"Grammy Charlotte," Celia called. "We're having a baby sister!"
Charlotte laughed and caught Celia in her arms as Isabelle hugged Charlotte's waist. "I know, my loves; I heard the wonderful news. Should we celebrate with a lemon bar, fresh from the oven?"
"Or maybe two?" Celia tilted her head and smiled prettily.
I laughed. "Watch that one."
Charlotte grinned as I kissed her on her cheek. "Have you seen Kira?" I asked.
"I think she went out back," she said, setting Celia down. "You go find her, I've got these two." She smiled happily, and I left knowing how overjoyed and thankful she felt with a houseful of little girls to spoil and coddle and love. And bake treats for.
I winked at her and went in search of my wife, having an idea where she might be. As I walked down the hill, I looked out over the grapevines beyond, my chest swelling with pride. Eight years ago, we'd brought this vineyard back from the brink of ruin with the money Jessica had given me, lots of hard work, and plenty of loyal friends. Since then, we'd grown more successful every year, even winning several awards for the wines produced. Hawthorn Vineyard was thriving, and I was especially proud of the fact that we now employed almost two hundred people, many of whom were ex-cons just looking for a second chance, looking for someone to believe in them. Harley, now my director of operations, had inspired that idea. And a few other businesses in Napa had even followed suit when word got out about how loyal and hardworking our employees were.
Kira's gram's money had eventually been unlocked, long before the trial was over that put Cooper Stratton behind bars for a whole laundry list of crimes. Frank Dallaire had never been proven guilty of participating in anything illegal, but as he knew better than anyone, in politics, perception is everything. No one wanted to be linked to the suspicion that surrounded his name. He disappeared from the political landscape and, as far as we knew, was no longer involved in government at all. Nor was he involved in our life.
Thankfully though, we weren't lacking for family, including Shane and Vanessa. They now had two boys who visited often and always left looking slightly stunned after our girls ran roughshod over them, playing tricks, forcing them to play dress-up, and participate in slightly naughty escapades.
"I thought I'd find you here," I said, turning the last corner of the well-tended maze. I smiled as I joined Kira on the bench in front of the splashing fountain where she sat with her hand on her tiny baby bump. The emeralds from her wedding ring flashed in the sun, reminding me of the day I'd slipped it on her finger as we'd renewed our vows in a small sunlit ceremony under the apricot tree in our vineyard. I'd wanted to give her a real wedding day, one filled with love, joy, and family—and that's what I'd done.
My wife smiled, shooting me the dimple, and causing my heart to flip. "It's my favorite place, the heart of your lair. I always know you'll find me here, dragon."
I chuckled softly and gathered her to me, lifting her onto my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck and put her forehead against mine. "Another girl," she sighed happily.
I nuzzled her neck. "Hmm," I murmured. "Another woman to keep me under her thumb. It's almost like you planned it this way."
Kira laughed. "No, not planned it, just dreamed it. Dreamed of this life you've given me." She took my face in her hands and kissed my lips. "Thank you," she whispered against my mouth.
Gratitude and love overwhelmed me, and I brought my wife even closer, hugging her to my body and inhaling her sweet scent. And in that moment, I knew I would never again believe life didn't hold miracles. With her love, my beautiful little witch had transformed a place once filled with loneliness and pain into a place filled with joy and dreams. As we held each other, the age-old phrase whispered through the trees, the roses, and the grapevines beyond: In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth.
But the greater knowledge that now lived in the peaceful silence of my heart was: in love there is truth.
And the truth that love had taught me was you can only be strong once you are brave enough to break, and that pain makes more room for love within. I was grateful for it all, because that was the beautiful balance of life.