“What’d he say to that?”
“Oh, you know your stubborn uncle,” she tells me, waving a hand. “He grumbled about it and then ate candy and popcorn with us while he put a prepped lasagna in the oven.”
“Of course he did.”
“He’s such a baby when he’s hungry,” she complains happily. “It makes me feel blessed that we have Nadya and not a little boy who learns from him. I would go very crazy having to deal with a mini Lev.”
She’d love a mini Lev, and we both know it. But I don’t argue with her playful jibes at him.
“And what of your Matteo, hmm?” she asks, giving me a conspiratorial grin. “Does he make you crazy?”
My face would be flaming red if it wasn’t already flushed from the yoga. “He’s not my Matteo,” I remind her, mumbling. “And he doesn’t do anything to drive me crazy. He…”
“He,” she prompts, not discouraged from my correction.
“He FaceTimes me now. With the kids, and without.” I brush some stray hair behind my ears and shrug. “He’s easy to talk to. A good friend.”
“Good friends are a rare gift,” Aunt Irina says, sitting up to face me. “I should like to meet this young man someday.”
“M-maybe you will.”
“Yes?” she asks, tilting her head. “Does he plan to visit?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit, biting my lip. Deciding to confide in her, I lean closer. “But we’re trying to make our fathers become friends.”
Her eyes widen with a mischievous glint. “Oh, is that right?”
“They don’t have many friends. I thought it was a nice idea.”
“This was your idea, hmm? And your Matteo is happy to help?”
“He’s not my Matteo,” I correct her again, blushing harder. “And he said he thinks it’s possible, but that they’re old and long-distance friendship would be more difficult for them. We think Father should go visit there soon, to see the twins. I even said that now might be a good time since you and Uncle Lev could stay over?”
She petals with laughter. “He called your father old, did he? He’s funny, and brave.”
He is,I agree internally.
“But do you not wish to go visit as well?”
“Oh, no,” I tell her immediately. “The wedding was difficult. I don’t feel ready to branch out like that again so soon. I like staying here, I like my routine.”
“Hmmm, I understand. It would be better if he visited you instead, would it not?”
“I…don’t know.” I wince, and then correct myself. “I mean, yes. But we haven’t talked about that. Only about our fathers meeting more often.”
“Lev will find it very amusing that you’re trying to set your father up on a playdate with Dante Moretti,” Aunt Irina remarks with a sweet smirk.
I find myself drawn to her excitement, wanting to share in it. “As long as he won’t give away our plan.”
“Of course he won’t,” she vows seriously. “A husband must share his wife’s confidence. Your uncle is quite good at keeping my secrets.”
“Do you have many secrets,tetya?”
“Only enough to keep life interesting, my girl.” She giggles, placing her index finger over her lips and winking conspiratorially.
I meet her laugh with one of my own and enjoy her playful personality coming to the surface. I’d almost forgotten just how spirited she can be.
“I think it would be nice if he traveled to see you,” my aunt suddenly adds. “We could show him how different things are in the west. Perhaps he’d like it more than his gloomy Philadelphia.”
