You see, there are these apps where anybody can write books, stories and the sort and one day, scrolling the FB (which I don't usually do but I kill time with it on occasions) my eyes fell on a title that made me scoff.
The title, 'Mafia in Love'...
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"Mia, sweetie, don't worry about your dad. He has been missing you and under this tough and cold layer, his heart is soft and he really loves you. We all do," Mamma Eve says, trying to make Papa look less scary.
"Si, Mamma. Lo so," I reply and give her one more hug before walking in and following Papa to his office, hearing Mamma's giggle while welcoming Julian. (Yes, Mom. I know).
Papa leaves the door open for me to walk in, with tension growing and readying myself to snap and defend at any moment, if necessary.
But to my utmost surprise, he suddenly twists on his heels and grabs me in a tight hold, kissing my head while I can feel his stiff muscles relaxing once I hug him back.
"Mia dolce bambina..." he mumbles. "Finalmente sei a casa," he continues cupping my cheeks with his large palms and looking straight into my eyes. (My sweet girl... finally you are home).
The sparkle I discover there, in his shining black eyes reminds me of Papa when I was a child, the same joy, the same love, the same comfort offered without any trace of doubt, making my heart melt and forget why I have been angry with them all of this time.
"Yes, Papa, but only for one week," I rush to clarify right from the beginning.
"For a week..." he repeats in a whisper, the disappointment clearly showing in his eyes but never losing that smiling face he had from the moment I entered his office.
"A week is good... not enough, of course, but it's good, principessa," he reassures me, nodding his head and sucking in through his eyes every curve and every wrinkle on my face. (Princess).
"Absolutely gorgeous!" I hear Julian behind me. "When she's not here we're his battlefield and when she's here, it's like heavens have fallen from the sky," he continues mockingly, something that maybe he has meant it to be a joke but Papa darkens his eyes hearing it, and hardly manages to keep himself calm.
Truth be told, I always knew I had a special place in Papa's heart. I only wished it was special enough to allow me to bond with my biological mother a little bit more.
"Stop being a brat, Julian," Mamma Eve scolds him and both Papa and I, still trapped in our moment, creep a smile stirred by a jealous Julian, something we have never experienced before.
"I have something ready for dinner and I'm sure you both need a good sleep after that," she continues, grabbing Papa's arms and freeing me from his hold just to cage me herself in a stronger one.
She walks both of us out of Papa's office and I do not forget Julian, sticking my tongue out once we pass by him and the payback is cruel.
He pulls out from the pocket of his jeans a pink lollipop, wiggling it to me as bait and I have to admit, it's damn tempting but mamma Eve keeps walking towards the dining, leaving me no chance to stop.
