Fine as Wine

The Beauforts

It's our first anniversary and Ambrose wanted us to celebrate differently. We are at his 5-acre vineyards where he has built a hotel for people who wanted to enjoy vineyard life. It is magical. He has decided to invite his children and introduce me to them. I'm so nervous because he is too so we're both just hanging in there hoping that all goes well.

He is worried that they will be against us being together because am 20+ years younger than him and am worried they won't like me and that they would think am with their Dad for money.

"I don't think inviting them was a good idea", I said as we waited for them in the living room. He took the family villa with six bedrooms with plenty of space. Before he could comfort me we heard people talking at the door and it opened. "Daddy!", A girl with jet black hair stormed in and hugged Ambrose she looked around twenty years old.

"Oh, Gaby! I missed you so much", he said hugging her tighter. "You've got to be fucking kidding me", a voice that I was very familiar with said from the door making me turn, and there he was. Allen Griffin. "What are you doing here Victoria?", he asked looking angry making my eyes go wide. "What's going on?", a younger version of Allen with ice-blue eyes asked. "Dad who is she?", another woman with the same hair as Gaby asked she had blue eyes just like Ambrose. His daughters are beautiful. "Well, I think we should just rip the bandaid then... Guys this is my girlfriend Victoria Baldwin", Ambrose said with pride but all I could focus on was the rage on Allen's face.

"Is this a joke to you? Huh?", he asked but I remained silent. Ambrose is his father. Oh my god. Am in love with my ex's father. "Allen calm down", the older daughter said but instead of answering he pushed her away. He came at me and before he could touch me Ambrose stood in front of me.

"Allen... son, you need to calm down. Now!", he said calmly but I knew he was nowhere near being calm. "Dad, you don't understand. She is doing this to get back at me. She's fucking messing with me", he said making Ambrose turn to look at me. "V... what's going on?", he asked in a cold voice that made me tremble in fear.

"He is my ex-boyfriend. The one I told you about. I had no idea that he was your son. I mean you don't even share the same last name. Ambrose... I swear, I didn't know", I pleaded hoping that he could see that I was telling the truth. "Liar! You're lying!", Allen shouted then almost slapped me but his father caught his hand. "Raphael, take your brother outside. He needs to cool off", he said then left the room too. All I could do was sit on the sofa and cry.

"This is not happening", I said in the middle of sobbing. I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned it was his older daughter. She handed me a box of tissues and then sat next to me. A few minutes later Gaby came and sat in front of me. 

"Look, Vicky. Can I call you Vicky?", Simone asked and I nod. "This is so messed up but one thing I know for sure is that I have never seen my Dad this happy in a very long time", she said looking at my tearly eyes. "We have also seen how miserable Allen has been without you so please... tell us the truth. Did you know that they were related?", Gaby asked. "I swear to you, I didn't know. I would never do something like this to Ambrose. I would never hurt him. I swear", I said feeling more tears coming down my eyes.

"Ok then, what should we do Simone? You know how long it took for them to even stand being in the same room", Gaby said making me feel worse. "I don't know. Let me go talk to Dad first", she said, leaving me with Gaby. 

"Hello, Victoria... It's not the first impression I was expecting but hey...", Raphael said coming to sit with us. "How's Allen?", Gaby asked looking worried.  "Well, he wanted to leave but the plane is gone for servicing and the next bus comes in three days so he is kinda stuck here", he said sipping some wine. "This is unbelievable", Gaby said putting her face in her hands. My eyes landed on Raphael who was looking at me with an emotionless face just like his father.

"What's your story? Is what Allen says true?", he asked. "No. I would never do such a thing. I'm just not as lucky as I thought", I said giving up. I knew that this was the end of it. There was no way that Ambrose would choose me over his children and I wasn't going to blame him for it.

"Victoria. Dad wants to talk to you. He's in his room", Simone said looking sad. I stood up and walked slowly up the stairs. I found him sitting on the bed. The room was so modern and beautiful. I really wished that things didn't turn out the way they did that way we could have enjoyed the place together just like he planned.

"Ambrose, I didn't know that Allen was your son. I would never do that to you. I love you", I said and his eyes met mine the hurt that I saw in his eyes told me what I needed to know. I took my bags and walked out of his room.

"You can have the room next to mine. It's empty", Simone said as I met her at the last staircase. I nod my head and quietly followed her. It was a beautiful room. A bit smaller but still beautiful. I sat and cried the whole night. I should have stayed away from him, why did I allow myself to fall in love again. Everything was too much. I felt like I was suffocating so I got out of the room. It was dark but I didn't care. I went to the vineyard and started walking aimlessly until I found a huge tree. I sat under it and just looked at the sky.

"Mind if I sit with you?", I was shocked to see Raphael. I wiped my tears away quickly then moved to the side a bit. He sat quietly, "You love him don't you?", "With everything that I have", I replied knowing exactly who he was talking about.