“Heitor”

We were sitting in the living room planning an outing when my sister video-called her children.

“Hi, Mom! Where are you now?” Clara answered with bright, innocent eyes, but I couldn’t believe her innocence anymore.

“Hi, honey! We’re in Madrid, waiting for the connection. Are you all behaving well?” Hebe’s expression was light and relaxed.

“I always behave well, Mom. As for Enzo, you know, he’s a teenager, you can’t expect much from him.” Clara said dismissively, making me smile.

“Stop being ridiculous, Clara. I’m a polite young man, Mom. I always behave like a gentleman,” Enzo protested.

“Great, keep it up so Mom can travel more often.” My eyes widened; she’d barely left and already had plans to go again. "Let me talk to your uncles."

Sam and I grabbed the tablet and chatted a bit with Hebe and Edu, but I felt a persistent poking in my ribs. Clara was restless. I decided to put an end to this argument.

"Sister, I want to ask you something." I thought it best to be direct; it