Before we were even fully up the steps, Dani came bursting out.She barreled right into me, nearly knocking me over.
Luckily, Stefan was there to keep me upright.“Hello,” I said, still in a bit of shock at almost falling.
“I missed you, Auntie Fran-schmesh-ka.”She buried her face into my leg and hugged me tightly with her tiny little arms.
“I missed you, too, sweetie.”I hugged her back as well as I could with full hands.
“Daniella,” Stefan said from behind me.“Let your aunt inside the house, please.”
Carlo stepped out and removed her from my leg.“Sorry, Francesca.She got away from us for a minute.”He turned around with her in his arms.“She's been watching out the damn window forever for you two to get back.”
That vision inside my head broke my heart.Poor Dani.
We followed Carlo inside, and Stefan closed the door.
“What did you bringed me?”Dani's beautiful eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Ah, shit,” Stefan mumbled under his breath.“Daniella, I forgot to pick something up.”
Her little girl face crumpled, and she was about to burst into tears.
“I didn't forget!”I said loudly, hoping to stop this latest tantrum.“Hang on a second.”I set my bags down and opened my purse.I pulled out the little package inside.It was wrapped in brown paper, and it had a cute pink tag on it.“See?It even has your name on it.”Indeed, it said, “Daniella,” on the decorative tag.
Dani gasped, and Carlo set her down.“What is it?”she asked in amazement and a little confusion.
“You'll have to open it up and see.”
I handed the package over to her, and she carefully started opening it.I thought that was the cutest thing ever.So much patience for such a young child.
When she finally got the paper off, she pulled out the small receiving blanket and tiny pajama set.
Her face frowned.“Oh, is this for the babies?”Her stern expression broke my heart.
“Daniella, say thank you.Your auntie Francesca went through a lot of trouble to—”
I shook my head and laughed, interrupting Carlo.“No, it's not for the babies, silly.”I knelt down on the cool marble tile.“It's for your bunny, see?”I took it from her and undid the ribbons around it.“I figured that you take care of all these babies so well, that your bunny might be a little jealous sometimes.So now,” I held up the cute pajamas and blanket, “bunny has her own outfit and blankie.Where is your bunny?”I asked, not seeing it in her hands.
“Right here, right here!”Giselle said, dangling the bunny in the air.She handed it over to me.
“It even comes with little bunny booties.Aren't they cute?”I held up the white booties that had bunny ears, eyes, and whiskers on them.“Bunny booties for the bunny.”I giggled and started stuffing the bunny into the cute little bunny pajamas.Then I put the sweet booties on bunny’s feet.“There's even a hat.”I fit it over the bunny's head.“It's a little big, but I bet your mommy can sew it up, so it doesn’t fall off.”I unfolded the blanket and wrapped up the bunny.“Bunny's all cozy and ready for bed.”I carefully handed the swaddled bunny to Dani.
Her eyes were wide, and her jaw was nearly on the floor.“You really love me.Don't you?”She burst into tears right there.
Oh, boy.
I pulled her in for a big hug.“Of course, I love you.”My eyes began to water.
She sobbed into my shoulder.“You didn't forget about me.”
I kissed her sweet, tear-streaked cheek.“No, I didn't forget about you.”I held her shaking body.
“But Uncle Stefan did.”She glared at him over my shoulder.
Oh, my gosh.This kid was too cute.
“No, he didn't forget about you.But he did forget about the fantastic cannelloni he brought back for you.There are two chocolate ones.”
Her face changed instantly, and she blinked.“Him did that?”
