𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 ⚔︎

18

giovanni treaded downstairs with a pair of rayban sunglasses on top of his head and a cigarette carton in hand. in preparation for the humid day ahead, he wore a white tight-fitting vest, blue denim shorts and sandals. the time on his watch read ten past nine in the morning. he wandered down the hallway and into the kitchen, where his mother and jesse were sat, talking to one another over glasses of ice water.

upon seeing him, sofia got up and marched over, her face stern. "what have i told you, giovanni?" she scorned, snatching the cigarettes out of his hand. "no smoking around your brother and sister."

jesse cast him a humorous glance, smirking slightly. he wore a pale blue and white pinstripe shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, with beige linen shorts and white reebok trainers. giovanni looked back at him with a fed-up expression.

"okay... fine," giovanni said with a sigh. "but why? we'll be outside when we're on the boat, in the open air—"

sofia shot him a look that silenced him right away, her brows raised and her lip pursed. moments later, valentin and isabella came running into the kitchen, followed shortly by antonio, who was drinking a small cup of espresso. antonio settled his unoccupied hand on giovanni's shoulder, staring at his stepson with anxious eyes.

"you know what you're doing, don't you?" antonio said.

"yes, i do," giovanni nodded. "i've been sailing before. we've been sailing before. i know exactly what to do."

"you've checked the weather?" sofia asked.

giovanni rolled his eyes. "yes, mama. it's going to be a warm day with no wind."

"okay," antonio said, taking his hand away from giovanni's shoulder. he looked at valentin and isabella, who were shifting on their feet, eager and ready to go. "have you got some food and water for if you get hungry?"

"yes, yes, and yes!" giovanni exclaimed impatiently. he pointed to jesse. "i have everything in the rucksack. lunch, drinks, snacks, sunscreen, bathing costumes— we're all taken care of."

jesse nodded and lifted up said rucksack. he gave it a short pat. "it's all in here."

sofia clasped her hands together. "okay, okay. i'll stop bothering you now," she said. she followed giovanni as he lead jesse and his brother and sister out of the kitchen, down the spacious, sun-lit hallway and to the front door.

she watched as they all walked to the gate down the garden on the old brick path. antonio joined her, and they both waved after them. "have fun!" she shouted.

"be back by seven!" antonio called. "and don't do anything stupid!"

the date was august 18th. the previous night, after helping his mother do the washing up, giovanni had talked to antonio about the possibility of borrowing his boat and going sailing for a day. after much debating and even more thinking, antonio had decided to allow it. he didn't want to get in the way of their fun — valentin and isabella had waited all year to see their brother again. it would be cruel not to let them go on their adventures.

the four of them trekked down to the town, through the neighbourhoods, past the beach and to the harbour, where the sailboats and a few yachts were docked and tied to the concrete by thick ropes and buoys floating on the surface.

"so, where are we going?" isabella said, skipping alongside her older brother.

"we're not really going anywhere," giovanni said. "we'll just sail around, maybe stop at pianosa and go exploring."

"um... papa says there's a convicted murderer living on pianosa," valentin said.

to this, jesse and giovanni exchanged an entertained glance. "really?" jesse said.