She cries.
The instant the song begins, she's wiping at her eyes. I knew she'd be emotional about today. It only makes me love her that much more.
"Happy Birthday to you…"
Amadeo is shrieking in his highchair, and Lucia covers her ears as the song comes to an end. "Did we sound that terrible?" Primo asks.
"It's their first birthday. They just don't know what to make of all this fuss."
"Idon't know what to make of it either, Mother," I drawl, staring at the dozens of mylar balloons and abundance of pastel streamers decking our dining room walls. With Ersilia and Maddalena's help, she went a little overboard decorating earlier while Nunzia and Matilde worked on the cupcakes.
"Oh, hush, you. Matilde, Maddalena…" my mother urges, gesturing at the candles. Maddalena and Matilde step right in, dutifully blowing them out before the children get curious enough to grab them after I've taken pictures.
As the family settles around the table to watch the twins destroy their cupcakes, I take a seat beside my wife. "I love you."
She smiles softly. "And I love you."
I kiss her forehead just as Amadeo decides throwing his cupcake might be more fun than smashing it. He nails Primo in the side of the face, and Maddalena laughs before wiping the icing off her boyfriend's face… with her tongue. Ersilia clucks her tongue at the impropriety, making Matilde snort into her napkin. Lucia whimpers and I pull her into my lap. She promptly smears icing on my shirt, so Ipretend to eat her hand. Her adorable giggles as well as her mother's soon fill the room. The chaos of family time. Who would have ever thought I'd love it so much?
My mother's phone rings, interrupting the moment. She glances at me worriedly before answering. I assume it's the nurse calling about father. It's not. "It's Caterina," she whispers.
Across the room, Dante stiffens. I nod, knowing she's been speaking to her off and on despite the war. So many months since the family has been together. "She wants to wish the twins a happy birthday, Nico."
Matilde watches me worriedly, knowing my schooled expression hides my true feelings. Just as she loves her twin, I love my sister. And I won't forget that Caterina was there for my wife after an extremely traumatic experience.
Mother passes me her phone. I pick up Amadeo and set him next to Lucia in my lap so Caterina can see them both on the screen. Words fail me but not Matilde. "Hello, Caterina."
"Hi, Matilde. Aren't they precious? Your Aunt Cat loves you both and wants to see you," she says, thickly. The twins are only mildly interested in the phone screen and the pretty lady chattering at them. "Hello, Nico."
"Hello, Cat." The strained emotion in our exchange hurts. I don't know how to end the war at this point. So much bad blood in the past several months.
Our conversation isn't long. When she asks about Dante, I look up only to find my brother has already left. "He's not here right now." And I don't know when he'll find his way back home.
"Alessio probably let her call because it's their anniversary," I mutter, passing my mother's phone back to her.
Matilde squeezes my hand, and I remember today is supposed to be a celebration of the good things. "You haven't opened your gift yet."
"My gift? It's not my birthday."
"No, it's not your birthday, but you deserve all the gifts and parties you desire… and this."
Eros passes me a small, giftwrapped box, and I place it in her lap. Embarrassed by all the eyes watching, she blushes, so I give them a pointed look, and a flurry of chatter surrounds us. Reaching for my knife, I offer to help her with the pretty paper. She gives me a smirk, ripping it instead and making me laugh quietly.
Her eyes widen when she sees what's inside. "A passport?"
"Yes."
"Why do I need a passport?"
"Because our children are one now, so I thought it was past time I whisk my wife away for a honeymoon."
***
Standing on the terrace of our villa, overlooking the Mediterranean in a flowing dress, she's too beautiful to be real. I'm memorizing the image for my next attempt at art.
"We should call home."
Chuckling, I shake my head and pull her close. "The children are fine. My mother and your sister will spoil them rotten while we're gone. I'm glad you consider Chicago your home now."