turned into a smile and a head shake. She turned to Autumn with a twinkle in her eye. “You see what I put up with when they come to visit?” She didn’t wait for Autumn’s reply but waved at the girls with a shooing motion. “Uscite ragazze, fuori!”
She motioned Autumn closer, “Let us talk.”
There was some whining from the girls, but with that raised eyebrow Luna sent them, they did as she commanded.
After the girls left, Luna beckoned Autumn inside the vat. “Come. Join me,Autunno.” She eyed the capris Autumn wore. “You may want to roll those up though if you plan on wearing them again.”
With a nod, Autumn did as Luna recommended. They weren’t going any further than above her knees as the pants weren’t exactly stretchy material.
She walked into the vat and was surprised she could move around easily. The liquid wasn’t as thick as she expected. The grapes squished between her toes, and she stomped much like the little girls were doing. She did it again, her smile spreading across her face, and then a bubbly laugh came from her throat. She felt light, younger than she had felt in years.
“Addictive, isn’t it?”
Luna leaned against the wooden plank, resting her elbows loosely against it. A cigarillo was between her fingers as she inhaled, then tipped her head back and blew the smoke rings in the air above her head. Luna looked over at Autumn and inhaled again before blowing the smoke to the side, “You’re enjoying yourself.”
It wasn’t a question, and Autumn didn’t take it as one. She nodded and waded to the side, popping grapes as she went. Her lips hitched up on the side. “It’s definitely different. I’ve never thought of stepping on grapes as something I might do. Your grandchildren definitely enjoy it.”
“Americanos do not look favorably upon it. They worry about diseases and such.” Luna waved a hand, “I enjoy the old traditions. It reminds me of home.”
Autumn wasn’t sure what to say, so she said nothing. As curious as she was about Nico’s upbringing, she didn’t want to pry, and she felt Luna didn’t ask her to stay to talk about where she came from.
Both were quiet for a time. Autumn and Luna walked around the vat and squished grapes between their toes. Suddenly, Autumn looked up with a smile on her face. Luna stared at her.
There was a knowing expression in those sharp brown eyes.
Autumn tried to ignore the tingling going up and down her spine. Nico said Luna wouldn’t hurt her, and she trusted him.
“You didn’t belong to the world you came from, did you, Autumn Taylor?”
Autumn narrowed her eyes. “I’m sorry?”
“David Taylor did wrong by you.”
Autumn stilled. “How do you know my father?”
Luna inhaled the thick cigarette smoke, then exhaled through her nose, “Do you think me stupid, Autumn?”
“No, I—”
Luna interrupted, “He kept you locked up in a tower like Rapunzel.” She cocked her head to the side. “And you had no prince to come rescue you. Saving yourself was the only option.”
Autumn was having a hard time following. Luna telling her what she already knew made her stop. She felt like someone trapped all those years ago. Then when Fox took her, killing him was her only way out. She didn’t interrupt as Luna continued.
“I admire a woman who can take care of herself,” Luna nodded. “A woman who doesn’t need a man to take care of her problems.”
