“You don’t have to drink,” Rafi murmured, when Julian picked up his glass again.
“I do,” Julian answered, “if I’m going to impress your family, which is what I agreed to do. When I make a deal, I hold up my end.” He took another, hefty swallow, which made his eyes tear up and prompted Uncle Max to drum on the table in congratulations.
Family stories continued to be a theme, Rafi ducking his head sheepishly as Ted and Minnie related some of the hijinks he and Carlos had gotten up to as children. Julian, now on his second cup of zabor thanks to Uncle Max’s enthusiastic refills, raised an eyebrow at the tale of Rafi swearing a blue streak when he broke a toe during the school play, and laughed at the image of little Rafi jumping off the roof with a blanket-cape and an umbrella.
“Lucky boy
