Oren
Twenty years ago
“The party for my granddaughter, it was nice?" Carmine Costello asked as he settled against the large chair in his office.
I was back in his home, back in Brooklyn. It didn't matter that I had businesses to run and a wife constantly complaining that I wasn't around. I was replying to a summons that had me trekking from Westchester to New York City, and from the city to Brooklyn. I needed a f*****g helicopter to cut down on travel time, or maybe a clone. Then I could be in two places at once.
“Yes, sir," I answered. My face set in its customary expression of full attention and respect, as if saying anything negative about his granddaughter's first communion celebration was an option. “It was lovely, but not as lovely as Luisa. She beamed."
Carmine smiled, his fu
