August 20, 1914.
It was Antonio's first birthday and to celebrate Fabrizio and Helga were going to Central Park along with the Dawsons to have a picnic with a small cake they had made to celebrate.
It was a beautiful day in the late Summertime as they strolled into Central Park carrying their picnic basket and pushing their baby carriages along. It was warm with a clear sky with plenty of sunshine and a little bit of wind was blowing through the trees.
When they came to a nice open space on the grass they picked it out and laid their blanket on top of it, spreading it out, and then sitting down upon it. They then began taking out the goodies they had brought in their basket which consisted of the cake, and chocolate-chip cookies, and cold chicken, and ham and cheese sandwiches.
As the Dawons and De Rossis ate contentedly they watched their children as Josie and Antonio crawled around on the blanket before them and met with each other and began patting each other's hands together as they cooed and beamed at each other.
Fabrizio smiled as he watched his son and goddaughter playing with each other so happily at such an early age.
"Look at the two of them," he said as he gestured toward them. "So happy to see the other. I wonder if they're falling in love."
The others chuckled at this. "Honestly, Fabri. They're still so young," said Helga.
"You never know though," Fabrizio said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Later that evening the Dawsons had dinner with the De Rossis as well as with Fabrizio's Mama. And afterward they all gathered around the piano in the living room where Rose and Helga took turns playing out various tunes and melodies of songs that everyone variously remembered and they all sang along to their playing. They all sounded good, especially Fabrizio and his mother, and even Jack did though his voice was a bit husky.
As they were playing old folk songs Fabrizio was noticing Antonio and Josie as they sat on the sofa beside them and smiled and wriggled to the rhythm of their piano playing and singing. A few times he also heard them chirp out a few of the words to the various songs they were singing to. He felt so very impressed with them both.
Antonio as it happened had finally spoken his first word a month and a half ago. It had been at breakfast as Fabrizio was feeding him with a spoon when in between mouthfuls he had squeaked out, "Papa!" Fabrizio had instantly become ecstatic about his son's achievement and had made it very noticeable to everyone. And now he was learning more and more words as was Josie and the two of them when they sometimes met with each other would speak the other's names with Antonio saying 'Josie', and Josie saying ''Tonio'.
After they had been playing songs on the piano and singing along to them for about a hour they began to grow a bit tired and so they said their goodnights to each other and put their children in their cribs first and then turned in for the night.
It was later that night when they were both awakened to both the sound of the rain and the thunder outside of their apartment and to the sound of Antonio's loud wails and cries of fright.
Helga started to get out of bed at once but then Fabrizio put a hand on her arm and said softly, "You just lay down again. I'll go and take care of him."
And that is just what he did. He went into the next room and picked up Antonio from his crib and rocked him in his arms as he whispered soothingly to him.
"Come, stop your crying. It will be alright." He held him in a protective embrace against his chest as he continued to rock and whisper to him.
He went into the living room and sat down in a chair where he continued to rock Antonio as soothingly as he could. He then began to sing a light little song in Italian to him which he called his parents singing for him when he got scared like this.
By and by Antonio's cries and wails grew lesser and then ceased completely as his eyes closed and he fell asleep in his father's lap.
Fabrizio smiled with love, joy, and contentment as he gazed upon his baby son in his arms, and in spite of the still crashing rain and thunder outside all he could hear was was his son's breathing and heartbeat.
Here in my arms lies a world of possibilities, he thought to himself. He looked at Antonio's little hands and wondered if one day they would be strong and gentle like his own and be able to heal hurting. He looked at his little feet and wondered if one day they would be able to run very fast. He remembered how he had been singing along with them earlier and wondered if his voice would grow into a singer's. He thought about seeing him with Josie and wondered if perhaps one day his heart would find love with her own.
Only time will tell, he thought as he tenderly laid Antonio down into his crib once again.