Surprisingly, it didn’t take them as long to descend. They walked hand in hand, talking about funny incidents. Narrations were punctuated with laughter. That kiss had changed things, made them more open to the possibility of ending up with the other person.

“We’re almost at the entrance. That was quick,” Alex commented.

“Maybe you should have kissed me while we were climbing up and we’d have reached the clearing sooner,” Arianna retorted, a smile on her face.

“Touché,” Alex replied.

Arianna stretched when she sat in the car. It felt good to be back to creature comforts. She was not an outdoorsy person and this hike proved it. She immediately turned the air on and was relieved to feel cool air on her face.

When Alex entered, he had the picnic basket in his hand, which he’d forgotten on the backseat. He opened the box with the pasta and was relieved to find it smelled fine. The heat had thankfully not got to it yet. Sophie had packed metal forks from the kitchen and he took a bite of the pasta and sighed. It was delicious.

“Remind me to thank Sophie for this. This pasta is heavenly.”

Arianna took a second box with pasta and dug in.

“She’s my sister, she has to be good.” Alex guffawed and poked her. Arianna laughed and took out some of the homemade bread and cold cuts. It was a simple meal, eaten crammed in a car, but after their strenuous workout, it hit the spot.

“You know,” Alex said, biting into his bread and cold cuts. “This was a great date. You make it easy to have fun.” He looked into her eyes.

Arianna blushed fiercely and looked away. She couldn’t believe how good it felt to kiss Alex. She was hesitant, wondering if the kiss felt as good as it did ten years ago, and it did!

I want to kiss him again, just to see his eyes light up.

And that’s exactly what she did. She turned towards him and softly called his name. Before he could react, she planted a soft kiss on his lips. His eyes widened and a wide smile replaced how shocked he was feeling.

I can get used to this.

This was dangerous. Feeling this way was dangerous. She had no plans of making any promises with Alex. Besides, their lives were too different. It wasn’t going to work out.

“Let’s go home.” She nodded at Alex’s words and started the radio. Alex started the car and they drove back to their life, their brief escapade having ended.

Arianna noticed something very familiar when she reached the estate. Her father’s car was parked right outside the house. Since he was in Anchorage, it was stored in a garage in town.

Papa is back from Anchorage? What is happening?”

As they entered the house, they could hear loud sounds of a heated argument.

That sounds like Papa and Sophie.

Arianna quickened her pace. She turned to find Alex matched her steps. They entered the house together to find her father and Sophie arguing.

“You think I enjoy getting yanked out of my chair in Anchorage to come here and discipline my daughters?”

“Why do you think you need to discipline us, Papa? How about telling us the truth about what is really happening here?”

“You don’t deserve the truth. I cannot believe I let you take over the winery. Heaven knows what came over me when I decided to listen to Maria and retire. I should have handled this. You have shown your incompetence.”

Arianna couldn’t take it. Neither of them had done anything wrong and Papa’s barbs had pushed her to the limit.

“Are you sure it is Sophie who is incompetent, Papa?” Judging by Antonio’s red face, Arianna had chosen the absolute worst moment to strike.

“Arianna Gisele, do not forget this is my house you are standing in,” her father thundered.

“Papa, if I did not remember it, I wouldn’t have tried to do everything I could to still make sure it stays your house.”

Her father fumed. He looked absolutely disgusted.

“Papa, we sent you to Anchorage to be out of harm’s way, so that there was no way you would be threatened. Why are you back? Where is Mama?” Sophie pleaded.

Antonio Belmonte turned. He was a cross man, wrinkles and lines having eaten every ounce of his once handsome features. He could make anyone quake in their boots with his tough words, but, Alex observed, Arianna stood her ground many times. His respect for her rose.

“I am here because I want the estate to be sold. Whatever it is some idiot told you to do, it is causing problems to my buyer. I will make sure everything goes as planned. Mama is with Tina, where she should be.”

Sophie shook her head. She turned and ran to her room.

Alex stepped forward.

“Excuse me, sir. I am the ‘idiot’ who advised Arianna to send communication to the parties involved. I’m a lawyer and I assure you they were not rookie steps. Your sale agreement looks dubious, and if I feel it is not in the interest of my client, I can move court to set aside the sale.” He stared at Antonio, trying to tell him he was not going to back down.

“I don’t care who you are, you are no lawyer of mine. This house is mine and I will do as I see fit. Arianna, you disappoint me.” He turned and went back into the room.

Arianna groaned and sat down. Her father seemed to be in no mood to budge. She didn’t understand his reluctance to explain what the matter was with his daughters. Arianna wondered if her mother knew about this too.

“Is there any way you can get through that man?” Alex said, sitting down beside her.

“I don’t think so, believe me. We’ve tried,” Arianna said, sounding listless.

Alex’s lips stretched into a thin line. Who was the mystery buyer controlling Arianna’s father like that? What was the whole mystery behind everything? They had hardly done anything adverse, and the letters they sent via post would not have even reached the recipients the next day. What prompted Antonio to come down from Anchorage?

“Do you think it would help if you went through your mother?” Alex wondered.

Arianna laughed mirthlessly.

“Mama? Mama is only funny, sweet, and kind when it comes to her children. In front of her husband, she is a mute spectator, set to a default setting. She has never ever spoken against him, or even raised her voice at him. Papa had made it very clear to Mama that if she wanted to be happy, she had to treat him as the decision maker, and it was her job to keep house and raise his children. And she was happy to comply. My mother has never been very strong. She is loving, just not strong. Even now, she stays with Tina. She would rather pretend none of this is happening than come here and deal with this.”

Alex looked grim. This was not good. He hated long drawn family battles. He had seen so many families completely destroyed by their fights, when it would have been much simpler had they opened up. Even now, selling the estate was their father’s right. But his desire to exclude his daughters from decision making made them want to save their house with more fervor. He was nobody to interfere in family matters, especially without invitation.

He felt frustrated. The day had started out so well, and till the time they reached St. Helena, it was magical. The hike, their kiss, everything was a beautiful memory. It was simply unfortunate Antonio Belmonte had chosen this moment to land in their lives.

“I’d better get going,” Alex said, getting up. He looked inside. Sophie was nowhere to be seen. Arianna nodded.

“Please thank Sophie for me, okay?” He put his thumb below Arianna’s chin and lifted her face so that their eyes met. He quickly bent down and lightly kissed her lips. His lips immediately started tingling. He had to get out before he lost control.

“Thanks for today,” Arianna whispered. Alex touched her lips with his thumb and walked away.

He would make things better for her. But with her unsolved problem looming over their heads, would things really get better?