Chapter 270: Everything is dead!

The Perrone estate was not far from the airport. In less than thirty minutes we arrived at the winery, where the house where my brother was born and raised was also located.

Although we didn't feel it, because we were sheltered inside the car, the intense cold on the street was visible, even with the sun rising timidly between the mountains.

Yes, I was surprised to see the extent of land that belonged and still belonged to my family.

As soon as Anon entered the main gate, we started to make the steep path along the road where all that could be seen on both sides were vines, millimetrically lined up, looking lifeless, with gray stems and without a single leaf.

- My God! It's all dead! Poor Sebastian when he finds out about this. - I watched, feeling my heart sink.

Heitor laughed before explaining:

- Didn't you study about grapes, even though you work in a wine producer, Mrs. Perrone?

- Actually, at this time, I wasn't very focused on this, Mr Disqualified.

- I remember well... Your only concern was to bother the CEO of the rival company, right?

I sighed before confirming:

- Yes... I ended up having to share the same roof with him. And if that wasn't enough, the same bed.

Nicolette laughed:

- You are very strange... That complete each other. They talk about themselves as if they were talking about other people.

- Dear wife, winter is the silent and discreet season of a vineyard. And make no mistake, vines are not fragile plants and can withstand low temperatures.

- Sebastian said it snows often here. – I watched.

- And the forecast for the next few days is snow, Mrs. Bongiove. Anon looked at me in the rearview mirror, warning me.

- Do you swear, Anon? I... would love to meet the snow.

- I can take you to see the snow anywhere in the world you want, my love. Hector looked at me.

- I want to experience snow in Piedmont, in the land of the Perrone... Together with you and Maria... - I said excitedly.

- Your brother should have explained you better about the property, the vines and the temperature of this place. But since he doesn't have the capacity for that, I can do it. – Heitor boasted, taking the opportunity to criticize Sebastian.

- Don't be ungrateful. My brother was very kind in giving us all this... And he did it for our well-being, so that we would feel at home and not in the cold and insensitive environment of a hotel.

- I like hotels a lot. Hector shrugged.

- You fool! - I slapped him on the arm , playfully.

Malu looked at me and then at him and slapped him too.

- Hey, you can't do that! – I criticized her attitude.

- Stew! She looked at her father, repeating my words.

I arched an eyebrow, confused.

- What is this, Malu?

- This is reproducing the attitude of adults – Nicolete explained – It's time to be an example for her. That's how she will learn what is right and what not to do.

- Look at Mom – I lifted her chin, which shifted restlessly in my lap – We can't call Dad a fool. Sorry Daddy... I love you. ' I smoothed his arm.

- Love... - She smiled, repeating the last word.

- Excuse us, Daddy? We promise never to do that again. - I looked at Hector, taking his hand.

- Sorry. – He said, being kneaded by her, who immediately threw herself into his lap.

Heitor straightened her up and she hugged him, then giving him a smeared kiss on the cheek.

- Daddy loves you. - He said while pulling her away a little, looking into her green eyes.

- Be... - She said, laughing playfully.

- I can't translate everything, but I think she's making fun of her allergy to cats. - I started to laugh.

"I believe the girl is referring to Ben and how much she misses him, Mrs. Bongiove." - Anon objected.

Heitor arched an eyebrow and said, looking at the driver through the rearview mirror:

- I think you might be slightly in love, Anon. No one here remembered Ben.

- Sir, I just made an observation.

I started to laugh and Nicolete laughed, unable to be so discreet. Malu, as he started to imitate everything we did, pretended to be laughing, putting his hand over his mouth.

- This place is huge! – I looked at the plains that seemed to have no end, with the vines that seemed to be dead, but according to Hector, they weren't.

- I believe that Perrone did not go bankrupt that much, as your brother described. Hector said.

- Sebastian never told me Perrone went bankrupt. It was very clear that this only happened with the North Noriah branch. He always said I had something to receive.

- I'm kidding you, disqualified.

I got serious, pretending to be mad. Malu pointed his finger at me and started laughing again.

- What are you finding funny, huh? I touched her nose with my finger.

- Mom... - She jumped back into my lap.

- She never stops. – Nicolette observed.

- Whose daughter? - Hector mocked.

Just when I thought that the extension of land that belonged to the Perrone would never end, finally, we arrived at the house.

The path that led to the main house was made of tiny, pale, pink pebbles. We listened to the sound of the car's tires until Anon parked, close to the main door.

The house had two floors and was made of rustic stones. None of them were the same shape, they looked hand-cut. The Venetian windows were wood-colored, with glass that opened in one piece. The roof was single-tiled, matte, almost the same color as the house, which I couldn't decide between pink, salmon, or rosy beige, as the color was natural to the stone.

In the background, there was a smaller house, but in the same style, as if it were a miniature of the main one.

