11. Twinsies with Dad
11
TWINSIES WITH DAD
Across the room, Deniz is engrossed in conversation with Aydin. This is a big day for him as well—the meeting of the in-laws—a nerve-wracking affair, especially when you’ve spirited their daughter away to live on a boat with a mangy cat. But looking at Deniz now, he exudes an air of composure and ease, perfectly poised even in the face of what appears to be Aydin’s ribbing of him.
Deniz has this remarkable ability to win people over, and if anyone can charm the heart of Angela Russo, it will be him. He’s a smooth operator, gracefully navigating social interactions and leaving smiles in his wake. Just as he is about to make his way over, my mother’s eyes widen as she spots her sister. Without a second thought, they both rush forward, arms outstretched, and collide in a tearful embrace, their voices rising in excited, overlapping Italian. Now, while Ginny and Sadie may not have seen Valentina for 25 years, my mother hasn’t seen her sister for just as long… or have they?
Queue epic Russo theatrics.
“Valentina! I can’t believe you’re here.” Her eyes are already glistening with tears as she clutches her sister tightly, as if afraid she might disappear again. “It’s been years!”
“Don’t exaggerate, darling. We spent the summer with you last year.”
The puzzle pieces click into place, one after the other, forming a picture I can’t quite believe. My aunt, the one who supposedly vanished from my cousin's life without a trace, hadn’t disappeared at all. She was there the whole time, just hidden from us. And my parents? They’ve spent every second summer in Italy for as long as I can remember, packing their bags and leaving us kids to fend for ourselves for two whole months. Turns out, during those trips, they weren’t just living the village life in Sirmione—they were meeting up with my aunt and her new family.
The thought twists in my chest, an odd combination of hurt and disbelief. The fact that my mother kept that a secret all these years? It leaves me floored. How could she hide something so huge, and for so long?
"It feels longer," my mother says, breaking into a serene, almost oblivious smile, as if we’re discussing the weather. “I must say, you look simply divine.”
My aunt flashes a gracious smile, playfully twirling to show off her outfit. “Thank you, Angela. I see you’re still embracing that dress you made during the Stone Age.”
Even Valentina can’t resist poking fun at the Christmas dress!
Angela narrows her eyes but can’t suppress a grin. “Some things are timeless, sorellona .”
Valentina laughs, giving her a hug. “Well, you wear it well, as always.”
I glance over at my cousins, standing together, watching this reunion unfold. Sadie’s whispering under her breath, her face tight with the effort to hold it all in. Ginny stands beside her, rubbing her arm like she’s trying to soothe the storm building inside her. Their mother—the one who disappeared—is back, just like that. And now, on top of everything, they’ve found out she spent all those summers with my parents, while they were left behind.
The betrayal is almost suffocating. When Aunt Val left, my mom had seamlessly stepped into the role their mother had abandoned, becoming more than just an aunt. She was the one who took Sadie and Ginny shopping for their first bras, who awkwardly but patiently explained the birds and the bees over cups of tea. She was the one who stayed up late, reminding them they were loved when it felt like the whole world had walked out. My mum made sure they never felt completely alone, filling in the cracks their mother left behind as best she could.
They had leaned on her like a second mother, trusting her with their deepest fears and heartbreaks, never questioning her loyalty. But to find out she had been meeting their own mother, summer after summer, while they were left behind? It’s not just betrayal—it’s like they’re losing her all over again, only this time, it cuts deeper.
Ginny catches my eye, her face a mix of confusion, anger, and something else I can’t quite place. I shrug helplessly, my heart sinking. I had no idea either. How could I have known?
As they embrace, the room hums with the familiar sounds of Italian—the only language spoken in our house. In fact, I was that kid who, despite being born on the northern beaches of Sydney, started kindergarten without a lick of English. It didn’t exactly win me any popularity points on the playground, believe me.
It’s been too many years since I’ve seen my mother together with her sister, and their reunion is like stepping back in time. The wild gesticulating hands, the melodious flow of Italian, and the tears of joy in their eyes. It’s a scene that could rival even the most over-the-top Turkish dizi , and even making it seem rather dull in comparison.
The bond between siblings is powerful, something I understand all too well. I have two sisters: my older sister, Chiara, and my younger sister, Rosalia. We’ve never been particularly close, though Rosie and I made some strides during her visit last year. That’s why her absence today is so perplexing.
Rosie was always the vibrant, open-hearted one, wearing her emotions like a badge of honour. She fell head over heels for Luca, my ex-boyfriend, when she was five and she had loved him every day of her life. Of course, we all thought it was just a crush, but after Luca and I broke up, she was determined to tell him how she felt. I don’t know what happened between them after that, but whatever it was, it was enough for her to cut herself off from the family entirely.
I also have a brother, Leo, whom I adore. Unfortunately, he couldn’t join us for Christmas due to work commitments, but he’s promised to visit this summer. Hopefully, he’ll be able to shed some light on what’s going on with Rosie. Leo has always had a special bond with her, understanding her in ways the rest of us sometimes couldn’t. If anyone can help us reconnect with her, it’s him.
With my mother engrossed in conversation, I seize the opportunity to motion Deniz to come and meet my father, Angelo. Win over the lesser of the two evils first, I guess.
Deniz casually strolls over, looking effortlessly sexy in his black pants and shirt combo. He’s added a touch of holiday flair with a red tie and red socks. I gave him a hard time about the accessories this morning, and I burst into laughter when my father takes off his jacket, and lo and behold, he’s wearing the exact same outfit—down to the red socks!
Okay, so these two have already bonded for life!
“Hey!” Deniz exclaims, clearly amused at their matching attire.
“Great outfit, Dennis,” Dad says, pulling up his pant leg to reveal his socks.
“It’s Deniz, Dad.”
“Anyone with this much style can call me whatever they like. It’s great to meet you, Angelo.”
“And you too, my boy!” Dad slaps Deniz on the back before getting serious. “Now tell me before Olive’s mother catches us talking, what are your intentions with my daughter?”
I shoot my father a filthy look, but Deniz doesn’t seem offended in any way. Instead, he bursts into laughter, and they walk away chatting animatedly, leaving me standing there alone.
I smooth out my dress again and take a step forward, only to realise I had left my wine glass on the table behind me. “ Stupido! ”
I turn back to grab it, but not before my foot catches on Aslan, who had used this moment to get under my feet yet again. With a yelp, I stumble, flailing to catch myself on the edge of the table and narrowly avoiding a full-on face plant. Aslan barely opens an eye, giving me a lazy, unimpressed glance before rolling over and resuming his nap.
“Really, Aslan?” I mutter, retrieving my wine glass and taking a much-needed sip. “One of these days, you’re going to be the death of me, and then who will feed you, huh?”