Breaking the Grid

Mia

The warm scent of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen, mingling with the aroma of Elisabetta's coffee. Marco sat across from me at the table, his head buried in his cereal bowl as though the world didn't exist. Kyra sat to my right, sipping her coffee quietly, her eyes still soft with sleep. Elisabetta hummed a tune under her breath while stacking plates on the counter.

I reached over, ruffling Marco's messy hair. "Come on, Mooni," I said teasingly. "Hurry up. Go get your bag. We're driving you to school."

Marco groaned, shoving my hand away, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm eating!"

"You'll have time to eat and get to school if you move faster," I shot back, smirking.

Kyra chuckled softly beside me, shaking her head as Marco shoved another spoonful of cereal into his mouth before dashing off toward his room. "Don't forget your gym shoes!" Elisabetta called after him.

Marco's muffled reply came from somewhere upstairs, and the three of us exchanged knowing smiles.

Elisabetta turned to me, arching an eyebrow. "And after school drop-off, what are you two going to do?"

I leaned back in my chair, glancing at Kyra. "I was thinking of showing Kyra around the town. She hasn't seen it yet, and I want her to fall in love with it the way I did."

Kyra smiled faintly, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before looking away, a subtle blush creeping into her cheeks.

Elisabetta clapped her hands together. "That's a wonderful idea! But," she added, handing me a small piece of paper, "if you're heading into town, can you stop by the market and pick these up?"

I took the list, glancing over it before folding it and tucking it into my pocket. "Of course. Anything for you, Mama."

"Good girl," she said with a wink, returning to her coffee.

Marco came bounding down the stairs moments later, his backpack slung haphazardly over one shoulder. "I'm ready!"

"Finally," I teased, standing and grabbing the car keys from the counter. "Let's go before you make us late."

After dropping Marco off at school, Kyra and I made our way into the heart of the town. The streets were alive with color and sound—flower stalls lining the sidewalks, vendors calling out their daily specials, and the faint melody of a street musician's accordion floating through the air.

"It's beautiful here," Kyra said, her voice quiet as we walked past a café bustling with early morning chatter.

I smiled. "I knew you'd like it."

We wandered for a while, weaving through the narrow cobblestone streets until we reached the local market. The place was vibrant and chaotic, filled with the scent of fresh herbs, ripe fruit, and cured meats. I pulled out the list from my pocket and handed it to Kyra.

"You read," I said. "I'll find."

Kyra rolled her eyes but took the list, scanning it quickly. "Alright. First up: tomatoes."

I nodded, heading toward a stall piled high with bright red tomatoes. The vendor, an older man with a wide smile and a twinkle in his eye, greeted me warmly in Italian. As we chatted, I felt Kyra's presence lingering a few steps behind me.

I smiled politely, thanking him as I moved to pay, but before I could, a younger woman appeared beside the stall. She was tall, elegant, with perfectly styled hair and a bright red lipstick that matched the tomatoes.

"Excuse me," she said, her gaze locking onto me. "You're Blair Becks, aren't you?"

I blinked, caught off guard by her directness. "Uh, yes. I am."