Today People

by Barbara G. Tarn

  They'd set up a micro-publishing house for her titles, which were actually starting to sell quite well. Not really a second income yet, but it covered the expenses for cover art and external proof-reading. They certainly weren't going to get in trouble with the IRS yet, but Ben had become a tax expert for their little company and made sure he kept all the receipts.

  Ben saw she'd bought a polpettone from Vittorio, the butcher at the open-air market in front of the building. He assumed the meatloaf should go into the oven with some potatoes that were already peeled and waiting in a pot with water. He put a couple of sprigs of rosemary all over the meat and potatoes and put everything in the oven.

  He sat at the computer and went online. He decided to look for Marco on social media and found both his LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. The LinkedIn one was very professional, and the Facebook one was private, so he sent a friend request.

  Rose came back out of breath while he was checking the oven.

  "Oh, boy, that smells good! Did you put in the meatloaf?" she asked, joining him in the kitchen.

  "Obviously, or you wouldn't smell anything," he replied. "Mrs. Ferri sure can talk a lot!"

  Rose rolled her eyes as they both set the table in the kitchen.

  "I know, and I didn't dare asking about Marco! Sometimes she slips into dialect and I don't understand her anymore. Anyway, got Andrea's number."

  "And I have Marco's contact. On LinkedIn and Facebook," he replied, winking at her.

  "Oh." Startled, she stared at him, then burst out laughing. "We should have known a twenty-something must be on social media! What did you find out?"

  "His CV is online and it does say that he now works for FAO... But his Facebook profile is private. I sent him a friend request, we'll see if he accepts it."

  "I'm sure he will." She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Take a seat! I think it's ready..."

  ***

  After dinner, they sat together at the computer. Ben pulled out his laptop so he could check if Marco had accepted the friendship request while Rose sent one from her profile as well. The desk was big enough to put the laptop next to the older laptop that had become Rose's writing PC.

  Sometimes they did work like that, sitting side by side in silence, especially during the weekends. But that night it was more of an excited chatter and comparing of screens than actual work.

  Marco had obviously logged in and accepted Ben's friendship, but he was offline now, probably dining with his brother, since Italians usually had their meals very late. His profile picture was an old one of when he was still at university, but he hadn't changed much – it hadn't been that long after all.

  "Look, it says he's married!" Rose said, pointing excitedly at the screen. "To a Priya Chauhan!"

  Ben followed the link and recognized the young woman in the picture. "Yep, that's the one. Except here she's smiling."

  "Well, with a mother-in-law like Mrs. Ferri, no wonder she lost her smile!" Rose rolled her eyes, making him chuckle. "See if you find this Priya on LinkedIn or somewhere else!"

  Priya was only on Facebook, probably added by Marco barely a year earlier.

  "Either she's a housewife or she works in a call center. I wonder where Marco met her."

  "Send him a message. Give him our number. Ask him to call us whenever he's free."

  Ben quickly typed a private message to Marco, still wondering about the young man's fate.

  Then they fell in their usual quiet as Rose finished her story and Ben checked some work. The phone ringing startled both.

  Ben reached it first. "Hello?"

  "Hi, Ben, it's Marco."

  "Hey, Marco, good to hear from you! When were you going to tell me you're now working at FAO?"

  Marco chuckled. "It was meant to be a surprise... for everyone!"

  "And I bet it was, especially for your mother," Ben said. "When did you change your Facebook marital status?"

  "About a year ago, but my mother is not on Facebook," Marco replied. "Andrea knew, though. I arrived three days ago and yesterday I tried to face my mom..."

  "I know, I was there. But you were obviously too upset to notice me. It didn't go well, did it?"

  "Ah, no. I thought I saw someone, but I really wasn't focusing on you, sorry. Tell Rose I accepted her friendship request."

  Rose opened her Facebook page and gave Ben thumbs-up.

  "She got it, thanks. I was wondering if you wanted to come over with Priya for dinner..."

  "Ah, well, thanks, but it's not just me and her..."

  "I've met Surya, Marco. And I look forward to hearing your story. Please."

