Introduction

Two estranged sisters. One crumbling vineyard. And a legacy that just might heal them both.

Charlotte Stanbury built a life of success, independence, and distance—from her past, her family, and the small town she once called home. But when her father dies, she’s pulled back to the vineyard estate she ran from years ago—dragging along the secret that she’s battling breast cancer. Her plan is simple: settle the estate, sell the land, and leave. Fast.

Mila Stanbury never left. She raised her daughter Ava here, poured everything into the vineyard, and cared for their aging father alone. Now, the home she’s sacrificed so much for is on the brink of foreclosure, and the last person she wants to share it with is the sister who abandoned them.

Forced to face each other—and the painful secrets their father left behind—Charlotte and Mila are torn between preserving the past and letting it go. As Charlotte quietly wages a war with her illness, Mila grapples with betrayal, resentment, and the terrifying prospect of starting over. But in the quiet rows of the vineyard and the echoes of their shared history, the sisters begin to rediscover something neither expected: a path forward.

Set against the lush backdrop of a Tuscany-style vineyard on the American coast, this sweeping story of sisterhood, secrets, and second chances will tug at your heart and stay with you long after the final page.

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Excerpt

Chapter One

Charlotte

Charlotte stared out the airplane window as the Virginia skyline appeared, a sprawling tapestry of undulating green hills and shimmering blue rivers threaded beneath wispy white clouds. Her heart thudded a nervous rhythm in her chest.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Virginia,” crackled the pilot’s voice over the intercom. “Local time is one-fifteen p.m., and the weather outside is a pleasant seventy-eight degrees with clear skies.”

Charlotte’s hand closed tightly around the armrest as she tried to quell the dizziness that instantly swept over her. She muttered a silent affirmation to herself, but the queasy sensation only intensified as the plane taxied down the IAD runway before finally coming to a stop.

The passengers gathered their belongings and began to exit, but Charlotte remained seated, breathing deliberately in slow, measured gulps, willing the building nausea to subside.

“You okay there, miss?” asked a passing flight attendant, her brows knitted with concern.

Charlotte managed a weak smile. “I haven’t eaten, and I need to take my medication,” she admitted, her voice low, battling the embarrassment that threatened to overcome her.

The attendant gave her a reassuring nod. “Let’s get you sorted out. I can arrange for someone to assist you,” she suggested kindly.

The prospect of extra attention made Charlotte hesitate, but practicality won over pride. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“When you’re able, you can lean on me for support. I’ll arrange for a wheelchair to be waiting for you as soon as we disembark.” The flight attendant spoke from above her.

Charlotte forced her head up and gave the woman a weak but grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Fifteen minutes later, she disembarked with the flight assistant’s help and found a young man waiting by a wheelchair.

“Ready, ma’am?” he asked with a gentle, encouraging smile.

“To be escorted like royalty? You bet your top dollar I am,” Charlotte replied, attempting humor to mask her discomfort. Despite her nerves, she allowed herself to be eased into the wheelchair, tucking her handbag under her folded arms. The young man pushed the wheelchair across the tarmac toward the airport’s arrival lounge.

The airport was a whirlpool of motion—families reunited, business professionals marching determinedly, tourists pausing to snap selfies—but Charlotte noticed none of it, focused instead on maintaining her composure.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” the attendant recommended as he expertly maneuvered her through the terminal. “There’s a food court just around the corner.”

The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling spices wafted in the air, stirring an unexpected pang of hunger. Stopping at a Subway stand, the attendant retrieved her selected tuna sandwich, an iced tea, and a bottle of water.

“Here you go,” he said, placing the meal in her lap.

“Thank you,” Charlotte replied earnestly. She attempted to eat slowly, despite the ravenous sensation that overcame her. After finishing, she retrieved her medication from her bag and quickly popped the pills into her mouth before having a drink of water. She felt slightly steadier. After collecting her luggage, the attendant wheeled her toward the exit.

Outside, the late-afternoon sun bathed the landscape in a gentle warmth. Charlotte took a deep breath, tracing the tender outline of her past in her mind before it morphed into melancholy and regret.

“Where to now?” the attendant asked, disrupting her thoughts.

“Car rental,” Charlotte replied, gesturing toward the overhead signs that pointed the way. “I’ve made arrangements.”

Soon, Charlotte stood at the counter, handling paperwork for a rental car she’d reserved just before her flight. The clerk handed her a copy of the contract with a professional, empathetic nod. After tipping the attendant for his assistance with the wheelchair, she made her way toward the car, which was now parked along the curb, with another parking lot attendant standing by. He handed her the keys, and Charlotte thanked him.

The scent of leather greeted Charlotte as she slid into the driver’s seat, luggage safely stowed in the trunk. She hesitated a moment, breathing in the silence of the vehicle’s interior before starting the engine.

Pulling out of the rental lot, Charlotte carefully navigated through the city limits. As the urban landscape thinned away, fields rolled out like an expanse of green velvet. Farmhouses dotted the landscape, their red barns standing proudly against the verdant backdrop. She could see the soft outline of distant valleys, the horizon smudged by the haze of the nearing summer. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

1. How do you think the estrangement between Charlotte and Mila will impact their ability to work together on the vineyard? What role do family secrets typically play in shaping relationships?

2. Do you think it’s possible for Charlotte and Mila to completely put the past behind them? What might need to happen for them to truly reconcile?

3. The vineyard is described as a central part of the story. How do you think the setting might reflect or influence the sisters’ journey of healing and self-discovery?

4. How might Charlotte’s secret battle with breast cancer affect her decisions and her relationship with Mila? What challenges might arise from her keeping it hidden?

5. Mila has devoted her life to the vineyard and their father’s care. Do you think her resentment toward Charlotte is justified? How might her sacrifices shape her character and decisions?

6. The sisters must decide whether to preserve the vineyard or let it go. What do you think the vineyard might symbolize for each of them? How would you approach such a decision?

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