Page 47 of Taking What Was His

The older woman reached out for her hand. “My Roman finally found his girl.”

Roman bent and kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Yes, Grandma. This is Jayden, her son, and my friend, Beth.”

“Let me see this handsome boy.” The old woman stared. “Oh, my. You are going to drive the girls crazy.”

They all laughed when Jayden blushed and scrunched up his nose at the thought of girls.

Roman looked around. “Yo, Tristian, I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

The boy ran up. “Hey, Uncle Roman.”

Roman hugged him. “I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Jayden.” Roman turned to Jayden. “This guy is my nephew, Tristian. You guys are about the same age. I thought he could show you around. What do you think, guys?”

Tristian smiled. “Do you like to play PlayStation?”

Jayden smiled. “Yeah. That would be cool.”

The boys grinned.

Jayden looked at his mother. “Is it okay, Mom?”

“Yes, go have fun.”

The boys hooted and then raced away.

Beth watched them and smiled. She felt relief, and she hadn’t known she was so tense.

“Hey, Grandma, I have a surprise. Beth knows how to speak Italian.”

The older woman looked surprised and then clapped and smiled. “I am so pleased. I don’t have anyone to talk to. You are a blessing for my birthday,” she said in Italian.

Beth grinned and said in Italian. “I am always up to practice. I also don’t have anyone to talk with.”

Roman snorted as they continued back and forth. He hadn’t seen his grandmother that happy in years. She’d been born in Italy, and then her family had come to America. She’d been twelve at the time.

His grandmother’s father had been passionate about the family continuing to practice the language, so they didn’t lose sight of where they came from.

“Do you know how to read Italian? My sight is very bad.”

Beth nodded and sat in the chair that someone put close to Roman’s grandmother. “It might take me awhile. Why? Is there something you want me to read?”

“It’s a letter from a cousin. I received it a few months ago, but haven’t been able to find someone to read it for me.”

“I’d be happy to.”

“Roman, will you hand me my purse behind you, dear?”

He handed it to her and watched as she rummaged around and then pulled out an envelope.

“This is it.”

Beth took it and gently smoothed it out. “Would you like it read in English or Italian?”

“Oh, my. How about in Italian first?”

“Absolutely.” Beth smoothed out the letter and read it to Grandma. By the end, the older woman was crying and laughing at the same time. Everyone around them listened to the exchange.

Beth looked around self-consciously until Roman placed a hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him over her shoulder.