6:30
Satisfied, I lay my phone aside, smiling to myself.
***
After our rest, I texted with Frankie a bit and send Zeta pictures of the twins playing with their new stacking rings and blocks. Zeta calls immediately, gently prying about last night without seeking details.
“I am fine. The physical side of marriage will not be the hard part,”I quietly admit in Italian.
Zeta hums softly.“Good, but he’ll have plenty to learn about being a good husband despite being married before, I fear.”
“Do you know what the problem was between them?”
“I wish I did, but Margareta was aloof with me, and Nico… He came into the world carrying an invisible weight, determined to handle problems on his own. It was very frustrating as a mother to watch, I assure you. He was always protective of Dante and especially Caterina. He believes he failed Margareta. He means not to fail you or the children.”
In his eyes, protection is the equivalent of love, but he gave me hope for something sweeter yesterday, something that I believe we can both grow into. With enough time and a ton of patience.
***
For all his faults, my father rarely missed dinnertime when I was growing up. This is my family now. We will eat as one.
But Maddalena says she isn’t hungry. So at half past six, I wrangle the babies into their new cushioned highchairs alone after dragging two of the heavy dining chairs out of the way, hoping Nico will soon walk in.
Neither of the children are sure what this is about, but Amadeo is content dipping his fist into his pureed carrots while Lucia pokes at them suspiciously.
“There will be a mess all over the floor,” Ersilia mutters just loud enough for me to hear.
“It is a good thing we have an excellent housekeeper,” I reply at the same volume. I’m too excited by this first opportunity to sit down as a married couple and share a meal with the children to allow Ersilia to irk me.
Nunzia announces the zuppa is ready, but there’s still no Nico. Worried, I quickly fetch my phone only to find a text from him sent thirty minutes ago-
I’ll be late. Don’t wait up.
I stare at the blunt text, torn between disappointment and vexation.
“Will the master not be joining you after all?” Ersilia asks, wearing a small but apparent smirk.Vexation, it is.
Laying my phone aside, I sniff indifferently. “The children and I will eat without him tonight.”
Nunzia shoots a warning look at Ersilia before they leave the room, and I pull Amadeo’s highchair closer since his father won’t be here to help. The spoon hasn’t reached his lips for the first time when my phone buzzes with another text from Nico:
Something came up unexpectedly. I meant to be there. Mi dispiace, tesoro.
An apologyandan endearment? Hmm. I take a selfie with the babies in their highchairs, holding a bowl in my other hand –
You will be missed, and I will soon be wearing carrots.
28
Nico
Ineed Vicini’s neutrality in this goddamn war or I’ll be caught between two fronts, but I have hated every fucking second of this day since I left home. The fact that she texted me, that she seemed to care when I’d be home tonight meant more than she realizes.
You will be missed, and I will soon be wearing carrots.
Staring at the photograph of the children and Matilde, it feels like heavy stones are stacked on my chest. Would she really miss me? Her response to my touch gives me hope. Or is she just a better actress than Margareta was?
She’s right about one thing though. She’ll soon be wearing carats.
