Mafia Wine

Chapter 6: A Year later

It's been a year since the events that shaped my life in profound ways, and I want to catch you up on everything. Unfortunately, my beloved grandmother passed away during this time, which was extremely tough. I miss her greatly, but I am determined to carry on her legacy and dreams in her honor. She always believed in me, and I can almost hear her voice encouraging me to chase my passions.

As part of her inheritance, she left me with a significant sum of money. My parents and I had a serious conversation about what to do with it—whether to invest it, save it, or use it for something meaningful. I expressed my desire to use it to start a brewery and own a bottle shop where we could sell Grandma's wine and create our own liqueur. The idea of bringing her recipes and spirit to life felt like the perfect tribute.

Of course, at 17 years old, I couldn't make this dream a reality just yet. The legalities and responsibilities of owning a business were still a few months away. However, my parents understood the importance of my vision and agreed to buy a small brewery and local bottle shop for me until I turn 18 and can take full ownership. It was a significant step, and I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. In the meantime, I still help out behind the scenes with the business operations, learning the ins and outs of running a brewery, managing inventory, and understanding customer preferences.

Lena is still my friend. From the moment we clicked, we became inseparable. She was there for me when Grandma passed away, providing comfort and support during one of the hardest times in my life. Lena has become almost like a second daughter to my parents, and I am grateful to have her by my side. We share dreams and laughter, and she often helps me brainstorm ideas for the brewery.

Now, let's fast forward to the present. Lena and I have taken on a fun little tradition—every month, we decorate the bottle shop in daisies in memory of Grandma. It's our way of keeping her spirit alive in the space we're creating. We also chose a muted yellow for the shop's decor because yellow was Grandma's favourite colour. Every time I see those daisies, I'm reminded of her smile and the warmth she brought into our lives. It's a small but meaningful way to honor her memory while building something beautiful.

As we continue to work on the brewery and bottle shop, I can't help but feel a sense of purpose and determination. I'm excited to share Grandma's recipes, create new ones, and build the company, knowing I have made grandma proud. We have a liqueur called 'Romashki'; it's name means daisies. Its flavour exudes pineapple and mango, and we have a collection of wines that are selling fast, using Grandma's special brewing techniques and formulating them exactly how she taught me. We are also experimenting with making a new liqueur collection. 

"Help me" Lenas laugher falls through the whole store. I looked over to see her climbing up on the top of the chair while trying to tie the daisies up on the roof with blue ceramic butterflies.

I couldn't help but laugh at Lena's antics as she wobbled precariously on the chair, her determination shining through even as she fought to keep her balance. "Lena, be careful!" I called out, trying to suppress my giggles. She flashed me a cheeky grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. It was moments like these that reminded me of the joy and laughter Grandma had brought into our lives.

"Just a little higher!" Lena insisted, her voice filled with excitement. "These daisies need to be perfect for Grandma!" I admired her dedication; she had fully embraced our tradition, and it felt like a beautiful way to keep Grandma's spirit alive. Together, we were creating a space that reflected her warmth and love.

As I moved closer to lend a hand, I couldn't help but admire the progress we had made in the bottle shop. The muted yellow walls, adorned with cheerful daisies and delicate blue ceramic butterflies, created a welcoming atmosphere. Each decoration felt like a hug from Grandma, reminding us of her laughter and love. I could almost hear her voice whispering encouragement, telling me to chase my dreams with all my heart.

"Okay, okay! Let's get those daisies up there!" I said, joining Lena in her quest. With a few well-placed decorations, we transformed the shop into a whimsical tribute to my grandmother. The vibrant colours and playful touches made it feel alive.

Once we finished, we stepped back to admire our handy work. The bottle shop was now a cozy haven, infused with memories and dreams. "What do you think?" I asked, my heart swelling with pride.

"It's perfect! Grandma would love it!" Lena exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. "And just think, soon we'll be serving our own creations right here!" The thought sent a thrill down my spine. The idea of sharing Grandma's legacy through our own brews and wines was exhilarating.

As we began to clean up, my mind wandered to our upcoming plans. We had been experimenting with new flavours for our liqueur collection, and the thought of unveiling them to our customers made my heart race. "What if we try a tropical twist next?" I suggested, my excitement bubbling over. "We could infuse our next batch with passion fruit and a hint of mint!"

Lena's eyes lit up. "Yes! And we could call it 'Grandma's Paradise'! It'll be like a little taste of summer all year round!"

"Exactly!" I replied, feeling the creative energy flowing between us. We began brainstorming names and flavours, our laughter echoing through the shop. It felt like we were channeling Grandma's spirit, and I knew she would be proud of the direction we were headed.