Our honeymoon in Tulum, Mexico was amazing. We stayed at Ana y Jose, Tulum’s premier beachfront hotel. We snorkeled, zip-lined, rode four-wheelers, swam in cenotes, and spent a lot of time on the beach. We also explored the Mayan ruins in Tulum and made a day trip out to the Unesco site of Chichen Itza. I returned with the best tan of my life. I was almost as dark as my new bride.

We returned to Palo Alto with so much stuff to sort through. First, was possibly buying a new home in Palo Alto with the wedding money from our parent’s thanks to Bud and Laura’s generosity. The second was figuring out a plan for our long-term goal of moving to Lodi to take over the ranch operations. The third was registering for the UC Davis extension classes for vineyard management.

On Friday of our first week back Marina’s boss, Harvey, called her into his office. Their discussion centered on her career with his firm, her future, and what he saw in Lodi on the wedding day. “I made some calls. Scott’s family is highly respected and well connected in the Lodi wine grape industry per my sources in Napa. You can build a wonderful life there. And opening a new winery will be an exciting experience. He told me three to five years. I’d love for you to stay for five, but I’ll take three. All I ask is that you give me at least three months’ notice. You will be hard to replace.”

“Thank you, Harvey. You know I love my job, and I’m good at it. And I enjoy working for you. With that said, we have no idea what the future looks like in terms of when we will move to Lodi. The winery won’t be operational until next August for the harvest, but I guarantee you three years. And, of course, I will let you know before three months.”

“Marina, I hand-picked you from Stanford and you could make a lot of money if you stayed with us here at Sand Hill. You know you could be a senior partner in probably seven or eight years before you’re forty years old. But, having lived in Palo Alto since my days at Stanford, I know starting a family in Lodi would be the best thing for you and Scott.”

“Harvey, thank you for saying that. If you would have told me two years ago that my dream would be to move to Lodi and work in a family winery, I would have said you were crazy. My life and dreams have changed so much in the past two years since meeting Scott. And, he said we’d only go to Lodi if I was ‘all in’ on the idea. We were honestly planning on moving back to San Diego.”

**

The next year plus went as planned with us living and working in Palo Alto. We decided not to buy a new house and save that money for when we move to Lodi to remodel my parent’s home, the house where I grew up.

Over Labor Day 1995 we went to San Diego to see Rina’s parents, Jeanette and Allen (their third anniversary), and also so Allen and I could attend the Aztecs’ opening football game of the season. Thankfully Jorge and Molly had turned Marina’s old bedroom into a guest room after the wedding, so it now had a queen-size bed. We had a wonderful long weekend visiting family and friends.

Six weeks later I returned home from work to find Marina sitting in the living room in what I could only describe as a trance. “Babe, what’s up? You look like you’re in shock. Anything wrong?” I asked.

As I moved through the living room she stood up and her million-dollar smile appeared. “I know this is not in our plan, but you’re going to be a FATHER!” she said as she pulled out a pregnancy stick from behind her back.

“What?” was my first word as she caught me so off guard. “Babe, that is so exciting!” I said a split second later giving her a giant hug.

“I hadn’t been feeling well for a few weeks and I didn’t want to say anything to you. I took this test a few days ago and then went to my doctor first thing this morning. She called after lunch with my test results.”

“I’m in shock,” I told her. “How far are you?”

“Doctor Patel thinks about six weeks based on my menstrual cycle. That means we got pregnant when we were in San Diego probably,” Marina said. “My parents will be so pleased to know we made a baby in the new guest room,” she joked.

“Have you told anyone?”

“Of course not, you had to be the first, Daddy,” Rina said with a grin. “And we’re not going to tell ANYONE for another month or two. Remember, my mom had several miscarriages, so I want to be extra careful and not tell our family or friends until Doctor Patel thinks I’m past the first trimester.”

“I totally understand. Did the Doctor give you any suggestions based on your mom’s history?” I asked.

“Yes, and she loaded me up with baby brochures about the “Do’s and Don’ts.” Rina continued, “She said that I should have no problems since I’m in such great shape. But I want to be extra cautious. She said I could keep going to the gym and running but I should cut out the upcoming half-marathon. She thought five miles a day, twenty miles a week would be ok.”

