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To find a nanny who would look at Clara the way I do, as if she lights up the world with one smile or brings music to my ears with her contagious laugh.
Sympathy washes over Madeleine’s face. “You will.”
“Dinner is served,” my mother’s chef declares, appearing at the edge of the room.
We follow our mother into the dining room, where the servers finish setting plates of delicious food on the table before disappearing back into the kitchen.
I take my seat beside Vin, who sits at the head of the table, while everyone chatters amongst themselves. Every couple seems lost in their own world, looking at each other as if they hung the damn moon.
I watch my siblings, or more specifically, Mauro, Leo, and Madeleine, with jealousy in my chest. I’m happy for them. Truly, I am. I just wonder if that day will ever come for me too. I guess tonight, I’ll find out once I—
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Our attention shifts to Vin as he stands, holding his glass in the air. His eyes travel the length of the table, stopping on Mauro and Alina.
“As this family continues to grow, not only in strength but in numbers…” His gaze flicks to Clara sitting on Madeleine’s lap, his eyes softening. I never thought I’d see the day my brother turned soft for a little girl. Makes me wonder what he might be like someday as a dad with his own kids to spoil… “I’m reminded how precious our time together is.” He shifts his attention to Mauro. “It’s true that you’re known as the muscles of this family, but you are so much more than that to us.” He sets his crystal glass on the table, inhales deeply, and signs, You have the biggest heart among us.
Mauro’s eyes widen, blinking a few times.
After sustaining an injury years ago in the same explosion that also took our father from us too soon, Mauro lost the ability to say more than a few words at a time without suffering serious pain. I knew he had been taking American Sign Language lessons in secret over the years, so I did too, determined to always have a way to communicate with him.
In true Mauro fashion, he never told the rest of the family. He didn’t want anyone to feel obligated to learn a new language for him, so he kept that part of himself hidden.
Recently, though, I have been helping Alina, an ASL expert, teach the rest of our family so we can all communicate with him. It’s something we should have done a long time ago.
“But not only that,” Madeleine voices, then signs, You’re the best listener too. She stares down at Clara on her lap. “Isn’t that right?” She taps the pad of her fingers against her nose, which causes Clara to burst into a fit of laughter.
A smile takes over as I watch her. Turning toward Mauro, I sign, You’re always there for us.
Our mother stands, her eyes blurring with tears. I’m so honored to call you my son.
Scarlett straightens in her seat. You’re the best trainer.
Leo removes his arm from around Scarlett and signs, And the best big brother.
“Wait.” Vin’s brows cinch together. “I don’t remember practicing that one. I thought you were supposed to tell him he has the best side hook?”
“Yeah, I did.” Leo winks, causing Mauro to laugh.
Mauro looks at Alina, confusion written across his face. What’s going on?
She tucks her hair behind her ear and quickly glances at everyone before focusing on him. “I know you didn’t want your family to feel burdened by learning ASL, but that’s not the case at all. I told them you speak it fluently and have for some time now.” She shrugs. “They all want to learn so they can communicate with you. I’ve been giving them lessons for the past few weeks and will continue to do so.” She leans in closer and whispers, “Some of them may need quite a bit longer than others to catch on.”
“I heard that,” Vin states with a scowl.
She bites back a smile. “You’re not a burden, Mauro. You’re an essential member of this family. And we all love you.”
Mauro looks around at everyone, clearly overwhelmed. He’s not one for attention, but he deserves to feel the love we have for him. He clears his throat and wipes the back of his hand across his eyes. Thank you.
“I’m learning to speak a whole new language for you, and that’s all you have to say?” Vin displays a smug grin.
Mauro raises his hand and flips him off.
“Now that sign, I know,” Vin says, causing laughter to fill the room.
Madeleine covers Clara’s eyes. “Hey, we have an impressionable mind over here!”
The poor thing doesn’t even register what’s going on as she appears unable to keep her eyes open, so one of my mother’s staff members approaches Madeleine and takes Clara to bring her upstairs. When my mother found out she was a grandmother, she had one of her guest rooms converted into a room just for Clara, complete with a custom crib and more stuffed animals than any child should ever see in her lifetime.
