Chapter Text
After breakfast, Davide asked Alfredo if he knew how to draw a fluffy puppy.
"Okay, fluffy puppy," Alfredo said. "Tell me more about it."
"Hmmm," Davide replied. "The puppy has four legs, short like mine."
Davide showed Alfredo his leg to make his point.
"And a tail, almost as long as its body," Davide said. "Got it?"
"Four short legs and a tail," Alfredo replied. "What else?"
"The puppy is white as whipped cream with black spots," Davide replied. "And pointy ears"
Davide pointed his fingers upwards.
"The puppy also has blue eyes," Davide said. "And it is fluffy."
"Okay, let me see what I can do with that description," Alfredo replied. "Davide, I need to talk with you about something."
"Fine," Davide replied. "But draw the fluffy puppy first."
Alfredo had never been good at drawing, so he had not expected Davide to be as happy as he was about the result.
"Thanks, Alfedo," Davide said. "I love it."
Davide hugged Alfredo.
"Instead of socks, I want this fluffy puppy for Christmas," Davide said. "Pretty, please."
"I will talk with Santa about it," Alfredo replied. "Okay, the thing I wanted to talk with you about."
Davide tilted his head and looked worried.
"Is it that I am not staying here?" Davide asked. "Is it because I ate a banana before dinner yesterday? I am really sorry about it, but my tummy was hungry."
Alfredo quickly hugged Davide.
"I promise you, you aren't going anywhere," Alfredo said. "And you aren't in trouble because of the banana. I promise you and Elena agree with me."
"Thanks," Davide replied. "I like it here."
"I am glad to hear it," Alfredo replied. "No, what I wanted to talk with you about is today. You know that Nicoló is having trouble with his leg."
Davide nodded.
"Mama told me that Nico needed an operation," Davide said. "And when he had the operation, we could jump on the trampoline together."
"Jumping on the trampoline together sounds like a lot of fun," Alfredo replied. "That is why Elena and I want Nicoló to see a doctor today. So that we can talk about the operation."
"And what about me?" Davide asked. "Where am I going?"
"You are coming with us, because I got an important job for you," Alfredo replied. "Could you hold Nicoló's hand while the doctor looks at him? I think it will help him a lot."
"I can do that," Davide replied. "I did promise Mama to look good after Nico."
"And you are doing an excellent job, Davide," Alfredo replied. "Never forget that."
Davide nodded.
"Alfedo?" Davide asked. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course," Alfredo replied. "You can ask about whatever is on your mind."
"Okay," Davide replied. "Why do you call Nico for Nicoló?"
"Your Mama gave him that name, and we love that name. It is also a way to remember your Mama," Alfredo replied. "And you calling Nico is a very brotherly thing you are doing."
"I don't understand," Davide replied. "What do you mean?"
"Siblings are always coming up with other names for their brothers or sisters," Alfredo replied. "So, if you want to call Nicoló for Nico, you do that."
"Okay," Davide replied. "Anything else? Or can I play now?"
"One last thing," Alfredo replied. "Before the doctor looks at Nicoló, he wants to measure and weigh you. It is not a scary thing."
"Fine," Davide replied. "See you."
Davide hugged Alfredo before he left the kitchen. Alfredo looked after Davide until he disappeared into his room and decided to find some chicken legs in the freezer for tonight's dinner.
"Elena, I say this with love," Alfredo said. "Please don't wash any clothes."
"Why?" Elena asked. "I have become better at it."
"I know, Love, and I am proud of you," Alfredo replied. "Okay, let me ask you this. What temperature do you wash this at?"
Alfredo held up one of his shirts.
"90," Elena replied. "Or was it 60?"
"If you do that, I will not be able to fit it anymore," Alfredo replied. "So, why don't you leave the laundry to me, and you go ask Davide about the fluffy puppy he wants for Christmas?"
"Fine, okay," Elena replied. "But only because you asked so nicely."
Alfredo kissed Elena.
"Let me take Nicoló," Alfredo said. "It is never too soon to learn how to use the washing machine."
Elena handed Nicoló to Alfredo before she left. Then Alfredo carried Nicoló and the laundry out to the washing machine.
"You sit here," Alfredo said. "And watch me do the laundry."
Alfredo took an empty basket and placed a blanket in it before he placed Nicoló in it.
"You see, Nicoló. It is not that I don't want Elena's help with the laundry, and don't tell her I told you this, but she is completely hopeless at it," Alfredo said. "If it stood to her, she would put all the clothes in the washing machine, turn it on and say a prayer, while hoping for the best outcome."
