Only in Naples (34 page)

For my parents, Edward and Bonnie Wilson,

and for my sister, Anna

It isn't easy when you're a
mamma
to let your baby go. You need people to hold your hand, put up with your craziness, and look at your little one, the piece of your heart, and say, “Hey, she's got a blob of something on her chin” that you hadn't noticed. Or “Don't you think it's time for a training bra?” You need loving, smart people to help her grow. It does take a village.

The village that has raised this book extends to both sides of the Atlantic. Without my agent, Anna Stein, the baby would be a pile of crumpled-up pages spat out by my wonky printer. She believed in it from the get-go and knew exactly what it needed, always. David Vine is a friend with a great big capital Quaker F for leading me to her. To the bicontinental guardian angels at Aitken Alexander, including Sally Riley, Nishta Hurry, Lesley Thorne, Alex Hoyt, and Clare Alexander: thank you for guiding me along the way.

At Random House, Andrea Walker is not only a brilliant editor but manages to be therapist and friend at the same time. She has been a true partner in raising the baby with
calma,
laughter, and peace of mind. Your little Tillie is blessed. Thanks also to Andy Ward for his help in the literary kitchen. And rather than thanking Susan Kamil in words for her passion and faith in this story, I'm going to help my mother-in-law get that
parmigiana di melanzane
to her office in New York (fresh, and at the right temperature!) so, hopefully, when we manage that, she'll be able to taste our gratitude.

Thank you to Ann Patty, who got me on course, and to John Thavis, who helped me stay there.

Early readers and friends Josh Conviser, Josephine Scorer, Dave Digilio, Massimiliano and Mireille Paolucci-Smit, Marco Maltauro, Alejandra Pero, Leo Kittay and Kim Dooley Kittay, Lynn Swanson, Heather Perrault, Silvia dell'Olio, Mercedes Roza, William Pratesi-Urquhart, Mike Rudolph, Laurie Kaye, Azar Burnham-Grubbs, Fee Huebner, and Doris Rametsteiner:
grazie, danke,
bedankt.
I am so grateful for the atrium of Ambrit International School in Rome, and for the help and support of Paolo Isotta, Kris Dahl, Jennifer Gilmore, Renato de Falco, and of Ken, Vickie, and Alix Wilson.

Giovanni Vitale's rules of Neapolitan dialect (expertly compiled in his
Dialetto Napoletano: Manuale di scrittura e di dizione)
were an invaluable resource.
Grazie assai.

The friendship of Kiersten Miller is a jewel at the center of my chaotic Roman life. At her Milk Bar, I've learned that when the going gets tough, the tough need to hang out for a little while with bighearted women from Naples and New York. Preferably over Ponzu.

Theo and Jim Yardley: Thank God you came to Rome. You are
maestri
of the craft and true friends.

Thanks to Monica Barden for her constant encouragement, generosity, and inclusiveness. Pia and Giuseppe Signori, Giorgio and Claudia: you have taught me the deepest meaning of family. And Antonio Mormone, I hope your spirit never wanes. The world needs it.

Katrina Smith and Gianluca Franzoni have come to the rescue often, and our friendship is a
punto di riferimento
that I cherish. The image of the two of you laughing together over the manuscript on your porch in Bologna was what I needed at just the right moment. Katrina, I hope we're smuggling Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into an Italian nursing home together one day.

Gracias infinitas
to Irene Hernandez, my mentor from Madrid, who didn't say “I'm here for you,” when on the verge of tears I suggested lighting a bonfire, holding hands, and throwing my manuscript in page by page. She said, Please! Will you stop being so
Neapolitan
?

Antonella Dugo is the grandmother of this book, and Andreas Giannakoulas its grandfather. You helped me to find and trust my voice, whether it was wobbly and off-key or full-bodied and right on pitch. Thanks also to my soul sister Jackie, for keeping me laughing no matter what. And for screaming at me, often,
Mommy! Write your book!

To the Crossley family and especially my friend Tara, I am grateful every day that people of such faith have crossed my path. Thank you, Tara, for being an example of pressing on toward the goal, and running the race. And for reminding me always of what the prize really is.

To the whole Avallone family: My father-in-law asks me never to say thank you. Thank you assumes you're not family. So I won't say thank you, I'll say read the book. But I'll add that there are two people whose place in the story is infinitely smaller than their place in my heart: my nephew Claudio d'Albore and Nino himself. Thank you for loving me like a daughter.

And, finally, Salvatore, Anthony, and Raffaella:
Siete la mia vita.

K
ATHERINE
W
ILSON
was raised in Washington, D.C., and educated at the Sidwell Friends School and Princeton University. For the past nineteen years she has worked in theater, television, and film, as well as freelance translating in Italy. She lives in Rome with her husband and two children.

katherinewilsonwriter.com

Facebook.com/​KatherineWilsonWriter