Page 247 of Lorenzo

Add Donna and a dog to the mix, and we’re likely to take the roof off one of these nights.

I can hear Tomasso somewhere deeper in the house arguing with Dante about something. Diego’s laugh comes from the family room. I hear Alessio say something that makes Edoardo tell him to shut up, followed immediately by Alessio laughing hard.

Donna looks toward the sound. “All of you in one place,” she says a little nervously.

Donna grew up in a big Italian family as well, but based on what she's told me, it was nothing like this.

“You knew what you were agreeing to,” I say, deciding not to mention it.

“I don’t think anyone could adequately prepare for this.”

Mocha walks in beside us and pauses.

Every conversation within sight seems to stop at once.

He looks around.

Then his tail begins wagging.

“There he is,” Alessio says from the family room.

He crosses toward us before Donna has even taken off her coat and crouches to greet Mocha.

Mocha immediately accepts the attention. He's gotten very acquainted with my sons the past few weeks.

“Traitor,” Donna mutters.

“You say that every time he likes someone.”

“He’s supposed to be discerning and intimidating.”

“He is,” Alessio says, rubbing both hands over Mocha’s neck. “He just loves me.”

Edoardo comes up behind his brother.

“Move.”

“I got here first.”

“You’re blocking the hallway.”

“I’m greeting him.”

“You’ve met him.”

“So have you.”

Edoardo ignores him and reaches down to scratch Mocha behind the ears.

Mocha looks delighted by the entire situation.

I watch my sons for a moment as they fawn over the dog. As all young boys do, they begged for one of their own as children, and Gemma and I always found a reason to put it off.

First Edoardo was too young, then Alessio was on the way, and after she died, getting a dog somehow fell permanently off the list.

Watching them now, both grown men crouched in Mario’s hallway while Mocha happily divides his attention between them, I feel a stab of regret at depriving them of one when they were boys.

Donna glances at me. “What?”