Marsala and Magnolias Page 19

  Her mom’s eyes looked as though they might pop out of her head. “Oh! That’s nice,” was all she managed to sputter.

  “Mary El, do you want to go and help you mom with a salad for us?”

  Mary Ellen met her dad’s gaze. She understood. He was stepping up. Saying he wanted a word with her boyfriend. She was so thrilled at that, that she didn’t even resent being relegated to the kitchen with her mom.

  Antonio dropped a kiss on top of her head and smiled as she followed her mom into the kitchen. He knew what was going on, too, and it seemed he was fine with it.

  When they reached the kitchen, her mom closed the door behind them and Mary Ellen braced herself. She needn’t have worried. Her mom smiled at her with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Mary Ellen. He’s lovely!”

  Mary Ellen’s eyes filled up, too as she hugged her. “I know, Mom. I’m glad you can see it.”

  Her mom leaned back and waggled her eyebrows. “I don’t think there’s a woman on earth who could miss it. You’ve done so well for yourself.”

  For a moment, Mary Ellen tensed. She wanted her mom to see beyond his looks and his charm and wealth. She wanted her to know the man and to understand just how well she really had done for herself. She relaxed. She should just be happy that her mom approved. The rest could come—with time—hopefully. “Thank you.”

  When they were done making salad, they went out to the back yard. She had a feeling that Antonio and her dad would become fast friends. She’d expected it, but it still made her stop in her tracks when she reached the back door and saw them standing there, laughing together in the last of the setting sun. She swallowed around the lump in her throat and swiped at her eyes. Wow. Her world was complete.

  Antonio turned and saw her standing there. He held his arm out to her with a smile and she went to him. He closed his arm around her and hugged into his side in that way that he had. She loved it. It made her feel … she smiled as she realized just what it made her feel—it made her feel like she belonged. She’d have to tell him that later.

  “I was coming to check on you both, but you seem to be getting along.”

  Her dad laughed. “That’s an understatement. We’re doing great, aren’t we, Antonio?”

  “We are. In fact, we were just figuring out when your parents can come and visit us.”

  Mary Ellen eyed them both warily. She wondered how much he’d said. She hadn’t mentioned anything to her parents about them living together—since technically, they weren’t yet. She needn’t have worried. The two of them were grinning at each other, as if they were in on some secret she knew nothing about. “That’ll be nice.” She didn’t know what else to say.

  Her mom had gone back into the kitchen and came out with a tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. She frowned at her husband. “You should pour your beer into a glass.”

  Apparently, he was ready to assert himself. He just smiled and raised his bottle and said, “No, thanks,” before taking a swig.

  Antonio came and poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to her mom, before turning to her. “I should have stopped to pick up Margarita mix on the way here.”

  She laughed. “I’ll take a beer.” She gave her mom an apologetic smile as he handed her one and she took a drink from the bottle.

  To her delight, her mom chuckled and set down her lemonade. “Well, if you can’t beat them, then I suppose you just have to join them. Would you pass me one, Bill?”

  Mary Ellen buried her smile in Antonio’s shoulder as her dad popped the top off a bottle and brought it to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “There you go, Vee. Relax and enjoy yourself.”

  It made Mary Ellen want to cry happy tears. It was the most intimate moment she’d ever witnessed between the two of them, and it was all thanks to Antonio. She smiled up at him gratefully.

  He had that look in his eyes again. She’d wondered, that first night he’d spoken to her at Molly’s, what it would be like if he cared for her for real, like a boyfriend. Now she knew. His eyes shone with love and it was all for her. She reached up and planted a kiss on his lips. “Thank you for coming here. I love you.”

  He nodded and cupped her face between his hands. “And I love you. That’s why I’m here.” He shot a look at her dad who nodded. Mary Ellen sensed a change in him. His smile was still there, but if anything, he seemed a little tense—nervous? No. Antonio didn’t do nervous. Then she understood as he dropped on one knee before her and held up a ring. “I love you, Mary Ellen. You know I do. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I want us to have babies and grandbabies and grow old together. I know we haven’t been together very long, but I also know the truth of my heart. Please, say you’ll be my wife—just as soon as you’re ready.”

  Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. She hadn’t expected this. She looked down into his big brown eyes, they shone with hope and with love. He looked uncertain, as if she might say no. She looked at her parents; they were clinging to each other, watching her expectantly. She grinned at Antonio. “Yes! Yes, I want to marry you. I’m ready.”

  He slid the ring onto her finger and got to his feet. “You’re ready?”

  She nodded eagerly. There was nothing left to think about. He was it for her. He was the one. There was no point delaying getting started on their future.

  Her parents came and hugged them both. She was relieved how happy they both seemed. Her dad raised his glass. “Here’s to the two of you. You have my blessing and my best wishes for a long and happy future together.”

  “And mine.” Her mom raised her bottle and took a drink of her beer. “We’ll need to start making plans, Mary Ellen.”

  Mary Ellen nodded. She wasn’t sure how she felt about planning a wedding again. This was different; it was Antonio, but still, it wasn’t a prospect she relished.

  Antonio dropped a kiss on top of her head. It seemed he understood. “How would you feel about not making any plans?”

  She looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean,” he looked over at her dad, who nodded encouragingly. “We could get married at our house. Have it catered, have all the arrangements made quickly and easily. You wouldn’t have to do a thing if you don’t want to. You could just go dress shopping with Chelsea and the girls.”

  She grinned at him, she knew how impatient he was. “When you say quickly, just how quickly are you thinking?”

  He dropped his head and looked up at her from under his eyebrows. “Next weekend?”

  “Next weekend?!” She and her mom both spoke at the same time.

  “Why not?” asked her dad. “If it’s what you both want, why not just do it? I never understood why planning a wedding had to take so long. You end up getting lost in the arrangements and missing out on the fun it’s supposed to be.” He looked at Mary Ellen. “Don’t you want to?”

  Mary Ellen looked up at Antonio. He looked so earnest. “We can do it however, whenever you want. I’ll wait if that’s what you want, but you know me.”

  She nodded. She did know him, and she knew herself too. Her dad was right. She’d get lost in the planning—like Cam had—and miss out on what it was really about. She cupped Antonio’s face between her hands and kissed him. “Let’s do it.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Antonio checked himself over in the mirror and smiled. He looked good.

  Marcos came to stand beside him and nodded. “She’s a lucky girl.”

  “No. I’m the lucky one.”

  Marcos nodded. “I believe you are. She’s a great girl. I would never have put you with her, but then you always surprise me.”

  Antonio met his gaze and smiled. “I’m smarter than I make out. When it’s time to play, I play. When it’s time to work, I work. And when it’s time to meet a woman and settle down, I find the best woman there is and make her my wife.”

  Marcos laughed. “Yes, and you don’t waste any time about it. This time last
week, you were back at home, helping me sort my mess out. If you’d have told me then that you’d be getting married in a week …” He shook his head. “If you’d told me I’d be back here, in California, I would have laughed in your face.”

  Antonio gripped his shoulder. “Things don’t have to take as long as you expect, you know.”

  Marcos shook his head. “If you’re talking about Molly, it’s too soon. I planned to come see her—after I’ve spent some time getting right with myself. I know she’ll be here today, but …” He shook his head again. “The timing isn’t right.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m glad you’ll get to her.”

  “Me too.”

  They both looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. “Come in,” called Antonio.

  The door opened, and he smiled at the sight of his parents standing there. “We wanted a moment with you.”

  They came in and his dad closed the door behind them. “We have a wedding gift.”

  Antonio raised an eyebrow. “Should we wait until later? What about Mary Ellen?”

  “It’s a gift that will be for both of you once you’re married, but we wanted to do this now. With just the four of us.”

