21. 21 – Caterina
21 – Caterina
D om’s voice stops me as I’m leaving. “Are you still… free later?”
I turn back to him. He’s leaning against the wall, his eyes still filled with shadows and his knuckles trailing blood onto the concrete floor. “You asking me on a date, Domenico Rossi?”
His brows draw down. “Yes.”
A date.
Do more of what makes you happy.
And suddenly, a date sounds… perfect. “I think I’m available. What do I wear?”
“Whatever you want.” His voice rumbles as he pushes away from the wall. “You always look beautiful to me.”
My stomach is still flipping as I walk up the stairs and into the bedroom. Dante is still asleep, one arm flung over his face, and my head jerks as a small noise comes from the corner.
Slowly, I cross the room. And I lean forward to pick up the monitor from the sideboard.
Alessia is awake. Wide awake, yanking on the bars of her crib. Something that sounds suspiciously like an off-key song echoes out, and my lips twitch into a smile.
I hold that monitor in my hands for a minute.
We never know how much time we will have.
The door closes softly behind me, the monitor dark in my hand as I slip into Dante’s room. Alessia stops singing, her eyes following me as I crouch in front of her.
“That was a pretty song.”
She eyes me with a freakishly familiar look. One of mine, if I’m not mistaken. And my smile slowly fills up my face as I gently tap the hand clinging to the top of the bars. “Shall we go for some breakfast, Alessia Corvo?”
I swear she purses her lips. I glance into the crib, spying a teddy, and hold it up. The paw brushes against her nose, and it wriggles.
When I do it again, her cheeks crease in a smile. “ Ba .”
Carefully, awkwardly – I reach in and pick her up. She’s heavy in my arms, a warm, sleepy bundle in her little sleep vest. And a heavy feeling diaper.
Nothing like learning on the job.
Two discarded diapers later, we’re in the kitchen. I fumble with the clean beaker I find on the side, filling it with water, and place her into the highchair that appeared with Luc’s ridiculously large order.
I sneak glances at her as I pull food from the fridge. Alessia plays with the teddy, yanking on its ears and shaking it around. “Ba.”
“Ba,” I test.
She frowns at me, unimpressed with my attempt. “ Ba .”
I bite my lip to stifle the laugh that bubbles up. “You really are your father’s daughter.”
Bright green eyes blink at me.
The strawberries are partly a success. Some gets into her mouth, the rest on the floor. In her hair, mashed into her curls.
Everywhere.
I cut up another, slicing off a piece and offering it to her before popping the rest into my mouth. “Mmmm.”
“Mmmmm-ah.”
I blink. Try to ignore the sudden twist in my chest. She’s only copying me.
But I say it again, unable to resist. “Mmmma.”
“Mmmmma.” She grins at me, delighted with this new game. “Ma!”
My throat feels suspiciously thick as I try to wipe up the red mush left behind, before lifting her back out of the chair. Sticky red hands immediately land on my cheeks, patting them. Alessia brings her nose close to mine. “ Ma .”
“Ma,” I whisper. “Clever girl.”
I carry her across the hall, pulling open the door. The courtyard is still cool, shaded in the morning air as I carry her across to the steps. “Have you seen the sea yet?”
She ignores it completely as I sit on the top step, the warm water lapping against my toes, and settle her between my legs, her own small feet slipping into the water.
“Look.” She stills as I lean forward, my palm gently slapping the water so it ripples. Gently, I cup some in my hand, using it to wash off her hands as she wriggles.
An excited squeal tears from her throat as she hits the top of the water, splashing herself and me. A laugh, bright and bubbly.
When I lean forward to create my own splash, she laughs harder, her whole body shaking with amusement.
And I realise very quickly, that there is not much I wouldn’t do to hear that laugh as much as possible. As often as possible.
Both of us are sat fully in the water, Alessia a step above me as I hold her steady, by the time I hear movement behind me.
Dante’s eyes glitter as he settles on the top step, his own feet bare.
“How long have you been watching?” I keep my eyes on Alessia.
“Long enough.” His voice is thick as he extends the beaker from the kitchen to Alessia, and she grabs it, sucking on the water. He balances a fresh coffee on the top step. “I’ll leave you be.”
He starts to get up.
“Stay.” I look up at him, watch as he slowly settles back down.
And then I flick water over him, Alessia cackling as he shakes his head in mock despair. He flicks the smallest bit of water over her legs, smiling as she laughs. “You won’t have her as a shield forever, tentazione .”
Grinning, I flick him again. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”