“They never said anything!”
“She didn’t tell them right away. I think she was worried your mom would cancel the plans to go to France. She didn’t want to be the reason they didn’t go.”
“But you can’t go through something like that alone. You need friends around you!”
“She had my dad. He cut his work hours way down to be with her more, and that’s why I took over at Trattoria Lupo last summer. Actually, that’s why I came home in the first place.”
I nodded slowly. Now it made sense. “I didn’t know that.”
“I never told anyone.” Gianni picked up his fork and started eating again. “After she finished radiation, my dad was able to go back to work. He told me I didn’t have to stick around, but I was glad when the offer from your parents came in to open Etoile. Not only because I liked the concept and the setting, but because it gave me a reason to be around home a little longer . . . just in case.”
“But everything is okay now?” I asked with concern. I kept picturing Coco, Gianni’s mom, with her beautiful blue eyes and wide smile and easy laugh. She’d always been so easygoing and spontaneous, to the point where I often wondered how she and my mother were such good friends.
“Everything is okay now,” he said.
I exhaled in relief, putting a hand over my heart. “Poor Aunt Coco. I wish I’d have known.”
“Honestly, I wanted to tell you a bunch of times. But I had to respect my mom’s wishes.”
It struck me how devoted Gianni was as a son, and I admired him for it. “That had to be tough for you—not saying anything. Were you scared?”
“Yeah. My family is everything to me.” His tone was fierce and sweet at the same time, and my heart cracked open a little more.
We got back to our room just after noon, stuffed and sleepy. “I’m too tired for snow angels,” Gianni said, falling face first onto our bed.
“Same.” I sat on my side and pulled out my phone. I had texts from Des and Winnie telling me not to worry about anything and asking me to call them when I could, and I had a voice message from my mom.
“Hi honey, just calling to check on you and see how everything went last night with the tasting. Looks like the weather is awful at home. Call me when you can. Love you.”
I knew I should call her back, but I didn’t feel like rehashing the evening just yet. Instead I texted: Everything went fine, Gianni and I ended up not driving all the way home because of the snow, but we’re safe at a motel and heading back as soon as the roads are plowed. I decided not to say anything about car trouble, so she wouldn’t worry more.
Then I called Des, and he picked up right away, letting me know he’d made it into Abelard on his snowmobile and would handle tastings all day for guests who were stranded. “It’s actually great for the winery,” he joked. “What else is there to do here today but taste wine and then buy what you like so you can drink more of it while you wait out the blizzard?”
“Good,” I said with a laugh. “Thanks, Des. I’m hoping to be back later tonight, but I’m sure I’ll miss anything scheduled today.”
“Not a problem. Be safe on the road—it’s bad out there.”
We hung up and I called Winnie. Glancing down at Gianni next to me—his eyes were closed and his breathing was deep and even—I decided to take my phone into the bathroom so I could actually talk to her.
“Hello?”
“Hey.” I shut the bathroom door and perched on the edge of the tub. “It’s me.”
“Hey! How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t want Gianni to hear me. He’s asleep in the bed, so I’m in the bathroom.”
Winnie laughed. “This is so insane.”
“You have no idea.”
She gasped. “Did something happen? Something happened.”
“Yeah—twice.”
“Shut up! Tell me everything!”
“I will, but first, are you at Abelard? What’s happening?”
“Yes. Dex managed to get me here about an hour ago, but it was rough. In fact, he stayed with me so he wouldn’t have to leave and come back later.” She giggled. “I’m putting him to work.”
“Doing what?”
“Right now he’s shoveling the front steps, but after that he’s going to help Felicity and me serve lunch.”
“Felicity is there too?”