Danielle POV
"Dani come here," I heard Stephanie shout from across the garden.
I got up and left Stefania and Mali around the table.
"You screamed for me sister dearest?" I laughed when I reached her.
"Yes get your ass in here," she whispered, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the house.
"Whoaaa," I said, steadying myself.
She stood with her arms folded looking incredibly serious.
"What?" I asked.
"We talk every Sunday on the phone and you haven't told me once that you've adopted a teenager or have a new relationship," she said, play slapping my arm.
"I know I know I'm sorry," I said genuinely.
"And I haven't adopted Amalia," I added.
"You basically have, you took her in legally when her mom died," she replied, raising her eyebrow.
"Okay that's a technicality, I wanted to tell you the moment it happened but Steph it was awful. The way it all happened was awful and it's taken us time to get used to. I had to put Amalia first and make sure she was ready," I explained, leaning back on the edge of the sofa.
"I get that but Stefania?" She retorted.
"We've been keeping a very low profile, we've been taking things slow," I told her, smiling to myself at the thought of Stefania.
"She moved in, that's not very slow," Stephanie laughed.
"Well everything else has been slow. It's had to be, we've been living through a pandemic," I sighed, taking another sip of my drink.
"You're happy though right?" She asked seriously.
I couldn't help but smile, I felt the corners of my mouth almost reach my ears.
"Steph I've never been this happy, never. I'm madly in love with Stefania, she's beautiful and funny and kind hearted," I said earnestly.
"And the kid?" She checked.
"I feel like she's mine. I feel like her mom, her sister her friend all in one," I admitted, my fingers coming to touch the necklace she gave me.
"From now on you keep me in the loop," she warned.
"Definitely," I agreed.
"Then we definitely need to go make cocktails to celebrate," she smiled, taking my arm and pulling me back through the house.
"There's my two girls, here I made margaritas," my mom said, handing us both one each.
"Perfect timing mom," Stephanie winked as we both made out way back outside.
Stefania and Mali, like everyone else, had moved away from the table in the middle of the lawn. I stood and watched Stefania talking away with my mom's best friend Lydia while Mali stood close by, her hand hooked around Stefania's arm.
The fresh air hit me and I felt the amount of alcohol I'd consumed begin to take effect.
"Danielle here," Stephanie shouted, patting the seat beside her on the outdoor sofa.
I moved to sit down and joined in the conversation with our family friends.
"I can't believe you're a mommy," Sophie slurred, now a little drunk as well.
"I'm not a mommy," I laughed, rolling my eyes.
"Oh come on, we can see how that girl looks at you, she loves you," she said making me feel emotional.
"Well I definitely love her," I said, leaning back and taking another drink.
I was starting to miss my girls, even though they were only on the other side of the garden.
"Mali," I shouted, getting her attention.
"Come here my sunshine," I called.
I watched as Stefania gently encouraged her to come over to me.
"Ahhh the nicknames!" Stephanie exaggerated, holding her hand over her heart.
"Oh shut up!" I said playfully.
Amalia walked over, looking a little nervous now around new people.
"Come here beautiful," I beckoned, waving her over.
She walked passed Sophie and Janine and came to stand beside me, leaning against the side of the outdoor sofa.
"Ahh ahh no, sit with me," I said, pulling her down onto my lap.
"She's not a baby," Stephanie laughed, moving over slightly to give us more room.
"She's my baby," I pouted, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Mali blushed and tried to hide her face in my chest.
"So what's it like living with Danielle Amalia?" Sophie asked, clearly trying to get some gossip.
"It's the best," Mali smiled, sitting up slightly but remaining on my lap.
"Her and Stefania don't keep you up though right?" My sister joked, dancing her shoulders up and down.
"Stephanie!" I said, slapping her leg.
"She's too innocent for that!" I laughed, playfully covering Amalia's ears with my hands.
"Here we go ladies," my mom said, walking out the back door with even more drinks.
It was only now that I realised that I was drunk.
I was drunk and I had Amalia on my lap who's parents were abusive alcoholics.
What had I done.
I let everyone take a new drink and patted Amalia's sides, indicating for her to stand up off my knee.
"Come with me," I whispered, taking hold of her hand.
I led her down the garden and over to the bench by my mom's water fountain.
"Baby girl I'm so sorry," I said as soon as we sat down.
"What why?" She asked all confused.
"Sunshine I'm so sorry, I've had a lot to drink and I know what you've been through," I panicked, feeling myself getting emotional.
"Please sweetheart I'm so sorry, I can get Stefania to drive you home and I can stay here," I suggested, holding both her hands in mine.
"Let me hold you baby girl please," I begged.
She took me by surprise by leaning forward and wrapping her arms around my waist so she could lay her head against my chest. I didn't think she'd come to me.
"Danielle?" She said, looking up at me.
"Yes sunshine?" I asked, wiping my own tears away.
"You really don't have to be sorry. I've told you, I trust you so much, even when you're drunk," she giggled.
"But I've been drinking around you all afternoon," I said guiltily.
"Yes but you're here holding me and kissing me. That's the difference," she explained.
"When my mom and Robert drank, they would hurt me. You're drunk and all you've done is cuddle me," she added.
"And cry," I laughed, wiping final tears away.
"Please don't feel bad because of me. I don't want to ruin your birthday," she said.
I held her head back down to my chest.
"Oh sweetheart you're one of the main reasons my birthday has been so special," I assured her.
"And Stefania?" She giggled.
"Yes and Stefania," I laughed.
"Did someone say my name?"
We both looked up to see her walking towards us.
"Hello beautiful," I smiled, holding my hand out for her.
She sat beside me, I was sandwiched between my two favourite girls.
"Just came to check you were both alright," Stefania said, twirling my hair around her fingers.
"I'm good, Danielle's drunk," Amalia informed her.
"Oh dear bellina," Stefania smirked, laying her arm around my shoulders.
I lent into her, resting my head on her shoulder.
"Thank you both for coming today. I know you were nervous but it's meant the world to me," I confessed.
"It's been lovely bellina, your friends and family are wonderful," Stefania replied.
"I really love you," I said, turning to face her.
I held her face in my hands and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Okay you're definitely drunk bella, let's get you home," Stefania laughed after pulling away.
"Yep, I need to get my babies home," I said, standing up and wobbling.
Stefania caught my arm, holding me up while Amalia held my other hand tightly.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked Mali again.
"Danielle I'm good I promise," she giggled.
"Okay my beautiful baby girl," I smiled, trying to pull her into me.
"We really need to get you home bellina," Stefania laughed, rolling her eyes at me.
"Mom!" I shouted, looking around the garden for her.
"Everything alright Danielle?" She asked, coming over to us.
"I'm drunk," I admitted, earning a laugh from whoever could hear me.
"I'm blaming your sister. It's those tequila shots every time," she said, shooting a playful glare over at Stephanie.
"I'm going to take her home, thank you so much for this lovely afternoon," Stefania said, letting go of me slightly to give my mom a side hug.
"You're very welcome. You need to come over again soon. It was lovely meeting you both," she replied, gently resting her hand on Mali's cheek.
We quickly said goodbye to everyone else and my mom handed me a bottle of water before we left.
I drank the water on the way home, feeling myself begin to sober up slightly.
Authors note—
I sweat you guys benefit when I'm anxious because all I do is dissociate from real life and write updates. 😅
Hope you enjoyed 💕💕