baby [h.s.]

thirty eight

            I called my grandfather a week out from Christmas and told him I'd be there. I vaguely mentioned what my mother and I's relationship was like, and told him I'd be bringing Harry. My grandfather said he couldn't wait to meet him. I wasn't nervous until we boarded the plane to fly to Italy three days later.

We flew commercial, but in first class. Harry held my hand the entire flight as I told him about my family. He drew circles in the back of my palm.

"My nonna will offer to cut your hair no less than fifteen times." I said. "And my Zia Mariana will hit on you; don't even respond to what she says, not even to turn her down, or my Zio Joe will hit you."

"No cheating on your with your aunt." he said. "Got it."

I grinned. "Seriously, Harry. And I don't know if any of them are involved in mafia business. I wouldn't be surprised. None of them are with Briar, but God knows what my uncles do on their own time."

"Hope none of them recognize me." he said.

"No kidding."

"My mum's got four siblings. Sofia is her sister and Al Jr., Gio, and Luca are all her brothers. Then they've all got spouses and children. God there's so many of them."

"I'll keep up."

"They'll be impressed with you." I said. "Fluent in Italian, yeah?"

He hummed. "I'm in for an interesting few days."

A few moments of silence passed. I glanced around the cabin. The leather seats all reclined. The airhostess carried a bottle of champagne on a tray. Clouds covered the window.

"I told Vinny I was spending the holiday with you." he said.

"Yeah?" I said. "What'd he say?"

"He was happy for me. Said it was better than how I usually spend them."

"And how is that?"

"Drunk in a shitty pub."

I laughed. "Only difference is you'll be drunk with family."

"Not my family."

I snorted. "You try telling them that."

When the flight landed, we grabbed a cab from in front of the Milan Airport. Outside it was raining. I told the driver of the cab where my grandparents lived and we were off.

Their house was in the heart of Milan. Harry leaned his head on my shoulder as the car rumbled down cobblestone streets. I dragged my hand through the fogged window so we could see out. The old buildings we passed captivated my attention. The thin streets made me nervous.

My Nonna snatched laundry away from a wet clothesline when we arrived. At the sight of our cab, she dropped the basket in her hands on the balcony and leaned in the doorway to yell.

"Here we go." I said.

I had barely pushed the door open when Nonno opened the front door. He hugged me tightly and kissed each of my cheeks.

"Tilly, my dear!" he said, in Italian. "Oh how I've missed you!"

"Ciao Nonno." I said. I waved my hand towards Harry. "Meet Harry."