“What thing?”
“The thing where you talk too fast when you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying. There’s nothing to lie about. Everything is fine and normal and boring.”
He doesn’t believe me. I can see the suspicion in his eyes. But he doesn’t push.
Instead he finishes his coffee. Ruffles Ben’s curls on his way out. “See you around, kiddo.”
“Bye Uncle Ethan.”
Uncle Ethan. Right. Because Ethan is Marco’s best friend. Which makes him basically family.
Which makesmethe outsider trying to fit into an already established ecosystem.
Cool cool.
He leaves, and I can hear him shouting for Jag and the hoodie again from down the hall.
I help Ben finish breakfast. We’re loading her bowl into the dishwasher when Ben says, “Nonna wants to FaceTime.”
I freeze. “Now?”
“Uh huh. Daddy set it up. Every Wednesday morning.”
Of course he did.
Routines. Structure. Control.
Is it Wednesday morning already? I check my phone. Yup.
Time flies when you’re having fun.
I guess.
“Okay,” I say, trying to sound normal. “Let’s call her.”
Ben grabs the iPad from the charging station. Taps the screen with practiced ease. The call connects.
A woman’s face appears. Late sixties. Elegant. The kind of bone structure that photographs well. Dark eyes that immediately zero in on Ben’s hair.
“Benedetta,” she breathes. And then she starts crying.
Oh no.
“Nonna, don’t cry,” Ben says, concerned.
“I’m sorry,tesoro. Your hair. You look just like your mother.”
The words are warm. Loving. But there’s something underneath. Something I can’t quite name.
Then Nonna’s eyes shift. Land on me. Standing slightly off-camera.
Her smile thins. Just a fraction.
“Who’sthat?” she asks.
Ben turns the iPad so I’m fully visible. “Jess. My new nanny.”
