Chapter 13 - THE SISTER SHE NEVER MET
Sofia’s birthday came.
Elina avoided it first two years.
Then decided not to.
She closed Sorelle for private dinner.
Invited:
Luca.
Noah.
Camila.
Rosa.
Lucia Bellandi.
Marco eventually, after years of repaired trust.
They cooked Sofia’s favorite meal.
Badly?
No.
Elina fixed it.
Then played one final video from storage.
Sofia sat pregnant.
Laughing.
“If Elena ever sees this on my birthday, somebody make her eat cake.”
Elina cried and laughed.
Then Sofia said:
“I keep wondering whether twins feel absence.”
Elina went still.
“I always felt like something was missing.”
Elina had too.
Not mystical.
Could be adoption.
Loneliness.
Still meaningful.
Sofia continued:
“I don’t want her to think she owes me closeness just because we share blood.”
That line mattered.
“I want the chance to know her.”
Then:
“And if I don’t get it, I hope Noah does.”
Noah, now four, looked at screen.
“Mommy.”
Luca’s eyes filled.
Elina held his hand.
No identity confusion.
Just shared grief.
Then Sofia smiled.
“And Luca, if you are sitting too close to her, move back.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Luca.
“Your wife knew you.”
“Unfortunately.”
Then final line:
Ask.
Don’t assume.
Video ended.
Silence.
Rosa whispered:
“She would have liked you.”
Elina shook head gently.
“We don’t know.”
Rosa understood.
No dead-person certainty.
Then Noah climbed into Elina’s lap.
“Tía Lina?”
“Yes?”
“Do you look like Mommy because you copied her?”
Everyone laughed.
“No.”
“Did she copy you?”
“No.”
“We were born same day.”
He considered.
“Like duplicates.”
Luca said:
“Dangerous word.”
Elina laughed.
“Basically twins.”
Noah nodded like scientist.
Then:
“Can I have two cakes?”
Perfect child logic.
Later, Luca and Elina walked home.
He asked:
“Do you want children?”
She stopped.
Important.
“I don’t know.”
He nodded.
No pressure.
“What about you?”
“I have Noah.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
He thought.
“I could want another.”
“But?”
“Not enough to make it requirement.”
Good.
Then:
“Marriage?”
Elina stared.
“That was subtle.”
“I’m practicing.”
“Ask later.”
He smiled.
“Okay.”
Six months later, she asked him instead.
“Do you want to marry me?”
Luca nearly dropped coffee.
“What?”
“You heard.”
His face became priceless.
Elina smiled.
“Thought powerful men liked surprises.”
He laughed.
“Yes.”
Then:
“Very much yes.”
No kneeling required.
May you like
No ring yet.
They chose together.
