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“Hello.”
Jesus Dío, this is going to kill me. I have no idea how to talk to any child, let alone my own. I assume that some things are skills that one develops with fatherhood, and that is why I currently find myself so woefully bereft.
Yet another opportunity that Caterina took from me.
“Mr. Rossi, don’t you have a pool at your house?” Gia prompts.
I can’t decide if I love her or hate her. “Yes. I do.”
“I love to swim! Mommy says that I can pass the tadpole class soon and move on to minnows.”
I look at Caterina and Gia helplessly.Minnow?I mouth.
“They’re different levels of proficiency with swimming. The very basic is tadpole. Just survival skills, really. How to float in the pool. How to kick,” Caterina says softly.
Luna snorts. “Tadpole class is forbabies,” she says with clear disdain for the concept.
She’s five. Isn’t she, herself, a baby?
“You sound like a good swimmer,” I try awkwardly.
To my surprise, Luna puffs up her chest. “I’m very good at swimming. Mommy even says that next summer I can swim and not even have my floaties.”
I don’t like the idea of her swimming without flotation devices. Drowning is one of my more popular methods for disposing of enemies.
It’s convenient, how quickly the water is able to steal breath from an opponent. After a time, they also become completely unrecognizable. Many drowning victims are never identified, especially if they’re sunk well enough in the ocean, because…
You’re a monster.
I reel back. “The pool will require flotation devices,” I say stiffly.
Luna’s face falls like I’ve given her the worst possible news. “But I’m almost a minnow,” she says sadly, her lower lip trembling.
My heart pounds. Have I hurt her feelings? Is she upset with me? Is she…
“We can practice for passing your minnow test in Mr. Rossi’s pool,” Caterina says gently, patting the child’s back.
Luna turns, making a small, grumpy sound, and folds her arms. Tears are beginning to form at the corners of her eyes, and her little brow is furrowed in concentration. “No!” she shrieks.
“Luna. I’m going to count down from three. When I get to one, you can either use your words to tell me what’s wrong, or take a break for one minute. You choose,” Caterina says patiently.
Luna clearly doesn’t like this. She squirms and kicks her feet, making noises like a small, angry kitten.
What is Caterina doing? Why is she continuing to antagonize her child? I almost approach her, even going so far as to lean forward, but Gia puts a hand on my chest.
Wait,her eyes seemed to say.
With that same measured, patient tone, Caterina begins her countdown. When she gets to one, Luna spins, her tiny fists balled. “I am going to take a break!” she shrieks.
She stomps to the opposite end of the plane, settles in a seat, and folds her arms again.
I blink. “Why did you make her mad?” I growl at Caterina.
Her eyes go hard. “I’m sorry. What?”
“All she wants is to swim in the pool. Without flotation devices. She will be perfectly safe. I would never let her drown. I would have a hundred men available to watch her. She can swim however she wants in my home!” I whisper-yell.
Caterina sits back. “Do you always get your way when you throw a tantrum too?”
