Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
I chuckle, reaching down and ruffling his hair. “What did I say about calling him that?”
He grins, batting my hand away. “You said not to. You said he’s my little brother, and I should show some respect.”
“That’s right.”
He smiles wider. “But you also said he won’t remember anything, so I think it’s all right if I call him the brat for a little longer. It’s like a cool nickname.”
He’s smirking in that just-Leo way. At least, I think it’s unique to him, but Liliana says it’s all me.
“Well done, Leo,” I tell him. “Jokes aside, it’s a good thing what you did, helping your little brother. It’s good that you volunteered too. I didn’t have to ask you. It’s like with Kira, how she volunteered to help with the menus. And with little Greg…he volunteered to drive Grandad crazy.”
Everybody laughs, Leo grinning. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Daddy, is din-din soon?” Gregory asks, still wrestling with Nick.
That’s the only reason I came in here, to update them about dinner. I’m making a roast, following Liliana’s new cookbook recipe. She wants novices to be able to follow it, so I’m the perfect candidate.
“About ten minutes,” I say. “You can help Leo set the table if you want.”
“Yay.”
The boys run from the room, and Uncle Nick chuckles into the armchair. “That was easier with Leo. Kira, you were never much of a wrestler.”
“Duh,” Kira says. “Only boys are silly enough to waste all that energy without accomplishing anything.”
Liliana looks at me as we all laugh, smiling as if to say, how did we get so lucky?
I smile right back, silently saying that we followed our instinct, hearts, and passion.
And we always will.
Until the end.
She returns to her menu and turns a page, showing her unmarked wrist.
Her tattoo may be gone the the ink on our hearts, our love, will be there for life.