A couple came out of the house as soon as we got out of the car. They were in uniform and immediately came to us.

- Be welcome. We are the caretakers of the house. Mr. Sebastian warned us of your arrival. Glad they weren't late. We hope you like it here, Mrs. Perrone.

- New house! Hector corrected.

- Perrone Casanova – I confirmed – Thank you for having us.

- As you well know, the house belongs to the lady – said the man, bowing politely – Let me take your luggage, please.

Anon opened the trunk of the car and removed the luggage while the man took the bags. The housekeeper led us into the house:

- Let's go inside, because it's very cold outside. The forecast is for snow today. – She warned.

- Do you swear? – I was excited – It would be very lucky.

- They will certainly catch cold and snowy days. It's fine at the time. - She smiled.

We entered the property. The interior lacked the rough stones of the exterior. It had smooth plaster and was painted in a faded, aged yellow. The living room had several bright, simple sofas adorned with colorful throws and cushions. The coffee table was in hardwood, at the same time boasting a shine that dazzled the eye. On it were some magazines and a ceramic tray with two kinds of handmade eggs painted by hand.

The floor was in old reddish ceramic, looking like it had been recently waxed. The ceiling resembled the same stone as the outer area, but darker. It had heating and air conditioning.

The furniture, a bookcase, a china cabinet, all old and rustic, matched the environment.

The room was not big, and very cozy.

- This is the main room. - The housekeeper warned.

We go through a simple anteroom, following it through the thick wooden staircase, handrails perfectly carved and designed, like a work of art, until we access a narrow corridor, full of doors.

Another maid came towards us:

- Be welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Perrone – he looked in my direction – I've arranged the rooms to receive you and I'll unpack your bags. I hope you're happy.

- Thanks.

- Would you mind if Malu slept with me? – Nicolete asked, while taking the girl from my arms.

I looked towards Hector, who said:

- Fine by me. Do you want to sleep with Nic, honey? – He asked Maria Lua, who nodded.

I noticed Malu wanting to get off Nic's lap and said:

- We need to watch out for her on the stairs. I didn't see any protection... - I said.

- We'll all be watching, ma'am – the newly arrived maid warned, trying to reassure me – Come on, I'll show you your room. – He called Nic and Malu.

- You will have the master bedroom. - Said the housekeeper.

We follow them. As soon as she opened the door, I came across the green dorm, which I wasn't sure if it was light, dark or in between. The room was spacious and the walls were high, with the uppermost part, next to the ceiling, painted white.

The ceiling was made of exposed wood, as if they were whole eucalyptus trees, rounded and thin, with a lining that did not hide them, as if they were playing with the rustic design of the place.

The bed was big and looked very comfortable. It had white sheets with a white blanket with flashy green geometric details, which clashed with the various shades of green on the pillows. The headboard was made of iron, as if it were a tree of life, where the branches would assemble a large mosaic, which occupied a considerable amount of space on the wall.

The white door, closed, announced a bathroom. The closet was small, with only three doors, in wood, retro, and with a large mirror, which occupied two of the doors. Next to it, a tall chest of drawers with drawers with iron handles like those on the wardrobe.

Small tables without drawers, very similar to stools, were beside the beds, serving as a rest for two iron lamps with frosted glass canopies, imitating a flower.

- Clean bed linen, freshly changed towels. Make yourself at home, please. And anything you need, I'll be at your disposal. – She warned.

- Thanks. But answer me a question, please.

- Clear.

- You said it's the master bedroom... Don't tell me it was Francesco and Soraia's. – I didn't hold back.

- No, ma'am – she smiled gently – After the death of Mrs. Soraia Perrone, Mr. Sebastian renovated almost the entire house, starting with the bedrooms. He sought to maintain the style that the house already had, but everything here is new and renovated.

- Thank you... I'm going to sleep much more peacefully with this answer. – I confessed.

- You can rest a little from the trip. Lunch will be served punctually at noon, in the dining room, next to the kitchen.

- Does it have a wine cellar? Hector asked.

- A huge wine cellar, Mr. Casanova. After all, you are in one of the biggest wineries in Italy and certainly the biggest in Piedmont.

- Thanks for the attention. - I said, letting her out.

I closed the door and Heitor looked at everything:

- Picturesque? Humble? Bizarre?

- Different. – I looked around.

- I hope the bed is a box, at least. If it's iron, we're fucked.

- Why?

- Makes a hell of a sound.

I started to laugh:

- You just think about it, disqualified.

He threw himself on the bed, lying on the pillows:

- Comfortable... Box and doesn't make noise. But it doesn't seem to be attached to the headboard. What a strange thing this tree is.

I lay down beside him, approving of the softness of the mattress:

- I liked.

- It's not bad... – Heitor looked around – But why so much green? In fact... Why green?

- How do I know... It's a matter of taste, my love.

- Did I mention I hate green?