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"You're both all fuzzy," Mali chuckled, looking at Stefania and I through FaceTime.
"Then get out of bed you lazy bambina and come join us," Stefania joked.
"Hey I'm not lazy mama, I'm tired,' she wined dramatically.
"Then at least come give your mommy a morning snuggle before we head out," I said, fluttering my eyelashes down the camera.
"Fineeee," she said, pulling back the bed covers and hanging up the phone.
"I like it when she's a normal moody teenager," Stefania said happily, leaning back into the sofa.
"Me too," I smiled, seeing Amalia walk into the lounge.
"Come here," I said, making grabby hands for my girl.
Mali headed straight for me, climbing onto my lap. I pulled a the blanket from over the back of the sofa over the two of us.
"I like it when she's a snuggly baby too," I added, kissing the top of my head.
"What?" Amalia asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Nothing bubs," I said, sending Stef a wink.
"What time are we going to Caterina's?" Mali asked, her head resting against my chest.
"Around 2 babe. Still happy to go?" I checked.
I felt her take a deep breath.
"Carla thinks it will be good for me," she replied.
"I agree with her bubba but it's your choice, nobody else's," I said, wanting her to know she was in the drivers seat.
"You're both coming?" She asked, looking between myself and Stef.
"Si bambina," Stefania nodded, reaching over and tucking back Mali's hair.
"There's gonna be animals?" She asked.
"Si Amalia, I even heard that she's got a bunny," Stefania smiled excitedly knowing Mali loved rabbits.
I sighed contentedly with my girl in my arms. She was still a child deep down and every now and again that innocence made an appearance.
She lifted her head off my chest when her phone lit up with a message.
"Who's that Mali?" I asked nosily.
"It's Carter, he wants another book recommendation," she told me.
"Is that all?" Stefania teased, crinkling her eyebrows.
"Mama stop," she said, her cheeks glowing red.
"Ignore your mama bubs, why don't you tell him about that circus one you've just read? You loved that," I suggested, attempting to help the embarrassment leave her.