  "Okay..." Marco sounded unsure. "When?"

  "When? Ah, well..." Ben looked at Rose who mouthed "Friday!"

  "How about Friday night? I swear I won't tell your mom."

  Marco laughed, but it was nervous laughter. "See you on Friday, Ben."

  "Wait wait wait!" Rose demanded the phone. "Marco? Hi. Do you or Priya or the children have special dietary needs? Like, vegetarian, vegan..."

  Ben waited until she put down the phone with a sigh of relief. "No special diet. They eat everything. Well, the baby eats baby food, but they usually carry it with them."

  "Did he tell you the baby's name?" Ben asked, amused.

  "I think he said Andrea? Or Indra? I'm not sure..."

  ***

  "Indra Andrea Ferri," Marco said, presenting the toddler in his arms. "This is my wife Priya and her son Surya, which means Sun."

  Priya joined her hands in an Indian greeting and the boy smiled widely at Ben who felt his heart melt. He exchanged a quick glance with Rose who was also delighted to meet Marco's family. She had set the table in the living room and had prepared lasagne and polpettone so she wouldn't have to stay in the kitchen until the last minute. Everything was in the oven, ready to be served.

  Since it was early, they sat on the couches first.

  "So tell us, Marco, where did you meet Priya?" Rose asked, excited.

  "In Delhi," Marco answered with a smile. "I was at the end of my Indian tour, like I call it, and was working at the Italian embassy. I had already exchanged my tourist visa for a working visa at the Italian consulate in Goa, and in fact I had moved north thoughout the subcontinent by changing seats of Italian consulates. Mumbai, all the way across to Kolkata, then up to the honorary consulate di Jodhpur and finally the embassy in New Delhi. I was a lowly employee and diplomat, but it kept me going... I didn't want to ask money from my parents – it would mean telling them where I actually was."

  "What did you tell them?" Ben asked.

  "I told them I wanted to practice languages and travel before settling with a steady job," Marco answered. "They thought they were paying me an extended vacation to the US, but I went there only for a month. Then I got bored and headed for India. My brother Andrea covered me – and even helped me when I was really in dire straits – and we kept in touch mostly through Facebook and our smartphones. Except it wasn't always easy to have a connection in the subcontinent, but I did survive!"

  "I remember how you've always wanted to see India," Rose said. "Did you go to an ashram?"

  Marco nodded. "Wasn't as expected, though. So I mostly stuck to cities. I liked them, but I didn't love them, you know? Until I got to Delhi, that is. That megalopolis was love at first sight. I could explore that huge city forever and not get bored! It's in my heart forever. Along with Rome."

  "History books claim that both cities have great ancient history," Rose said, amused.

  "I think Italy and India have a lot of things in common, and yes, Rome and Delhi have both something that I cannot name yet."

  "You had a girlfriend here," Priya said.

  "Right, what happened to... what's her name again?" Ben asked.

  "I think it was Laura when we arrived here, and then there was Giulia..." Rose said.

  "You remember correctly." Marco smiled. "Giulia and I split the day after I took my laurea. We didn't have the same vision of the future, she didn't want
to travel at all, so... I just left. Which is just fine, since my heart was open when I met Priya..."

  "How did you meet?" Rose stared at the younger couple expectantly.

  Marco and Priya exchanged a tender glance before answering.

  "Priya's husband was a civil servant, so she lived in Chanakyapuri, not far from the Italian embassy. Surya went to school at Sanskriti School."

  "It's one of the top schools of Delhi and India," Priya added proudly. "My father was also a civil servant, so I was really at home in Chanakyapury. I often went to the Ashok Hotel's yearly bazaar where many embassies presented items from their countries for sale."

  "But we actually met in the National Rose Garden," Marco continued. "The flowers were in full bloom and among them I found the most beautiful rose of all..."

  "He started following me around in his free time." Priya giggled. "I thought he was a stalker! I was afraid for Surya and myself."

  Marco grinned. "When I saw she had a child, I fell even more in love. I needed to know more about her! So I approached her on a fine day in Nehru Park..."

