Darcy wasn’t willing to talk about it-not yet. “It’s a figure of speech. Don’t get too excited. Besides, this isn’t going anywhere. He’s not the relationship type.”
“How do you know?”
“He resists his family.”
“You’re not trying to be his mother. Romantic love is different.”
“He’s been married.” Darcy filled her in on the generalities, then sighed. “They say people who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it. In my case, that’s true. Here I am, falling for a guy as inaccessible as my father.”
As soon as the words came out, she wanted to call them back. She clutched the phone tighter and braced herself.
“Dad’s not inaccessible,” Lauren said softly.
“I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry. Please, let’s not get into this long-distance.”
“Okay.” Lauren sighed. “Joe sounds so great, regardless of whatever issues the two of you may have. I want to meet him. I know. When this is all over, you stay there and I’ll come by to pick you up. That way I can check out the military cutie and meet the family.”
Darcy sat up. Her first thought was to scream out her protest. Not Lauren. Not here. This was the one place on the planet where everyone liked her for herself. There hadn’t been any comparing, any disappointing second finishes. No one had rejected her. If Lauren came now, all that would change.
“Your enthusiasm is overwhelming,” Lauren said, the hurt clear in her voice.
Darcy flopped back on the bed. “It’s not that. Of course I want you to meet Joe and everyone.”
“You might try saying that like you mean it. Don’t worry. I’m not going to show up.”
She felt like a worm. A selfish worm who had been living the good life while her sister had been stuck in a cornfield.
“Lauren, please. I’m sorry. It’s just…” She drew in a deep breath. “I’m scared, okay? Joe is really special. I like him a lot. Maybe more than a lot. I haven’t felt this way before, and it’s scary and exciting and new and I don’t want to lose him.”
“Why would you?”
Darcy squeezed her eyes shut. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“Oh, please. You’re just as pretty and much more exotic looking. I’m just your basic blue-eyed blonde. With very common features. Besides…” She lowered her voice. “You have to know I’d never do anything to take Joe away. I’m not even saying I could. Just that I wouldn’t. Ever. I love you. You’re my sister. My family. That means everything to me.”
Darcy went from feeling like a worm to feeling like slime. Slime was definitely worse. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m not worried about you trying anything, Lauren. You’d never do that.” Had never done that. “It’s not you. It’s…them. Him. Everyone likes you better. Most of the time I don’t care, but this time it would really hurt.”
“But I never did anything wrong,” Lauren whispered.
Darcy rolled onto her side and pulled her knees to her chest. “I’m sorry. This is all about me. I’m the one who’s insecure and stupid and acting like a child. I’m sorry.”
“I’d never try to take Joe away from you. Or anybody. I don’t want to love that much again. Ever.”
“You’re going to have to let him go eventually,” Darcy said.
Lauren’s breath caught. “I can’t. I loved him so much. I could never love anyone else like that. I don’t think my heart’s big enough.”
“You could date. That would be fun.”
“I’m okay by myself. I have my memories, and that’s enough.”
Darcy thought about pointing out that Lauren was only twenty-seven. A little young to be settling for mere memories.
“Anyway, how did this get to be about me and my lack of love life?” Lauren asked. “We were talking about you.”
“Right. How stupid and jealous I am. Not my favorite topic.”
“You’re not the only one,” Lauren said. “You think I don’t get jealous of your life and your freedom?”
Darcy rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. “What? You’re jealous of me?”
“Sure. You have a lot more privacy than me. No one expects you to be a saint, so you’re not always getting judged. I love how you can tell the world to piss off if you’re not in the mood.”
Darcy couldn’t believe it. Lauren wanted to tell the world to piss off? “A lot of that’s just a facade,” she said cautiously.
“Who cares. You can do it. All I can do is cut ribbons at opening ceremonies and raise money. The money- raising part is good, but the rest of it? Sometimes I just want to curl up with a good book or watch
Darcy realized she was free to do that and a lot more. Funny how she’d never seen herself as the lucky one before.
“I can TiVo
Lauren started to laugh. “That would be great. Although I’m catching up on reruns while I’m here. It’s really fun.”
“I miss you,” Darcy said.
“I miss you, too.”
She cleared her throat. “I think you should come visit me here. When it’s safe for us to travel.”
Lauren sighed. “No, it’s okay.”
The slime feeling returned. “I mean it, Lauren. Please. Come visit. It will be great.”
“I’ll think about it.”
They talked a few more minutes, then hung up. Darcy sat up and thought about what her sister had said. That she thought Darcy had the better life. Impossible. But it was good to know she wasn’t the only one who got jealous and crazy about her world.
As for Lauren coming here, maybe it was a good idea. It would force Darcy to face her demons. If the Marcellis liked Lauren better, well, Darcy would just get over it. And if Joe wanted her…Darcy grinned. Then she would just have to beat the crap out of him.
Joe left the guesthouse after the daily security briefing. Progress had been made-kidnappers caught. Not all of them, but a couple. And if they talked, he would soon be out of here and back where he belonged. Assuming the admiral had cooled down.
“Joseph. Joe.”
He looked up and saw Lorenzo limping toward him. The old man leaned heavily on his cane.
“Come,” he said. “Walk with me.”
“No, thanks,” Joe told him. “I’m not interested in more conversations about changing my name, learning about the wine, or accepting this as my destiny.”
Lorenzo nodded. “All right. Walk with me anyway.”
“Why?”
“Can’t a grandfather want to spend time with his grandson?”
Joe swore under his breath, then fell into step with the old man as they headed toward the vineyards.
“We have good weather,” Lorenzo said. “It makes for good grapes. Brenna wants to be a part of all of it this year, but I think her baby has other plans.”
“I hope so,” Joe said, remembering how huge she’d been the last time he’d seen her. “It looks painful.”
Lorenzo grinned. “Women are strong. Never tell them, but I would not want to give birth. With Tessa, it was only twice. First Marco, then a little girl. She died.”
Joe glanced at him. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “God gives and then he takes. It is always that way.” He raised his cane and pointed toward the horizon. “I can remember when there were no vines up there. When we needed only one crew to pick the grapes. Now I can’t even walk the land, there is so much.” He winked. “But not too much, eh? There can never be too much.”
“Land is wealth,” Joe agreed.
“But it is more than money. It’s about who we are. When I was a boy, I dreamed of when I would run Marcelli.
