The star-filled sky shimmered above us as we adjusted the final stakes of the small tent set up in the garden. Clara bounced around us nonstop, her contagious excitement filling my chest with joy.
“Mommy, Daddy, are we really sleeping outside?” she asked, eyes wide with anticipation.
Valentina laughed, arranging a soft blanket on the padded floor of the tent.
“We are, sweetheart. Didn’t you say you really wanted to go camping? Tonight’s camping night!”
Clara clapped excitedly, spinning around us.
“Yay! It’s going to be the best night ever! And I brought my flashlight!” she announced proudly, holding up a pink flashlight covered in unicorns and immediately shining it upward—right into our faces.
I blinked, laughing as I tried to dodge the bright beam.
“Hey, princess—careful! I think I just went blind.”
She laughed even harder, throwing herself into an awkward hug around me.
“Sorry, Daddy! I didn’t mean to make you blind. How are you going to play with me later if you can’t see?”
Valentina laughed, shaking her head as she arranged the pillows and blankets inside the tent.
“Yeah, Enrico. You really need to be careful. We don’t want accidents on our very first adventure night, right?”
I rolled my eyes playfully and pulled Clara down to sit with me on the soft grass beside the tent.
“Very funny, both of you. You know what I think? I think Mommy should go get the marshmallows now. Who’s up for marshmallows by the fire?”
Clara squealed, shooting her arms into the air.
“Me, me, me! Mommy, hurry! I want all the marshmallows in the world!”
Valentina raised her eyebrows, giving me an accusing look.
“You do know I’m the one who’s going to deal with Clara’s sugar rush later, right?”
I smiled wickedly and winked at her.
“I promise I’ll help you deal with the consequences, my love. You can trust me.”
She shook her head with a resigned smile and headed to the kitchen. As she walked away, Clara tugged gently at my hand.
“Daddy, are we going to tell scary stories later?”
I feigned an exaggerated fright, widening my eyes dramatically.
“Scary stories? Are you sure, Clara? What if I get scared?”
She laughed even louder, hands on her hips in mock seriousness.
“Oh, Daddy, you don’t have to be scared. Mommy and I will protect you from the monsters.”
I pulled her into a tight hug, pretending to sigh with relief.
“How lucky I am to have two heroes to save me.”
Valentina returned a few minutes later with the marshmallows and skewers, bringing an extra blanket to keep us warm near the small fire we lit in the garden.
As the flames crackled and Clara carefully toasted her marshmallow, Valentina gave me a tender, complicit smile, her eyes shining in the firelight.
