LOST INTO THE VINE (BWWM)

CHAPTER 54

Nala watched the father-daughter duo suspiciously, "what happened?" "¿donde?" they both replied at the same time. Something was definitely up, she narrowed her eyebrows accusingly, at both of them, then sighed in mock defeat, "it's fine. I don't want to know anyway!" Matteo snorted, chuckling as he sipped his coffee. "Mama, we wemmh! " Irina started before Matteo cupped her mouth in his hand, forcefully shutting her up. "Sshh, Ina! You can't fall for that easily. We talked about this!" The little girl giggled, nodding her understanding, her shining eyes squinting in the morning light. "¿Lo entiendes?" he asked her seriously, even as his soft blue eyes smiled. She nodded, giggling harder. He let her go and told her to finish her breakfast. He then stood and prepared a plate for Nala, "what will you have?" She told him. As he went about it, she turned to the little girl, "we'll make the hashbrowns soon, baby girl. I'm sorry! We'll also make brownies to make up for today."

She smiled wider, "está bien, mama!" Raising in her seat, she gave Nala a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Nala immediately reciprocated the gesture and kissed her back, "now tell me what papa told ya, baby, mmh?" "No, she won't. Don't be nosey," Matteo answered for his daughter, giving each of them a kiss. Rolling her eyes, they ate as they talked, Matteo shutting her down anytime she asked questions in regard to that morning. When she finished her food, Nala asked her father if she can leave the table, Matteo nodded and the little girl half jumped from her seat and sprinted upstairs, not heeding Nala's warning about running on the stairs.

"Mama," Irina called. Nala turned to the girl, who was looking at her nervously. Nala put her hand out, silently telling her to go closer to her, which she immediately did, fiddling with the scarf in her hand. "Talk to mama, is everything okay?" Nala asked, quite concerned, ignoring how she was internally screaming for calling herself 'mama' for the first time, in the third person. The girl nodded and smiled up at her, "Mama, can you do something for Ina?" she asked. Nala responded without hesitation, wondering what was going on, "anything!" The girl nodded and put the scarf up, "then- then mama close her eyes with this!" Nala bit her tongue to not ask questions and nodded, "will you help me tie it?" The girl nodded and climbed on her designated seat. Nala held her steadfast as her vision got dimmer and when the knot was tied behind her short curls, she felt the girl run her fingers over the scar left from her surgery. "Does it hurt, mama?" She shook her head, "not anymore," and pulled the girl into her arms, embracing her. She felt Matteo's presence behind her even before he moved into their personal space to join the embrace.

"Mariposa, let's go," he pulled his daughter out of the embrace and put her down, told Nala he was going to pull her seat back, and let her stand after he helped her in her shoes. When that was done, he said Irina would be her guide but he would be close just in case of anything. Irina clutched her hand and they started moving. No words were exchanged as they walked, it seemed like they were all nervous about the outcome of the surprise. Nala smelt the grapes and she figured they were going in the direction of the other side of the family land. "Are we there yet?" she asked. The girl giggled and Matteo hummed a "no." She sighed in an exaggerated manner, making him roll his eyes. As the wind blew in their direction, she distinctly smelt ammonia? Where were they going?

Finally, they came to a stop and Irina took her hand back from Nala's. In a fluid motion, Matteo stood behind her and helped her untie the blindfold. She blinked rapidly, adjusting the light back into her eyes, she realized they were in the barn. It was plain to the eye, nothing stood out. She wondered what was really going on. Irina was no longer by her side but standing by one stall. Nala followed her, with Matteo a step behind her. Matteo reached his daughter, he took her up in his arms. Nala stood by his side, watching the interaction of a foal with it's mother, nursing from it's mother as they stood. "Who's this little guy?" she asked. Matteo dramatically shrugged his shoulders and asked his daughter. With her cheeks flushed, Irina answered, "papa gave her to me but I want to give her to you." Looking at her new mom, she said seriously, "but now you can't leave again, because you're supposed to take care of her like her mama and if you don't she will be sad and die."

Nala was floored. She looked at Matteo, "did you-" 'did you put her up to this?' is what she wanted to say, but the words could not register from her brain to her mouth. She choked her tears back, and flung herself to the duo, hugging them both tightly, Matteo immediately put his arm around her, and Irina put hers over her shoulder, as she buried her face on the boulder between father ad daughter. Pulling away, she kissed Irina countless times, making her giggle happily, "mama is going nowhere, okay? Unless it's with you and papa." Irina smiled at her, and caressed her face in the way only a child would, "Ina love you, mama." Nala nodded, "I know, baby. And I love you too!" She took the girl from her father's arms and held her, "what do you think we should call her?" Irina put a thinking face down to the T, with her hand on her chin and her index finger tapping, "Jana?" Nala chuckled, "wanna know something cool?" the girl hummed. "In Swahili, 'jana' means yesterday!" Irina gasped, "then let's call her 'Jana' cuz you came back home yesterday!" Once again Nala's heart wanted to explode!