"Jack, to be honest, I don't want to go out with you; besides, Michela won't let me anyway. And on that note, I bid you good n—"
"Michela"—Jack bent over while speaking to his niece—"is it alright for Daddy to go out with us?"
"Go out to where, Zio Jack?" Michela asked, her face awfully timid.
"With us, grownups, to drink milk."
"I want milk! Can I come, Papi?!"
"No, sweetheart," Jack said. "You see, it's grownups' milk. Children are not allowed to drink that milk."
Michela clasped Oliver's arm, fearfully clinging to him. "Papi, you're not leaving me."
Oliver gave Jack a know-it-all smile and walked away with Michela.
"If you let him go, he'll buy you gelato. Lots, and lots of gelato."
Michela stopped in her tracks, her face lit up like Christmas. "Seriamente?! Papi?!"
"I promise
