Page 143 of Beni

“No.”

Or if they did, he couldn’t remember.

“Beni?”

“Hmm?”

He met his father’s gaze.

Gian smiled. “You know what I promised your mother a long time ago, don’t you? I’ve told you before, son.”

Yeah, he had.

Every time he and Bene went nuts.

“That she wouldn’t bury one of us.”

“You almost made me break that promise.”

“Didn’t mean to, Papa.”

The hard line of his father’s jaw tensed, before that tremor worked its way through. Like his father was holding back his emotions because that’s just not what Gian did. He was always strong—forever in control. Nothing else would do.

“I can’t convince you to move back to Toronto, can I?”

Beni shook his head. “Chicago is better for me.”

“Well, at least sending you here did something right, yes?”

“More than one thing.”

Gian’s gaze drifted to August, and then right back to Beni. “Yes, more than one.”

“Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“Bene is going to be okay, right?”

He left a lot unsaid there.

He’ll be okay with me staying here?

He’ll be fine without me, won’t he?

It’ll get better for him, won’t it?

A sigh answered him back.

Seconds ticked by.

“Eventually,” Gian murmured. “He’s still learning what it’s like to be him without you, Beni, and right now … I’m not sure he likes who that person is.”

Four months later …

“Happy birthday, to you, happy birthday, to you … happy birthday, Bene and Beni, happy birthday, to you.”

“And to many more,” his mother said, raising a glass to her twins from across the room.