Alfredo smiled.
"So, tell me, Nicoló," Alfredo said. "How are your laundry skills?"
Nicoló cooed and reached for a dirty sock.
"That is promising," Alfredo said. "Let me start the washing machine, and we can do something else, unless you fancy staying here for the next ninety minutes."
Alfredo turned on the washing machine and took Nicoló. Then they walked back to the living room, where Alfredo placed Nicoló on his play blanket. After putting the laundry in the dryer and eating lunch, they drove towards the hospital.
"Davide?" Elena asked. "Is something wrong?"
Davide had stopped walking.
"Not the hospital we went to the last time," Davide replied. "Where did the other one go?"
"It is still in its place," Elena replied. "This is a different hospital."
"Okay," Davide replied. "Are you saying there is more than one hospital?"
Elena kneeled next to Davide.
"There is a hospital in almost every city in Italy, so they can help people if they get ill," Elena replied. "Should we take a look at it together?"
Davide thought for a moment.
"Elena?" Davide asked. "Can I hold your hand while we look at the hospital?"
"Of course, Sweetie," Elena replied. "And we will walk when you are ready."
A minute later, Davide took Elena's hand, and they walked towards the hospital while Alfredo carried Nicoló.
"An elevator," Elena said. "Do you know how it works, Davide?"
"Yes, I do," Davide replied. "Let me show you."
Davide pressed the button.
"Wow, well done," Elena praised. It made Davide smile. "Could I ask you to press button number 6?"
With some help from Elena, Davide found the right button. During the entire elevator ride, Davide did not let go of Elena's hand.
"Toys," Davide said. "Can I have a look? Pretty please."
Elena looked at Alfredo.
"Do it," Alfredo said. "Then Nicoló and I will find a doctor or a nurse."
When Alfredo and Nicoló found Elena and Davide, they were playing with some animals.
"I saved this one for you, Nico," Davide said. "Here."
Davide handed Nicoló a tiger, which Nicoló took with a big smile and started to chew on it.
"Nico," Davide said. "I don't think you can eat a tiger."
Davide looked at Elena and Alfredo.
"Yes, you are right about you can't eat a tiger," Alfredo said. "Nicoló is very happy that you told him about it."
Five minutes later, Doctor Rossi was ready to see them.
"Hi, Davide," Doctor Rossi said. "Can you tell me how old you are?"
Davide hid behind Alfredo's leg, so he handed Elena Nicoló. Then, Alfredo took Davide's hand.
"You can tell her," Alfredo said. "I will be here the entire time."
Davide nodded and held up three fingers.
"3 years old," Doctor Rossi said. "And I see you are a big brother. Can you tell me a bit about him?"
Davide thought for a moment.
"He is little, and he likes bananas," Davide replied. "But he can't play football with me because of his leg."
"I am sad to hear that," Doctor Rossi replied. "Is it okay that I have a look at the leg? I think I can help Nicoló so that you can play football with him."
"Okay," Davide replied. "But be nice to him."
"I promise," Doctor Rossi replied. "Do you want to help me examine Nicoló?"
Davide looked at Alfredo, who nodded.
"Yes," Davide replied. "What should I do?"
"First, we have to weigh and measure him," Doctor Rossi replied. "Do you know what that is?"
Davide shook his head.
"Let me show you," Doctor Rossi said. "Come."
Doctor Rossi showed Davide the scale and the measuring tape.
"Alfredo?" Davide asked. "Can I show Nico it does not hurt to do that thing?"
"Of course you can," Alfredo replied. "But I think you have to use another scale."
While Davide was measured and weighed, Elena made sure that Nicoló saw it all.
"See, Nico," Davide said. "It does not hurt."
When it became Nicoló's turn to be measured and weighed, Davide did not let go of Nicoló's hand.
"You are a great big brother, Davide," Doctor Rossi said. "And do you know what great big brothers get as a reward for helping their little brothers?"
Davide shook his head.
"They get a toy and a juice pop, something I know Erica will help you find," Doctor Rossi said. "All you have to do is go with her."
Davide looked at Elena and Alfredo.
"It is okay, Davide," Elena said. "I know that Erica will bring you right back to us if you ask her to do it."
It took a few minutes to convince Davide to go with Erica. While Davide was gone, Doctor Rossi finished Nicoló's exam, and after x-rays of Nicoló's leg were taken, Alfredo and Elena sat down to talk with Doctor Rossi.
"First of all, you have two healthy boys," Doctor Rossi said. "Maybe a few kilos short in weight, but I know that it can be easily fixed with a lot of love and food. I will give you a list of food you can feed the children to help them gain weight."
