I’m impressed by her thinking, but also the way she stepped in to relieve Luisa’s discomfort. In my stomach I feel a little flutter.
“That is a very interesting idea,” agrees Stefano.
“It is,” I add. I wonder if any scientists have argued that human beings are gay for the same reason. I remember reading an article about gay animals but can’t remember if it said anything about population control.
“We were very sad at first,” Luisa reflects. “It’s why Stefano gave up his job and we changed our lives. But now we’ve adjusted and are happy. Didyouwant kids, Adam?”
I’m thrown by her question and take a swig of wine. “When I was growing up, the thought didn’t cross my mind. You just didn’tsee queer parents in those days.” But if it weren’t for that, would I have wanted kids?
“The best thing you can do for the planet isnotto have children,” declares Mabel.
“Doyouwant children?” Luisa asks her.
She lifts up a kitten and gives it a nuzzle. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well, it’s very rewarding,” Theo says. “But it can also be hard work.” He sneaks her a wink.
I notice a half-smile playing around Mabel’s lips. And I feel another fluttering in my stomach.
It dawns on me that I’ve been presented with the chance of inheriting some kind of family—and creating some kind of role within it—however challenging that may be. And it’s a chance people like Wilf didn’t have, so I should take it seriously.
“Well, you’re doing a very good job with those kittens,” Luisa observes. “Maybe you could help us look after them.”
“Iwill!” bursts out Archie, making the kitten in his hands mewl.
“How about you start by helping us pick some names?” Luisa suggests.
Mabel’s smile spreads across her face. “Really?”
“Yes. But they’ll have to be in Italian. Stefano must be able to pronounce them.”
“Bella!” erupts Mabel. “For one of the girls. I heard somebody say it the other day.”
“Donnarumma!” booms Callum. He looks at me. “He’s Italy’s goalie—and a mint player!”
“Spaghetti!” yells Archie.
Everyone laughs.
After much discussion, we settle on Sophia—after Sophia Loren, Luisa’s favorite actress—Roberto—after Roberto Baggio, apparently another footballer but one who used to play for Stefano’s team, Fiorentina—and we stick with Spaghetti, which pleases Archie no end.
Then Theo announces that it’s gone nine o’clock and past Archie’s bedtime.
I finish my wine and rise to my feet. “Well, thanks for a brill evening.”
Luisa and Stefano stand up and push in their chairs.
“It was our pleasure,” says Stefano.
Luisa turns to the kids. “Come back and see the kittens soon.”
All three of the kids smile. And that’s when I realize the fluttering in my stomach was what I’ve been looking for—hope.
Chapter 17
Ilift up my exercise bike and lug it back into the larder. Getting up early to have a workout was grim but after ten minutes of pedaling—looking out over the valley from the lawn—I was glad I did. Now that I’ve finished, I feel energized and excited about the day.
The builders have just arrived and drag the new windows across the patio and stack them up against the front of the house. One of the most important parts of the refurbishment is replacing the old single-glazed windows—many of which have rotten frames and cracked panes—with more durable, double-glazed models.
