As they stepped into the dining room, Celina’s face lit up at the sight of the table so carefully set.

“Wow… that smells amazing!” she exclaimed, inhaling deeply before teasing, “Are we expecting an army for lunch?”

Dona Lúcia was placing the serving dishes with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times, pride shining in her eyes. The aroma of fresh herbs and spices filled the air, making Celina smile just by breathing it in.

“I might have gone overboard,” Dona Lúcia admitted, a dish towel draped over her shoulder. “But I’ve never been one for cooking small meals when the house is full. I made garlic rice, fresh beans with bacon, egg farofa the way Thor likes it, roast beef with onions, country-style chicken with okra… Oh! And salad—so no one can say I didn’t add some color to the plate.”

Celina laughed.

“This looks like Christmas dinner, Dona Lúcia!”

“Isn’t it?” she replied with a playful smile. “Any day with good people at the table is a day to celebrate. And today, we ha