  “Okay.” Antonio wasn’t sure what they might want to give him, but he smiled. “What is it?”

  His dad opened his jacket and took out an envelope. “Read it and see.”

  Antonio took the envelope and looked at his mom and Marcos. They both smiled eagerly.

  He tore it open and read the document inside, then blew out a long breath. “Guys, you can’t do this. I mean, thank you, but …”

  He turned to look at Marcos, but his brother just laughed. “Don’t worry. I was the one who suggested it.”

  “But I can’t take it. The estate? The winery? It belongs in the family. To all of us, and in the future, to you and me. Then to our children.”

  Marcos shook his head. “The estate belongs to you already. You’ve made it what it is. You’ve earned it. I want you to have it.”

  Antonio looked at his parents.

  His mom smiled. “We won’t ever come back here to live. And I hope that when we come to visit you’ll allow us to stay.”

  He chuckled. “As if I wouldn’t!”

  His dad looked more serious. “You’re starting your own family now, Antonio. It’s right that you should own the place, be in charge of your own destiny—and your own legacy.”

  Antonio nodded. He was thrilled and shocked at the same time. “Thank you.”

  His dad hugged him, and his mom came and kissed his cheek. “You’re welcome. We’re happy for you. We’ll see you out there.”

  Once they’d gone, Antonio sat down on his bed and looked at his brother. “Are you sure about this?”

  Marcos nodded. “I am. Don’t give it another thought. It’s helping me.”

  “Helping you? How?”

  Marcos came and sat down beside him and met his gaze in the mirror. “I fucked my life up, I did my best to fuck the business up. From here on out I’m making a fresh start, and I want to do it all on my own. I don’t want the support of the family—at least, not financially. I want to start from scratch and build something of my own, all by myself. I need to be hungry for something and become a self-made man. Then I might be able to look myself in the eye again.”

  Antonio slung an arm around his shoulders. “Okay. I get it. You don’t want the financial support, but don’t forget you have my brotherly support.”

  Marcos smiled. “I know it, and I have a feeling I’m going to need it.” He looked at his watch. “For now, it’s me who needs to do the brotherly support and get you out onto the terrace before your bride goes out there.”

  They both got to their feet and Antonio’s eyes welled with tears as they hugged.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Would you quit fidgeting!” Chelsea was standing behind her, pulling up the zipper on her dress.

  “I’m not fidgeting! I just can’t believe I’ve gained weight since we bought this! It’s only been four days.”

  Chelsea stood back. “You haven’t gained weight! Don’t be ridiculous. Look at you! You’re beautiful.” She turned Mary Ellen around, so she was facing the mirror.

  Mary Ellen stared at herself and nodded happily. “I’m not even going to argue. I scrub up okay, don’t I?”

  Chelsea laughed. “You sure do, and you shop like a demon!”

  Mary Ellen laughed. The week since Antonio had proposed had flown by in a blur. When they’d arrived back in Napa, they’d gathered their friends together to share their news and everyone had stepped up to help out. Cameron had insisted that she take the week off. Chelsea had gone dress shopping with her on Tuesday, and in the course of an hour they’d visited two stores and in the second one had found her gown—and it was perfect. “I just got lucky.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t mind some of your luck. When I’m ready to find my dress, you’re coming with me to help.”

  “You know it!”

  Chelsea shook her head. “I’m not sure what I know with you and weddings anymore. I thought it would take you a long time to accept what was going on with you and Antonio. I thought you’d get married next year at the earliest. And I did not expect you to throw caution to the wind and arrange a wedding in under a week. You’re making Cam and me look bad. We’ve been pussy-footing around for months!”

  Mary Ellen laughed. “What can I say? I’m more surprised at myself than anyone. But it’s so right. I mean, it’s Antonio. I love him, and that means at least a part of me must love the way he does things. He’s all in, full-on, right now, get it done. I know I prefer being organized and having my timelines, but this is right, for us—we’re still on a timeline, it’s just a much shorter one.”

