Two unperfect parents

chap. 3

Time has flown by for Elizabeth. Between filming, promotions, and a whirlwind of Hollywood commitments, she feels like she's blinked and the calendar has already turned to April. With July just a few months away, the excitement and nerves for Giusy's arrival are building. Today is a big day—their first video call with Giusy. Sarah from the agency had set up a Zoom room for them, and as Elizabeth and Robbie sit side by side in their home office, they're feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Robbie fidgets with his hands, more nervous than Elizabeth has ever seen him. "What if I say something stupid?" he murmurs, glancing at her. His fingers tap an uneven rhythm on the desk, a clear sign of his nerves.

Elizabeth reaches over, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Relax, babe. Just be yourself. She's probably just as nervous as you are. Remember, we're here to make her feel comfortable, not to grill her with questions."

Robbie nods, taking a deep breath as Elizabeth clicks the link to enter the Zoom room. It takes a couple of seconds for the video to load, and when it does, Giusy's face appears on the screen. Her soft, loose brown curls frame her face, and her green eyes sparkle with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. She's wearing her eyeglasses, a dark green hoodie that makes her eyes pop, and black cargo pants. Beside her, they can see her dog, Stella, sleeping peacefully.

"Hello, Mrs. Olsen, Mr. Arnett," Giusy greets them softly, her voice a gentle blend of shyness and politeness.

Elizabeth's heart melts at the sight of her. "Oh, sweetie, you don't have to be so formal. You can call me Lizzie, and this is Robbie," she says with a warm smile. "We're just so excited to finally see you face to face, aren't we, Robbie?"

Robbie nods, though his words don't come out right away. He clears his throat, looking down briefly before meeting Giusy's eyes through the screen. "Yeah, we are. It's really nice to meet you, Giusy." He manages a small, somewhat awkward smile, which makes Giusy's lips twitch upwards in a hesitant smile of her own.

"Thank you," Giusy replies, her voice barely above a whisper. She fiddles with the strings of her hoodie, her eyes darting between the couple and the screen, not quite sure where to look. She's clearly nervous, her shoulders slightly hunched as if trying to make herself smaller.

Elizabeth, picking up on the girl's unease, leans forward slightly, her tone soft and soothing. "We've heard so much about you from your letters, sweet pea," she says, testing out one of the pet names she's been thinking of. She's thrilled to see Giusy's cheeks blush slightly at the endearment, but no negative reaction follows. In fact, it seems to soften the girl's posture a bit. "We're really looking forward to getting to know you better. How's Stella doing?"

At the mention of her dog, Giusy's face brightens a little. "She's good, thank you," she says, her fingers brushing through Stella's fur. "She's been keeping me company, especially now..."

Elizabeth nods understandingly, her expression empathetic. "I can imagine how much comfort she brings you. I know it must be hard thinking about leaving her behind, even just for a little while. But don't worry, we'll take good care of you here. And who knows, maybe we can arrange some video calls with Stella too?"

Giusy's eyes light up at the idea. "That would be really nice," she admits, her fingers still playing with the strings of her hoodie. There's a pause, and she seems to gather her courage before speaking again. "I'm a little nervous... about everything. But I'm also really excited."

Elizabeth beams at her, warmth radiating through the screen. "It's perfectly normal to feel that way, pumpkin. Moving to a new place, meeting new people, it's a lot to take in. But you're not alone. Robbie and I are here to support you every step of the way."