She must feel my humor, because Melanie looks over at me and smiles. She thinks my mom’s broken English is cute. I meet her smile as my mom continues to instruct.
“So I'm going to cut here, then here, and here. And add a little more flour because you don’t want it to stick together.”
Then my mom moves to the other end of the machine and places the dough inside, and turns the knob.
“Look at that, that’s beautiful.” She now places the shredded dough that looks like pasta on the cutting board.
”Now, your turn, you can add a little flour.” Melanie picks up the other piece, and my mom starts moving to the sink to wash the dishes, whistling to the song playing in the background.
“Melanie, your dog is so damn adorable.” Sophia is holding Loco when she returns from her walk with him.
“He’s seriously the cutest dog ever. And those blue eyes. I hadguys even stopping me at the grocery store this morning. Loco could be the wingman I’ve been missing in my life. “
“Trust me, that cuteness comes with a price. And he may attract the men but once they come around, then he’ll make their lives hell.” Melanie says as she turns the knob of the pasta machine.
“Not unless they are the one. Isn’t that what you said Nick?”
Melanie looks up at me and we share a glance.
“That Loco liked you from the jump because you two were destined to be together.” Melanie says in a dramatic voice.
“Damn right,” I tell my sister but my gaze is locked with Melanies.
“How much is a dog like this anyway? Maybe I’ll get the family one for christmas.”
“Five thousand.” Melanie doesn’t see my sister's jaw drop as the room falls silent.
“La gente in California è pazza. Non mi interessa quanto fossi ricco, non spenderei mai così tanto per un dannato cane.”People in California are crazy. I don't care how rich I was, I would never spend that much on a damn dog.
“Mamma, don’t be judgmental. We just left church.” Sophia says as she places Loco on the ground.
“No, ha ragione. La gente in California ama i propri cani più delle persone.”No, she's right. People in California love their dogs more than people.
My mom stops scrubbing the bowl she has in hand, and slowly turns around to face Melanie.
“Did you…” She steps closer beside her. “Did you just speak Italiano?”
“Si,” Melanie says with an honorary expression etched in her features.
I pull out a cigarette and light it.
My mom looks up at Melanie, forcing her to face her. “Oh, la mia preziosa ragazza.”Oh, my precious girl.Cupping her cheeks she says. “I always wanted Niccolo to marry someone who could speak the language.”
Melanie turns to face me, with my mom’s hands still squishing her cheeks together.
“She wants us to teach our future children,” I say as I blow out the cigarette smoke.
“You’re so disgusting, when are you going to quit that shit.” Sophia swats away at the smoke.
“Melanie, please tell me you don’t kiss him if he smokes.”
“il mio sogno diventa realtà.”My dream come true.My mom says.
“Mamma, she-” I stop myself. “We don’t even know if we want kids yet.”
“Niccolo,” My mother’s gaze turns to me, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t ruin my dream.”
“Right because opening a restaurant and becoming rich is way less important than having a baby, something everyone does.”
