“Yes,” Axel agrees. “And also…”
Luca stares.
Axel looks down. “And also because Daddy and Unc-Unc love each other very much. In fact, Daddy and Unc-Unc are going to marry, and then...” He glances at me. “And then you can call Unc-Unc Papa.”
“Okay.”
Papa. The word settles into my chest like it was always waiting there.
Then Axel smashes cake into my face, and Luca and Patricia break into long, loud laughs, as crumbs fall down my collar.
I fling cake into Axel’s face a moment later, and then we’re laughing and kissing, and Axel’s couch is definitely going away.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
Enzo
I clap my hands. “It’s bedtime. Time for bed!”
Luca’s eyes round, and he runs toward the bathroom.
“Tell Patricia goodnight!” Axel says.
Luca turns around, runs back, then envelops Patricia’s legs in his arms. She grins down at him.
“Goodnight, Luca,” she says.
“Goodnight, Patricia.”
“Let’s get those teeth brushed,” Axel says. “Enzo! Prepare the toothbrush.”
“Right.” I take Luca’s toothbrush, run water over it, then solemnly squeeze toothpaste onto it. I hand it back to Axel, who gives it to Luca.
“He’s got the toothbrush,” Axel says, old-school sports reporter style. “Now he’s going to use it to brush.”
Luca scrubs his teeth.
“He’s starting off with his front teeth, moving down, using excellent technique.” Axel flicks his gaze to me. “Wouldn’t you say, Bellanti?”
“Excellent technique,” I echo.
Axel’s hands tangle with my own, but he continues to narrate Luca’s teeth brushing. “Now he’s going around the corner, tackling the hidden molars. Brush, brush, brush.”
Luca giggles, but continues to brush, foam falling from his mouth. His eyes sparkle.
He’s happy.
I’m happy.
Axel’s happy.
Love rushes through me. We’re doing the most boring task—teeth brushing—but because we’re together, it’s fun.
At one point, I would have been waiting for this to fall apart. Bracing for the moment Axel realized he didn’t want this and didn’t want me.
Now I just watch him narrate our son’s dental hygiene like a hockey game and think:this is my life. This is really my life.
