Giacomo smiled at his friends as they sat around the outside dinner table. Ferma was perched on Giacomo’s knee, showing him how to draw the perfect spacecraft, and Carmel was leaning against a reasonably drunk Orlando. Lando raised his glass. “To my family, my beautiful wife and daughter, and my brother, Giacomo.”
Giacomo buried a grin and Carmel rolled her eyes. “Fourth time tonight, hun.”
They had enjoyed sizzling hot fajitas and two or three bottles of red wine, and now it was getting late.
“Come on, fruit bat.” Carmel lifted her daughter up. “Time for bed. Give Jack a kiss.”
Ferma threw her arms around her godfather’s neck and kissed his cheek. Giacomo chuckled. “Night, mio caro.”
While they were alone, Lando studied his friend. “You look different. Upbeat.”
Giacomo smiled and ra