  Chelsea grinned. “It’s awesome. I couldn’t be happier for you—or for him. We should get moving. You’ve done so well getting everything ready at warp-speed, we don’t want to spoil it by getting you to the altar late.”

  Mary Ellen smiled. “Or even to the terrace.”

  “Yeah, it’s just a figure of speech. I’m glad you’re getting married here.”

  “I am, too. It’s perfect. I love this house. It’s going to be our home, so it’s right that we should begin our married life right here.”

  “Come on then, let’s go do it.”

  Chelsea went and opened the bedroom door and peeked out.

  “What are you doing?” asked Mary Ellen.

  “Making sure there’s no one out here who shouldn’t see your dress yet.”

  She heard her dad’s voice from out in the hallway. “I want to see it, and it’s about time we made our way out there.”

  Chelsea opened the door wide and Mary Ellen’s eyes filled with tears at the way her dad looked at her.

  “Oh, Mary El, you look beautiful, love.”

  She went to him and he wrapped her in a hug.

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  She had to swallow hard.

  “Take it easy, you two,” said Chelsea with a smile. “I’ll have to fix her makeup if she starts crying, and we don’t have time for that.”

  Mary Ellen took her dad’s arm and they stood at the top of the grand stairway. She smiled at Chelsea. “Don’t worry about us. You get your skinny little butt down there and let them know we’re coming.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Antonio stood shoulder to shoulder with Marcos under the gazebo on the terrace. This was perfect. There were rows of seats facing him with a little aisle down the middle. He smiled out at all the familiar faces. His parents were on the front row on his side, and at his request, Rodney sat with them. Behind them were his friends. Jack and Pete and their wives. Nate and Lily sat with Smoke and Laura. On the other side of the aisle, Mary Ellen’s mom sat smiling at him. She was going to make a better mother-in-law than he’d first thought. She just needed to loosen up a little, and he knew he could help with that. Aunt Madeleine and Uncle Cole sat on the fron
t row with her. He loved that. When they understood how the guest list was working out, they’d asked to be on the bride’s side. Mary Ellen was as good as family to them. Behind them sat Cam and Piper and Grant and Molly and a handful of Mary Ellen’s friends from Hamilton-Groves. He was sure that between them they could have filled a cathedral with friends and acquaintances, but this was right. This day was for the two of them, and they would share it with the people who meant most to them in the world.

  Marcos dug him in the ribs and he looked at the doorway leading out from the living room. He sucked in a deep breath as the music struck up, and then let it out with a chuckle as Chelsea appeared. She looked great, but she wasn’t the one he was waiting for.

  His laughter dried in his throat as Mary Ellen appeared, holding onto her dad’s arm. She looked amazing. The dress was perfect. It molded to her figure, showing off her perfect hour-glass. He closed his eyes for a second against the unexpected stirring in his pants. The wedding night would be here soon enough. Right now wasn’t the moment to think about that. Right now he wanted to focus on everything else the love he felt for her meant to him. She was everything. She’d made him into a man, a man he was proud of, a man who was going to love her for the rest of her days and who would be proud to call her his wife.”

  His chest buzzed with happiness as she met his gaze and smiled. How had he ever been scared of her? She was amazing. She was kind and generous. He could see it in the eyes of everyone she passed as she made her way down the aisle to him. Lyle from the office blew her a kiss as she passed him, and Antonio chuckled as she gave him a stern look. That was why he’d been scared—she stood for no bullshit. He didn’t need to fear that anymore—because there’d never be any bullshit between the two of them. He’d given her his heart, and with it, he was making her a solemn promise that would do everything within his power to be the man she needed him to be—to be a man they could both be proud of.

  It took forever for her to reach him. When she did, she turned and kissed her dad’s cheek. He swiped a tear from his eye as he placed her hand in Antonio’s. “Take good care of my little girl,” he croaked as he stepped back.