Chapter 12 - Alessandro Learned How To Be Dad
Alessandro was terrible at ordinary fatherhood.
He bought Lily an entire playroom.
She preferred a cardboard box.
He ordered custom dresses.
She wanted yellow rain boots.
He arranged a private tutor.
Rosa reminded him Lily was three.
He canceled the tutor.
He attended preschool orientation wearing a suit that made every other
parent nervous.
Rosa made him remove the bodyguard from directly outside the classroom.
“He can wait in the car.”
“What if—”
“Alessandro.”
He stopped.
Lily took his hand.
“Daddy, come see my picture.”
The word still shocked him every time.
Daddy.
Not Don.
Not boss.
Not Mr. Moretti.
Daddy.
Lily showed him three stick figures.
One had dark hair.
One wore an apron.
One was extremely tall.
“That’s me?”
“Yes.”
“Why am I so big?”
May you like
“Because you have the house.”
Rosa laughed until she cried.