Our lives would soon change, and we wondered about our plans and timeline.

**

For Thanksgiving that year we headed to San Diego, along with my parents. Our extended family events had become us, Jeanette and Allen, “The Ocho,” and Jenny and Jeff.

After Thanksgiving dinner, the table was enjoying various conversations when Allen clinked his glass with his knife, “Excuse me,” he said looking around the table. “It is so wonderful to host everyone this year at our house. Jeanette and I could not be happier to have each and every one of you in our lives. We would like to announce that we are having a baby!”

The table went crazy with congratulations and many questions. Marina and I looked at each other with a knowing glance. “Don’t say a word. This is their moment,” she whispered in my ear. We had no plans to say anything over Thanksgiving and were hoping to wait until we gathered again for Christmas.

Our weekend went wonderfully and ended with Sunday brunch at the Hotel Del Coronado. Midway through the meal, Molly noticed Rina had not eaten much off her plate, “Mija, are you feeling ok?”

“Yes, mother. I feel fine. Just too much food this weekend,” she said.

I noticed Jeanette staring at her cousin. “Rina, let’s go to the powder room.”

They never made it out of the dining room. They stopped near the hostess station, and I saw them talk and both smiling. They returned to the table.

“That was quick,” said Christie.

As Marina sat down, she whispered, “She knows. Tell everyone.”

I looked at her in the eyes and she shook her head “yes.”

I looked around the table and my mom was looking at Marina. Before anyone could say anything, I said, “Excuse me.” The table fell silent, and all eyes were upon me. “It seems Jeanette really does know Marina inside and out. I’m happy to announce that my wife is pregnant.”

“OH MIJA!” yelled Molly.

The rest of the table had the same reaction and after a minute of chaos, Marina set the record straight. “This wasn’t in our plan, but life works in funny ways. I’m due in late May or early June. I’ll know more after my next doctor’s appointment.”

“I’m due in late May too,” said Jeanette.

Jovita chimed in, “Of course, you two have the same due dates."

The next thing we knew there were two waiters with champagne. Bud spoke, “Paul and Jovita, Jorge and Molly, Bob and Christie, here is to being grandparents at the same time!” The table was full of smiles.

**

Flash forward to June 2001 and the scene was the fifth birthday party for our son, Robert Jorge Williams. Everyone called him “Trey,” as he looked just like me as a toddler. We were gathered at the ranch house at Sunset Farms where Marina and I had now lived for two years. She sat in a chair near the pool with our two-year-old daughter, “Lil Jay.”

Everyone important in our life was present for the festivities. In fact, Molly and Jorge had just retired and moved to one of the two new 1,500 sqft houses that had been built the past year between the winery and the ranch house. The other was occupied by Bob and Christie. We truly had a family compound as Allen would tease me.

Jenny and Jeff were there with their twin boys, Grant and Graham. And, of course, Allen and Jeanette, along with their five-year-old Will (William) and three-year-old daughter Lori.

The winery had been operational for over two years and our first few wines were being well received. Thanks to Christie’s design our tasting room was quickly becoming known as one of the best in the area. Some called it “Napa-esque,” but mom just called it “classy.” No cheesy wine or grape themes, but nice local art on the walls. Above the large oversized classic brick fireplace was a portrait painting that mom had commissioned of her father. Below was a brass plaque honoring his life, it was a copy from the County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Thanks to the internet and email Marina was “consulting” two days a week for Harvey and learning the wine grape and winery business from Christie. Mr. Feinstein told Rina that if she ever wanted to return to Sand Hill Venture Capital, he would make her a senior partner. It was a tempting offer, but our quality of life far outweighed the huge income. Besides, we were so happy.

As I played with Trey in the pool, I surveyed the patio and thought to myself what a lucky man I was. I playfully splashed Allen and told him, “Look around. We’re living the dream. We have amazing wives, cute kids, and awesome extended families. We hit the jackpot.”

“We sure did,” said Allen, as he splashed me back.

 “I’ll never be able to repay you for introducing me to Marina.”

Laughing, Allen said, “That is true. Just keep sending Bud and me a case of wine each month.”

The End.