Page 24 of Reclaimed Dreams
“Hello, Mrs. Velasquez. I’m so glad you were able to meet me on such short notice.”
“No problem at all. Let me tell you a little about the property while we walk.”
She showed him the sprawling ranch house, the dilapidated barns, the gravel drive around the side, but the part that caught his imagination was the vines. Acres of established grapevines sprawled into the distance. In the early morning sun, the rust-colored leaves glistened with morning dew. It looked just like the pictures Tony had sent from Italy.
Fixing the house, landscaping the grounds, that could all come later. That was what he did. But this—the view and the future it promised—couldn’t be fixed. It had to feel right, and it did. He could make this work for Jo.
He let Rosa finish her script on the house before he interrupted.
“What kind of grapes are these?”
Rosa checked the listing. “Mostly Italian varietals that like the heat. Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano…”
He stopped listening. There was his sign. He was going to buy this property, and win back his wife, and make her favorite wine, and live happily ever after.
“So, Mr. Valenti, you’ll let me know if you’d like to see any other properties in the area. I have several others if this isn’t to your liking.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Dom said, still staring out over the vines.
“Well!”
He caught the affront in her voice, and chuckled, holding up a hand. “Because I’ll be buying this one. Let me get things rolling with the bank, and we can figure out an offer.” He wished Jo were here to handle the real estate wrangling. He hated paperwork and contracts, but he’d do them if it meant he could keep this a secret.
Rosa’s demeanor instantly shifted back to all smiles. “You had me worried there for a minute. Of course, I’ll pull together all of the disclosures and contracts.”
She chatted about details but Dom was back in his daydream, sipping wine made from his own grapes, sitting on that back patio with Jo perched in his lap. That was a retirement dream he could get behind.
Now he just had to do what he did best: build a dream into reality with a solid foundation and sturdy walls. A house by Valenti was built to last.
27 years ago
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Jo stepped through the front door of the house Dom had found. Their realtor, Jim Hamilton, was due any minute, but they’d arrived at the open house before him and decided to wander.
“Grain of salt, babe,” Dom said under his breath.
“Grain of salt? I’d need a block of the stuff. Is that…broken glass? On the front porch?” She shifted Enzo more firmly on her hip. A hip that was rapidly disappearing as her body grew to accommodate a fourth baby. A baby that needed more space than they could manage in the tiny bungalow they were currently renting.
A new baby, a growing business, and a small inheritance from her great-aunt meant the time to invest in a home had arrived. But this house?
“Who doesn’t at least clean up vandalism before an open house?”
“Well at least they aren’t hiding anything.”
“Don’t jinx us!”
Jo walked farther into the house, holding Gabe’s hand tightly in hers. “Dom, keep a hand on Sofia, please.”
Who knew what other surprises this house would hold?
“Dom, what made the holes in the drywall?”
Dom wandered over to peek through with his flashlight. “Hmm, not sure. I wonder what kind of pipes it has…”
“Hey there, Dom! Jo! Good to see you.” Jim Hamilton bustled in the door behind them. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Not a problem. How are you?”
