“You’ve made her very very proud, Patrick. And
I am too. You know that for me you’re like a son,
don’t you? I know you already have a father and
that I got here when you were already a grown
boy, but I’ve always loved you like you were mine.
You and all your siblings.”
Now I can understand Carl, his words and his
feelings towards us. Now, finally, I understand
what it means to love someone, to take care of
them because you want to, and not because you
have to because of a contract or some bond of
nature.
“Carl,” I say. “Thank you.”
“Hum?”
“You’re a great father, for me and for all of us.”
“Oh, get away with you now…” He looks at me
sentimentally.
I smile at him and go back to Erin, who hasn’t
stopped crying for a second, and together with
Rain it’s like a never-ending fountain of tears.
I look at her, sitting between her mother and
mine, while they exchange personal tidbits, tips
and secrets. I look at her and I feel grateful and full
of love.
She looks at me and smiles, tilting her head and
I have to hold my heart down because I’m afraid it
might pop out of my chest.
Then my mother raises a glass and asks for
silence.
“I understood that this girl was special from the
