I look out of the window as Mark hauls my daughter up into the air and onto his shoulders. She clings onto his neck like a little brown spider and they head towards the pool.
I hear a noise and Stella waddles in. She is seven months pregnant. ‘Jesus, Dahlia. What the hell are we doing in this confounded country? It’s way too hot. I’m just about to melt into a massive puddle.’
‘Well, we’re all here right slap bang in the middle of a Roman summer. In two months’ time you’ll be having a baby, and you wanted to come, remember?’ I tell her.
‘That’s true. Somebody pass me a lemonade before I pass out,’ she says dramatically.
‘It’s air-conditioned in this kitchen,’ I remind her, putting a glass of lemonade into her outstretched hand.
‘Are you trying to ruin a diva’s moment?’ she asks before draining the entire glass and putting it back into my hand.
‘Heaven forbid,’ I say, and watch her climb onto the island and lie flat on the cool granite top.
I climb onto the island and lie beside her. ‘You always have the best ideas.’
She turns her head. ‘Where’s Zane?’
I link my fingers with hers. ‘Upstairs. Changing Alexei.’
‘Oh God. That’s another joy that awaits me.’
I giggle. ‘It’s not so bad.’
‘Yeah, right. Next you’ll be telling me childbirth is beautiful.’
I grin. ‘It is.’
‘Thank you very much, but having an eight pound bowling ball shoot out of my vagina is not my idea of beautiful.’
I grin. ‘You’re a little bit scared, aren’t you?’
‘As a matter of fact, yes. I’m freaking terrified.’
I laugh. ‘Trust me, it’ll be worth it.’
‘That remains to be seen, but don’t you think it is weird to have a little person living in your body, weeing and pooing inside you?’
‘Oh, Stella,’ I giggle, and squeeze her fingers. They are puffy in this hot weather. ‘Only you can say something like that and still look cute.’
‘Talking of cute, I forgot to tell you what your little me did yesterday.’
‘What did she do?’ I ask with a sigh.
‘Last week I explained to her that when you get the urge to do something bad it’s because the devil is whispering in your ear.’
‘Oh, so you told her that,’ I exclaim.
‘That’s not the point of this story,’ Stella says impatiently. ‘So yesterday I found her happily coloring the wall in my room. Of course, I scolded. “That is very naughty, Anouska. Next time I see you do that I’ll have to beat your little butt.” She frowned up at me and said, “Is the devil talking to you now Auntie Stella?”’
I burst out laughing. ‘Oh my God. My daughter is terrible.’
‘I know. It’s like she’s my daughter. She’s got all my traits.’
‘She does,’ I agree, still chuckling.
‘Anyway, when is Noah coming?’
‘Tomorrow. He can only stay for a day though. He nearly didn’t come, but I twisted his arm.’
‘How does one twist Noah’s arm?’
‘Food.’
‘Really?’
‘Specifically, date and banana cake. He’ll walk miles for a slice.’
‘You’re kidding. He’s seems so impenetrable.’
‘No. That’s his big weakness.’
She laughs. ‘He’s still single, isn’t he?’
‘Yup.’
‘Do you think he’ll ever find someone?’
‘For sure. He has a heart of gold. The woman who gets him will be very lucky.’
I lift my head slightly and Zane is standing there with Alexei.
‘Well, well, what do we have here, Alexei?’ he says.
‘Mommy, Mommy,’ Alexei calls, and Zane brings him over and fits him between Stella and me.
His little fingers grasp my face as he plants a wet, gooey kiss on my nose.
‘Right. I’m off to see what Mark is up to,’ Stella says, trying unsuccessfully to pull herself upright.
Zane holds out his hand, she grasps it and he pulls her into a sitting position.
‘Thank you, kind Sir,’ she tells him, before waddling out of the kitchen.
‘Hello beautiful,’ Zane says, coming around to kiss me.
I sit up and hold Alexei in my lap.
Zane leans toward me, bracketing my body by putting his hands on the countertop. ‘Happy?’ he asks.
‘Ecstatic,’ I reply.
‘I want to take you upstairs, Mrs. Malenkov,’ he whispers.
‘Like now?’
‘Like now,’ he says very seriously.
‘Why?’
‘Because it’s our anniversary.’