Page 36 of Cayden

“Perfect. We need to take a selfie.” Sliding her phone out, she took his hand and positioned them so that they were standing in front of the giant snow figure. She took several pictures, determined to have them printed and framed for posterity so that – God please!

They could show to their children. She did not say it out loud, but that was what she was hoping. She was also hoping that in the years to come, they would come back here as a family, during the summer and winter months to play with the children and watch them frolic.

They were taking a walk when he noticed the ominous clouds rolling in. “I think we’d better cut our walk short.” He scrutinized the clouds with a frown. “Looks like we’re for a storm and you’re getting cold.”

Pulling her against him, he rubbed his hand up and down her arms as they made their way back.

“It’s so pretty,” she murmured a little wistfully. “The snow covering everything and the serenity of the area. There are no neighbors in the immediate vicinity.”

They had reached the porch, but he stopped with her to look out over the wide expanse of snow-covered grounds.

“I saw a few farmhouses when we were coming here. Is it mostly farming lands around this area?”

“Yes.” He pulled her in and tucked her close to him. “It is an undeveloped section, with mostly retired people. The town is small and intimate, and the people are determined to keep it that way. They want to preserve the natural beauty and clean air.

Part of the reason we have left the cabin just as it is. The ground is fertile and at first we were planning on planting vineyards. The winter is harsh in this area, but the land is rich.”

She looked around and as far as she could see, there was nothing much except for a curl of smoke a small distance from them.

“I think it should remain like this.”

“Do you?”

She nodded. “A kind of escape from reality and the pressures of life. I love it here. It speaks of peace and tranquility. Which reminds me, I want to capture some of it. I am taking pictures and making sketches for when we get back home.”

“I thought you might.” He rubbed his hands over her belly slowly. They both looked up as the first drops of snow hit them in the face and stood there for a few minutes enjoying it.

“Time to go inside.” He gently steered her up the steps and opened the door.

“How about you sit by the fire, and I make you some tea?”

“I would love that.” Her stomach was acting up and she wondered if he had suspected she was feeling a little queasy.

Taking off her boots, she spread the blankets out and added some wood chips to the dying embers. The flames leapt upwards and shrouded the room in a warm glow that had her feeling comfortable in less than a few minutes. He came back with tea and crackers he had found in the pantry. “Figured you might need it.”

“Thanks.”

He came to sit next to her and placed the tray in front of her.

“How’s your ankles?” He asked solicitously.

“A little swollen,” she admitted.

“Here.” Putting the tray at a safe place, he put her feet on his lap and started to massage them.

“How’s that?”

“Wonderful.” She picked up her cup and took a sip of the tea, tasting the lemon and honey.

Did you always know you wanted to follow in your dad’s footsteps?”

Tugging off her socks, he used his fists to deal with her insteps.

“Always.” He responded. She was leaning back against the wall, her fingers wrapped around the cup. “You have to remember that we grew up in the industry. We were introduced to it as children, taught the rudiments…,” he moved to her ankles. “As Italians, we went from Italy to the States.

We were born here of course, but from the moment we could understand, it was told to us that our roots lay in Italy.

Which wasn’t bad. We enjoyed the thrill of switching from one country to the next. And wine was a fascination for me.” He slid his fingers up her calves and caused her skin to tingle. “I was ten when I experimented with making my own wine.”

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