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Sicily

We sat together at one long table at a pizza place, taking upit with our loud voices Dex sat next to his sister, and after she congratulated hi him relentlessly

I sat beside Derek, who had his two sons in high chairs between him and his wife, who sat on the other end His parents were at the other side, Derek’s daughter Lizzie with them I wasn’t family, but they made me feel welcome

“Dex toldThat’s really iht, but I was still surrounded by highly successful people

Derek turned to lass of beer held at his lips as he took a drink “Thanks I’raduates”

I looked at Lizzie across the table then turned back to hih to be a father of a seventeen-year-old”

He chuckled “She’s technically hter, but she’s blood as far as I’m concerned”

I smiled because the rest of his fa hearts “That’s sweet What does your wife do?”

“When she’s not taking care of three kids and putting up with me, she’s raanized, handles all ”

I had so many questions, but I ith the first one that popped into ? Are you a writer?”

He nodded “I write science fiction”

“Whoa”

“And a little erotica for rabbed his beer once again and brought it to his lips for a drink