  "You approached Surya first," Priya said chidingly. "I had taken him out and when I saw you talking to him, I almost called the police!"

  "Fortunately I managed to convince her I meant no harm," Marco told Ben and Rose. "I asked her out... and we fell madly in love, to the joy of little Surya."

  The boy looked up and smiled. He was playing with Indra on the floor – a very quiet game as far as Ben could see. Probably because Indra didn't really talk yet, Surya was telling him some kind of story that involved a lot of hands movements.

  "What did your mother think of your wife?" Ben asked.

  Marco was a typical southern Italian that could pass off for an Arab, and Priya looked perfect next to him, but Ben knew Mrs. Ferri hadn't appreciated the unexpected daughter-in-law, probably not only because she wasn't Catholic. Priya's brown skin was probably another minus in the matron's mind.

  Marco shrugged. "She hates everything about Priya. I don't care. My parents kicked me out of their house and I'm determined to make it on my own. I found work at twenty-something while most Italian young men stay at home until their late thirties, and I'm proud of my travels and my achievements. Andrea agrees with me. If my mother is too narrow-minded to accept my wife, shame on her."

  "So you had a Hindu wedding?" Rose asked, dreamy.

  "And we had a civil ceremony at the Italian Embassy so that the marriage would be valid if I ever came home. I don't know how long we will stay here with FAO, but well... you know that better than me!" Marco smiled at Ben.

  "What about Surya, did you adopt him?"

  "He was three when he lost his father and I was happy to meet him." Marco looked fondly at the boy. "I teach him English, he teaches me Hindi."

  "Not Italian?" Rose asked with a smile.

  Marco shrugged. "He'll need English more than Italian. I'm sending him at the English school here, it's less complicated than switching school systems."

  "Surya, Indra ka zara khyal rakho, beta," Priya said, looking tenderly at the boys. Both turned to smile at her and Surya wobbled his head sideways with a grin.

  "Matlab?" Marco asked, puzzled.

  "Meaning... Surya, take care of Indra, son," she answered with a dazzling smile while Surya giggled.

  "Are you teasing me, Surya?" Marco pretended to be offended.

  "No, Dad," Surya shook his head before turning back to Indra who claimed his attention.

  Ben and Rose exchanged a glance. Surya had obviously forgotten his late biological father and loved Marco.

  During dinner Ben and Rose inquired on how the Ferris were doing house-wise.

  "Do you plan on finding a place or do you want to share a rent or stay with Andrea or..."

  "We can't really afford anything yet," Marco said, holding Priya's hand on the table. "I've just started my job... Andrea has been quite patient and he does have a big house, but his kids don't get along with Surya and Indra. That's why I was hoping my mother..."

  He sighed and looked away.

  "Well, we have the same kind of apartment that she has," Ben said. "And still no children to fill it..."

  Marco and Priya exchanged a puzzled stare. "Would you really do this? For us?" Marco asked, incredulous. "I mean, Indra can be quite lively..."

  "The people living under Andrea's apartment already named him Little Earthquake," Priya added with a nervous smile.

  "An old lady who is half-deaf lives below us," Rose replied. "I doubt she'll mind."

  "I second that," Ben added. "Marco, you and me can go together to Laurentina station in the morning, and then you get off at Circo Massimo while I take the shuttle to the World Food Programme... And Rose can help Priya with the children..."

  "You can think about it, of course," Rose added, seeing how the younger couple had been taken by surprise. "Just know that we'll happily have you here until you're able to put a roof over your lovely family's head."

  "Thank you," Priya said with a shy smile.

  "Thank you," Marco said gravely. "We will think about it."

  ***

  One week passed. Ben and Rose didn't call Marco again, knowing he had started a new job. They hoped and prayed he'd accept their offer and move in with them. Then who knew what could happen.

  They must get to know each other better before asking Marco and Priya to help them. They couldn't just ask Priya to be their surrogate mother.

