“Are you happy with me? Truly?” I angle the two of us so that my face can’t be seen by anyone inside because I know how desperate I must look right now.
She pulls away from me, her arms crossed at her chest. “Yes.”
“Why did that anger you?”
“Because after all that we’ve been through? You still feel the need to ask that question?”
“I know that you’re in love with me. But I’m asking if you’re happy. That’s different.”
“Oh.” She relaxes a bit and ponders that. “I’m tired all the time because of the pregnancy. And sometimes I still have the feeling that I’m going to crawl out of my skin because of the lack of responsibilities and goals. But overall, I’m happy.”
“What do you need from me to take away the boredom and emptiness you’re feeling?”
“Okay, those are your words, not mine.”
“Sofia…”
She bites her lip and shrugs, kicking a pebble on the ground. “I’ll be busy soon enough, anyway.”
“Do you want a job? Do you need to travel more? An activity to get out of the house?”
“A job?” Her eyes widen.
“A role in the family, yes.”
She continues to look at me stunned.
“Within reason, of course. You will not be on the front lines, but I assumed with your phobia that wasn’t your first choice, anyway. But if you want to learn computers, the financial aspects, be involved in the politics of it all—especially help with navigating our American allies.”
“Yes. To all of it.” She bites her lip and gets a faraway look in her eyes. What monster have I unleashed?
“Okay. Pick one to start, and then if that isn’t enough, we’ll expand from there.”
She jumps up, wrapping her legs around me and plants her lips on mine for a passionate kiss. I grab the back of her head, her hair tangling around my fingers. I don’t care if anyone catches us out here. In fact, I hope that’s the case. Most of them don’t believe she’s in love with me.
At that thought, I hear the balcony door open behind me and someone clears their throat.
It’s her grandfather.
“Sorry.” I set her down.
“I can’t see shit anymore in the dark, and besides, it’s your house.” He shrugs, adjusting his glasses.
“You’re still up, Grandpa? I thought you went to bed already,” Sofia says, still looking sheepish from getting caught.
“It’s not every day that my granddaughter grows a new set of fingers; that’s enough reason to stay up late and celebrate.” He winks at her. He takes a few steps forward and gestures towards the party. “Everyone is talking about how your marriage is a sham in there. Maybe I’m senile. Maybe I’m blind. But I have never seen Sofia smile like this. So, you’re alright in my book, kid.”
“Thanks,” I chuckle, feeling like an idiot. This is the fourth time someone has ever complimented me, so I didn’t know what to say. But I’m realizing that maybe I like this old man.
“Sofia, dear. Do you mind giving us some space to talk business?”
“Sure.” She starts walking away without hesitation.
“She’ll stay,” I say. She stops dead in her tracks, and I switch to Italian. “Sofia will be involved in certain aspects of our business. Also, I’ve exhausted my English for the day, so she will translate.”
She smiles and repeats what I said to her grandfather.
The old man looks shocked momentarily. As much as I like his personality, he’s eighty-something years old with eighty-something world-views. Then he nods and gives her a smile.
