“I think she might need me to provide her breakfast.”
“Of course.” Moving to Anna’s side of the bed . . . wow, she had a side of the bed, a side ofmybed, something nobody had ever had. Leaning down, I offered the baby to her.
Immediately Amina began to get excited, her babbling and movements becoming more exaggerated with the possibility of breakfast on offer. I looked away, attempting to avoid making this moment awkward as I tried to refrain from ogling her breasts as I had so many times since I’d brought her back here.
We hadn’t moved past kissing and cuddling yet, but each time things became more heated and intense. I was far more familiar with my right hand than I had been since I was about fifteen, but if time was what she needed, time is what I would give her.
“I’m going to grab a shower and then I can take care of Amina while you get ready for breakfast.”
She looked as though she was about to object to coming down to breakfast with me, but she didn’t.
“Mama and Papa will be pleased to see you.”
“Others may not be.”
I couldn’t dispute that, but their disapproval at her presence was unimportant and I would have no issue pointing that out to anyone who objected to her sitting around our table. In fact, they might need to find an alternative table to sit around themselves because Anna and Amina would have a permanent place there from this day forward.
“Others don’t have to remain here if they don’t like it.”
A nod was her only response.
“I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
* * *
Arrivingat breakfast had felt a little awkward. Silence fell and multiple eyes turned to view us when we first walked in, Anna at my side while the baby was in my arms.
“Anna!” My father was up on his feet and rushing towards us, engulfing her in his embrace before turning to me. “Bella bambina. She looks more like you every day,” he told Anna before smiling up at me. “As much as it suits you, I am going to need this young lady’s attention.” He took the baby and returned to his seat next to my mother who was already cooing over the baby and making a space at the table for Anna at her side.
My family were thrilled to have Anna back in the fold, not as thrilled as me, but that suited me fine.
“Where are Marco and Jay?” Carlo looked around as he entered the room with Gina, Alessandra resting on his hip.
Breakfast was a big deal in our family. Mama had given up trying to get everyone home for dinner some years ago, but breakfast, not so much so. If you were at home, it was expected that you’d be here, around this huge table that was older than any of us kids having been the only piece of furniture my father had ever bought alone. It was his wedding gift to my mother, along with the house, but his reasoning had been that one day it would be full of children and then grandchildren, and most mornings it was.
Mama replied, “Jay is unwell so Marco took some toast and juice up for her.”
“Perhaps I should go and check on her,” Gina immediately said and looked as though she was already preparing to leave.
“Gigi, breakfast,” Carlo told her, handing the baby to our mother so he could lead his wife to her seat.
“I’m a nurse!” Gina protested.
Anna looked at me, knowing that if my sister-in-law tried to assert authority in front of the whole family, she may find herself publicly taken down.
“Sit,” Carlo told his wife with his best ‘don’t fuck with me’ tone.
She complied, but was clearly unhappy about it.
“Gina, she doesn’t need a nurse to take care of her, she needs her husband.” Mama was already putting my niece into a highchair and preparing to feed her. She immediately turned to Anna. “Come on, help yourself to food, you look as though you need me to feed you up.” Like that, any topic that didn’t involve eating breakfast was closed.
My brothers,minus Marco, and I all left together, and as I told Anna I would be back later, possibly for lunch, my father shooed me away. “Anna and I are going for a walk later, with this sweet angel.” He bounced Amina on his knee while Alessandra pulled on his shirt sleeve. “We may not be back for lunch, so she’ll see you at dinner.”
I scowled which only served to amuse my father and my brothers. What was my father playing at? Was he going to give Anna a hard time? Perhaps he wasn’t as trusting of her return as he appeared to be.
“Lissa and I might join you,” Gina said.
“Not today. I want to know exactly what has been happening in Anna’s life besides this perfect baby.”
