Love in Texas

Chapter 2

The main house is well over ten thousand square feet. Not to mention all the outbuildings, barns, and miscellaneous structures. He hoped he didn't get lost just walking into the house. The Morettis always wanted a lot of children, but it was hard for them.

Paisley tries to take it all in. She knows it can be a little overwhelming. However, every time she sees it through the eyes of a newcomer, it makes her realize how immense it is. Carlo is the first man she has ever brought home to meet her parents.

Their Escalade comes to a stop right in front of the entryway. There are several party rental company vans and catering trucks off to the side behind the house. Four party tents can be seen from where she is standing. Paisley just thinks to herself that this party will be massive.

Her parents come running out of the front door. Paisley is enveloped in a hug by her father Giorgio while her mother Amelia hugs Dom.

"And who is this?" Asks Amelia. Dom feels vindicated because it seems as if this is one of his sister's famous surprises. No one even knew of his existence.

"Dad, Mom, this is Carlo, and we have been seeing each other for over a year now. He proposed three days ago, and I am considering it."

"Carlo De Luca, this is our mom and dad. Amelia and Giorgio Moretti."

Dominic can see the steam radiating off his father. He had a feeling this young man had not called to discuss this before asking her to marry him. Obviously, he was not raised with old-world manners like his family.

Paisley is the family darling. The only daughter. The apple of her father's eye. Her mother's princess. Everyone doted on her, for example he knows the food at this party will include every single item she likes to eat, her favorite band, all her preferences. Yet this man had not called his father to request his daughter's hand in marriage.

Paisley is a very traditional young lady, and she would one hundred percent expect him to make the call to her parents. Dom can see a few things clicking in her head. He didn't even know her parents' names, so it was obvious he didn't put forth effort to talk with them before asking her. Dom wonders exactly how intimate this relationship is. Did Carlo even bother asking about her family? Does he really even know Paisley?

Mom, forever being the diplomat, steps up first to talk to Carlo." Welcome to our family home, Carlo. We look forward to introducing you tonight at dinner. As you can see, we are preparing a welcome home party for Paisley. She hasn't been home in so long, and we want it to be just right. "

"But for now, it is very hot and dusty. Let's all go inside and take a rest before we clean up for dinner," says Mom, "I am sure the evening is bound to run very long, we love any excuse to have a celebration. Have you decided when you will announce your engagement? You know I would be thrilled to throw you kids an engagement party!"

"Mom, thank you, but I don't think we are ready for that quite yet. We still have a few things to iron out before I feel I can give my answer," said Paisley, looking down at the massive ring on her finger. It still seemed so foreign to wear.

The entire group proceeds to head inside. In the lounge area, there are a few finger foods set out with some ice-cold lemonade and sweet tea. This is one thing Paisley misses on her travels. Her mother's fabulous sweet tea, she has never had it anywhere that tastes the same. Her dad always claims the fresh well water helps. There are no chemicals in the water like you would get out of a city tap.

Amelia pours everyone a nice, tall glass. For some of those present, like her daughter, she mixes tea and lemonade together. This makes Paisley smile; she has been gone too long. She never was the settling down type. She walks over to grab a few snacks, but she doesn't realize how hungry she is.

Ever since her senior year of high school, she has been traveling, never staying in one place too long. She even attended college in Oxford. That is why she and Carlo have many things to discuss.

If she were to settle down, she would prefer to be near her family to help raise any future children. Carlo wants to move back to Italy and raise children near his parents. This seems to be a large hurdle to overcome.

This seems to be a problem with a lot of the guys she has dated. Either they have a bad case of wanderlust like her, or they don't want to compromise and move to be near her family. Her parents tend to pressure her to move home and settle down because they have given up on Dominic. He had been married, and she turned out to be a greedy gold digger. A trap he doesn't want to fall into again. Paisley had never liked her, but she had put up with her for her brother's sake.

The Moretti name is synonymous with wealth and prestige in Texas. They hold over a dozen smaller companies under their main umbrella company. Everything from oil wells to cattle to investment firms. This did not include all their philanthropic work and charitable organizations they supported.

One wonderful thing their Grandfather, Dominic, did was diversify and make the company profitable even when the economy is down. His mother was so impressed with her father-in-law that she named her only son after him.

He was the original Dominic Francis Moretti. Dom looked up to his grandfather with a type of awe and wonder. He doesn't remember him too much as he died when Dom was 12. But the love Grandfather Dom shared with his doting wife, Grandmother Anjelica, was one of a kind. Paisley doesn't remember him except for the smell of his cologne. She used to climb up into his lap and snuggle into his sweater.

Luckily, they were still blessed to have Grandma Anna in their lives. She was still vibrant and thriving. She lived in the west wing of the home. Mother said she was lying down and resting since she hadn't slept the night before in anticipation of her only granddaughter finally coming home.

Dominic shakes his head to clear the cobwebs. "Mom, I am going to lie down. I have been up since yesterday as I decided to fly overnight so I could pick the brat up at the airport," he chuckles.

Honestly, there is nothing he wouldn't do for her. The entire Moretti family dotes on Paisley Olivia Moretti. She was born 8 years after Dominic, after two miscarriages, and after her parents had given up on having any more children. It had been such a surprise when Amelia fell pregnant with Paisley.

She loved them all fiercely; she is just more of a rolling stone. Never staying in one place for long. She enjoys her free time while traveling for work. She is a brand Ambassador for UNICEF. It is very important work, and she feels as if she is really doing important work.

Her family never expected her travel to last so long. They had hoped her senior year abroad would work it all out of her system. But alas, it has not. She misses home, but she knows it is always there to fall back on should she need to.