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Gia findsus after about an hour.
Luna is awake, her bright laughter ringing like a bell through the kitchen at Nonna Francesca (as she insists we call her) asshe makes something that smells good involving noodles and chicken.
When Gia walks into the room, Nonna Francesca erupts into another chorus of Italian and another onslaught of kisses, and Gia laughs and squirms under her attention. She finally manages to wiggle away and comes to sit by Luna and me.
“So, I see you’ve met the welcoming committee.”
Nonna Francesca beams, then returns to her cooking.
“Is this the Nonna you were referring to?” I smile at her.
Gia shakes her head. “No, I like this one. She recognizes that I’m never going to be a good cook and cooks for me instead.”
“Well, that does seem a little more accurate.”
“Yeah,” Gia sighs, inhaling the air. “And she’s right. I’m a terrible cook.”
“I doubt you’re terrible at anything, Gia.”
“Caterina, is that a compliment?”
I duck my head shyly. “Just a little one.”
“See, I knew I liked you!” she flings her arms around me and I laugh. Luna decides to join in, wiggling between us, and we all giggle together.
It’s a nice moment. Light. Easy.
So at odds with the terrible way we’ve arrived at this place.
We eat the food, then Luna’s drowsy again, so I follow Nonna Francesca to one of the spare rooms. With her help, we tuckLuna in. I’m just finishing a kiss on her forehead when I hear heavy footsteps outside in the hall.
I ignore him.
I linger just a minute longer, looking at my sweet girl, tucked neatly into her sheets. I pull back and walk slowly out of the room.
There’s no missing Elio now.
He looms in the hallway, staring at the door. “She is sleeping during the day?”
“Jet lag. Also she hasn’t quite grown out of naps yet, and it’s been a really crazy day. She’ll adjust.”
“I see,” he says solemnly.
I awkwardly start to walk down the hall. I have nothing to say to Elio. The way that he snapped at me earlier is still fresh in my mind, and now that the immediate need of getting Luna somewhere safe has passed, I’m remembering it again.
No one tells me to shut up. Not my brothers, Not Elio.
No one.
“Caterina,” he calls out.
I don’t stop.
“Caterina,” he says again, louder.
I ignore him again, moving with purpose toward the kitchen. Mentally, I’m making a list of the things that Luna and I are going to need. Clothes, some toothpaste, a toothbrush…
“Caterina,” Elio booms.
