“I haven’t heard from Olivia in ages. No one has. It’s not like her.”
He frowned. “You said she’s doing a top-secret job at the moment for a particularly high-profile client?”
She nodded. “But it’s more than that. I know she wouldn’t just go quiet on me. Especially not on Christmas. Even Sophie’s been strange lately.”
“Sophie sent beautiful presents for Milly. And she is a newlywed,” he pointed out with a small smile, hoping to assuage Ava’s fears.
“I know, which is why I’ve sort of ignored the fact she’d dropped off the face of the earth. She’s happy. Or at least, she claims to be. And Alex has been in touch to get decorations and recipes.” She shrugged. “But Liv is too trusting. She’s always got a new boyfriend, or a crazy travel plan. What if she’s met someone really bad? What if something’s happened to her?”
“It is more likely that she has been swallowed up by the pleasures of Vegas,” he promised. “It is a city that is like no other. It is a living, breathing organism. All delightful distractions and fun.”
“Perfect for Liv, then. But you don’t understand. She and Sophie are more than just aunties to Milly. They’re like other-mummies. For neither of them to have called this morning …”
“There is the time difference too,” he p
ointed out.
“Yes, but …”
“But nothing,” he promised. “Now, come and see the present I have for you.”
She nodded, but her mind was still half on her sisters.
When he crouched beneath the tree and lifted a round tube from its base, Ava’s first reaction was one of disappointment. Such a shape was unlikely to contain a wedding ring; was it?
It caught her completely off guard. Until that moment, she hadn’t realised that she’d been hoping he would propose again.
“Here,” he murmured. “Open it.”
She took it from him curiously and slid the lid off. Papers were inside. She pulled them out and stared at them for a moment, before lifting her eyes to his. “I don’t understand.”
His grin was like the cat that had caught the cream. “They are deeds.”
“Deeds?” She prompted.
“Documents of title.”
“To what?” She asked, turning her attention back to the paper.
“To the surrounding vineyard.”
“To … what? Why?” She flicked the first page and looked at the map. Sure enough, it looked like Cristiano had purchased the ‘L’ shaped package of land that surrounded Casa Celli.
“Because, Ava, together we are going to make beautiful wines. And lots of them. We need more grapes for that.”
“We need more … we’re going to make … But Cristiano, I thought you were working with the Berries?”
“How could I when you have far superior grapes here?” He kissed her forehead. “We’re a team, you and I. And we are about to put this little winery on the world map.”
“In a big way,” she agreed, for Cristiano Cesar Barata brought not just experience and talent, but the kind of publicity that guaranteed success. Her heart was swollen with love, and all thoughts of her sisters evaporated completely.
At least, for a time.
But later that day, when Cristiano was showing Jackson the new vines, and Milly and Marie were napping, Ava opened her emails. And one in particular caught her attention. The sender was Olivia, and the subject proclaimed excitedly: GUESS WHAT …
I know I’ve been terrible with emails lately.
I’m sorry, but when you read this, you’re going to understand. I’ve met someone. Someone special.