A year ago, Akemi had felt so certain that they would work things out. And they had tried their best. Kaleo had spent a good chunk of his life thus far with each side of his family. But as Lorenzo’s tour business grew and thrived, his own ability to travel had diminished. He was watching their son grow through a screen, and that hurt more than Akemi had expected. With each missed milestone, she wondered if she was doing the right thing… and if it was already too late to change course.
When Kaleo completed his third lap around the house, they found Lorenzo walking up the driveway. He was pulling a huge piece of luggage that could have fit three toddlers inside. When he saw them, he stood it straight up and walked quickly forward.
Despite two days of travel, he looked perfectly put together. His black hair was neat, his face clean shaven, his button-down shirt clean and pressed. Seeing him, Akemi felt frumpy in her wrinkled linen dress.
“Ciao ragazzi.” His voice was soft, carrying both joy and heartache as he looked between her and their son.
Kaleo stood still, staring at his father with intense concentration. He seemed to recognize him, but he was used to seeing him on a phone screen.
Lorenzo crouched down in front of him, arms open in a gentle invitation, and spoke to him in fluid, musical Italian.
Kaleo moved forward with some hesitation, then giggledwhen his father scooped him up into a hug. He allowed himself to be held for a few seconds, and then he wriggled away.
“He’s like a puppy,” Akemi said. “He’s either asleep, or he’s on the move. There’s no middle ground.”
Lorenzo stood and turned to her. He opened his arms with the same cautious hope that he had shown with their son – and Akemi stepped into them. Immediately, he closed his arms around her and held her tight.
She pressed her face into his clean cotton shirt and breathed in.
There in his arms, she felt a warm sense of home.
He held her for a minute, then released her with obvious reluctance.
“He’s escaping,” he explained, gesturing towards Kaleo just as their toddler rounded the corner and disappeared.
“He does that,” Akemi said with a sigh. Lorenzo took her hand, and they followed their son into the back yard. “Keeping him alive is my full-time occupation.”
“He doesn’t make it easy.”
“No. He doesn’t.”
“Lorenzo!” Dawn greeted him with a big smile and came down the back steps to give him a hug.
Akemi released his hand – and then immediately wanted it back again. It was disorienting, realizing just how much she had missed him. Touching him gave immediate relief to a pain she had hardly let herself acknowledge.
“It’s good to see you again,” Dawn said, holding his shoulders in both hands. “How long will you be here this time?”
“As long as you’ll have me.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you can stay forever!”
Lorenzo laughed. “Well, the government limits me to ninetydays.”
“Three months, then.” She patted him warmly on the arm and went back inside.
“Are you really staying that long?” Akemi asked.
“Are you?” Lorenzo held out a hand. She laced her fingers through his, and they followed Kaleo as he ran back towards the front yard.
“I can’t travel alone with a toddler anymore. It’s too hard.”
“And you won’t come to Italy?”
“You mean permanently?”
“Nothing is permanent. But if you’re pausing your travels, why not return with me to Tuscany?”
Akemi chewed her lip, turning the question over in her mind. She couldn’t see herself living with Lorenzo’s parents for very long. An extended visit was hard enough. If she moved to the family villa indefinitely, she would lose her mind.
