“Helena!” Anne tugged on my arm.

“Hello?”

“Are we going toswing?”

“Do you have a balance sheet?”

“Grandpa put it in the garden.”

“Of course, we're going, but we have to wait until lunch is digested; otherwise, you might get sick.”

“Iestão?”

“Digestion,” I corrected her so that she would learn the correct pronunciation of the word.

“What is it?”

“Digestion is when our body absorbs nutrients from food after we have chewed and swallowed.”

“Ah...”

“Demola?”

“A little bit.”

“Tendi.”

“Let'seat!” Mary jumped up and down in her chair when a waitress started serving the dishes.

Thomas and I looked at each other and laughed as he reached under the table to take my hand.

Chapter thirty-six

“Here.” Tyler handed me a shot of whisky.

“Thank you.” I took a sip as I looked out over the horizon, where Helena was pushing the twins on the swing my father had placed in a tree at the back of the house.

“Beautiful.”

“She's beautiful...”

“A little too young for you.” He squeezed his eyes shut to try to analyze her better.

“Shut up, man!”

“I'm just telling the truth.”

“I didn't ask your opinion on that.”

“It seems he's already in love.”

“It took me a long time to open up to another woman.”

“Do you think she's the right girl?”

“Look at them.” I pointed while my daughters laughed and played with my girlfriend.

“Are you looking for a new girlfriend or a mother for your daughters?”