I look around and realize we are driving down a long lane with trees on either side of it. Ahead, I see an ornate-looking building.
“We’re here!” Ava squeals.
Hutch groans. “Can we dial it down a few notches, Avanator? Some of us didn’t sleep much on the flight,” he grumbles.
Ava rolls her eyes, looking over her seat at him. “Mr. Hutch, I saw you had a real bed. So I know you slept.”
Hutch and Jocelyn traveled in first class on our flight. I had offered to upgrade the three of us, but Carly wouldn’t accept it. And I, like an idiot, decided to ride in the cattle car with them. Well, it was business class, which at least had larger seats, but still not the whole-ass beds in first class.
I stretch and moan as a sore muscle releases from a knot that surely formed when Ava used me as a bed. Sitting up, I take in our surroundings with more clarity as the mansion is revealed through the clearing up ahead.
It’s a Mediterranean-style building with a clay roof and cream stucco exterior walls. Giant dark wooden double doors open as our driver parks, and Vito, Drew, Cam, and Fletcher emerge.
The next thirty seconds are chaotic as everyone gets up and grabs bags. There’s hugging and laughing. Ava bounces from one person to the next.
Eventually, Fletcher whistles, and everyone freezes.
“I’m guessing everyone wants a shower or nap before food. We’ll be having brunch on the back patio in an hour. It’s just around the back of this main house. We’ve done our best to pair folks up into the guesthouses. Vito and Drew will be taking Jessa, Troy, Al, Margie, and Cornelia next door in those golf carts. There’s a path connecting the two properties, so you’ll have use of the golf carts for your stay. Kasen, Piper, Hutch, and Jocelyn, you can follow Cam. She’ll take you to the larger guesthouse just down the hill. And Roxy and Gray, you are just over there in the apartment over that garage. Carly, Ava, and Bray, we put you three in the special princess guesthouse. You can follow me, and I’ll show you,” Fletcher says, giving Ava a wink.
Ava’s eyes light up when he says princess.
The next few minutes descend into more chaos as we divide into our groups and follow our leaders. It reminds me of camp as a kid.
We wheel our luggage behind Fletcher, who leads us around the main house and down a hill. The path is lit, which will come in handy during the evenings, and I can see a beautiful small dwelling up ahead. Based on its surroundings and the vista beyond, I have a sneaking suspicion it has great views. But then again, from up at the main house, all you can see are the miles of rolling hills and vineyards around the property. I met Vito a number of times when he was dating Drew in the States. He’s a cool guy. And until this very moment, I did not know he was rich, like rich, rich.
Fletcher opens the door, and we step into a well-maintained home. It has a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, two bedrooms, and a small loft with another bed. But the best part is the little Juliet balcony at the end of the hall on the second story. The views are amazing.
“Wow,” I breathe as I take it all in.
“I’m like Rapunzel!” Ava shrieks as she lets down her ponytail and tries to allow her hair to fall over the balcony rail.
“Or, smarter than her,” Carly mutters, pulling her daughter away from the edge of the balcony.
Ava sighs. “Where am I sleeping?”
“Come on, I’ll show you something cool,” Fletcher offers.
We follow him. He opens a small door in the wall and secures it with a hook to keep it open. We peer inside, and I frown. It’s a slide.
“What is this?” Carly says in a frown.
Fletcher motions for us to climb up the steep steps to the loft. He flicks on a light, and we all gasp. Then Ava bolts to the giant mattress on the floor and bounces on it. The arched ceiling is strung with little pink lights. The bed is made up with at least a dozen pillows, and there is a legit slide that goes down to the second-floor hallway.
Ava runs over and slides down, yelling, “Weeee!”
“Peanut, is that really necessary?” I ask as I lean over to look down at her below us.
“Yep,” she states as she scrambles back up to us to do it again.
Looking back at the room, I see a small table, two chairs, and a stack of games.
“This is great. Thank you so much,” Carly says as she hugs Fletcher.
“Of course. Vito’s parents lived here when the kids were little. His dad built that for them; they didn’t move into the main house until his grandparents retired from running the vineyard,” Fletcher explains. “But now his grandparents live back up at the main house. Anyhow, get settled, and then I’ll see you all in about an hour. Just follow the path straight and around back to the patio.”
“Thanks, Fletcher. We’re so excited to be here,” Carly says as she hugs him. For reasons I’m not exploring at the moment, I feel a tinge of jealousy as my friend wraps his arms around Carly.
“We are excited everyone is here,” he says and pulls back as Ava slides down again in a fit of laughter.
