After Sid became established as a year-round groundskeeper and worker at the winery, he frequented the boardwalk in the summer evenings. One such night he came to the pier with a group of his buddies from Newark, they were eager to check out the rides and food on Casino Pier. It was on one of those warm summer nights that Sid was, for a brief time, separated from his crew and found himself in a line at the candy apple stand.

He took notice of the young woman who came to the line right after him he found it difficult to keep his eyes front. She was a beauty, with her dark auburn hair that wrapped in a scarf, keeping the wind from messing with her lovely curls. Her bangs fell to one side, and her eyes gleamed as she looked ahead to the candy apples behind the glass counter. She wore a casual pale pink blouse and a knee-length skirt in a dark navy shade, with a small white anchor patch on the bottom right corner. She wore a cute pair of white Ked tennis shoes with a new pair of fluffy white Bobby Socks.

Sid seemingly entranced by this young woman stammered and fumbled his order when he got to the counter. The older man waiting for him chuckled as he could see the blushing in the young man’s cheeks. Sid glanced back at her, hoping she had not noticed his embarrassment. He thought to himself, how on earth could he save face in this embarrassing situation. Then it popped into his head like a lightning bolt; he would purchase a candy apple for her. So, Sid added her apple to his order, as he stated to the stand owner, “and one, for the young lady, please?”

He paid the man who was now smiling and grasped the two apples, from the merchant. He turned toward the young woman and said, “I hope it is okay; I got your apple for you.” She smiled with her eyes as she reached for the apple as they walked toward the bench side of the pier. Sid, at last, got the nerve to say, “May I ask your name?” She answered, “Why yes, my name is, Isabella, Isabella Rosalina D’Agostino.” Sid knew this name; it was the family name of the Renault Winery owners. Sid was so excited to have a point of reference for his conversation.

He inquired, are you from the D’Agostino family that owns Renault Winery? Isabella grinned and also perked up at his knowledge of something having to do with her family name. She continued, well, yes, they are my distant relatives, but, I am not from the immediate family that runs the winery. My family and I have been there for the occasional family wedding or special event. She went on to describe the winery in exquisite detail, as she spoke, it gave an entirely new and whimsical image, of this familiar place in Sid’s mind.

Sid felt he was seeing the winery for the first time through Isabella’s eyes, as she reminisced about frolicking in the vineyard as a young girl. The two ended up talking for hours, both equally involved and curious as to what the other would say next. Isabella intrigued with this young man, and after their first meeting, they rarely parted. After a proper courtship, the two married in the vineyard, they both loved so dearly.