Page 23 of Destiny
“And what did she say?”
“That it was cool.”
“Well, it is pretty cool. Don’t you think?
“Meh. I guess.”
“I think it is. Do you know where my parents are from?”
They shake their heads.
“Hazelhurst, Wisconsin. Just like you and just like me. Your dad is from Europe.”
They still don’t seem too impressed.
“You’ll appreciate it more when you’re older,” I suggest, and then take off.
I know Marco very well, and I doubt he has enough groceries to prepare a sufficient dinner. So, I stop at our local market.
“What should we make for dinner?”
“Hmm.” I watch as their little eyes scan the shelves.
“Since you were talking about Italy at school today, why don’t we make something from there?”
“Yeah!”
“Okay, how about cacio e pepe?”
“Huh?”
I giggle. “It’s literally cheese and pasta. It’s really delicious. How does that sound?”
They nod.
“Great.”
We walk around and collect everything I need—noodles, Pecorino Romano cheese, cracked pepper, and a little bit of basil for garnish, and I ask them more about the facts they learned about their dad’s home country.
“It looks like a high-heel boot,” Alessia answers.
“That’s right. It does.”
“And the island of Sicily looks like a soccer ball that’s being kicked by the boot.”
“Huh.” I think back to my old geography lessons. “I guess that’s also kind of true.”
They’re rattling off more facts when I accidentally bump into a woman.
“Oh, I’m sorry—”
“Hello, Beatrice! Wow. Am I lucky or what? Seeing my kid twice in one day?”
“Mom! Uh, I’m sure you remember Alessia and Aurora. They’re Marco’s daughters.”
“Ah, yes.” She has already voiced her concern over me “playing mommy” for them, and she doesn’t hide her feelings well. So, an outsider looking in would think she was heartless as she just glared at their sweet, cherubic faces.
“Girls, this is my mom.”
