Under the Vineyard Sky

Chapter 20

The morning after the kiss, Isabella found herself tangled in a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite sort through. The night before, everything had felt so right—her heart racing, the way Ethan’s kiss had felt like a promise. But now, as she made her way down the stairs of her parents’ house, her mind was racing with questions.

She had barely closed her eyes, her thoughts running through the night over and over. She’d never expected things to shift so quickly, and part of her was still afraid of how easily she had fallen into it.

Her mother was already in the kitchen, making coffee, and smiled as Isabella entered. “Morning, honey. How did you sleep?”

Isabella hesitated before answering, giving a small, distracted smile. “I slept okay, just… thinking.”

“About?” her mother asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Everything,” Isabella replied, her voice soft. “Being back here. The vineyard. And… Ethan.” She didn’t look at her mother, afraid of the knowing look that might come from her.

Her mother paused, then slowly set down the coffee pot. “You know, I’ve seen that look before.”

Isabella glanced up at her, raising an eyebrow. “What look?”

“The one where you realize something has changed but you’re not sure what to do with it yet.” Grace walked over and poured a cup of coffee, handing it to her. “Honey, whatever you decide, you deserve to be happy.”

Isabella took the cup but didn’t drink. “I know. But I’m not sure if I’m ready to figure it out.”

“You don’t have to rush anything,” Grace said softly. “Just take things one day at a time. Let yourself breathe.”

Isabella smiled, grateful for her mother’s patience. “Thanks, Mom.”

Later that day, Ethan texted her asking if she wanted to meet up at the vineyard. Isabella hesitated, unsure of how to approach the situation. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she couldn’t keep avoiding him.

When she arrived at the vineyard, Ethan was already there, walking through the rows of vines, his hands tucked into his pockets. He turned when he heard her footsteps, his expression softening when their eyes met.

“Hey,” he said, walking over to meet her halfway. “I’m glad you came.”

Isabella gave him a small smile. “I’m glad you asked.”

They stood there for a moment, the quiet of the vineyard surrounding them. The air was warm, but there was something calm and steady about the way they stood together, as if they’d always been this way.

“I’ve been thinking about what happened the last night,” Ethan said after a pause, his voice a little hesitant.

Isabella nodded. “Me too.”

“I don’t want to rush anything, Izzy. I just… I’ve missed you. I don’t want to let you go again.”

Isabella met his gaze, feeling the pull between them, but her mind was still clouded with doubts. “Ethan, I’m not sure if I can just jump into something again. Not yet.”

Ethan took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’m not asking for you to jump in. I just want to be here for you. To be whatever you need me to be.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. He wasn’t rushing her. He was just offering something steady, something real.

“I’m not sure what I need right now,” Isabella whispered, her voice trembling a little. “But I do know that I want to see where this goes. Slowly. Together.”

Ethan’s smile was soft, understanding. “That’s all I’m asking for.”

As they stood there in the quiet of the vineyard, Isabella realized that for the first time in a long time, she was letting herself believe in something again. Maybe it wasn’t all figured out yet, but she was ready to take the next step. And with Ethan by her side, she felt like she could face whatever came next.