Rosaria welcomes us with open arms and I hand her the bottle of champagne I brought with us. She takes me in her arms and thanks me saying that I should not have bothered. We continue our way to the garden where our lunch will take place.

The barbecue is already set up and a young man is busy with the grill. Gabrielo hides me behind him and heads for the barbecue.

- So, Alex, did you miss me? He asks by tapping him on the shoulder which makes his brother jump.

- Not at all. I saw you two weeks ago. The only person I wanted to see was your wife.

- I guess it's good timing, since I came," I say, stepping to my husband's side.

Alex is about to take me in his arms when Gabrielo stops him. He slaps his hand and puts his arms around me, making me step back.

- What are you doing? I asked, backing away in spite of myself.

- Go and touch other people's wives if you want, but not mine", Gabrielo announced, glaring at him.

- Gabrielo, it is your brother. He is not going to do anything strange, I sighed while looking at him.

- It is what said Guiseppe's wife before he passed her a hand, he argues by looking at him.

- You're the one who paid me to do it! Alex exclaims, looking outraged. And I was 9 !

- The fact is that you did it anyway!

- You're both weird.

I step away from Gabrielo and head to the kitchen where his mother is. I walk into the kitchen and find Rosaria cooking with a little boy.

- He's so cute! I exclaimed when I saw him.

- Good, he's your nephew. Would you mind taking care of him for a while? He never stops tasting everything he finds," complained my mother-in-law. If this keeps up, lunch will be gone before it even starts.

- You've got to be kidding me! The little boy says as he picks up a piece of meat. I'm helping you check if it's good.

I laugh and then come over and take my nephew in my arms. He stares at me blankly before grabbing a lock of my hair.

- What's your name champion?

- I'm Luca," he replies, playing with my hair. And you, what's your name?

- Alma," I said, smiling at him. Luca, do you want to help me do a surprise for grandma ?

- Surprise? He repeats the illuminated look. Yes !

I whisper in his ear my plan for later and he nods without hesitation. We smile at each other before going to play in the garden. Alex and Gabrielo seem to have finally finished arguing and talk like civilized people. I approach them with Luca in my arms.

- Lulu! Gabo exclaims when he sees the child in my arms. How are you doing, buddy?

He lifts him up and Luca starts to laugh out loud. They both leave to play in a corner of the garden and I sit down to breathe. I have a feeling this day is going to go well.

- So, Dear Sister-in-law, what do you think of my brother?" Alex asks as he sits down next to me.

- Honestly?He nods with a smile.

- He's the one," I said. He acts like he's my dad sometimes. Except I don't sleep with my dad. But that's okay. I can get over it.

Alex burst out laughing and looked at me without stopping to smile.

- I didn't expect this," he says, looking at me. He's got himself quite a wife. I can't wait to see you guys be parents.

- Me too," I said, thinking.

- We said that we would talk to her together, Alexandro," exclaims a deep voice behind me.

- That's right," adds a more delicate voice.

I turn and see two men and a woman coming towards us. One looks like Gabrielo except for his eyes which are completely green and the other, his father, is just like him. The young woman is a spitting image of Rosaria.

- Hello," I said, smiling nervously.

- Hi, I'm Guiseppe, the older brother of the weirdo behind you," he said, holding out his hand.

Alex puts a hand on his heart with a shocked face before taking my hand and looking into mine.

- If you ever think about adoption, don't forget that I am here, he whispers.

- I am Gabrielo's father," says the older man, ignoring his son, "Francesco. I hope my sons didn't cause you too much trouble."

- Not at all, I said, laughing. I'm the one who worries him all the time. Let's keep it between us, but I think he would rather have me as a housewife.

Francesco laughed at my words and patted me on the shoulder.

- It's true that he used to say that when he was younger. He wanted his wife to stay at home and not have to take care of anything but himself. That brat!

- I thought he was sexist back then," laughed the young woman. I'm Bella, the oldest of all these siblings.

I smile at her while Francesco watches Alex on my left.

- In the meantime, this dirty kid remains your son, retorts Gabrielo while arriving behind me. Are they badmouthing me?

- Not really, I answer while holding him by the arm.

- Come and eat! It is ready! Gabrielo's mother shouts from the other end of the garden.

She is with Kayla, Luca's mother. I met her during my little break in the kitchen to help out earlier. She is absolutely adorable. A sweetheart. We sit down at the table and Luca sits next to me.

As the meal comes to an end, he tugs on my sleeve to get my attention.

- What is it, Luca?

- The surprise," he whispers, looking at me.

- I completely forgot, thank you," I say, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Gabrielo, can you give me the car keys, I forgot something inside.

- I'm coming," Luca says, jumping out of his seat and taking my hand.

Kayla waves me over and I smile at her. We go to the car and I pick up two different boxes. I give the smaller one to Luca and carry the larger one. I bend down to his level to give him my instructions.

- When we get there, you're going to give the box to Grandma and Grandpa after I put the big box on the table, okay?

- Okay!

I take his hand again and we head towards the rest of the family.

- What did you bring us? Rosaria asks with a frown.

- A present," I say, taking my seat.

Luca rushes over to her and hands her the small box. Rosaria opens the big box and finds the cake inside.

- Did you make it? Alexandro asks without taking his eyes off the cake.

- I did," I answer, putting my head on Gabrielo's shoulder.

- So that's what you were doing this morning in the kitchen. You should have asked the chef.

- Stop it with that. I can do that much.

I watch Rosaria open the box Luca gave her a few moments earlier. She gets up and drops her chair on the floor.

- Gabrielo is going to have a child," she shouts, coming to hug me.

I return her embrace smiling. Gabrielo looks at me surprised by my announcement. I make him a wink and he smiles at me. After receiving congratulations from everyone, we start cutting the cake. Luca makes his way through the world behind me and grabs my leg.

- I want cake first, he demands, looking me in the eye. 'The others, they didn't do anything but I worked, I want a big slice, please!

- Right away," I replied, giving him some cake.

Ah, children.