“Sì. I have gone to Mylos many times. More than I should have. I cannot continue to leave Valentini. I am not only responsible for the winery, Catarina. The fate of everyone who works for our family, even the estate itself, rests on my shoulders. My life is here. Mylos is not.”
“Have you asked him to be?”
Pia rested her hand on my arm. “I am trying to help you with Ben, not have you help me with Mylos.”
“Isn’t that what friends do, Pia? Help each other?”
She hugged me. “I am so happy you are here, but something tells me you will not be much longer.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Whether you are or not, I want you to know that you will always be welcome here at Valentini.”
“I appreciate that so much.” I saw the tour bus pull up outside the tasting room window, and wiped away the tears I’d shed both at her story and her kindness. “Time to get back to work.”
“One more thing I forgot to tell you. I have to be away from Valentini for a few days. I’m taking my mamma to Milan to see a specialist. I’m hoping he can figure out why she is so ill. We will close the winery to the public while I’m away.”
Pia invited us to join her and her mother for dinner, but I politely declined. I’d been too stressed all afternoon, worrying about Knox’s mood swings, and I wasn’t hungry. It seemed that neither was he, since he didn’t object when I said no, thank you.
When we got to the farmhouse, I went upstairs to change; Knox didn’t follow. I hated the way I was feeling. It was as though he was angry with me about something, and I had no idea what.
I took a shower, hoping the hot water would lessen the tension in my shoulders. If anything, I felt worse once I got out, mainly because Knox hadn’t come to see if he could join me. Finally, not being able to stand it any longer, I went downstairs in search of him.
“I don’t like this,” I blurted when I found him, still on his laptop, sitting at the table in the kitchen.
He looked up at me with wide eyes. “What don’t you like?”
“If you’re angry with me, just say so.”
“I’m not angry with you, Tara.”
“Then, why are you acting like you are?”
“It’s a miracle we can both fit in this room with the size of the elephant. Don’t you agree?”
“Are you talking about my father?”
“Don’t you think it’s time we did?”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
“You’re right. I should have.” He stood and pulled the cork out of the bottle of wine we’d opened the night before. “Want a glass?”
“No, thank you.” I went and filled a pitcher of water instead, got two glasses from the cupboard, and set them on the table between us.
I folded my hands in front of me.
“I’m going to ask you this straight out.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you know where your father is?”
“No.”
“Do you have reason to believe he’s in Italy?”
“Yes.”