Page 95 of Better Than Gelato
Isa doesn’t say anything but takes the tray from me and starts eating. I read the last chapter. Harry and the gang make plans to keep in touch over the summer and go to the Quidditch World Cup. Ron says he’s even learned how to use a phone so he can call Harry at the Dursleys.
“Can I call you?” Isa asks suddenly. “In America?”
“Any day you like,” I say. “And in the meantime, I got something for you.”
I run to grab her gift from my bedroom.
“You got me a going away present?”
“It’s really more of a celebration present,” I say.
She carefully pulls off the wrapping paper. It’s a photo album, a big thick one, filled to the brim with pictures we’ve taken together. It’s the kind of album that has room to write things next to each picture, and I had a great time adding my comments to the memories.
“Hey, I remember this one!” Isa says pointing. “You covered my face in avocado!”
“That was for our spa night. And turn the page. I included the picture of you smearing your avocado cheek all over me.”
“Oh yeah, that was funny.”
We look through some more. One that Sofia took of us coloring. A selfie I snapped during a Thursday dance party. A photo Marco took of us doing our secret handshake.
“We haven’t done our handshake in ages,” Isa says.
“We better do it now so we don’t forget.”
We do our handshake and then I scoop Isa into a hug.
“Do you know how much I’ve loved being your nanny?” I whisper.
“I think I do.”
“Good.”
Sofia knocks on the door and says it’s time to go.
Tears pop into my eyes. I want to scoop Isa onto my lap and beg Sofia for just one more hour with this amazing little girl. But of course I don’t. I help Isa get some clothes on and get her unicorn suitcase. I help her find her coloring book and crayons for the drive. We take the elevator down with Marco and Sofia and I walk them to their car.
“How long is your drive?” I ask.
“Five hours.” Marco says.
“That’s not too bad,” I say. And then all four of us have run out of things to say.
“Thank you for hiring me,” I blurt. “It has been an incredible year. And none of it would have happened if you hadn’t chosen me to be your nanny.”
Marco smiles. “Thank you for all you have done for Isa and for our family.”
“Di niente,” I say, which seems funny because it wasn’t nothing, it was actually everything.
I bend over and give Isa one more hug. I don’t say anything to her, and she doesn’t say anything to me, but we hug for a long time.
When I stand back up, Sofia turns to Marco and says, “Don’t they usually have a fashion expo in Las Vegas in December?”
Marco nods. “We’ve never gone before, but Bianca is always saying we need to branch out to the American circuit. Is Las Vegas close to you?” he asks me.
My heart leaps with hope. “Super close! I could come and see you so easily!”
He turns to Isa. “Would you like that,tesoro? To go to America like I promised you, and visit Julieta?”