"That is good to hear," Elena replied. "But what about Nicoló's leg? And does he show any signs of other handicaps?"
"Other handicaps?" Doctor Rossi asked. "I don't follow."
Alfredo looked at the sleeping Nicoló in his arms.
"The matron at the orphanage implied that because Nicoló was born before his due date, he was showing signs of being behind other babies at his age, and that it could be because he is handicapped," Alfredo explained. "We don't care that he is handicapped. All we want is to give him the best life possible. And for that to happen, we need to know what we are dealing with."
"I understand what you are saying, and I admire your commitment and love for Nicoló and also for Davide. It tells me the right parents adopted them," Doctor Rossi replied. "And I think the matron at the orphanage has misunderstood something regarding Nicoló."
"Okay," Elena replied. "And that is?"
"Nicoló was delivered when his mother was 34 weeks pregnant with him because of the leukaemia. And I can tell you, thanks to the papers I got from the other hospital, that the only thing Nicoló is suffering from is hip dysplasia, and that is something we can do something about, since he is still under six months old," Doctor Rossi replied. "If you follow our plan for treating hip dysplasia, I can almost guarantee you that as soon as Nicoló has figured out walking, you will have two sons playing football in the garden."
Both Alfredo and Elena were so happy to hear the news, and they both kissed Nicoló on his head.
"Okay, what is your plan?" Elena asked. "I should let you know I did what the nurse suggested about letting Nicoló swim to help his leg."
"You haven't done anything wrong when it comes to swimming," Doctor Rossi replied. "The plan is to let Nicoló wear a hip brace for the next two to three months. And I can tell you, there will be a lot of tears until he gets used to wearing the hip brace."
Elena looked at Alfredo.
"I don't mind the tears if it means Nicoló will walk without any problems," Elena said. "Or what do you think?"
"I can only agree with you," Alfredo replied. "And if the hip brace works, you also get to keep the promise you gave Nicoló. That you would turn him into a runner, no matter what."
When they got home, Davide looked at Nicoló, who was wearing the hip brace. So far, Nicoló had not cried.
"Alfedo?" Davide asked. "Why is Nico wearing that thingy?"
"It will help him so he can play football with you," Alfredo replied. "Davide, I need you to promise me you won't touch the hip brace."
"I promise," Davide replied. "Oh, if we are going to play football, Nico is going to need special football shoes."
Alfredo placed his hand on Davide's head.
"I promise, we will get him a pair of football boots when he needs them," Alfredo said. "Now, could I ask you to help me with cooking dinner?"
"Yes," Davide replied. "Are we having whipped cream?"
"No, chicken legs," Alfredo replied. "But there is galato with whipped cream for dessert."
After eating dinner and tucking Davide in for the night, Alfredo found Elena walking up and down the floor with a crying Nicoló.
"We knew it would happen," Elena said. "And we are by your side the entire way, Nicoló."
Alfredo placed his hand on Nicoló's back.
"Elena is right," Alfredo said. "And just as they are saying at Liverpool F.C., 'you never walk alone'."
Elena rolled her eyes.
"I love you, too," Alfredo said. "I am so glad that both children are healthy. And it is good that we have a plan for managing the hip dysplasia."
"So am I," Elena replied. "I do hope that the hip brace and physiotherapy will do it, because I don't want Nicoló to have an operation."
"I can only agree," Alfredo replied. "But if it comes to an operation, we will face it together. All four of us."
Elena nodded.
"Listen," Elena said. "Why don't you go to bed, and I will take the first night shift?"
"And let you have all the fun alone," Alfredo joked. "We decided to become parents together, which means we do things together if possible. And tonight, we are both staying up with Nicoló until he is ready to sleep."
Elena kissed Alfredo.
"Thanks," Elena said. "Since you have decided to stay up with us, could you take Nicoló? I need a bathroom."
"Of course," Alfredo replied. "Come here, Little Man."
Elena handed Nicoló to Alfredo before going to the bathroom. When Elena returned, Alfredo was telling Nicoló facts about Liverpool F.C.
"I have been thinking," Alfredo said. "What do you think about the idea of throwing a party once Nicoló is out of the hip bracelet? We could throw a pool party."
"I think it is a good idea," Elena replied. "And I do not doubt that we will become popular amongst all the children in our family when they hear we got a pool."
Elena, Alfredo and Nicoló did not get much sleep that night or the nights that followed. But despite the lack of sleep, Elena and Alfredo loved both their children so much, and they had never been happier than they were now that they had become parents.