Page 43 of Gone With the Wine

“Hey, Bianca.” We hug, too, his embrace a little warmer than my uncle’s.

We make a little small talk, then Uncle Geno asks, “Why are you here?”

I give him a look, chin down. He actually grimaces.

“We have business to discuss with you. Do you want to talk here, or go to an office?” I gesture at the cellar rats—not literal rats; helpers in the cellar—moving around the space working.

“Let’s go to my office,” Uncle Geno says.

We follow him back upstairs. Rosa and I both know where his office is, directly behind the tasting room.

Vitto follows us, which I didn’t expect, but I guess I should have. I’ve got Rosa here for backup, so he can support his dad.

We all take seats in the small space. Uncle Geno spends his money on the public-facing spaces; this room has old flooring, ancient furniture, and is windowless and stuffy. I study him where he sits behind his desk. His gray hair has thinned and receded over the years, revealing age spots on his brow from so much time in the sun. Creases line his forehead and his eyes.

“First of all, before we talk wine, I have to say something.” I meet Uncle Geno’s eyes steadily. “I’ve heard about the problems at Caparelli. The complaints to the sheriff’s office. How hard it was to find workers. Someone messing with the equipment.”

His eyes flicker but otherwise his face remains impassive.

“Wewillinvolve the police again if anything more happens.” I make my gaze frosty, my chin lifted. “We won’t stand for that kind of bullshit. We’refamily.”

He narrows his eyes. “Are you accusing me of something?”

My eyebrows shoot up. “If the shoe fits…”

“Christ,” Vitto mutters, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Nothing’s going to happen.”

I give him a long look. “Okay.” Then I turn back to Uncle Geno. “Also, I heard about Rosa and Jake. Their marriage. And how you interfered with their marriage.”

His mouth tightens.

“That was a terrible thing to do. Shameful. You separated them when they loved each other.”

Rosa makes a soft noise next to me.

“Don’t ever interfere in our personal lives again,” I finish quietly.

“I’m your uncle. The only one left to look after you.”

“You think trying to take away our inheritance is looking after us?” Outrage raises my voice and I take a breath to calm down.

“You girls need to come to your senses and realize you can’t run a winery on your own,”

Although his tone is mild, the words offend me. That feeling of being brushed off floods back. He’s never going to believe that I can be a great winemaker. But I’m not a little girl anymore; I’m an adult and I don’t want or need his acceptance. I just need him to cooperate.

I fight back defensiveness and smile. “You make us sound like helpless children.”

Uncle Geno rolls his eyes.

“That’s not what Nonna thought of us,” I continue. “Remember what her will said? Her wish was to rebuild the tradition of wine-making women. She obviously thought we’re capable of doing that.”

He frowns.

“Rosa has learned a lot about the business from working with you. I’ve learned a lot, at school and working at Castillo Lorenzo. And Allegra has been working in wineries in Europe.” I grit my teeth a little, keeping my smile in place. “I’m sure she’s learned a lot, too. There’s no reason we can’t do this.” I pause and look at him, then Vitto. His expression is minutely softer than Uncle Geno’s.

“Except…” I continue, sliding my gaze back to Uncle Geno. “Except for you.”

Uncle Geno narrows his eyes. “Those grapes belong to me. I’m the one who cared for them for years.”

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