  "There will be time to discuss that," Ben kept repeating like a mantra, but he could see from the look on Rose's face that anything would work for her. Adoption, surrogate mother, anything to have a child gracing her empty nest.

  "And will it be enough for you to just help Priya raise her sons?" Ben asked, worried.

  She looked at him and smiled. "Yes, Ben, I'll be content with that if it's the best I can get. My other babies will keep me busy too."

  He knew she meant the stories and books that had sort of filled her motherhood needs for now. But she obviously looked forward to raise a real child, instead of a story.

  "So you're ready to commit for a few years to the same child?" he asked tenderly. She was a prolific and fast writer, how would she manage adjusting to a child's natural growth?

  "Absolutely." She squeezed him. "I look forward to helping Surya and Indra at school and everything..."

  "Then let's hope Marco and Priya agree to move in with us..."

  The call came Sunday afternoon. Marco sounded tired and upset. Ben could hear children screaming in the background, with a male voice – probably Andrea's – shouting in Italian and ending with, "Basta!"

  "Is your offer still valid, Ben?" Marco asked. "I love my brother, but boy what a bitch his wife is!"

  "And I can hear the cousins fight," Ben said. "Yes, the offer is still valid. Should we prepare the guest's room? We'll have to buy beds for the children's room..."

  "We'll go together to IKEA next weekend," Marco said, sounding relieved. "Thank you, Ben. Priya is packing. We'll be there in about one hour."

  "Whenever you want, we'll be waiting..."

  Ben hung up and grinned. "Prepare the guest room, they're coming..."

  Rose squealed in delight and rushed to pull out bedsheets and towels for the much awaited and hopefully permanent guests. Ben looked around the living room. They could put Surya on the couch during the week, and surely Indra could sleep with his parents until they bought him a cot...

  The strange, informal adoption filled him with joy and excitement. He looked forward to have Marco, Priya, Surya and Indra under his roof.

  Christmas Gifts

  "Nobody should be out with this weather," Nancy's mother muttered, gripping the steering wheel and staring straight ahead. Her frown wasn't for Nancy who sat quietly with her seatbelt on, but for the army of snowflakes dancing around them.

  Nancy liked watching the silent magic dance. Even the flakes that committed suicide on the windshield looked like faeries and pixies. The car was a cocoon slowly
advancing in the kingdom of the Snow Queen.

  In spite of her mother's obvious tension when the blizzard had hit the car in full force, Nancy didn't feel like Little Red Riding Hood entering the forest. "It's a wolves' night," her grandmother would say, but Nancy wasn't scared.

  Night had fallen quite suddenly with the first frozen drops, transforming the road through the woods into a narrow tunnel to Wonderland. Except Nancy was inside a comfortable carriage and not tumbling down a rabbit hole.

  The road might look eerie in the scarce light, but Nancy felt like a new Cinderella headed for the ball. Except she wasn't really looking for Prince Charming yet.

  The interior of the car was warm and cozy, with only a lingering smell of cigarettes. Dad wouldn't be using the car anymore and his presence was vanishing from Nancy's life like snow in the spring.

  Mom's gritted teeth and furrowed brow might mean she missed him too. Or maybe not. Nancy hugged Polly protectively, giving the doll a kiss on her fake blond hair.

  She was almost too warm now, but didn't dare unbuttoning her coat. She didn't want to upset Mom more than she already was.

  The street lights slowly passed by like giants watching the car trudging over the thick carpet that made crispy sounds under the wheels.

  All those poor snowflakes crushed by the big bad monster, Nancy thought, holding Polly tight, still staring at the mesmerizing dance outside the window.

  The car slid slightly at a turn and then the tunnel that was the tree-sided road opened on a display of colorful little lights that made Nancy smile.

  Uncle Bill had already put out the decorations. Grandma's house was straight ahead, beckoning, like a lighthouse in the storm.

  "We made it, Mom!" Nancy said cheerfully.

  Mom's smile didn't reach her eyes. She still worried as she parked in front of Grandma's door.

  Uncle Bill came out to help them unload the car. He must have heard them arrive in the silence that surrounded Grandma's house.