Page 68 of The Taste of Deceit

“He wasn’t. By the third ride, Daddy barely had to correct him.”

Ma smiles at me with obvious satisfaction.

“I always knew you were capable of learning.”

“You’ll have to take us someday,” Carmela says, looking at Sarah. “The kids would lose their minds.”

“They would,” Sarah agrees. “Daddy would probably have all three of them on horses within an hour.”

Leone’s eyes light up.

“Really?”

Sarah nods.

“If your mom and dad said yes.”

Rafael sits up a little straighter.

“I wanna ride a horse.”

“You’ve never ridden one?” Sarah asks.

He shakes his head.

“I’ve seen them.”

“They’re a lot bigger when you’re standing next to them,” I tell him.

“I wouldn’t be scared.”

Leone smirks.

“You cried when that goose chased you.”

“I was six.”

“You were seven.”

“It was a really mean goose.”

Veronica giggles so hard she nearly drops her fork.

“I don’t like geese either.”

“Veronica gets it.”

Emilio laughs and reaches over to ruffle Rafael’s hair.

“I think we’ll stick to horses.”

Sarah catches my eye, smiling as the conversation moves on.

“When do you leave for the Bahamas?” Carmela asks.

“Friday,” I answer.

“For two weeks,” Sarah adds.