Chapter 23 - CONRAD BECOMES A FATHER AGAIN
Conrad and Elena had another child when Matteo was twelve.
A daughter.
Lucia.
Miriam cried harder than anyone.
No branch talk.
No territory.
Then Conrad asked me to be godfather.
I hesitated.
Accepted.
At the baptism lunch, Lucia’s stroller rolled slightly toward the south lawn.
Conrad caught it.
Someone joked:
“Careful, common property.”
Silence.
Bad joke.
Then Conrad laughed.
“Exactly.”
The tension broke.
May you like
History no longer required denial.
Just better humor.
