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“I did it!” she screams at the top of her lungs.
The commotion we are making is so great, two of my security guards amble over to see what the fuss is about, and Francesca appears at the edge of the pool.
They all merely smile and go back to their work.
I bring my tiny champion back to the pool chairs, where she collapses, a puddle of giggles and chlorine-soaked skin. “Mommy!” she shrieks, looking at Caterina. “Did you see me?”
“I saw you baby! I can’t believe it! Look at you!”
“I can’t wait to show Zio Sal and Zio Marco!”
The words, spoken with total innocence, feel like they fall like bombs.
Of course Luna would want to show her beloved uncles that she has mastered a new skill. I’m certain that they have seen so many of her firsts… her first steps, first day of school. The first time she rode a bicycle.
This is my only first, and I am reluctant to share it.
The words are also a harsh reminder of the things that keep us apart. The day, which has been a dream, feels like it shatters around me.
Caterina glances at me before bundling Luna up in a towel. “They’d be very proud of you, love,” she whispers.
“You could show your Zia Gia right now!” Gia’s voice drifts over to us.
Both Caterina and I spin like we have heard a ghost.
Luna, predictably, squeals with glee. She sheds her towel and sprints over to where Gia is marching up the lawn.
She looks tired.
My heart sinks as she gets closer.
My sister is usually impeccably dressed. Even her lounge clothes are from Gucci, and she never goes anywhere without expertly applied makeup, and her curly hair tousled just so.
The Gia walking up to us is wearing baggy denim jeans that flop over her feet. Her shirt is a plain white, a man’s t-shirt, and her hair is pulled into a bun, with errant pieces escaping here and there.
I can see that she has no makeup on, because one of the scars that runs from her temple down to her cheek is visible, glinting white in the dying sunlight.
Luna grabs her hand, oblivious to Gia’s haggard appearance, and pulls her forward. She is babbling a litany of things, and Gia nods and expresses interest.
When Luna pulls her down to sit, I see there are dark bags under my sister’s eyes.
Caterina’s voice is laced with concern. “Gia, did you have a hard trip?”
She clearly doesn’t want Luna to be clued in to what’s happening with Gia, or recognize that her aunt is at all off of her normal self.
“Yes. You could definitely say that the travel was challenging,” Gia sighs. She leans back onto the chair and winces as she pulls one of her legs up.
My mind shifts to action.
“Luna, why don’t you go find Nonna Francesca and see if she can make some lasagna tonight, since it’s Zia Gia’s favorite. Can you do that?”
I gesture to have one of the guards walk with her. Luna beams like I’ve given her the most important task, and she scrambles away, the ambling guard loping after her.
Caterina watches them go, making sure they get to the house, before she turns back to us. “Gia, are you okay?”
Gia nods, but I am not convinced. “I just need to rest a little,” she says, wincing again as she lays out on the lounge.
I note the position of her legs. “Did something happen to your knee?”
