Casa Parisi (32 page)

"I tried to be quiet."

"I didn't even hear you."

"Did you hear Angel barking when I went downstairs?" Juliet asked.

"No. I must have been asleep." Lucia was quiet as she focused on the rippling water, the clear, cerulean sky, and the sloping mountains rising from the shoreline on the other side of the lake. Gathering her courage, she verbalized what was on her mind. "Juliet. Do you think there's a heaven?"

"I'm in heaven when I'm here with you."

"I mean after we die."

"I don't know," Juliet answered. "I like to think there is."

"I think there is. I want there to be," Lucia said. "Do you think love dies?"

"You mean when we lose someone?"

"Yeah." Lucia tightened her arms around Juliet.

"I believe love never dies. It lives on in our memories and in our hearts."

"That's what I think. The people we've loved aren't really gone as long as we don't forget them." Lucia felt her body tensing as though she was bracing for the rejection she feared might follow what she was about to ask next. "I believe we can love again, don't you?"

Juliet released her hold on Lucia's arms and twisted around so she was almost sitting sideways. "What is it you're trying to say?"

Lucia stared at the lake. "Nothing, it's nothing."

"You haven't changed your mind about us, have you? Please tell me if you have."

Lucia met Juliet's eyes. "You have no idea do you?"

"I was afraid this might not last, but I can't bear to lose you this soon."

"Lose me?" Lucia took a deep breath to settle her nerves before she continued. She'd been so focused on her own doubts, her own irrational fears she had failed to realize that Juliet might be experiencing uncertainties of her own. "You're not going to lose me, not if I have any say in the matter."

"Thank God," Juliet whispered, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"I love you. That's what I wanted to tell you." Lucia held Juliet's face and kissed her gently. Afterward, she said, "I hope it's not too soon to say the words. I almost said them last night, but I was afraid I might scare you away."

"I'm not scared of loving you," Juliet said. "I've never been in love and now I find I can't breathe without you, can't bear to be without you for very long."

"Are you saying you love me?"

"Yes, I am. I love you with all my heart."

"You're sure?"

Juliet touched Lucia's cheek. "I'm absolutely sure. And I'm just as sure about who I am. That's never going to change for me."

"Or me," Lucia said. "I want us to love each other for as long as we can. And I'd be happy if we got to grow old and grumpy together."

Juliet let out a laugh. "Be careful what you wish for. You have no idea what I'm like when I get grumpy."

"I can't imagine you being grumpy at all."

"You don't know everything about me, yet."

"But I want to. I want to know all about you." Lucia meant what she'd said. They would know each other as well as two people could. They'd share moments of happiness, times of disappointment and all the wonderful and not so wonderful things two people were bound to experience in an intimate relationship. And through it all, they would be together.

"You might get to know too much about me."

"I'm willing to take that chance," Lucia said. "But as for now, I only know one thing and it's all I need to know."

"What is that?"

"I've been very lucky when it comes to love. I've loved two women in my life and they've both loved me back."

"I also know one thing.
Tu es ma premiere passion, mon seul amour. Tu es l'amour de ma vie.
" Juliet planted a kiss on Lucia's cheek.

"What did you say? I only made out the words passion, love and life."

"I said you are my first love, my only love, the love of my life."

Lucia drew in a shaky breath and blew it out. She could hardly take in how much her life had changed in such a short span of time. "You're my future. This winery is my new life, my new home, and I want you to be a part of it. I've got my family, my friends and now I've got you, the best winemaker around and the second love of my life."

Juliet rested her head on Lucia's shoulder.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Mind what?" Juliet sat up straight again.

"Being the second love of my life?"

"I don't need to be the only one you've ever loved. I know that Devin will always be with you, in your heart and your mind, and that's fine with me."

"She actually is here. I scattered her ashes in the lake a year after I bought this house. Sometimes I sit out here and talk to her. The other day I told her about us."

Juliet said nothing. She just let Lucia talk.

"I told her I'd always love her, but I had to move on. I also told her that I knew she wouldn't want me to live the rest of my days without love."

"You were ready to let her go." Juliet leaned into Lucia's chest.

"Yes, thanks to you." Lucia kissed Juliet's hair. "I can't bring her back. She's gone and I have to accept that I'm still here."

"I'm so glad you're here."

"Me, too. I knew I had to somehow go on living, but now that I have you I actually
want
to go on living." Lucia loosened her hold on Juliet and got to her feet. "Let's go in. I'll put on a pot of coffee and while it brews I'll go up and take a shower."

Juliet handed Angel to Lucia and then got up. "I'll make breakfast while you shower if you don't mind me taking over your kitchen."

"
Mi casa es su casa
," Lucia said. "Sorry, I don't know how to say it in French."

"
Ma maison est ta maison
."

"It sounds good in any language, doesn't it?" Lucia started toward the cottage. "After work we'll drive to Ithaca and I'll take you to dinner. Do you like Thai food?"

"I love it." Juliet caught up with her.

"After dinner, there's something I need to do and I'd like you to come with me."

"What do you need to do?"

"I need to stop at the bar and say goodbye to Georgie, she's the owner, and Bernie, the bartender. I probably won't be going there anymore and I don't want them to wonder what became of me. They were always kind, even when I wasn't kind to them, and even though I can't imagine why, I believe they really cared about me."

