Page 39 of Bittersweet

16

Elio

“That’swhat you want to give them for their anniversary?” Iask.

“Yes.” B steps closer beside me, but I don’t look. Ican’t.

I can’t tear my gaze away from the five-foot-tall sculpture in front ofme.

“What do you think?” she asks, and she’s lucky she’s an artist and not a therapist, because I know my poker face isn’t strong. In fact, I’m fairly certain even Coco thinks there’s something wrong with the idea of giving a larger-than-life-sized dirty bird to herbisnonnoandbisnonna.

She steps closer to the sculpture, her eyes wide as saucers when she turns around to look at me. “Can I touchit?”

B nods. “Go ahead, sweetie. But begentle.”

Coco extends one hand up over the wheels of the trailer attached to the back of B’s car, and gingerly pokes thebird.

“Do you like it?” B asks again, and I know it’s time. It’s time to break my sister’s heart, even though I hate to doit.

“B, I’m sorry. But we can’t give this to Nonno and Nonna,” I say, shaking myhead.

“But it’s a symbol of love,” sheinsists.

“Pigeons are a symbol of ruined picnics and the movieMary Poppins,” I say, stuffing my hands in my pockets. “Are you sure you’re not thinking ofdoves?”

“They’re from the same bird family. And I couldn’t find any white feathers last minute.” She walks to Coco’s side, taking my girl’s hand in hers. “Don’t you think it lookslifelike?”

I nod. She’s nailed it in that department. The giant bird looks as if it could take flight at any moment, and I kinda wish itwould.

“We can dye the feathers white. Or spray it.” Her eyes sparkle as she glances back atme.

“No.” I shake my head. “No way, no how, and on no planet can we give this to our grandparents. Where would they keep it? What would they do withit?”

“Maybe they could pwetend it was weal,” Coco suggests, her eyes pleading as she looks up at me. “I’d weally love a petdog.”

My chest clenches. I wanna give this girl the world. I wanna give her a good education, a safe home, all the clothes and toys she could possibly desire—but a dog is just too hard for us rightnow.

“Coco, sweetie, we’ve talked about this.” I crouch down to her level. “We can’t get a pet because we don’t have enough time to look afterit.”

“Aunt B could help?” Those big brown eyes flick to my sister. “Couldn’tyou?”

“I will always be here to help, but a pet dog is a big responsibility,” B replies, and I can see her heart breaking at having to break herniece’s.

“’Fia?” Coco turns the charm on her next victim, ournanny.

“Of course I would help, darling. But your daddy’s word is final on this.” Sophia looks at her wristwatch. “Now, why don’t we go get ready for bed? Then Daddy can read you your bedtimestory.”

Coco bites her lip, considering, then nods. “We’ll talk about it anothertime.”

She skips toward the house, and I don’t have the heart to tell her that another time, the answer will be the same as it was today, the same as it was a week ago, and the same as it will likely be a month from now. A dog is too much for us—simple.

“You know, if you had a girlfriend, she could care for a dog,” B says, falling in step beside me as we head toward thehouse.

“Sound dating advice, sis.” I frame my hands in front of my face as if picturing an ad for a potential lover in a newspaper. “That’s what I look for in a woman. Must be kind, funny, love coffee and baked goods, and be available to look after my child and clean up puppy shit while I’m atwork.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She rolls her eyes. “Now, for the fiftieth time, will you please tell me what's going on with you andRomy?"

I cringe. She's been asking me the same question allweek.

---