Maya's Next Step

Part 129

Maya POV

"What do we even say to her?" I whispered as Carina and I walked slightly behind Elva who was skipping ahead with her letter.

"Bellina relax," Carina sighed.

"How can I relax, she's just told us she has a sister?"

"She hasn't told us anything yet, let's not jump to conclusions," she tried to reason.

"Mama how far?" Elva asked, stopping to turn around.

"There's a post box at the end of the street bambina," Carina smiled warmly, taking my hand in hers as we followed.

"Try to focus on Elva posting her first Santa letter. That's what's important right this moment," she said quietly, giving my hand a squeeze.

I sighed.

I knew she was right and I was doing everything I could to stop my head from making up a thousand different scenarios.

I had no information.

All I had was Elva's little message.

Was this sister real?

Is she alive?

Is she older or younger?

Where is she?

I shook myself out of my head just in time to see Elva's face as she spotted the post box.

"Look! It says Santa Mail!" She squealed in delight.

"Go post your letter bubs," I smiled excitedly.

Reaching up on her tiptoes she pushed her letter through the gap as Carina snapped a quick picture of her.

"When will he get it mommy?" She asked, turning back to us.

She stepped between Carina and I, taking one of our hands in both of hers.

"I don't know, I know that his elves are in charge of making sure Santa gets all the letters though," I told her, making up the little white lie.

"They must be super busy," she said seriously.

"They work very hard," I agreed.

"Not as hard as you and mama," she countered.

"Oh yeah, is that so?" I asked, hiding a smirk.

"You and mama work all year. Elves only work in winter," she pointed out matter of factly.

"Ahh but bambina, they spend the rest of the year making all the toys," Carina said.

"Then you all work hard," Elva shrugged, accepting her mama's opinion.

"Mama can I have a babyccino when we get home?" Elva asked politely, as we approached our apartment block.

"Can you ask mama in Italian?" Carina asked, smiling down at our girl.

"Hmmm," Elva thought aloud, frowning as she mentally tried to translate.

"Posso avere un babyccino mama?" She asked, not as confident as usual.

"Perrrr?" Carina prompted.

"Per favaore," Elva added, remembering her manners.

"Si certo tesoro," Carina responded proudly, Elva now looking proud of herself.

"I think I need some extra lessons," I pouted.

"Don't worry mommy, I can teach you," she said genuinely.

Laughing at her innocence, we returned to our apartment. I felt a knot in my stomach appear at the thought of the impeding conversation.

I felt myself tense my shoulders and tried to breathe deeply and let the anxiety pass.

"Shoes and coat off bambina," Carina instructed as we entered.

"I'll go make your drink, Maya, coffee?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Something stronger," I called after her, watching as she rolled her eyes at me although I was deadly serious.

"Mommy stuck," Elva wined, attempting to pull off her boot.

"I've got you bub," I smiled, crouching down to help her.

"Can we watch a movie mommy?" She asked as I pulled her gently back to her feet.

"We can Elva, mommy and mama just need to talk to you first okay?" I said, trying not to sound too serious.

She tilted her head to the side slightly as though trying to work out what we could possibly want to talk about.

"It's okay baby, you're not in trouble," I assured her, holding out my hand for her.

I lead her over to the sofa as Carina walked in with our drinks.

Elva moved to pick up her cup, only to be stopped by Carina.

"Ahh ahh bambina. I'ts too hot, è troppo caldo," she repeated in Italian for her.

"Troppo caldo," Elva said, nodding in understanding and pushing herself back on the sofa.

"Good bella," Carina praised, sitting beside me.

She comfortingly wrapped her arm around my shoulders, the two of us putting on a united front.

"Elva, you know your letter to Santa?" I said, trying to keep as calm as possible.

"It's in the post box," she replied sweetly.

"We know bambina," Carina giggled.

"But you wrote something extra on the back didn't you?" Car added, reaching forward slightly to tuck Elva's hair back.

Elva looked down at her lap guiltily, fidgeting with her fingers, now unable to make eye contact.

"Elvie?" I said gently, lifting her chin up to meet our gaze.

"It's okay, you're not in any trouble," I told her again.

"Promise?" She asked, her bottom lip coming out.

"We promise bella,"

"Can you tell us about what you wrote El?" I prompted.

"I told Santa I wanted to see my sister again," she said quietly, anxiously looking all around the room to avoid Carina and I.

"We didn't know you had a sister baby, can you tell us about her?" I encouraged.

She shook her head, her small chest rising and falling quickly, showing Carina and I she was becoming agitated.

"Take a big breath for me bambina," Carina said softly.

"You're not in trouble bub, you can tell us anything," I assured her.

"No tell," she said, tears beginning to flow.

"Why not bella?"

"I promise I won't tell," she said again, her face getting redder.

"Who did you promise Elva?" I said, trying to get any piece of information from her.

She shook her head.

"Come here bambina," Carina whispered, removing her arm from around me and reaching for Elva.

Elva reached for her mama who pulled her across me and onto her lap. Cradled in Carina's arms, she lay against her chest, crying her eyes out, sobs wrecking her chest.

"Okay bambina okay," Carina soothed.

"We're getting nowhere," I mouthed, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees.

"Shhh Elva," Carina said gently, holding Elva's head to her breast.

"What's her name bambina?" She asked, smoothing her thumb across Elva's cheek.

I sat back up, attentively awaiting a reply.

She took a breath, still laying attached to Carina's chest.

"W-w," she began.

"Tell us bub,"

Authors note.

Okay so mystery sister's name begins with W, any guesses??

Last chance to get ideas in for age, circumstances, whereabouts,??? 🥰💕