"Then we'll go. I'd like to meet them," Juliet said.

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

"I'd love to, but I have to check on Sabrina."

"We'll stop at your apartment and bring Sabrina back here with us if you want to so she won't be alone all night."

"You don't mind?" Juliet opened the door to the screened porch.

Lucia followed her in and shut the door behind them. "Why should I? She's sweet and I like her." She put her ear near Angel's mouth, pretending Angel was talking to her. Then she nodded and set the dog on the floor. "Angel says she wants her here. She likes her and they'll keep each other company."

"Okay." Juliet laughed as she put her arms around Lucia. "But I don't want you to feel that we have to rush things."

"I know and we won't, but when you do stay here, she should be with us. There's no reason she has to be left alone."

"I love you." Juliet sealed her words with a kiss.

"I love you--very much," Lucia said. "Tomorrow we'll have breakfast by the lake and spend the whole day together. Maybe we'll take a ride in the afternoon if it's a nice day. That is if we have any energy left after an entire night of love-making." The next kiss tendered a hint of what was to come.

Juliet breathlessly broke away. "How can I resist such a tantalizing invitation?"

"You can't, my dear winemaker, so say yes."

"Yes, my dear boss. Yes to everything."

The End

Janet Albert was born and raised in Johnson City, New York. After working in Philadelphia for many years, first as a trauma and critical care nurse and then later as a school nurse for the school district of Philadelphia, she abandoned her life in the big city and now divides her time between the mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the North Coast of Ohio. She lives with her partner of many years and their obligatory allotment of two cats. In addition to spending enormous amounts of time in front of her laptop writing, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time in nature and delighting her family and friends with her cooking skills.

Because she's an avid fan of lesbian romance fiction, she hopes to make a contribution by writing the kinds of stories she enjoys reading. She also hopes to add to the increasing number of books that celebrate and affirm the lives of lesbians. After all, it seems as if there are never enough of them (books, that is, not lesbians). On second thought--maybe both.

Twenty-four Days

Sometimes life forces us into uncharted territory, as Dr. Miranda Ross discovers when circumstances lead her to seek employment on a cruise line specializing in all lesbian cruises. Although she's single and surrounded by women, she has little time to socialize and even less inclination. She's made promises to herself, promises she intends to keep.

And keep them she does, until she meets the ship's head fitness trainer, Jamie Jeffries. Jamie has the kind of body and good looks most people only dream of and unfortunately, a reputation to match. The buzz on the ship is that she can have anyone she wants and often does.

Miranda fights valiantly to avoid Jamie and the unwanted attraction that seems to have a will of its own. She's strong and determined...but a lot can happen in twenty-four days.

A Table For Two

Ridley Kelsen is convinced she's not destined to find love. The singles scene is old and dating is terribly disappointing. Her closest friend tells her that love comes along when you least expect it and the very last thing Ridley expects when she accepts an invitation to join her friends for dinner, is that she will meet the most beautiful creature she's ever laid eyes on. Will this turn out to be yet another disappointment?

Dana De Marco moves to Philadelphia after her dreams for the future are unexpectedly shattered. Her new restaurant, Café De Marco is located on the city's famous South Street and has opened to rave reviews. It seems as if the pieces of her life are finally falling into place, except for one minor detail...she's unable to let go of the past.

The last thing Dana expects is that she's about to meet someone who will force her to face her demons head on. Does she have the courage to open her heart and love again?

Callie's Dilemma

by Vicki Stevenson

While attending a convention for authors and fans of chick lit, Callie Delaney, closeted reigning queen of mainstream romance, meets Dale Kirby, irresistible fitness instructor for the health club at the hotel that's hosting the event. She also inadvertently walks into the prelude to a murder. Although Callie is unaware of the significance of what she sees, the killer is not, and he embarks on a relentless campaign to eliminate the only witness to his crime.

With help from Dale's LGBT family, the women set out to uncover the motivation for the threats against Callie, identify her mysterious stalker, and ultimately prove him guilty of murder. As a fragile relationship develops between Dale and Callie, they are forced to confront escalating danger and the irresolvable conflict between the demands of Callie's public image and the reality of her personal desire.

Trust Our Tomorrows

by Carrie Carr

Set six years after To Hold Forever, life at the Rocking W ranchis constantly changing. Lex and Amanda are back, strugglingthrough a drought and trying to raise their two daughters as bestthey can. Lorrie is now ten and gets into as much trouble as Lex everdid, while six-year old Melanie is content to follow along. Whensomeone from the past returns and asks for an unusual favor, willLex and Amanda agree? And, considering the favor, can they refuse?

Like Lovers Do

by Lori L. Lake

Kennie McClain is a security guard who, unbeknownst to her tenants, owns the Allen Arms where she works. In her off hours, she rehabs apartments and nurses a broken heart. She's still recovering from the loss of her partner three years earlier and has moved from upstate New York to Portland to escape bad memories.

Lily Gordon is a nationally-acclaimed painter who lives in the penthouse. She's beautiful, accomplished, and haunted after her lover ditches her.

Sparks fly in a big way when Kennie and Lily finally connect . . . but then in one shattering moment, Lily betrays her, and Kennie's world comes crashing down around her, leaving her untrusting and in deep emotional pain. Can Kennie rise above these losses and ever risk her heart again?