Page 11 of Gone With the Wine

“I thought for sure you’re back to stay,” Millie says slowly.

Ana pouts. “Me, too.”

I shrug and smile. “Well, who knows. We have a ton of work to do and Uncle Geno isn’t making it easy for us.”

“I’ve heard the rumors.” Millie wrinkles her freckled nose. “I don’t get it. Family is family, right?”

“Right.” I press my lips together. “We’re going to make this work. We’re determined. It’s what Nonna wanted.”

“I agree,” Ana says with a firm nod. “I loved your Nonna.”

“Thanks.” I smile.

We order snacks and more drinks and get caught up on life in Napa and Oak Creek Canyon. They tell me about friends from high school who are married and having babies. “Brittany Fox married Josh Hunter and now her name is Brittany Fox-Hunter.”

I let out a little cackle. “No!”

“And…” Ana leans in. “They just had a baby and named her Ima.”

I gasp. “You are kidding me.”

“True story.”

“Ima’s an unusual name to start with, but with that surname…that poor child.” Millie shakes her head.

“Do you think if you were born with a different name, would you have a different personality?” I tap my chin.

“Hmmm. I don’t know. I never really liked Millie. Maybe if my parents had named me something cute like Ashley or Ella I would have been super popular, with boys after me all the time.”

I make a face. “But would your personality be different?”

She tilts her head. “Maybe I would have been more confident? That would make a difference.”

“What if I were named Olga?” Ana muses. “Maybe I’d be tougher.”

“When I was a kid, I hated all the Italian names in our family,” I share. “I wanted to be Siobhan.”

Millie giggles. “Irish?”

“Yes. It means ‘full of charm’ so I thought I would be Irish and charming.” I shrug.

Ana tips her head. “I thought your Italian family was so glamorous and so big and boisterous.”

“Big and boisterous is correct.” I make a face.

After we pay our bill and head outside, we wander down Laurel Street past cute little shops that are now closed. We pause to admire a display in the window of Poppy’s Vintage Collectibles.

“I want that chair,” Ana says, staring. “It would be perfect in my bedroom.”

“It would,” Millie agrees.

We move on and stop at The Dancing Grape, a gift shop with all kinds of wine-related stuff.

“Look at those wine aroma kits!” I point. “That’s amazing.”

“Not like you need it,” Millie says.

“You should try those wine lovers’ chocolates,” Ana says. “They are delicious.”

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