Not waiting for an answer, she used the chair at my bedside to climb up onto the bed with me. Her small arms were flung around my neck with the next excited giggle.
Completely taken aback, I hugged her tiny body back and tried not to grimace.
“That’s enough, Lily.” Sophia tried to untangle the child from my arms. “You are being too rough.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly. My child was hugging me. “Hello.” I held out my hand awkwardly. “I’m Matteo, and you are Lily, right? I’ve waited a long time to meet you.”
Her whole life, in fact.
Two chubby pink cheeks spread into a smile. “You’re my daddy, aren’t you?”
I glanced up at Sophia, but her face was impassive.
“Yes.” I dropped my eyes to my daughter’s face again. “Yes, I’m your daddy,” I said finally.
She nodded her head firmly. “You made the bad man go to sleep.” More nodding. “And then you went to sleep yourself. Mommy was worried. She cried a lot, I think she needs a nap and a snack but…”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Hovering at the side of the bed, Sophia rolled her red-rimmed eyes.
“Well, I’m awake now, so you can both…” I paused. What was I going to say? That they could leave and get some well-earned rest? I didn’t want that.
“I’m so very happy to meet you, Lily,” I said instead. “What story are you reading?”
Sophia did a double-take. “It’s just—"
“Show me.”
Lily scampered off the bed, retrieved her book, and then climbed back up. Only this time, she snuggled into my side and opened it.
“Is this your favorite?” I asked. She was five years old, and had a little personality of her own, and I knew nothing about her.
I wanted to change that. Starting now. I had so many years to make up for.
She nodded.
“Can I read it to you for a little while. Or are you too tired?” I asked her, but my eyes were on Sophia.
“I’m not tired,” Lily said with a yawn.
I stifled a smile and began to read.
Sophia pulled up a chair and listened as well. Time moved so fast, but at the same time, so slowly. I read the book, but I didn’t need to look down at the pages,
I knew them.
This was my favorite book when I was a child, so I already knew what each page said.
“She’s asleep,” Sophia murmured after a few minutes. The chair creaked as she stood. “I’ll move her and let you—"
I caught her wrist. “Don’t go yet. Don’t move her away from me.”
Why did my voice have to sound like that? Like I was desperate.
“We need to talk.”
Warily, she sat down again. “Yeah, I guess we do.” Her sigh was loud. “What do you remember?”
“I shot…”I lowered my voice to a whisper. The last thing I needed was some English nurse or doctor overhearing our conversation. “Gio.”