“True,” Gage agreed. “I know Mom and Dad were super close to Aileen and Colin. Dad said Aileen was devastated by Colin’s death. She struggled for a long while, apparently. It’s what led our mother to offer to help Aileen with IVF. Aileen and Colin wanted kids desperately, according to our father. So much so that Aileen was half mad when Colin died. That’s what led them to say yes when Aileen asked for Dad’s sperm. She said she would raise the kids right next door like they’d planned on when Colin was alive. That we would all grow up together. It was the only reason our parents said yes.
Kathleen bit her lip. Asking your best friend and her husband for his sperm was a big friggin’ ask. There was no way Kathleen would say yes if someone wanted to use Enzo’s sperm. Her heart caught in her throat at the thought as jealousy shot through her veins.
“Your parents are truly very kind people,” Kathleen offered a smile.
“Too kind,” growled Mitch. “Aileen took off a few months later, saying she couldn’t take all the memories anymore and needed to start fresh. Our mother tried to stay in touch, but Aileen eventually disappeared entirely. They had no idea that she was already pregnant.”
Logan frowned. “To be honest, I am glad Mom isn’t around to see this. I think this would break her. Not knowing those kids were out there all these years, she would be devastated for us. Siblings we didn’t know we had.”
“How’s your father doing with all of this?” Enzo asked.
Gage shrugged. “Not great. I tried to get him to come with us, but he said he would rather spend a couple of days in Rome on his own. Mentally preparing himself to meet three children he didn’t know he had. It’s not an easy situation, and I’m pretty sure it’s eating him up inside.”
Kathleen could just imagine how difficult the whole thing would be. Families were the most complicated things on earth. “Try and be kind to yourselves and to the Bishops,” she said. “I think it will take all of you a while to come to terms with the situation.”
“You are not wrong,” Mitch said and drained his wine glass. “I hate to eat and run but we need to get a move on if we’re going to get to Rome tonight. We’re meeting them tomorrow morning.”
Everyone got up from the table and headed out to the front of the winery.
“Good luck with everything,” Kathleen said as he gave Mitch a hug.
She hugged Logan and then Gage. “I want updates on Dani and the baby.”
Enzo wrapped an arm around Kathleen’s waist, and they waved as the Callahans drove away.
“I would not want to be in their shoes,” Kathleen said as she and Enzo turned and headed back inside.
“Me either.” Enzo’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. “I have to take this.” He dropped a quick kiss on Kathleen’s nose and then walked away to take the call.
Kathleen grabbed her wine glass from the table and went out onto the terrace.
After taking a sip of the red wine, she held the glass up to the fading sunlight. It was a wonderfully deep red. The wine tasted of red cherry and raspberry with notes of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Enzo would tell her. He’d been teaching her all about wine, and she’d discovered she was a quick study. She had a knack for it. Who knew?
She looked out over the vineyard and smiled. She was blissfully happy. Being in Italy at Enzo’s favorite vineyard was heaven. Kathleen finally felt like she’d found where she belonged. Found home.
She glanced over her shoulder at Enzo, who was still arguing in Italian. Something with a distributor, she thought. Her Italian was getting better by the day as well.
Turning back, she took her wine glass and left the terrace. Nothing like a stroll through the vineyard at sunset. It was a magical time. The workers had all gone home for the day, and it was just her and the vines. She loved it. The smell of the roses hit her, bringing a smile to her lips. She’d learned that everyone planted roses at the end of the row of vines because if there was some kind of infestation, the bugs or bacteria or whatever would attack the roses first. They were the canary in the coal mine, as it were.
Kathleen drew in a deep breath. Life was good. Really good. She missed Connor, but he was doing his thing and seemed very happy. He’d come for a quick visit, giving Enzo his approval and telling Kathleen he’d never seen her happier. That was all she needed. She smiled at the memory.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Enzo said as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Red cherry, raspberry…and something else,” Kathleen said.
“Rose petals,” Enzo supplied.
“Right,” she agreed. “I’ll get it eventually.”
“I have no doubts.” He kissed her head. “It’s a beautiful evening. Should we go into town and wander through the square?”
Kathleen turned to face him. “I don’t know, I kind of like being alone among the vines with you.” She sent him a suggestive smile. “I thought maybe we could just hang out here for a bit.”
The corners of his mouth turned upward into a sexy grin that still made her heart pound. “Here? I like the way you think.”
Enzo reached for her, laying his hands on her waist, and skimming his thumbs along her sides until he got to the underside of her breasts. Kathleen gripped his wrists and dragged his hands upward until he cupped her soft flesh.
“Here?” he questioned, giving her an out as he dipped his fingers under the neckline of her thin sweater.
