AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Marcos watched Antonio walk back down the aisle with his bride on his arm. He was happy for them. Mary Ellen was a great girl, and she was just what Antonio needed. He believed they had a long and happy future ahead of them. His own marriage might have been a miserable failure, but that was down to him—and the woman he’d chosen to marry. He still believed that marriage was good—when it was right. He cast a glance at his parents. His mom was leaning her head against his dad’s shoulder as she dabbed at her eyes. They’d set the standard for him of what a wonderful marriage should be. They were loving and open. Sure, they had their disagreements, but they played fair. His mom was very Italian; she spoke her mind—loudly at times. She voiced her disapproval and her displeasure, but she didn’t bear a grudge. He’d never known them to go to bed angry. He doubted his mom’s anger could last more than an hour. She always got back to smiling and joking and hugging and kissing, voicing her happiness more often and more loudly than any grievance. His dad was a rock. He’d grown up right here in Napa, but he’d moved to Sicily to be with the woman he loved. In Marcos’ mind, that had been a declaration of true and undying love.
From his vantage point, he scanned the rows of guests. There she was. Molly. She had her back to him as they all turned to watch the happy couple go by. He’d thought what he and Molly had was the same as his parents. She was outgoing, she let her feelings be known and never hung on to her anger. He shook his head. He’d loved her. But it had ended.
He smiled to himself as Antonio steered Mary Ellen away from the house. He was taking her around to the garden to show her the Magnolia tree he’d planted there for her. As they disappeared around the corner, the guests turned back and began to chat with each other. He should probably go down there and join them instead of staying up here at the front. This part of his best man duties was over. He didn’t move, though. The rows of guests were filled with people he knew and loved. People he hadn’t seen in far too long and who, ordinarily, he’d love to catch up with.
He blew out a sigh. This was no ordinary time, though. He was freshly divorced. Fresh out of a job—after admitting that he was in no shape to continue running the family winery in Sicily. If it weren’t for his impetuous brother and his wedding, which he’d announced all of a week ago, Marcos wouldn’t have had to face any of them. He’d planned to get away, travel for a while. Get right with himself and set a new course in life. He knew he had to make his way out in the world, fend for himself and become a success—at something—under his own steam. After his failed marriage and his failure in the family business, he had a lot of ground to make up before he’d be able to look himself in the eye again, let alone feel comfortable around his family and friends. They didn’t expect anything of him. They didn’t see him as a failure; he knew that. But he did, and that was what mattered.
He watched as they all chatted and laughed, old friends and new ones all mingling with family. Molly didn’t turn and look his way even once. Another dark head did turn in his direction and broke away from the group he was talking to. Jack. His friend from college. They were all here.
“Hey.” Jack greeted him with a smile. “It’s been too long.”
Marcos nodded. “I’ve been keeping up on your news. Sounds like the Phoenix Corporation is going from strength to strength.” He smiled. “But it’s not your most important baby anymore, is it? How’s little Isabel?”
“She’s great. We didn’t bring her. She stayed at home with my mom.”
“That’s good. I’ll bet she loves her grandma time.”
“She does.” Jack ran a hand through his hair. “Listen. I’m sorry to hear about your news.”
Marcos gave him a rueful smile. “Don’t be. Caterina and I were never meant to be. I shouldn’t have married her, and I’m thankful that it’s finally over.”
Jack nodded. “Is there any chance you’ll stay here?” He shot a look in Molly’s direction, making his meaning clear.
Marcos gave him a sad smile. “No. I need to get away for a while. Go someplace where no one knows me. Figure out who I’m going to be and what I’m going to do from here.”
“And you aren’t going to make wine?”
Marcos laughed. “No. I’m questioning everything I’ve ever done—and, more importantly, the reasons I’ve done it. Lately, I’ve lost any passion I ever felt for wine-making. I’m going to take my time and figure out if it was ever really there. If I loved making wine, or if it was just a part of who I thought I was supposed to be.”
Jack nodded. “Any ideas where you’ll go? You could come to Summer Lake.”
Marcos smiled. “Thanks, but I have too many friends there. I love you and Pete and Smoke and Nate, but I need to be alone. I’m thinking I’ll start in Paris. Maybe London. New York. I want some city life for a while.”
“That’ll definitely be a change, but at least you’ll be making your way back in this direction.”
“I will. Just because I’m not ready to be here yet, doesn’t mean I don’t want to end up here.” He looked at Molly who was now talking with Cameron’s fiancée, Piper.
Jack smiled. “Some things are worth taking your time over … to get it right.”
“I don’t know if I already wasted too much time and got it all too wrong.”
Jack grasped his shoulder. “Then I suggest you get right with yourself as quickly as you can and then get your ass back here to see if there’s any chance of you making things right with her.”
~ ~ ~
“Aren’t you going to talk to him?” asked Piper.
Molly shook her head and refused to turn around. “He’s talking to Jack at the moment.”
Piper smiled. “How would you know? Do you have eyes in the back of your head? Or are you just aware of every move he makes?”
“I used to think it was the latter. I used to think I knew him inside out, just like he knew me. It turned out I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
“Do you believe in second chances?”
Molly met Piper’s gaze. She’d been asking herself that question ever since she’d heard that Marcos and Caterina were getting divorced. Not that she was about to admit that. She shrugged.
